Ah, was he on ABC? That's the network that doesn't come in without jumping through hoops, so usually doesn't get watched. The Carson Daly borefest looked so much like "it's not run by Dick Clark anymore but we'll do it anyway and change it enough to make it worse" that I assumed it was the same show sans Clark.

Good. It made me comment that I missed Dick Clark. Glad it was the wrong channel (even though Clark probably shouldn't have appeared either way).

I'm guessing you haven't dealt with too many folks post-stroke, eh Leo?

And I'll just move on before I have to respond to your "retarded" crack.

Why is a dumb blog post like that in Google news? Anyway, Dick Clark didn't speak slowly.

It is shameful that you make such bad comments about Dick Clark, I admire his courage, while I dispise your lack of tact.

It is shameful that you make such bad comments about Dick Clark, I admire his courage, while I despise your lack of tact.

Wait . . . Dick Clark is showing his age? So . . . he's NOT immortal. Drat, I was going to try to steal the secret to his immortality and make millions. Time for a new plan involving Donald Trump's hair.

Very disrespectful!

Bravo to Dick Clark. I'll watch him any year, speech difficulties and all.

Ok, the "retarded" crack may be beyond the pale, but I don't see how his appearing on TV not able to speak is a sign of "courage" -- it's either his agents exploiting him or his narcissism clouding his judgment.

Ever hear of karma, Leopold? A lot of bad stuff is awaiting you for making that comment. Oh wait it already happen. Your parents named you Leopold. How wonderful.........Leopold.

Leo, get a grip.

Dick Clark considered not doing it, but made the couragous step to do the show. It had nothing to do with how he looked or how he sounded, and everything to do with downright American courage.

For me, it showed someone who wasn't going to let a big thing (a stroke) stop him. I'm glad there are at least some in this country who prefer to "go back to work" rather than sit around.

So Mr Leopold Stotch... When YOU have a stroke will you be able to recover and appear in front of a national audience?

Or will nobody care about you?

No, people don't have to fit the stereotypical image for appearing on TV. That is part of Dick Clark's charm. He has always broken the mold. The whole concept of the New Year's show today is copied over and over. Get a life.

Just because Dick Clark had a stroke and has difficulty speaking doesn't mean his is dead or his life isn't worth living. Let him come to NY and live it up in times square every year, we love him just the same. Do you really value the mans worth by the sound of his voice... you know his mind is still perfect?

Or maybe he's just a famous old man who has reacquired his mental faculties and wants to show the world that he is still alive and is a trouper.

I am not sure that is narcissism. Just a show of courage for old times' sake.

For auld lang syne my dear for auld lang syne.

Isn't that in the spirit of the New Year celebration?

I had no trouble at all understanding him and it takes a good deal of courage to make a comeback like he has. Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve is an institution and for him to have recovered enough to get back at it is a testament to his fortitude. People shouldn't be discouraged from working and hidden away because they are disabled.

Great marketing plan. Say something outrageous, get listed and hope forks click on your AdSense.

Step on anyone for a dollar. Remember, what comes around goes around.

This was an absolutely ludicrous and utterly disgusting article! It is more than obvious that Dick Clark has worked non-stop to improve his health to the point he is at. This man deserves nothing but respect and admiration for having the courage to broadcast in his condition, knowing full well he would receive gutless criticism as displayed here. His hosting of this special has been an American tradition since 1972. Maybe, just maybe Mr. Clark actually enjoys ringing in the new year with all of us and it is, in fact not infantile narcissism that drove him to such bravery this New Year's Eve. Way to go Dick Clark! Great to have you back. God bless and happy new year.

Leopold,

Spot on, Old Chap! In an age where minor blemishes are considered major breakdowns in image management, why subject yourself to blog abuse and days/weeks of "Entertainment Tonight" scrutiny??? What the Hell, Richard? Afraid of a few "Dick" jokes??? Surely you're more man than that!!! Do yourself and your generation a favor, hand the sad reigns over to Ryan Semencrust and enjoy your millions in whatever tawdry, salacious way the National Enquirer deems best! Screw "courage," my man, leave that to the poor schleps in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I hope that if some major medical event happens to you, your friends and family are a whole lot more understanding and accepting than you are.

Dick Clark is a brave man.

He doesn't hide behind his blog.....

Dick Clark is an ICON. It was great seeing Dick Clark tonight. It was something we wondered if we would ever see again. He works very hard. Tonight had to be very exhausting - but how wonderful we got to experience him once again. Thanks to Dick for that. He is a producer and a personality - and a true professional. Mariah Carey was an excellent choice too. Dick Clark is also a terrific person. I'm not convinced that Ryan Seacrest is the right guy to 'succeed' Dick. A likely candidate (LA Radio, Top 40 Countdown etc.) But Dick is a genuine person. Seacrest just seems like a suit on TV. Plastic, boring. As a producer Dick knows it's not about HIM. It's about the event, the moment, the show. And most importantly about the viewer and the people. People are what he captured with American Bandstand. Real People. And in Time Square - you capture the same thing - real people. However Seacrest and the other sidekicks didn't seem to get that - or least convey it. They seemed too worried about the cameras, their make up and their hair. Just my opinion.

Dick Clark Productions should have paused before (event making it a TV event) before passing the torch. Dick's not going anywhere yet.

God Bless, and Happy New Year to all...

Jamie Coyne
http://www.jamiecoyne.com
Elvii Radio Rocks!
http://www.elvii.com

As a broadcaster, I know very well what it would mean to me to be doing something for 25 are 30 years and then for health reasons not be able to do it anymore. I'd be fighting like hell to get myself back in the saddle again. I agree that it's sad to see him in the condition that he's gotten to. but I was glad to see him doing what he loves doing nonetheless. My hat is off to him.

What! Surely didn't just write retarded in the title just to get attention. Surely you had something interesting to say. Surely you understand that retarded means slow, anyone smart enough to write bad things about an infirmed and recovering icon should surely know that. Instead of using it as an insult consider that it is not an insult. To retard is to slow. My brother Andrew has Downs, he is mentally retarded. He is mentally slow, not whatever you think the word means. Go back to your hole and stop writing about things you cannot comprehend.

Dick Clark is now OLD ENOUGH to be FATHER TIME. What an OLD MAN. Dick Clark is no longer the eternal teenager of American Bandstand. ABC was BRAVE for putting him on, but the ABC execs were probably cringing at the sight of him and sound of him with his slurring voice and his miscounting too fast. He didn't sound too bad, but somewhat looked okay for what he's been through. However, Dick Clark is now FATHER TIME and SHOULD NO LONGER be on TV.

ALL OF YOU DICK CLARK FANS ARE: RETARDS!!!!!

agumbiner@smcpromo.com

For me, the saddest part of the first few hours of 2006 is the fact that after watching Dick Clark on ABC tonight, I googled his name to view print coverage of the event in the New York papers, only to find this objectionable blog titled "Is Dick Clark Retarded?" in the midst of all the CREDIBLE news coverage about his appearance.

As a voiceover artist and former employee of ABC Radio, I was inspired by Mr. Clark's fortitude in the face of such adversity.

And, as someone who relies on command-of-vocal-strength, diction & articulation to make a living, I am personally offended by Leopold Stotch's commentary.

Among the irresponsible and insensitive statements that Mr. Stotch made about a recovering stroke victim, he said:..."he spoke slowly and sounded like a deaf person, and it was really embarrassing."

In truth,what's REALLY embarrassing is that Mr. Stotch's blog appears on Google with such undeserving prominence for all the world to see.

Retarded? More like hilarious! The more we drank, the funnier he got. Dick Clark's New Year's Mumblin' Eve is my new tradition. When he's finally gone I hope he's replaced by someone with an even funnier speach impediment. Hairlips in Times Square or MS in Manhattan would be priceless.

And no, he shouldn't be doing this anymore. People without legs are not olympic track stars so why should those with speach issues be announcers for any reason other than comedic value? There is such a thing as growing old gracefully and realizing your limitations. I bet if he had become senile instead of having a stroke he would refuse to stop driving his car and wind up in an accident. There's a fine line between pride and stupidity.

It was refreshing to see him again speech or no speech issues. And wow "that kiss", post stroke and all at his age, I'm sure he gets more attention from the female gender than you ever will receive!!!!

I can't believe this conversation was even started - what do you mean 'Is Dick Clark retarded'? If a foul-mouthed rap singer had suddenly had a stroke and asked to perform during a New Year's telecast, he would have been considered 'a hero' for stepping back on stage, and many saying 'why can't we all be more like him' - but someone like Dick Clark, who has been an American Icon in television for so many years, a near-perfectionist who is envied by his peers, and has been highly charismatic and successful in his career, has somehow 'fallen from grace' to the label of a retard.

Any American who could look at someone like Dick Clark with that kind of disrespect needs their head examined.

It took enormous energy and courage to stand up in front of millions of viewers after his physical difficulties. He did just fine tonight - no idiot would expect him to recover 100% following a severe stroke.

And to Dick Clark - Happy New Year! Thanks for ringing in a new year for us one more time... and best wishes for many more to come.

In hopes of not sounding redundant, I'll just say that although I was shocked to realize what Dick Clark went through via hearing him tonight, I'm glad he was able to get back up there. He practically owns Dick Clark's New Years Rockin Eve (hence his name in the title) and chose to do the show apparently after long consideration. He has to take responsibility for his own actions and realize the repercussions.

I think one of the repercussions of his decision is the writing of almost-pointless and gross articles like this one. I agree with a previous post that said that one shouldn't give up because of a disability. Although listeners no doubt felt slighly uncomfortable, we must accept that we are human beings and it is our nature not to give up.

Get well Dick, and we'll see you next year, God willing.

Dick was happy as a pig in shit. It was heartbreaking to watch but certainly where he wanted to be. You should hope to be as strong if faced with that one day.

he's recovering from a stroke, asshole.

I agree with Me Here. Yes, it's great that Dick Clark has obviously come a long way from last year. However, to give him so many speaking parts during the show was a poor judgement call. If he would have been on once or twice, or made a special appearance during the countdown, it wouldn't have been so bad. But everytime he came on, it was uncomfortable to hear, and for me, he was difficult to understand. The fact that he came on so many times made me think it was on his insistence, and that he went against the better judgement of others. Like he doesn't want anyone to take over the show or something. At the end of the show, he asked Ryan Seacrest "what kind of view do you have" but I thought he said "what kind of food do you have?" I expected to see Ryan with a platter of chimichangas or something. I honestly felt bad poor Dick.

Dick Clark is the best! The very best!

Some many not appreciate Dick Clark's history and background in TV - and that's OK. Not everyone necessarily likes Dick Clark.

But look at it this way - what if you had a loved one that was really good at a job or skill -- and that same loved one went through a sudden and severe illness. After some recovery, regardless of their age or condition... if that person wanted to get back to 'doing what they do best', would you protect them and 'keep them from it' to avoid the possible embarrassment from other's ridicule? Or, would you give them the opportunity to return to what they enjoyed most for some sense of fulfillment - regardless of the consequences? How would you feel if your loved one was called 'retarded' for not being up to par prior to illness?

For those who side with Clark being 'retarded': If you are honest with yourself, only then will you realize how stupid this topic/thread really is.

You're an absolute fuck.

I hope you die in 2006. Then, they drag your carcass on television in some sort of show of dignity...cause you had none in your living years.

Fuck off.

It was a bad idea for ABC to give Clark so much speaking time. Although, it was good to see him back in the groove of things, His current condition plucked at the heart strings which kinda put a damper on the New Years party I was at.

Narcissism is exactly the right word. Broadcasting is supposed to be about entertaining an audience. This was all about an incoherent centimillionaire entertaining himself by forcing a nation to watch him mumble. ABC, Dick Clark, and everyone in his organization should be embarassed by that spectacle.

For those who are critical of why this comes up on Google News: this blog entry is the only honest assessment of that Rockin' disaster on the web, apparently. The so-called news stories on this event are absolutely delusional, praising Mr. Clark and porcine "diva" Moo-riah Carey, who slowly strutted her massive girth across the stage while poorly lip-syncing some horrible song.

The whole show was a total suckfest, and this crap about Clark's "courage" has to stop. Following this logic, let's give every job in the world to some kid from the Special Olympics, because it will be such a wonderfully entertaining experience to watch them struggle through simple tasks with such mongoloid determination. Hey, if the plane goes down and I get my neighbor's dildo order in the mail, it's a small price to pay for "respecting" the "differently-abled" as they try new professions.

If you actually want competent people to do things, the response from the idiotic sympathy crowd is now: "well, haven't you had a relative who had whatever malady, wouldn't you want them to succeed." Listen: your unfortunate proximity to stroke victims and/or retards does not qualify you to claim incomprehensible mumbling is now communication. I've had my share of suffering, but what the hell does that have to do with unwatchable TV?

Before making absurd comments on the Internet please check your facts. Mr. Clark's appearance on "New Years Rockin' Eve 2006" was ultimately decided by himself, not his agents. Despite not being 100% Mr. Clark gave it his all and did a wonder full job co-hosting the show.

Michael Winstrom
Dick Clark Productions - Public Relations Coordinator

I don't understand why these old actors insist on hanging on, most of them are ugly when they get old, they should just retire at the right time like Johnny Carson did, when they are still looking good. It promotes a better memory.

How dare you criticize Dick Clark.
He is very brave for doing the show.
I hope if I ever have a stroke (God Forbid)
that I have a tenth of his courage.

Wow man, way to be an insensitive jerk.

An open letter:

I'd like to apologize to the poor bastard who had to type the closed captions for my show. Your guesses at my mumbles were mostly on the mark, but I did not discuss "New Year's Restitutions" or say the show was "New Year's Strokin' Eve."

To this blogger who implied I was "retarded":

I am certainly not retarded. Any retard with a performance like that would have had the common retard sense to run off the stage.

-Dick Clark

P.S. Please visit my Dick Clark Restaurants, where the pork chops are served rare by a blind guy who can't read a thermometer, but we all admire his courage. He really wants to do his job, so we should all defer to him. We think you'll find the trichinosis a small price to pay.

Anyone who makes fun of Dick Clark is a pathetic human being. Making humor that he sounded "retarded" only shows your own mental inadequacies. Then again, I'm sure that is only one of many inadequacies of a person who has nothing better to do than blog on New Year's Eve. Go drink something under the sink.

The more I see of humans like Leo, the more I prefer the company of animals.

Unfortunately, by commenting on Leo's blog, we are giving this shallow and pathetic jerk the attention he so desperately craves.

F Cock Clark and the horse he rode in on.....Retard

Your arrogant comments will come back to bite you. I have never been a fan of Dick Clark but at some point in your life you will find that people who have suffered strokes, cancer, etc. that are life threatening will fight with every ounce of strength they have. I doubt Mr. Clark will be back next year, but allow him to bask in his efforts to be a normal person again.
Yes, his voice was slow and the cameras kept a
faraway view of the man, but he was able to be there and do something he loved doing. Don't make fun of him, you may be there someday.

I just had an Uncle die from complications from his third stroke. He had been battling this dreaded medical condition for the last three years with the help of his wonderful loving wife and family. Every word he uttered during that time was a treasured gift.
You sir, are a disgrace. I hope you and your family never have to deal with the life changing challenges that come with being a stroke survivor. You should thank God every day that you never have to deal with such a cruel medical condition.

Leo is just a pathetic loser and he will never have one tenth the career that Dick Clark had. Leo is just a person who lashes out at others because he hates himself. Go back under the rock that you crawled out from, Leo.

You will not like it when they make fun of you and bash you when you get old. You have no heart because you are not human. No one respects you because you respect no one. Go slither away, you spineless snake. A real man would not stoop so low to make fun of someone with a stroke just to get people to read his blog. What a jerk!

Although I don't agree with the level of vitriol being leveled at you, I do think your observations were without class and clearly out of bounds, Leo.

Many of us grew up with Dick Clark on our television screens and he started ABC's "New Year's Rockin' Eve", so if he wants to come on the air for a total of 2 minutes for what will likely be his last time, then I, for one, would afford him the opportunity.

It was sad, however, to see "America's oldest teenager" suffer from one of the conditions that commonly occur in older people. Although it was encouraging to see how far he's progressed in speaking again after his stroke, I must admit that I would have prefered to remember him from earlier, more vibrant appearances.

And people wonder why I don't watch anything but Fox?

Actually, you could understand almost all of what he said. But more importantly, his gusto was all there and then some. Instead of scaling back his lines to just a token appearance, he just went at it as if nothing had happened to him. I liked that and hope he comes back next year.

Leopold.

I feel very sorry for you. I really don't know what could have happened to you to make you so angry. I wonder what you said about Chistopher Reeve when he was fighting his battle. Dick Clark is courageous and has done a great job fighting back. The New Year is about more than getting drunk and making stupid statements on the net, its about New Beginnings and Hope. I think Dick Clark appearing was more than appropriate, it was a necessity. For those of us with intelligence we recognize why he did the show. I hope that when something as tragic happens to someone in your family you are more respectful.

This "news" I find thru Drudge to read this crap about Clark? The majority have spoken on your uneducated closed minded statement. Talking about someone that will do anything for headlines...what a jackass to call him what you did. This is proof that freedom of speach is alive and well...and so are the pay backs. Someone did toss "karma" back to you...

LMAO!!!! You shouldn't back off on the retarded comment. HE DID SOUNDED HORRIBLE!!! I mean honestly. The guy would start talking and it would be all downhill from there. Eventually it started sounding like his was stumbling over his own lips. The guy is not ready for television and I knew the man personally I would have had a very difficult time watching.

But alas, I don't know the man and he has way more money and success than I'll probably ever have so instead I immediately pressed record on the TiVo and each time he talked I rewound over and over again laughing my ass off with my roommate.

dick ckark is not retared...how dare you say such a thing. i saw him last night and i belive he sounded like he had one too many. he was simply drunk not retarded. my gosh it was new years eve, give him a break...dick clark has a right to be drunk like anyone else albeit not very profesional.

I agree with the above person...DICK CLARK WAS DRUNK AND COULD LOSE HIS JOB BECAUSE THE ABC EXECS WILL NOT PUT UP WITH SOMEONE BEING DRUNK ON THE AIR...SHAME ON YOU DICK CLARK.

Dick Clark DOES show great courage. His performance was an inspiration to me, and I hope he comes back next year, speaking even better. You are very ignorant.

It's too obvious, Leo--only a "retard" would insult someone who is recovering from a stroke, or any other sick person.

Or maybe your premise is that Mr. Clark should not have been on TV because he doesn't look and sound perfect.

That's exactly the point--now that he has gone public, millions of viewers can see the
serious health consequences of a stroke.

Also, I think this was his farewell address. Unless he improves I doubt he will return to host, except for a brief appearance perhaps.

After providing us with years of entertainment, allow the man a graceful exit, Leo.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN FIRE DICK CKARK FOR BEING DRUNK ON THE AIR BECAUSE HE OWNS THE SHOW!!
IT WAS SIMPLY DICK CLARK'S POOR JUDGEMENT NOT TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL HIMSELF WITH THE BOOZE.

i saw dick clark last night and was very offended. he should of been taken off the air for being so drunk.

There was absolutly no excuse for Dick Clark's behavior last night. The man should be fired and go yo AA for his obvious drinking problem.
You let us down Dick Clark!

How funny that "Marc" above at 8:05, in agreeing with the "retarded" comments about Dick Clark, posted that, "He did sounded horrible."

Who's the retarded one, Marc or Dick Clark?

At least Dick went out for New Year's Eve. Marc stayed at home playing with his TiVo and his roommate.

Who's more pathetic, Marc or Dick Clark?

i thought dick clark had a stroke...are you saying he was just drunk? that is disgraceful. the man must have no respect for his fans.
he should go to AA.

Wow, now some clever person is use a bunch of names to claim that Dick was drunk.

Is there no end to wit on this board?

Leave the comedy to the professionals.

maybe dick clark was indeed drunk...but i think his slopy work last night was really because he just dosn't care anymore.

Maybe not DIck, but SOMEBODY was retarded. It was embarassing and difficult to watch.

The entertainment industry is so self-congradulatory, and full of it's self. Anything to get the "numbers" up. Nothing you see is real and everything shoved at us is just product, not true "artistry" or talent. They would have propped him up with a gaping head wound or worse, a real bad case of stomach flu! HA! Wouldn't that have been a site, countdown between hurls!

Clark, much like a sick Pope,
would have preserved his iconic
status better had he simply
waved to the throngs and sat
on his hands for the rest of it.

All of us crave to remember
Dick at the top of his game:
Perennially young, consummate
pro.

His labored speech and shaggy
looks served only to remind us
that the Reaper will take us all.

You are a jackass! You are the most insensitive person ever!

In his own comments, this man looked forward to hosting the show. He worked long and hard to get where he is. Personally, I think he did an incredible job!

Your comments make me sick!

yo...dick clark was not drunk he had a stroke you moron. however i do agree he should be fired because a stroke is no excuse for the way be behaved last night. totally unprofesional.

Dick Clark is an inspiration to all who have suffered a disability. Bravo..Dick~

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1460341

You are an insensitive, rude, ignorant moron. The poor man had a stroke and has been reteaching himself to walk and talk. This was like a coming out party for him and he is proud of his progress. *shakes head* Somebody should pull the plug on you.

What the hell is wrong with you? I can't believe people like you exist. It's surely a mistake that I stumbled across this site.

I can't wait to read some of the other crap you've posted. It's New Year's Day, I'm hungover, and I need some toilet reading. It's brainless things like your writing which make me realize that I am blessed to be the type of person who NOT like (and never will be) you.

from what i here is that dick clark can talk perfectly normal...he was only pretending to be a stroke victim because of sagging ratings. he is a smart guy and all he knows is the bottom line. he put on that performance last night because he knew the ratings would go thru the roof.

Let's hope 2006 brings you a stroke so you can appreciate what Dick Clark has gone through and his struggle back you incensitive prick.

i agree with dogma...a big act to get ratings!
dick clark completly recovered from that minor stroke lat year. there is nothing wrong with the man except an apitite for attention.

Wait, are YOU retarded, Leopold? I don't think you should have your own blog. Have you even written ABC yet to voice your complaint?

there is no business like stroke business.

My own father had a stroke three years ago before it killed him nine days later. So, I know firsthand the horror of having a loved one who falls to such a terrible illness. Leo's comments are truly TASTELESS. They don't scrape the bottom of the barrel; they ARE the bottom of the barrel. Dick Clark should be commended for putting his ego aside to host his show. His speech may have been hard to understand, but I was still glad to have seen him on TV one more time. Shame on you, Leo. I can only hope that you, or your loved ones, don't have a stroke.

Wow. Butters, it seems as if many people read the google tagline and launched right into a personal attack on you. Dick Clark should NOT have been on tv last light, and those people who though it was "refreshing", "courageous", or whatever else pc comment they've made, get over it. the man f'ed up the damn count. HE F'ED UP THE COUNT. i think that should maybe be a qualifier for counting down. i wish dick clark the best, yes he is an icon, and i doubt he be alive for next year, so the point is sort of moot.

While the use of the word "retarded" is inappropriate, the sentiment is not. Watching the former television icon mumble was disconcerting and uncomfortable. It would have been nice to allow him to pass the torch or bow out gracefully, but producers gave hime WAY too much screen time to showcase his infirmities. I was reminded of the disappointment I felt when boxing legend Muhammed Ali "fought" a kickboxer on all-fours. An unnecessary stain on an otherwise sterling reputation.

The show was an embarrassing summary of bad decisions all around. Nice sentiment, perhaps, but painful to watch. Clark made his bones as a hip, glib, insightful showman...to put him in the situation he was in last evening was inappropriate. Thumbs down.

You are an ASSHOLE...

I have to agree with you Leopold I was very uncomfortable with Dick Clark doing New Years. I know he has worked hard and all of that but there's a time and place for everything and I didn't feel this was it. It was depressing not motivational. Regardless of how shallow it seems I like to think of the New Year's as being Bright and fresh. This sadden me because it was too close to watching a family member who has had a stroke try to struggle thru a birthday party.
If you have a lifetime of perfect memories why mar it with this one of you struggling thru this.

dick clark passed away in his sleep this morning at 8:35am. he wiill be missed.

98% of the comments should tell you somthing Leopold. Most of us Love Dick Clark and we don't like your comment.

oh my gosh, it's all over fox news. i feel so bad. dick clark was 76. heart failure.

His return was a milestone for him -- and us. You, Leo, have a lot to learn about humanity and I hope you never have to learn it by having to recover from a stroke. But, think about it. If you ever are in the position, how would you feel about such disgusting criticism? Dick Clark is a treasure. We love him.

What have you given the world?

with dick clark's passing this is an end of an era. i am so sorry, my kids are even crying.

Oh good greif. First drinking and now death. Who are these fake posting fools?

One thing is for you. You are retarded. Only somebody with serious brain damage would strike out at the afflicated. You need to find a topic.

To those who declare that Dick Clark's "courage' was the reason for him to be shamefully displayed in front of the world while slurring and sometimes grunting unintellegibly, the real reason??? Entertainers and celebrities would east shit if they got media coverage from it. A person with some sort of dignity would see that the time for staying home with the family and living the rest of one's life in privacy supercedes inflated egos of their peers i.e; the Dick Clarks of the world.

DICK CLARK...HEED THIS ADVISE...FIRE YOUR SPEECH THERAPIST!!!

This article was obviously just for shock value and to serve for getting enough hits to move up the ladder on the Google search. I think the author is suffering from a bit of narcissism himself. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, but there are also folks like Leopold who abuse it in very selfish self serving ways. I discourage anybody from responding to the article, it will just keep it in the spotlight..

stop lashing out at dick clark. let the asshole rest in peace!

my humble advise to dick clark...grow up...stop slurring your speech and straighten up. be a man!

Did Dick sound any worse than Rita Cosby does every day on MSNBC? Seriously, she sounds like she's running a marathon every time she tries to complete a sentence.

Disgraceful article, Leopold. You should be ashamed of yourself for your insensitivity.

Leopold, this post was just so wrong...

To many of the idiot commenters who've joined in the choir, I feel sorry for you and your ignorance.

To the poster that said, "Broadcasting is supposed to be about entertaining an audience." Duh... No it's not. Broadcasting is supposed to be about getting information, entertainment, a story, whatever it may be, to a large audience so that we can all engage in it. A large part of broadcasting is entertainment, but news should not be turned into entertainment (alas, most of the decline in good broadcast news is that the news organizations have crossed the line into entertainment in an effort to get more of a market share for themselves.)

Dick Clark kicks ass for having gotten out there and once again has given America the best that he possibly can. He was largely intelligible and intelligent and at first I asked, "Why does he sound like that?" and then a friend reminded me that he had a stroke. At which point I said, "Well he's doing pretty well considering! Good for him!"

For the rest of you that think that he should not have been "allowed" on TV because you expect something better than that, well, you just plain suck. Realize that this world isn't about you and doesn't cater to what works best for you. Talk about narcissisism. Jeesh.

I hope to see Dick next year also, if he so chooses, and I hope the network gives him the respect that he's earned many times over. Especially when he's still willing to give so generously to us.

It is wiodelu known in the industry that Dick CXlark is one of the unnecessarily nasty, mean-spirited men in show business. It was good to see him get his due. He is sick inside and out.

the only reason dick clark was on last night was because of his untamed ego. i even heard "seacrest out" say...can you repeat that please...and...come again?

Initially I was shocked by Clark's condition. I did not know what to expect in light of his stroke last year, but I felt that he would have been in better condition.

Having said that, however, as we caught more glimpses of him throughout the broadcast, I felt better about it. Clark's intellect was clearly not impaired by the stroke since the only lingering affects had to do with his physical state. Overall, I felt his appearance was fine although it looked as if the right side of his body was immobile.

To refer to him as "retarded" is not only insulting but insensitive and to assert that he should not have been "allowed" on the broadcast is totally whacked. I'm not sure if his production company ran the show again this year, but Clark is THE BOSS when it comes to this show. He can do what he wants.

As a man who has been alive, vital, energetic and in the public eye for 50 years on television, can you imagine how difficult it was for him to go on the air? Can you fathom how hard it must have been for him to prepare for his limited, but well recieved appearances?

That, my friend, is courage... to have hid away and drifted away would have been easy, though an acceptable thing to do. Clark continues to FIGHT.

God bless him... hope to see him even better next year in Times Square.

bill kramer is right...for those in the know...dick clark is a complete asshole...a very nasty guy...and a selfish one...he refuses to give to any charity....he even used to steal his own kid's candy.

To me it was very exciting to find that Dick is recovering well from his stroke, however, the downside of his stroke is that I can't say that Dick Clark's Rocking Eve sucks ass anymore....to me it always did... but somehow I can't say it anymore... is he now off-limits, or it it self-censorship?