Some Celebraties Seem to Not Know When to Call It Quits

[maseman]

I was watching Dick Clark with about 10 friends lst night and they all said basically the same thing. They feel bad he's so old, so plastic, slurring, etc. He should have passed the reins years ago.

We started talking about other celebrities like Paul Harvey. He sounded awful his last two years after a strike, some pneumonia, etc. Yet he continued. Jerry Lewis is another one who shows up once per year. This year he seemed to really mumble a lot.

Of course who are we to judge. However we are the ones watching or listening to the broadcasts. I had a friend in radio a few years ago who always joked "I'll die at the microphone." He nearly did but sounded awful the last few years as a talk show host.

There's a drive in these people but there also seems to be some grace in "getting out" while the going is good.

[Hannah Bell]

1. i think dick clark should stay as long as he likes. people get old, it's not like

critical systems will fail because he slurs a few words.

people get old & slur words. big deal. there's grace in continuing to stay in the game.

[secondwind]

2. I agree. We are so accustomed to seeing perfection all the time. I found it refreshing

[firstnamefred]

8. Well said. Besides, MOST people can't speak English very

well, don't use it correctly, and MISpronounce half of what they say. They pronounce Florida "Floorida". Foriegn "Fourign".

Pill "Pell". Can "ken". Canada "Kenada". You're "your". Iraq "Eyerack". Massachusetts "Massatusits". Horrible "whoreable".

Most people are unable to string together a complete sentence that is void of "like", "you know", "sayin'" "omg" and so on.

[Captain Hilts]

22. so a few slurred words doesn't really matter. I agree. nt

[cornermouse]

3. Leave them alone.

They're doing what they love and what gives them purpose. It ain't no skin off your nose. If you don't like old people, don't watch shows with people over 45 (like Golden Girls), avoid nursing homes and any other place that older people might want to go. They'll probably be happier without you.

[maseman]

5. 45 is old?

[cornermouse]

6. No.

But given the tone of the OP I figured you'd think it was.

[maseman]

9. It's not about age

It's about quality. When it comes to TV and radio broadcasting personalities try to be perfect. They always have. When Tom Brokaw retired he basically said he wanted to walk away while on top.

Maybe this is because I spent 15 years in broadcasting. We do try to be perfect in delivery, style, elocution, diction, etc.

[Hannah Bell]

14. dick clark has more quality on a bad day than ryan seacrest has on

any day.

[cornermouse]

17. Ryan Seacrest is annoying.

For that matter so is Simon, to the point that I stopped watching.

[Captain Hilts]

23. For the NFL, but for your lawyer, doctor, U2 and Susan Boyle, it's okay. nt

[asdjrocky]

4. I don't want to be you right now.

:scared:

[NikolaC]

7. Just because they are no longer young

does not mean that they have outlived their purpose, or should be "put out to pasture". There are people who still love them, find comfort in seeing them and love the fact that they keep on trying. I am not a huge Dick Clark fan, but I thought that it was touching to see him show up on the program that he made famous many years ago. At a time when we have so many young and attractive stars outliving their usefulness by Hollywood, or the "entertainment" industry's standards, by the time they hit 26-30, it is refreshing to see older performers. It is also great and rare to see performers who don't fit the Hollywood and Madison Avenue ideal of perfection, beauty and attractiveness.

The fact is that we are all getting old and trying to erase that by watching even younger stars, models and performers who will get used up and discarded by that system while the "old guard" are ignored or forgotten will not change that fact. If Dick Clark, Jerry Lewis and other stars of their generation want to keep on going, then more power to them. They will always have an audience. I would rather watch Dick Clark than tools like Ryan Seacrest and Carson Daly any day. By the way, you don't have to watch them, there is the option of changing the channel.

[maseman]

12. I do agree about Seacrest and Daly.

We did change the channel and watch that guy jump his car 274' over water in Longbeach.

[Le Taz Hot]

10. Tell me,

at what age should we all "call it quits?:thumbsdown: Well, hon, you're not alone on this board. I can't tell you how many times I've read "I wish they would just hurry up and die off" on this board. My all-time favorite ageist post remains: "I smell old people." And it was allowed to stand. For days.

[dustbunnie]

11. I've despised Dick Clark ever since seeing Bowling for Columbine.

But that's a different issue. What's not pleasant about watching some celebrities keep on keepin' on, is the plastic surgery they employ to remain youthful looking and "watchable." I'm thinking of people like Dick Clark and Joan Rivers, among others. Joan Rivers doesn't even remotely resemble herself as a middle-aged woman... in fact she barely resembles anything human. It's creepy to watch.

[maseman]

16. Saw Rivers last night

She looked horrid. I met her about 18 years ago in person and gave her a tour of a mansion in Akron. She was great, looked great, funny, very polite. But now she looks horrid.

[Captain Hilts]

24. I saw Joan Rivers in person in NYC and it was scary. Her eyes are on the side of her head. nt

[PCIntern]

13. It's funny...

Dick Clark was the only person to say anything of substance last night on that show. Seacrest, J-LO in that body stocking(!) and the 'correspondents' were utterly vapid. At least Dick was waxing fairlypoetic about the years and the year gone by in a professional manner...the others were just ridiculous beyond belief. It's a shame that dick's had a problem, but AFAIC, he's still Dick clark and that's worth something right there.

J Lo did look great though during her act...

[greenbriar]

18. I thought it really sweet when he and his wife kissed

at midnight

[firstnamefred]

15. Some celebrity watchers can't spell celebrity correctly!

Don't worry, though. Very few people can spell more than a few words correctly. On one forum I frequent, there are a great many
members who have advanced degrees (including doctorate degrees) and they can't spell, either.

[Iggo]

20. I bet Dick Clark can spell "celebrity."

[Iggo]

19. Your 10 friends suck...

...and you should get new ones.

[Orrex]

25. or old ones.

[Captain Hilts]

21. He's in a field where the market makes those decisions. We shouldn't hide old folks. nt