Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest (1972- )

RunningVariety show

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest  is an annual television special that airs every New Year's Eve on ABC. The special broadcasts from New York City's Times Square, and prominently features coverage of its annual ball drop event, along with live and pre-recorded musical performances by popular musicians from Times Square and Hollywood, respectively. Its creator and namesake was the entertainer Dick Clark, who conceived New Year's Rockin' Eve as a younger-skewing competitor to Guy Lombardo's popular and long-running New Year's Eve big band broadcasts on CBS. The first two editions, which were hosted by Three Dog Night and George Carlin, respectively, and featured Dick Clark assuming the role of Times Square reporter, were broadcast by NBC for 1973 and 1974, respectively. In 1974-75, the program moved to its current home of ABC, and Clark assumed the role of host.

Following the death of Guy Lombardo and the decline of the Royal Canadians' special, New Year's Rockin' Eve grew in popularity, and became ingrained in pop culture—even prompting Clark himself to make appearances on other programs in parody of his role. To this day, New Year's Rockin' Eve has remained the highest-rated New Year's Eve special broadcast by the United States' major television networks; its 2012 edition peaked at 22.6 million home viewers—not including viewers watching from public locations which are not measured by Nielsen.

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
2025-12-31Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 - Part 3Dec 31, 2025
2025-12-31Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 - Part 2Dec 31, 2025
2025-12-31Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 - Part 1Dec 31, 2025
2025-12-31Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 - Part 2Dec 31, 2025
2025-12-31Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 - Part 1Dec 31, 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest premiere?

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest premiered on December 31, 1972

Was the show known by the same title when it first aired in 1972?

No, the show was originally called "New Year's Rockin' Eve" when it first aired in 1972

Who was the host of "New Year's Rockin' Eve" in 1972?

The original host of "New Year's Rockin' Eve" in 1972 was Dick Clark.

Was Ryan Seacrest part of the original cast?

No, Ryan Seacrest did not join the show until 2005, so he was not part of the original cast in 1972.

Who were some of the performers on the first "New Year's Rockin' Eve"?

Some of the performers on the first "New Year's Rockin' Eve" in 1972 were Three Dog Night, Al Green, and Helen Reddy.

How long has the Times Square ball drop been a part of the show?

The Times Square ball drop has been a part of the show since its inception in 1972.

How many simultaneous celebrations of "New Year's Rockin' Eve" are there across the US?

"New Year's Rockin' Eve" has simultaneous celebrations in every US time zone, making it three in total.

Has the show ever been pre-taped or broadcast from a different location?

Yes, the show has been pre-taped in the past and has also been broadcast from different locations, such as Las Vegas.

Did the show always have a corresponding special for New Year's Day?

No, the New Year's Day special was not added until 2000.

Who replaced Dick Clark as the main host after his stroke in 2004?

Ryan Seacrest replaced Dick Clark as the main host after his stroke in 2004.

Cast

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Characters

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Also known as

  • Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (United States)

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