I Already Have A Slurring Date, Thanks!

Gonna have to pass on this this year.

Last year, the girls and I gave it the ole Chez Copa try to celebrate New Years, despite my early shift the following morning. Assuming the challenge, the girls busted into my bedroom, slamming a champagne flute into my hand, dragged my half awake, stumbling self in front of the television only to watch the infamous Dick Clark slurring special.

This year I have a more humane schedule and will gratefully pass on this American of watching the painful countdown with this once legendary announcer.

LOS ANGELES — Four years after a stroke, Dick Clark is relishing the prospect of another New Year's Eve celebration, determined to appear for his 36th year in Times Square. And he's hardly surprised by the current state of the music industry he helped build _ he predicted this, after all.

Clark, who turned 79 last month and has been in front of the cameras for 61 years, said in a recent interview by e-mail that his involvement in "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2009," diminished though it may be, is a labor of love and "not really a job."

"Obviously, I'm not able to be as actively involved as I used to be out on the street, up on a platform and interacting with the crowds in Times Square" in New York, Clark wrote. "Thank goodness my friend Ryan Seacrest is able to handle that end of the activity on the show these days.

ABC-TV's 3 1/2-hour live extravaganza will include performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Solange and Robin Thicke. Fergie hosts the Hollywood segments.

Clark woke up with right-side paralysis on Dec. 6, 2004 _ "Your life changes overnight," he said. (Regis Philbin filled in for Clark on the New Year's Eve show that year.) Clark still uses a walker or wheelchair, and speaking is difficult.

"I am one of the fortunate ones who survived and have been minimally impaired, so I'm just thankful I'm still able to enjoy this once-a-year treat of bringing in the New Year."

The "American Bandstand" icon and longtime producer of the American Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and Golden Globes has long considered them "my television kids."

He's also watched their ratings plummet in recent years.

Ryan Seacreast Has Got Nothing On WMAL!

NEWS/TALK 630 WMAL NOMINATED FOR 2 NATIONAL RADIO AWARDS!

The Washington, DC region’s major News/Talk station, 630 WMAL, was again honored in July to receive two prestigious National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Radio Awards nominations.  For the second year in a row, The Grandy & Andy Morning Show is a finalist in the category of “Major Market Personality of the Year.”  And 630 WMAL is the only AM station in the country to be nominated in the category of “Major Market Station of the Year.”

Fred Grandy and Andy Parks, co-hosts of the popular morning show which runs from 5:00am-9:00am weekdays, are competing against four other nominees, including Eric & Kathy, WTMX-FM Chicago; John & Ken, KFI-AM Los Angeles; Glenn Ordway, WEEI-AM Boston and Ryan Seacrest, KIIS-FM Los Angeles.

Last year, 630 WMAL was one of five nationwide nominees recognized by members of the National Association of Broadcasters for excellence in broadcasting in the format of “News/Talk Station of the Year.”  This year, the station competes against all stations of all formats, including KBWF-FM San Francisco; KIIS-FM Los Angeles; KOIT-FM San Francisco and WBLS-FM New York.  Winners will be announced at the NAB Radio Show in Austin, Texas on September 18th.

“The Marconi award is the most prestigious award in radio, and it is truly an honor to be recognized by our peers,” said 630 WMAL President and General Manager Chris Berry.

“I couldn’t be happier for our team,” said 630 WMAL Operations Director Paul Duckworth.  “This kind of recognition is the result of the dedication of some very talented people – I’m honored to be along for the ride.”

630 WMAL is the Citadel Broadcasting-owned News/Talk station serving Washington, DC, and the states of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.  In addition to the “Grandy & Andy Morning Show,” the station’s weekday line-up includes Chris Plante from 9:00am-Noon, Rush Limbaugh from 12:00n-3:00pm, Sean Hannity from 3:00pm-6:00pm, and Mark Levin from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, the NAB Marconi Radio Awards are given to radio stations and outstanding on-air personalities to recognize excellence in radio.