Did Dick Clark have a stroke or something?

He had to have something like a stroke or Parkinson's, but when I heard him try to speak, I was so, so sad. Dick Clark was known for so many years as the man who never aged...the perpetual teenager. And here he was struggling to just get the words out and keep a smile on his face. I'm sorry, but I disagree with the Producer's decision to put Dick on the air when he is like this. Dick may BE the Producer, I dunno. But someone should have advised him that he is doing more harm to a stellar reputation than he is to enhance it by going on air when he can hardly get the words out and it is so obvious, he has had big health crisis. I mean it made me really sad to see him this way, appreciating so well how much he has done for broadcasting over the decades.

I know we are all supposed to be adult about these things and just understand that it happens. People get old and that's life. But in this presentation tonight in his Rockin' in the New Years thing, I strongly believe the presentations and speaking should have been left to others. We could have just seen his smiling face...seen him wave...and we would know he was there. But they put him solo on the set with no-one around him for support. And he tried valiently to deliver his lines, but it came out so strained, so not like the silver-tongue announce-master he was for so many years. It was like watching someone's long-lived and successful career CRUMBLE before your very eyes.

I'm not criticizing Dick Clark. I just think the decision makers didn't honor him and preserve his memory as well as they could by putting him on the air when he can hardly get the words out. I don't want to remember Dick Clark this way. I will choose to remember him in his prime versus his twilight hour.

In 2003, it was revealed that Clark had Type 2 diabetes, and on December 8, 2004, Clark was hospitalized in Los Angeles after suffering what was initially termed a minor stroke. Clark's spokeswoman, Amy Streibel, said that he was hospitalized but was expected to be fine.

However, on December 13, 2004, it was announced that Clark would be unable to host his annual New Year's Rockin' Eve broadcast, that had aired for all but one year since 1972 (in 1999, New Year's Rockin' Eve was pre-empted with the Peter Jennings-hosted ABC 2000 Today though Clark did perform his traditional countdown). For the 2004 show, Regis Philbin was the substitute host, and during the show on December 31, 2004, he gave his best wishes to Clark.

On December 31, 2005, Clark made his return to television, returning to the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve broadcast, having noticeable difficulty speaking, slurring his famous countdown to the new year.

During the program, Clark remained behind a desk, and was shown only in limited segments. On-air, Clark said, "Last year I had a stroke. It left me in bad shape. I had to teach myself how to walk and talk again. It's been a long, hard fight. My speech is not perfect but I'm getting there." Before counting down to 2006, he mentioned he "wouldn't have missed this (the telecast) for the world."

Yes, he had a stroke about 4 years ago and it gave him an impartial speaking disorder. He has gone through extensive speech therapy.

It makes me sad watching him speak, but makes be glad for him. He was born in 1929 and damn he is doing great!

Dick Clark?

...

Oh *embarassed* I thoughtthat was john Wayne...