Stroke sidelines Dick Clark

Perennial teenager Dick Clark may miss his New Year's Eve ABC extravaganza for the first time in its 33 years.

Clark, reported to be 75, suffered a minor stroke Monday and was hospitalized at an undiclosed location in Los Angeles, but he said in a prepared statement, "The doctors tell me I should be back in the swing of things before too long, so I'm hopeful to be able to make it to Times Square to help lead the country in bringing in the New Year once again." 



However, neither Clark nor his longtime publicist, Paul Shefrin, was able to define exactly what "before too long" meant. 



Clark, who revealed last spring that he had adult onset diabetes, maintains a crushing television production schedule. His New Year's special, "Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve 2005," as scheduled, is to be a marvel of endurance. The show begins at 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve and ends at 2:05 a.m. Jan. 1; Clark will juggled musical acts and even reportage. 



The syndicated TV show "Access Hollywood," which broke the news of Clark's stroke Wednesday, reportedly has a source who said the stroke may have been serious enough to sideline him. However, Shefrin said Wednesday, "It's real simple -- he's hopeful he can be there. It's exactly what he says." 



Of possible contingency plans, he said, "There's nothing in place at this point." 



"All of us at ABC look forward to Dick's fast and full recovery," said Andrea Wong, ABC's head of specials. 



Clark's company will also produce "The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards," which will air Jan. 16. He has traditionally had a more limited on-air role during the awards, confined to red-carpet interviews. 



Clark is a TV icon who hosted one of the most influential musical shows in history -- "Bandstand" (later renamed "American Bandstand"), which aired on ABC in some form or another over four decades. He also remains a hugely active TV producer, with numerous specials and series to his credit.