14 DAY TRIAL // The other day, the industry of showbiz took a major hit when Dick Clark, one of the most renowned faces on the small screen, passed away at 82 from a massive heart attack. Now that the throne has been vacated, Ryan Seacrest will most likely occupy it.
At least, that's what a lengthy piece from the AP would have us believe.
Their careers followed basically the same path and, now that media mogul Clark is gone, there is no better replacement for him than Seacrest, the piece argues.
Click here to see it in full.
All this time, the American Idol host and television producer is mourning the loss of the person whom he considers the biggest influence in his life.
“He was such a good friend. He was a teacher to me and I felt like a student. I was always in awe of him, just wanted to please him every time I got a chance to work with him,” Seacrest says to Giuliana Rancic, as cited by E! News.
There is no denying the influence Clark had on music, television and pop culture, paving the way for countless acts who went mainstream after he had them on his show.
No one could ever replicate his achievements, Seacrest believes.
“I remember the first time walking in to see him and just wanting to be asked back for the second day of work after having a chance to do New Year's Eve with him,” he recalls.
“It's sad news for a lot of people across the country. Dick Clark's legacy will live on forever; he had a tremendous impact on the entertainment industry – certainly on who I am today,” Ryan adds.
While Seacrest certainly doesn't see himself as a “new Dick Clark” or, at least, he's not vocal about it, the above mentioned piece naming him the “successor” has generated a very heated debate online, with both sides yet to reach an agreement.