New Year's Rockin' Eve 2009/Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve

As the new year approaches and we bid goodbye to 2008, billions of people around the world together with their families celebrate the holidays traditionally. There are parties, food and booze, reunions, firecrackers, fireworks and champagne. For many, one New Year event that has become a tradition for millions especially in the United States is New Year's Rockin' Eve.

Hosted by Dick Clark, program consists of live video of Dick Clark in Times Square in New York City, counting down until the New Year ball comes down. However, ever since Dick Clark suffered a stroke in late 2004, Ryan Seacrest has been hosting the show outdoors at Times Square while Dick Clark offers comments from a studio.
After the giant New Year ball drops, the programs shifts to taped musical numbers from a variety of guest stars. The special is live in the Eastern Standard Time zone, and it is delayed for the other time zones so that they can ring in the new year with Dick when midnight strikes in their area.

It first aired in another network (NBC) in 1972 and 1973, afterwhich it moved to ABC in 1974 and has stayed there every year since, except on New Year's Eve before 2000. At the end of 2004, Dick Clark was unable to appear on the program while recovering from his stroke. Regis Philbin filled in as host that year. The following year Clark returned to the show though Ryan Seacrest took over as primary host. In the three and a half decades it has been on the air, the show has become a mainstay in American New Year's celebrations. Watching the ball drop on Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve is considered an annual cultural tradition for the New Year's holiday. Kellie Pickler, former American Idol contestant and country music recording artist, will be serving as Ryan Seacrest's correspondent for the majority of the show, replacing Marysol Castro. Among the performers this year are Fergie, as well as appearances by the Jonas Brothers, Robin Thicke, Fall Out Boy, Kellie Pickler, Jesse McCartney, Natasha Bedingfield, The Pussycat Dolls, Tyler Johnson, and Taylor Swift.

This New Year's eve will mark a slight change to the program as the title of the show will reflect Ryan Seacrest's major contribution as host. From this year onwards, it shall be known as the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

2009 Dick Clark's New Year's Rockkin' Eve Show Video
2009 New Year's Rockin' Eve (Preview)

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2009 Promo Video