Our 2011 was ushered in by, yes I have to say it, "cringe-worthy" Dick Clark. Yikes. If someone made a Muppet of Dick, that's exactly what he looks like ... a bizarre breathin' Muppet of himself, except no one's pullin' the strings but him. Commendable on a strength-of-will level, still very strange ... like driving by a bad accident ... you don't wanna look but ya just gotta.
We devotedly waited till midnight for Dick. Waded through the New Year's Eve show in anticipation of that twisted, catch-our-breath moment when he finally appeared, slurred his way through the countdown (last year he got confused and for a moment, began counting forward again), then ... OMG ... then ... after the ball had dropped ... he dropped ... headfirst into his wife's face and began gnawing on it ... munching on it ... oh oh I mean "kissing" it. Did we really have to see that?
Oh Dick. Yes of course we know he had a stroke a few years back, and you can see the pure indomitable strength of will it takes for him to just sit upright and stay focused. Takes a lot of guts to do his bit and we really get that. But Dick ... do you think it might be time to retire?
I'm torn. I respect his courage, but wonder ... is it really courage or pure audacious not-knowing-when-to-quit ego? Is he beloved for his effort or a study in public spectacle? For me, both are true and the conflict of that dichotomy keeps me hooked in. You know, if I'm near TV next year, I will tune in to watch Dick fall into his wife's face again, to be inspired, embarrassed, and entertained, and to wonder why.
