Ryan Seacrest Begins 'American Idol' Honoring Dick Clark

Wednesday's "American Idol" began not so much with buzz about eliminations and stand-out performances, but with a latter-day pop culture icon bidding "goodbye" to a pioneer who paved his way.

Host Ryan Seacrest had a working relationship and friendship - call them perhaps "apprentice" and "master" of ceremonies, if you will - with Dick Clark stretching back to 2005. That was when Seacrest was named executive producer, co-host and eventual successor host of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" year-end prime time party. That year, Seacrest handled the bulk of hosting duties as Clark recovered from a recent stroke, but the two hosted the show side-by-side every year after.

Wednesday afternoon, a massive heart attack ended Clark's long, storied life as a showman of entertainment and music's hottest trends at 82 years old. Wednesday evening, Seacrest paid respect to the lost entertainment legend. Clark wouldn't have had it any other way than for a next-big-thing search like "Idol" to give it their best no matter what, Seacrest said.

"Our thoughts and our prayers go out to his family. I know this guy - he's in a better place, saying, 'Hey, let's get on with the show, okay?'" Seacrest said. "You got it, boss.

"This is a tremendously emotional day for so many people - fans of music, fans of television, broadcasters and certainly me personally, as Dick Clark was one of those incredible pioneers of our business," Seacrest said before the show. "He taught me how to do television."

In a sense, Clark's passing has surreal timing. "Soul Train" creator, host and executive producer Don Cornelius always said that in the infancy of the black-music showcase that paved the way for everything BET became as a network, he envisioned a take on Clark's long-running music showcase "American Bandstand" that emphasized black music. Now, the two have passed away within less than four months of one another, Cornelius having died in January.

To be a fly on an angel's shoulder in Heaven, hearing the chat those two are probably having waiting at the pearly gates.

Seacrest admits indeed that it was Clark's style and showmanship that paved the way for him to become today's own pop patron saint, there wherever the Next Big Thing is happening.

"I studied him as a kid, and I had the fortunate opportunity to work with him for several years on New Year's Eve. And I am so sad and I am grateful for what he has given us, and certainly what he has given me . . . It was a tough night to do the show. I miss him, and there was nobody like him," Seacrest said later.