Filed under: TV News
As one of TV’s most prolific producers, Dick Clark is tribute-worthy at nearly any awards event. And at this year’s Daytime Emmys ceremony, the ‘American Bandstand’ and ‘$25,000 Pyramid’ host will be the focus of a star-studded homage that will include appearances by Simon Cowell, Cher, Jay Leno and Garth Brooks.
Variety.com reports that producers have rounded up a parade of celebs to toast Clark during the Sunday, June 27 CBS telecast of the Daytime Emmys. Curiously, Clark’s ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ co-host Ryan Seacrest isn’t listed among those who’ll celebrate Clark, though Barry Manilow, Marie Osmond, Frankie Avalon, Ann-Margaret and The Spinners are.
“It was time for us to talk about Dick Clark and his influence on daytime,” Daytime Emmys exec producer David McKenzie told Variety. “He had a huge influence on television, and was a tremendous cornerstone of the music business as well. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”
The 37th Annual Daytime Emmys telecast, hosted by another TV icon, Regis Philbin, will specifically honor ‘American Bandstand,’ the seminal music series that not only made an impact on TV, but on the music industry, too. Originally airing on weekday afternoons, ‘Bandstand’ featured almost every major music act during its 37-year run, from ABBA to Weird Al Yankovic, as well as Bon Jovi, The Beastie Boys, Tony Bennett, The Carpenters, Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke, The Doors, Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Etta James, KISS, Madonna, John Mellencamp, Otis Redding, James Taylor and Luther Vandross.
Meanwhile, with the Daytime Emmys on the verge of cancellation last year, McKenzie says he’s taking advantage of the Awards’ new Las Vegas home, as the live broadcast (from the Las Vegas Hilton) will also include performances or appearances by Sin City acts like the Blue Man Group, Wayne Newton, Cheech & Chong, Jeff Foxworthy and Cirque du Soleil.
“This will be a fast-moving, entertaining awards show,” McKenzie says. “Last year we tried to step up the pace, and make it a glamorous and fun event. My mantra has been, the Daytime Emmys are an important part of our industry. And we need to support them. We took it from death’s door last year, and we want to kick start it again, so it continues forever.”
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