Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve to Celebrate 40th Anniversary

Dick Clark will be ringing in the new year again this year for ABC. Clark, who turned 82 last month, has been hosting the annual party on New Year’s Eve for the last 40-years.

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Clark will appear in a few segments as the hour approaches midnight, while Ryan Seacrest will be handling the majority of the hosting duties.

Clark’s role on the annual program has diminished since his stroke in 2004. Regis Philbin filled in for Clark that year and in 2005, Ryan Seacrest started taking on the hosting duties. Seacrest’s name was added to the show (Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest) three years ago.

This year, ABC will be airing a tribute to Dick Clark as it looks back on 40 years of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” which begs the question: Is this Dick Clark’s last time hosting New Year’s Eve?

Mark Shapiro, the chief executive of Dick Clark Productions, told the NY Times:

“That’s a great question, and the only one that knows that answer is Dick himself.”

Clark hosted his first New Year’s Eve broadcast in 1972 for CBS. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” stayed on CBS for two years before it moved to ABC, where it has been ever since. This year’s show will feature Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Carlos Santana, Pitbull and Hot Chelle Rae.

Will you be watching “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” this year?