Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest annual special in Times Square in New York is still set to take place. This is despite the surge of Omicron cases in New York City.
Deadline reports that ABC is still proceeding with the annual special, albeit with a smaller audience and tighter regulations such as mask-wearing and social distancing. NY Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city intended to proceed with the ball drop, but the celebrations would be highly regulated due to high volumes of the Covid Omicron variant.
Some other annual televised celebrations have been canceled due to Omicron concerns, including Fox’s New Year’s Eve Toast & Roast 2022 which was to be hosted by former Community stars Ken Jeong and Joel McHale. Jeong expressed support for the cancellation and has been highly critical of Omicron skeptics.
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve first aired on New Year’s Eve of 1972. It was created by radio and television personality Dick Clark who hosted regularly from 1973 to 1999 and from 2001 to 2004. A stroke in 2004 caused speech issues for Clark, and he handed the hosting responsibility to American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest in 2005. Clark passed away in 2012.
With the Omicron variant still changing certain regulations, the current state of the special is subject to change. Should New York choose to tighten restrictions, there is still the possibility of the event being canceled or altered.
We at The Nerd Stash want to hear you’re thoughts on this matter. Should Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve go on despite the Omicron surge? Is it time to get back to normal? Or is ABC opening a can of worms hosting the special in this wave of uncertainty? Share your opinions on this matter in the comment section, and please be respectful in doing so.