New Year’s Eve just isn’t New Year’s Eve without “America’s Oldest Teenager” Dick Clark.

ABC will air a 2-hour tribute to the late icon before its iconic New Year’s Rockin’ Eve broadcast in New York. Clark, who saw his speech severely altered by a stroke in 2004, died in April at the age of 82.

Dick hosted the annual countdown live from Times Square from 1972 until 2005, when he turned over the main hosting duties to American Idol host Ryan Seacrest. In an interview with Parade magazine, Seacrest described the first New Year’s celebration without Clark as “odd.”

“It’s hard to imagine New Year’s Eve in Times Square without Dick. We plan to celebrate his life and legacy in special ways, but we’ve also made sure this year’s show is bigger and better than ever. That’s the way Dick would want it. He always aimed for the stars, and we will, too.”

He added:

“…Right after midnight, I would run inside and stand next to him, and he always has some funny, clever thing to make fun of me about. I think I will really miss that moment this year.”

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest — featuring live performances by Carly Rae Jepsen, Pitbull, Flo Rida and Taylor Swift — will blanket ABC from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. The night will begin with a two-hour tribute, New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebrates Dick Clark, hosted by Fergie and Jenny McCarthy. Seacrest will take over for the countdown show at 10 p.m. EST.

Written by Castina on December 31st, 2012 | Tagged as: Dick Clark,Ryan Seacrest