applaud his efforts

I know this almost seems like a yearly event now, but let's just get it out of the way: how many of you watched New Year's Rockin' Eve 2007 out of sheer morbid curiosity over how much Dick Clark has improved since last year's broadcast? Remember, the only public appearance he made in between the two New Year's Eve broadcasts was when he was honored at the Grammys Emmys, and he only seemed in slightly better shape then.

So, how'd he fare this year? A little better: his voice was a little more understandable and he didn't lose his breath as much. He seemed to be able to move, albeit deliberately. But, like last year, the more he spoke, the less you could understand him, and the more it seemed like he was behind the action that was going on in Times Square (especially on the countdown to midnight).

This begs the question, then: Is it time for ol' Dick to finally hang up the microphone?