NEW YORK – The Times Square ball wasn’t the only pricey piece of robotics called into service on New Year’s Eve, 2008.  The all-new animatronic Dick Clark was put into action, four years after the human Dick Clark suffered a stroke.

“We were hesitant about revealing the mechanical origins of this year’s New Year’s Eve host – but, when people didn’t realize Dick was a robot, we felt it was best to be forthcoming,” said Times Square event planner Charles Flannery.

The mechanical unit, lovingly dubbed “RoboDick“, was specifically programmed to include certain characteristics and imperfections that have been associated with the post-stroke Clark.

“What we are finding is that people are more accepting after they learn that Dick’s an android.  It seems that many folks are more tolerable of certain quirks when they understand they are pre-programmed responses, rather than normal human flaws.”

Animatronic celebrity fools millions

Critics are calling the enthusiastic android a step back for the rights of differently-abled persons.  “This is a prime opportunity for ABC to demonstrate that stroke victims are just as capable as any other person,” said Marley Andrews, spokesperson for Seattle-based Bodies and Hearts, a human rights group.  “To create a robot that mimics the after-effects of a natural physical event is ridiculous.  Why not just let the real Clark handle things?  At least his slurred speech isn’t a result of mainlining heroin, like it is for certain other people who are given microphones by ABC.”

Flannery says that the animatronic Clark represents the best of both worlds.  “People can see how a real stroke victim might perform, without incurring any emotional risk.”  ABC has no immediate plans to discontinue the use of RoboDick.

The animatronic Clark reportedly cost $2.6 million dollars to create.

Originally posted 2009-01-03 22:32:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter