Humor is always based on a modicum of truth. Have you ever heard a joke about a father-in-law?

Clark and McMahon were longtime Philadelphia acquaintances and McMahon praised Clark for first bringing him together with future TV partner Johnny Carson when all three worked at ABC in the late 1950s. Clark however simplified his contribution:

Shortly after taking over Clark also ended the show's all-white policy by featuring black artists such as Chuck Berry. Clark suffered a massive stroke in December 2004.

Dick Clark (born Richard Augustus Wagstaff Clark Jr. With speech ability still impaired Clark returned to his New Year's Rockin' Eve show a year later on December 31 2005. Clark died on April 18 2012 of a heart attack at age 82 following a medical procedure.