The Real American Idol-Dick Clark 1929-2012

We interrupt our regularly scheduled post to bring you this important retro television update:

Dick Clark, an American Television icon, passed April 18, 2012 at 82 years old.

 For those who were raised on Ryan Seacrest, let me enlighten you. Richard Wagstaff Clark was a pioneer in 20^th century American television, having produced and hosted one of the most popular, most groundbreaking, most influential variety programs in television history-“American Bandstand”. 

American Bandstand was a musical performance show that premiered nationally in the late 1950s, during a time when broadcast television was budding and many radio programs were transferring into television formats. It ran successfully until the late eighties, when it became overshadowed by the popularity of music based channels such as MTV.  As the Museum of Broadcast Television states in their article, "American Bandstand" made a huge cultural and social impact on Americans.

Dick Clark, circa 1956

With the impeccably dressed, All-American Dick Clark at the helm, the show brought rock and pop entertainment into the living rooms of Americans. Clark’s clean cut image, along with the faces of his bubbly teen dancers, served as ambassadors to rock and roll, which was still considered scandalous at that time. The show was one of the first to recognize the increasing spending power of teenagers, using their interests as a marketing tool to generate advertising dollars. You could say that Clark and his shows were the precursors to the current reality television format in that it showed actual teenagers singing and dancing along to current music with an authentic vibe that was not staged or contrived, just wholesome and young.

Dick Clark went on to produce many other programs that are now icons in pop television culture, specifically in variety television "The American Music Awards", "10,000 Pyramid", "Bloopers and Practical Jokes", and, of course, "Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve". In this interview posted by emmylegends.org, Clark gives us insight how the show that became an American New Year's Eve tradition began. The Genesis of New Years Rockin' Eve

What I admire most about Dick Clark was his originality and confidence in packaging his programming to appeal to all people. When "American Bandstand" was still new, and as the civil rights movement was slowly brimming, he insisted that the show should feature African-American musicians since much of the music they played was by Black artists. Everyone watched "American Bandstand" to catch the latest artists and dance moves. Everyone watches the "American Music Awards" to cheer for their favorite musician, and everyone’s New Year’s Eve rocked thanks to the “world’s oldest teenager”.

So in memory of Mr. Dick Clark, a real American idol and the Godfather of reality television, I present to you a clip of him interviewing another American idol and the Godfather of soul, James Brown. This is an epic interview that shows Dick Clark at his best- fun and hip, yet authoritative and always composed. Check out his swag in the two-piece suit and tie, and ever present microphone.  Oh, and the mutual man love they give each other is pretty touching too.

Rest in Peace, Dick.