Wednesday, April 18, 2012

What Doesn't Die


It was a shock to many that television and broadcast pioneer Dick Clark died today at 82.  It was his third death.

Clark was best know to your parents and grandparents as a rasio personality and the guy who brought them "American Bandstand”.  My generation also remembered him as the guy from  "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes", and many of you probably know him as "is that Ryan Seacrest's grandfather on New Year's Rockin' Eve?"

What was supposed to be a simple outpatient procedure (rumored to be his bi-monthly injection of newborn's blood) ended with Clark having a massive and fatal heart attack.  His first death was in 1966 when his car careened off an icy road in Pittsburgh.  The paralysis reportedly caused by a stroke in 2004 was actually due to his being dead for six days and the delay in resuscitating him.  Ed McMahon, who hid Clark's body in 2004, is not being considered a person of interest this time around, since he's dead, but all eyes are on Ryan Seacrest, who openly admits Clark's role as mentor - and the only thing standing between him and a multimedia monopoly.

Though Seacrest has all but modeled himself after Emperor Clark in his career, those close to the veteran personality say Clark's legacy will stand.  Dr. Lester, a close associate of Clark, called Seacrest "a perfect host", but could not tell much more than for people to wait until his 44th birthday. I'm guessing that's when we may find out how Clark his nickname "America's oldest teenager".

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