ABC celebrates Dick Clark with New Year’s Eve special

  • By Chuck Barney Contra Costa Times
  • Sunday, December 30, 2012 3:42pm
  • Life

Don’t miss, tonight: “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebrates Dick Clark.” Jenny McCarthy and Fergie host this prime-time tribute to the man who, since 1972, had taken great joy in counting us down to midnight. Clark, who died in April, is remembered via clips of past festivities and never-before-seen archival footage.

Also included: Performances by Taylor Swift, Neon Trees, Flo Rida and Carly Rae Jepson.

The celebration continues after the retrospective as Ryan Seacrest, who joined Clark as co-host in 2005, leads viewers into the new year. 8 p.m. on ABC.

Also tonight: “Live From Lincoln Center” presents “One Singular Sensation: Celebrating Marvin Hamlisch.” It’s a rousing tribute to the famed composer-conductor who died last summer. Audra McDonald is the host. 8 p.m., PBS.

“New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly” has the host of “The Voice” kicking off the celebration in prime time from New York City’s Times Square with plenty of musical accompaniment. 10 p.m., NBC.

Tuesday: In the 90-minute season opener of “Dance Moms,” we learn that Abby is steaming mad because the girls have been blowing off their classes. Her response? An open audition for new dancers. 9 p.m., Lifetime.

Wednesday: “Life on Fire” is a new documentary series that offers viewers an up-close look at volcanoes and the effect they have on the environment around them. Jeremy Irons narrates. 10 p.m., PBS.

The crazy creepiness continues on “American Horror Story: Asylum” as the monsignor (Joseph Fiennes) has a run-in with the devil and Dr. Arden’s (James Cromwell) experimenting comes to a surprising conclusion. 10 p.m., FX.

Thursday: We’ve got a shocker on “The Big Bang Theory.” Sheldon, yes Sheldon (Jim Parsons), is accused of sexual harassment by several of his female co-workers at the university. How can that be? Must be a horrible-and funny-mix up. 8 p.m., CBS.

“Buckwild,” a new reality series that follows nine brash, fun-loving young adults in West Virginia, has been called “The Redneck Jersey Shore.” Don’t say we didn’t warn you. 10 p.m., MTV.

Friday: The fifth and final season of “Merlin” opens with Colin Morgan returning in the role of the geeky, but brave, young wizard who had awesome magical powers way before that Harry Potter kid did. 10 p.m., Syfy.

Saturday: In season 2 of “Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off,” Team Ray and Team Fieri welcome Hines Ward, Carnie Wilson, Johnny Weir, Kathy Najimy, Dean McDermott and Gilbert Gottfried to their culinary throw-down. 9 p.m., Food Network.

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