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Dick Clark | Television Academy Interviews

Dick Clark

Producer / Host / Executive

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his one-and-a-half-hour interview, Dick Clark (1929-2012) shares how he first got into television hosting and outlines the rise of American Bandstand from a local Philadelphia show to a national phenomenon. He explains his involvement with the payola scandals of the 1950s, the origins of New Year's Rockin' Eve, and his hosting duties on the game show $10,000 Pyramid. Clark recalls working with Johnny Carson to produce Bloopers and Practical Jokes, discusses forming Dick Clark Productions, and details the role of a producer. He also describes the challenges of producing live awards shows, and speaks of what he believes to be the secret to live TV. James Moll conducted the interview on July 29, 1999 in Burbank, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"The key ingredient is giving the audience what they expected to get. If I'm there to escape, let me escape. If I'm there to be taught, teach me. But, don't suck me in, thinking I'm going to escape and then teach me. You've caught me off guard. You'd say, 'I've been had,' and you'd leave."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Dick Clark on the origins of American Bandstand

00:36

Dick Clark on the genesis of New Years Rockin' Eve

03:01

Dick Clark on similarities between American Bandstand and MTV

01:11

Dick Clark on being targeted in the music "payola" investigation

03:22

Dick Clark on forming Dick Clark Productions

01:22

Dick Clark on his legacy

00:44

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood interest in radio; on his first job in the mailroom of a radio station in New York; on working as a DJ in college at Syracuse University; on being a news anchor; on getting a job in radio in Philadelphia and the state of television in 1952; on his first time seeing television - at the 1939 World's Fair; on comparisons between television and the Internet as forms of once-new media; on his one professional regret

On his first television job in Utica, NY; on salvaging old films of American Bandstand; on Dick Clark's Caravan of Music, later renamed American Bandstand; on the origins of American Bandstand; on moving from doing the radio to television version of Bandstand, which had already been on air with a different host; on the music on the show; on the diversity of American Bandstand; on touring with musicians

On taking over the televised version of American Bandstand; on taking the show from a local Philadelphia show to a national program on ABC; on first realizing he was famous

Chapter 2

On the success of American Bandstand and being targeted in the music "payola" investigation; on the many decades of American Bandstand; on Dick Clark Productions; on the lessons about staying "young, not old" from Leonard Goldenson; on connecting with teenagers over the many decades of American Bandstand; on learning from mistakes

On his entrepreneurship; on his path in life; on working on the Pyramid game show with producer Bob Stewart; on producing Bloopers and Practical Jokes with Johnny Carson; on Merv Griffin; on producing television movies; on dealing with critics

On the challenges of being Dick Clark; on the genesis of New Years Rockin' Eve; on simplicity; on still getting stage fright

Chapter 3

On producing awards shows; on getting fired for overshadowing MTV Awards Shows when he was the producer; on producing the American Music Awards; on producing The Emmys; on the secret of producing live television shows

On game shows; on how he selects projects and seems to be in multiple places at one time; on being a producer; on doing stand-up comedy; on acting; on similarities between American Bandstand and MTV; on the ingredients for a successful TV show

On the future of television; on television distribution methods today; on historical moments for which he was present; on producing features; on his legacy; on the projects of which he's proudest

Shows

10,000 Pyramid aka 25,000 Pyramid aka 100,000 Pyramid

Dick Clark on working on the Pyramid game shows

03:04

American Bandstand

Dick Clark on Dick Clark's Caravan of Music, later renamed Bandstand, and on moving from doing the radio to television version of Bandstand

13:33

Dick Clark on the diversity of American Bandstand

02:29

Dick Clark on the origins of American Bandstand

00:36

Dick Clark on being targeted in the music "payola" investigation

03:36

Dick Clark on the many decades of American Bandstand

01:37

Dick Clark on connecting with teenagers over the many decades of American Bandstand

01:36

Dick Clark on similarities between American Bandstand and MTV

01:11

American Music Awards

Dick Clark on producing The American Music Awards

02:12

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve

Dick Clark on the genesis of New Years Rockin' Eve

03:06

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

Dick Clark on producing the Emmy Awards

01:19

TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes

Dick Clark on producing Bloopers and Practical Jokes with Johnny Carson

01:08

Topics

Criticism of TV

Dick Clark on producing the TV Movie, "The Woman Who Willed a Miracle"

02:21

Emmy Awards

Dick Clark on producing the Emmys

01:19

Fame and Celebrity

Dick Clark on first realizing he was famous

01:32

Industry Crossroads

Dick Clark on being targeted in the music -payola- investigation

03:36

Television Industry

Dick Clark on producing the TV Movie, "The Woman Who Willed a Miracle"

02:21

Dick Clark on being targeted in the music -payola- investigation

03:36

Underrepresented Voices

Dick Clark on the diversity of American Bandstand

02:29

Professions

Executives

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Dick Clark on his entrepreneurship

01:34

Hosts

View Profession

Dick Clark on hosting Dick Clark's Caravan of Music, later renamed Bandstand, and on moving from doing the radio to television version of Bandstand

13:30

Dick Clark on the trick of being a good host and connecting with teenagers over the many decades of American Bandstand

01:36

Producers

View Profession

Dick Clark on his entrepreneurship

01:34

Dick Clark on producing awards shows

06:16

Dick Clark on the secret of producing live television shows

01:54

Dick Clark on the role of a producer

02:40

Genres

Awards Shows

Dick Clark on producing The American Music Awards

02:12

Dick Clark on producing the Emmys

01:19

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Dick Clark on Dick Clark's Caravan of Music, later renamed American Bandstand, and on moving from doing the radio to television version of Bandstand

28:49

Dick Clark on the many decades of American Bandstand

01:37

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Dick Clark on producing the TV Movie, "The Woman Who Willed a Miracle"

02:21

People

Arthur Godfrey

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Dick Clark on emulating Arthur Godfrey

00:37

Bill Cosby

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Dick Clark on doing stand-up comedy in Las Vegas

02:02

Bob Stewart

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Dick Clark on working on the Pyramid game show; on producer Bob Stewart

03:04

Cloris Leachman

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Dick Clark on producing the TV Movie, "The Woman Who Willed a Miracle"

02:21

Edgar Bergen

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Dick Clark on radio personalities he enjoyed

00:15

Jack Benny

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Dick Clark on radio personalities he enjoyed

00:15

Johnny Carson

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Dick Clark on producing Bloopers and Practical Jokes with Johnny Carson, and his early years working with Carson

01:57

Leonard H. Goldenson

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Dick Clark on the lessons about staying "young, not old" from Leonard Goldenson

01:10

Merv Griffin

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Dick Clark on Merv Griffin

00:40

Tom Freston

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Dick Clark on getting fired for overshadowing the MTV Awards Shows when he was the producer

00:51