Know When To Say When...

...and no, I am not referring to the Budweiser Beer commercials of the l980's....I am actually referring to something that happens each year, but desperately needs to be stopped. What's that, you ask? Simple; it's "Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve Special" each New Year's Eve.

He truly looked this 'bright' on TV this year.

I'd like to state, for the record, that I do not find it comical that he's in the condition that he's in since his stroke. I find it horribly sad actually. However, I also find it horribly awkward and disturbing that, given the condition he's in, he's on national television each New Year's Eve, slurring his words and lacking some of his fine motor skills. Honestly, I've heard rumors that he insists on continuing the broadcast annually, but I tend to wonder who is encouraging this resolve on his part.

He's so orange! Shame on the makeup artist!

   I think it's awesome that he fought so hard to survive and recover...it's inspirational. I also think it's totally cool for him to still want to work and participate in something he has run for about 40 years now. However, when I watch him struggling behind the desk, unable to speak in a way that a broadcaster should be able to, I have concerns. Also, I feel like he's being exploited by the networks and by whoever allowed him on this year, looking as orange as an Oompa Loompa with his spray/fake tan. That's actually my biggest concern; him being exploited. Honestly, hasn't the guy been through enough? I mean, they give him about 5-10 minutes of air time now, and it feels like about 5-10 hours, that's how excruciatingly uncomfortable it is. Add to that the fact that 90% of the people watching this are trashed and making fun of the situation, and I just think it's tragic. I respect Dick Clark, I just think things need to be re-evaluated at this juncture.

"The world is mine Dick, you just live in it!"

Ryan Seacrest's hostile takeover of the universe is happening, whether we like it or not, and he's now infiltrated the "Rockin' Eve"....why not just wave the white flag and surrender, Dick? Nothing to be ashamed of, it was a great run, you're a legend, and you deserve a happy retirement. Make an appearance each year, but go out in a blaze of glory...because it's been going downhill for the last few years anyway, and I'm SURE Ry Guy has had a lot to do with that, (I mean, Justin Bieber looking like an ugly woman, Jenny McCarthy looking skanky w/ bad extensions, Carlos Santana acting weird, Ke$ha, etc---suddenly I'm hoping to not have to live through another year!) Let that 'no talent ass clown' take over (shout out to "Office Space" and Michael Bolton)....let that be YOUR resolution for 2013....you deserve it!

-KC Jones

Big Ran's Two Cents:  Man, this is a TOUGH one.  My wife has a job that puts her in touch with a lot of people who have had brain injuries or strokes that affect a lot of what they do on a daily basis, so this topic has obviously come up the last couple of New Year's Eves.  Her opinion was that with someone who has had a stroke, such as Dick Clark, all the person wants is to be treated normally.  I can totally understand that.  You know how frustrating it is when you are trying to describe something, but you are having a hard time coming up with the right words?  Imagine your brain totally working, but not being able to clearly speak or get your ideas across the way you could before?  That must absolutely drive someone nuts.  Then, whenever you go out, you can tell people are treating you differently when that's the last thing you want.  So, I think there are two issues here:

1.  Clark probably looks forward to doing these count downs as much as he can because that gives him a sense of normalcy.

2.  At what point does the network say it's enough and go to Seacrest exclusively?

I don't know how to solve this one because frankly, the network may be doing a very nice thing here, in letting him continue, because I doubt it is helping their ratings (especially with "Fox's Racist New Year's Eve" running against it - that's what I called it all night because I hate country music and the Fox network is clearly run by right wing lunatics).  Will they phase Clark out more and more each year?  Will they let him do just certain parts or have a special New Year's message?  Who knows.  I do know the dude has a bigger pair than I do, because I would never keep on trucking like that.