• Los Angeles Times, Tuesday, December 26, 2006 10:49 AM

Carson Daly and Ryan Seacrest are about the same age, have similar jobs and sport the same laid-back manner. But the former dismisses any idea that they are in a rivalry to replace one TV pop music icon.

"Dick Clark is a huge inspiration for the huge success he's achieved," Daly says. "But that's where I stop. The world is changing. I'm young; I have my own thoughts as a producer. I'm not trying to keep his tradition. I'm trying to do my own."

Apparently, it's just a coincidence that the two will be back next week for a second annual New Year's Eve programming duel, which could become a yearly event as the 77-year-old tries to recover from a 2004 stroke.

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