Dick Clark hosted “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” for decades after creating it.
Clark conceived the special as a younger, rock-oriented alternative to Guy Lombardo’s long-running New Year’s Eve broadcasts. The first edition aired on NBC on December 31, 1972, with Three Dog Night hosting while Clark reported from Times Square. After the program moved to ABC, Clark became its principal host.
He hosted the special annually from 1972 through 2004, apart from the 1999–2000 edition, when ABC aired the news special “ABC 2000 Today.” After Clark suffered a stroke, Regis Philbin guest-hosted the 2004–05 broadcast, and Ryan Seacrest joined Clark for the following edition. Clark continued making limited appearances until his death in 2012.
A common mix-up is Ryan Seacrest, who later became the program’s main host and executive producer. The show’s title retained Clark’s name to recognize his role as its creator and defining longtime presenter.