Did you watch the Emmy Awards on Sunday night? If you did, then you likely saw the show’s touching tribute in honor of the legendary Dick Clark. As a part of the tribute to Clark, singer (and pop culture icon) Barry Manilow performed “Bandstand Boogie,” the theme from Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.”
Shortly after Manilow finished his song he embraced Clark and they exited the stage. But, only a few minutes later Manilow was back front and center to accept an Emmy for outstanding individual performance in a variety or music program for a show he did on PBS. Manilow’s win seemed to come as a surprise to him. (At least that’s what he kept saying, though he did readily whip out an acceptance speech from his jacket pocket—but who am I to judge?) During his speech Manilow revealed that he was just hours away from undergoing arthroscopic surgery – to repair cartilage tears in both hips-and he planned to take his gold statuette into the operating room.
I had to laugh. Which is not to say that I didn’t wish him well with his surgery, but the mere image of Manilow clutching his gold statuette (much like a child would cling to a stuffed bear) as they wheeled him into the operating room-was quite amusing to me. Manilow referred to the Emmy as a “good luck charm” and apparently it was.
On Monday, Manilow’s publicist released a statement that said the singer had come through the operation “swimmingly” and had already left the hospital and was recovering at his Palm Springs home. The statement went on to say that Manilow’s recovery and rehabilitation is expected to take six to eight weeks then it’s back to work. Manilow will perform in Atlantic City and Chicago in October before returning to his regular gig at the Las Vegas Hilton in November.
I wonder if Emmy will be going along for the ride?