What famous New Year's Eve broadcast began in 1972 as “Three Dog Night's New Year's Rockin' Eve”?

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve is the famous broadcast that began in 1972 as “Three Dog Night's New Year's Rockin' Eve.”

The first program aired on December 31, 1972, and was created as an alternative to the established New Year's Eve television special hosted by Guy Lombardo. Dick Clark hosted from Times Square, where the program connected live music performances with the midnight ball drop.

The show was renamed after Clark in later years and became an annual American television tradition. Ryan Seacrest became its primary host in the 2000s, while Clark continued to appear for several years after suffering a stroke in 2004.

The title has changed slightly over time, especially in versions highlighting performers or special co-hosts. Its enduring format combines performances, celebrity appearances, a Times Square countdown, and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”