Should Celebrities Who’ve Had Strokes Retire?
I feel bad about saying this, but was I the only one cringing as Dick Clark galumphed his way through his annual New Year’s Eve broadcast from Times Square? The effects of his 2004 stroke were in evidence.
And then I thought, maybe this is the beginning of a new trend, a positive one. Since there are so many aging baby boomers around, lots of strokes will inevitably follow. Maybe we should all become accustomed to seeing and interacting with stroke survivors, just as we do people with physical disabilities. But it seems there will be an uneasy orientation period, at least according to the following media:
A story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer urges some celebs like Dick Clark to ‘retire already‘.
No one wishes him anything but the best, but Clark’s slightly mistimed countdown is an odd bit of stagecraft that, with the return of Imus, made the case for a mandatory retirement age in show business.
The Gothamist, a New York City blog, reviewed Dick Clark:
As is our tradition, we watched Dick Clark count down to 2008 on his Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special. He seems to be doing better, but his body and faculties seem to tire quickly, when his still-spry mind was trying to express things.
From Amazin’ Avenue:
Like millions of others, my wife and I spent last night at home, on our couch, playing Wii and watching the animated remains of Dick Clark awkwardly count us down to the new year.
And the New York Times:
As usual I’ll be there. By “there” I mean sitting on my couch in front of the television set, wondering how long Dick Clark can keep this gig going…
But Dick Clark wasn’t the first. Actress Ellen Corby (who played Grandma on The Waltons) suffered a stroke in 1977. She remained off-camera until her return at the end of the sixth season, when her role was rewritten to include Grandma Walton’s stroke. I remember watching that. Her last appearance was in 1997 TV special A Waltons’ Easter.
And how about actor Kirk Douglas? He had a stroke in 1996, and wrote a book about it called My Stroke of Luck. He’s appeared on numerous talk shows and in several films since his stroke.
What do YOU think?
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:48 am
Dick Clark should retire. When a person IS the program, and watching causes discomfort for some, it’s time to go.
BTW: didn’t Floyd the barber on Mayberry R.F.D. have a stroke and that’s why in most of the episodes he was sitting down?
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I have very mixed feeling about this, but I suppose the strongest is that if the mind is willing then try to remain active. It is unfortunate that many (myself included) felt uncomfortable watching Dick Clark NYE. We, as a society, do not do well with anything that isn’t “normal”. We are far too indoctrinated with the bombardment of info regarding perfection. I shudder to think how I would feel faced with the same affliction.
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I was going to mention the “Floyd” thing myself. Yes, they always showed him sitting or shot the scene to appear that he was standing (in scenes where he was supposed to be cutting hair, he was actually sitting on a stool behind the person in the barber’s chair and they shot the scene so as to not show that.)
As for Mr. Clark, more power to him. It probably helped his recovery to be able to shoot for a return to on-air work. If it makes others uncomfortable to watch him, I understand that. I expect this might have been his last appearance, so maybe we could all go a little easy on him and hope the situation resolves itself?
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Personally, I though Dick Clark’s speech seemed improved from the last couple of years, even though his struggle is obvious. He also seemed perkier and less afraid to be on camera. But I do agree that he should step aside, mainly because he’s not really relevant to the current world of popular entertainment. The stroke just emphasizes what a relic he has become.
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I find some of the comments here ironic, given the fact this is “The Boomer Chronicles”. The man had a stroke. Deal with it. What’s next…fat people not allowed on tv or movies cause they make folks uncomfortable? Burn victims? Amputees? Anything outside of the so called “perfect” norm? I applaud Dick Clark for getting up there and continuing on with his life.
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Good grief. Has our culture really become so shallow? I’m disgusted that we’re even having a discussion over whether or not to banish the sick and aged to the shadows.
I always loved Chicago for the way the embraced and cared for Harry Caray.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I’m with Janet and Thomas here.Tthe sick, elderly, disabled deserve to live in society too!!
Remember, it could be you or someone in your family tomorrow.
I applaud Dick Clark. Too bad if people feel uncomfortable watching this man. He is an American TV icon.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I haven’t seen him for a few years because we have been away from the telly on NYE, and I was shocked. It wasn’t just the speech; he looked like a made-up corpse trying to talk. I’m not saying that to be mean; it’s just what he looked like to me. There’s something to be said for a timely and graceful exit. And, I suppose there’s something to be said for keeping on keeping on.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
To me the question is, “Was he entertaining?” The entertainment field is so dollar driven, that if no one finds him entertaining, he will have to retire.
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I give him major points for having the guts to continue on and to do something that he’s done for years and years. New Year’s Eve Rockin’ Eve IS Dick Clark and when he finally decides, on his own terms, to retire then I think they need to retire the show in his honor and find a new tradition.
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I have mixed feelings. We didn’t happen to watch Dick Clark this year but we saw him last year. It was obvious he had a struggle with his speech, but on the other hand, the man is no spring chicken. I think one reason we have more of a problem with him showing this sign of disability than others is that he always seemed perpetually young, amazingly so, until his stroke. It’s a slap in our faces that reminds us of our own mortality.
Jack Klugman continues to act after throat cancer surgery and I believe his voice is somewhat more raspy than before as a result. But people probably don’t react to that the same way because he wasn’t a symbol of perpetual youth as Dick Clark was.
Personally I still think Guy Lombard was the epitome of New Year’s Eve. I think of Dick Clark as the newcomer!
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Watching Dick brought me to tears and I cheered him on. Just because someone becomes disabled or injured, does that mean that they are no longer of any use to society? Shame on those that want to push him aside. He paid his dues, and he deserves to be up there. If his change makes you uncomfortable – well too bad for you. There but for the grace of God go you. My mother suffered several strokes in her lifetime and had to learn to walk, talk and eat from the beginning all over again. Although she is a different person than she used to be, I still love her as my mother. I think Dick should keep going as long and as far as he wants. I will always be there to cheer him on.
Shannon
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:50 am
Seeing him made me both sad and happy. I was happy to see him keep on keeping on…and yes…I agree, his speech seemed better than the last time I saw him. What makes me sad is seeing a vibrant life fading. I think there’s some fear thrown in there too. The guy that “never grows old” is now old…which of course, reminds me that I’m getting old too. Put my ballot in the “he should do it and they should let him for as long as he wants to” box.
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:03 am
Yesterday I wanted to add my thoughts but a senior moment would not allow me to recall a name!
Unstable health has prevented me from working in gainful employment for the past 5-6 years. I in no way feel ready for the grave, and have my say and interact with people through my blog and various forms of modern technology.
I want to say more… I think I will blog about it.
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 am
Neither Ellen’s nor Kirk’s strokes bothered me, but Dick’s did. I think because both Ellen and Kirk were still able to act and deliver the goods in spite of the effects of their strokes, Dick on the other hand, could not deliver.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 am
Wow Rhea… you really got folks worked up on this one!
I’m guessing D.C. has so much money he can do whatever he wants for as long as he wants. People can either watch or flip the channel. Many might have considered D.C.’s segments a welcome relief from (my opinion) annoying Ryan Seacrest (obvious successor).
Yes, it’s true: I have made a few misguided cracks about Mr. Clark’s appearance; whether he’d make it throught the countdown and, if not, would we be stuck in limbo… ultimately, I think it’s great that he’s out there exposing us to our “there but for the grace of God”-liness. My mother had a stroke and blah, blah, blah. She died three years ago after many years of struggling to adapt to her compromised abilities. She never lost her sense of humor. In fact, I have a draft for a short story about her from years ago titled: A Stroke of Luck. Thanks Kirk! I wish she were still here to share her opinion about D.C.
Meanwhile folks, let’s not forget Bette Davis at the Oscars: PAUL NEWMAN!
One last note: If ANYONE should be forced in to early retirement my vote goes to Britney.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:19 am
It is totally if a persons character can still shine thru the affects of a stroke. I didn’t see Dick this year, but did last year and felt he still tried to be MR. TV and he just can’t play that part anymore, where as Kirk Douglas shined right thru the speech handicap and all, poking fun at his own inabilities and making you feel as comfortable with it as he was. Poor Dick just seems to absolutely hate what has happened to him and doesn’t know how to get passed it so that is what he exudes. I love Dick Clark, but I think his time on TV hurts his own self image……maybe quiting while he was on top would have been easier for him to accept.
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Wow. just wow. This conversation wouldn’t bother me if it was on some young kid’s blog, but I am amazed that it is coming up here, on a middle-aged blog. Whew.
I watched DC because that is what New Years is for me. Time is passing. We change. I guess that’s too hard for some folks to understand.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
[...] There’s an interesting discussion at Boomer Chronicles about whether or not he should have made the television appearance. [...]
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
It’s nice to see others ponder this question as I did. I don’t mind watching Dick Clark count down to midnight so long as it is what he wants to do and he is able to do it. I can’t blame people for wanting to remember Dick Clark as he was before the stroke however, but that is not who he is right now or will be forever. I don’t think the discussion is about aging since there are many thousands of people on the television daily that are older than 78 years. I believe it’s about knowing when to say when. I applaud him being up there, but I personally don’t understand why he is doing it to himself when it was pretty obvious that he struggled at times.
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
My Mother in law was very uncomfortable watching Dick Clark.
I wasn’t.
I say,
live and let live.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:51 am
unfortunately the public was enamored with his youthfulness, now that that is gone it’s a wake up call, and uncomfortable to us. We want to rememebr him as he was..
January 4th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Slow your roll everyone – nobody said to kill him. Why can’t he just sit back, and let the next generation take the reigns? Just because someone has always done it is not a good reason to keep on doing it. Anchoring a major event on a TV network is not the forum for someone to prove they have a lively mind, or is recovering from a major life event. Writing a book about your experiences – awesome. Dick, go write a book.
With time changing, so do the events that surround us. Sometimes it’s as much for Dick to say farewell as it is those people who think that it has to be him because “that’s what New Year’s is”.
Really? That’s what New Year’s is? Watching tv? How about New Year’s is about starting fresh, looking forward to what might be, and reflecting on what happened?
January 5th, 2008 at 4:23 am
[...] Rhea at The Boomer Chronicles asked on Wednesday 2nd January Should Celebrities Who’ve Had Strokes Retire? She opened with this statement: I feel bad about saying this, but was I the only one cringing as Dick Clark galumphed his way through his annual New Year’s Eve broadcast from Times Square? The effects of his 2004 stroke were in evidence. [...]
September 24th, 2008 at 8:49 am
My brother had a stroke 15 years ago at the age of 36. He had his whole life planned out for him, good job, beautiful family, nice home;etc. It left him as paraplegic. Stroke can happen to any one of us at any given time. We as a society need to learn how to cope with this and not be so quick to judge others. I am proud of the fact that Dick Clark still had the opportunity to make that choice for himself and he still wanted to be a part of NYE in NY. He is a legend and a role model for everyone who has suffered the effects of a stroke!
For more information or to make a donation, please contact The StrokeNetwork @ http://www.strokenetwork.org
Keep rockin’ Dick Clark!!