Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest
Born	December 24, 1974 (1974-12-24) (age 34) Dunwoody, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Reality and game show host, television and radio personality
Years active	1990 — present

Ryan John Seacrest (born December 24, 1974) is an Emmy Award-nominated American television/radio host and television producer. A longtime broadcaster, Seacrest gained fame as host of the FOX reality show American Idol. While he continues to host that show, Seacrest has also become a co-host of E! News, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, as well as such radio shows as On Air with Ryan Seacrest on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and American Top 40. Seacrest was most recently featured in the seventh season of American Idol.

Biography

Ryan Seacrest was born in Dunwoody, Georgia, the son of Constance Marie née Zullinger, a homemaker, and Gary Lee Seacrest, an attorney.^[1][2][3] He has a younger sister, Meredith, and is of Swiss descent.^[4] At a young age, he knew he wanted to be a DJ, and idolized radio personalities like Casey Kasem and Dick Clark. Ryan hosted the morning announcements at his high school, Dunwoody High School, from which he graduated in 1993. During his academic career, Seacrest was a staff writer with the school paper, a member of the model UN club and captain of the Dunwoody High School Swim Team (The Beavers)^[5].

Personal life

Seacrest reportedly earns $32 million a year, according to Forbes.^[6]

Seacrest reveales he dated Kerri Kasem in 2003; Shana Wall from 2003-05; Paulina Rubio from 2005-06; Sheryl Crowe in 2006; Holly Huddleston, Sophie Monk early 2008 and right now he dating Erica Lancelotti^[7].

In March 2006, he was photographed kissing actress Teri Hatcher, who later told Access Hollywood that she was "not attached."^[8] Seacrest also stated on the May 2, 2006 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show that he and Hatcher "went out a couple times, but that was it."^[9]

In a 2003 interview, Seacrest answered gay rumors in an interview with the weekly entertainment magazine Steppin' Out, "I'm trying to think of the best way to describe the feeling I get when I hear that particular rumor. I am a certain way. I am relatively clean cut and I do like to shop for clothes. If I had to break it down stereotypically, that would be a gay male habit. Well for me it's not. It's a straight male habit haha." Stuff magazine called him "the American poster boy for metrosexuality.

Career

1990s

Seacrest began his career in 1990 at age 15 with Atlanta radio station "Star 94" (WSTR-FM) while still in high school by interning with nighttime personality Tom Sullivan. Sullivan trained Seacrest in all aspects of broadcasting and put him on the air for the first radio broadcast of his career.^[10] He made his first television appearance in 1993, hosting the Radical Outdoor Challenge.

In 1995, Seacrest became the afternoon drive DJ at "Star 98.7" (KYSR-FM), an adult contemporary radio station in Los Angeles, California. Despite all of his other projects, he remained committed to that DJ role until 2003. Also during his early twenties, Seacrest hosted a few short-lived game shows. His first TV gig was Gladiators 2000 for syndication and Wild Animal Games for Fox Family (now ABC Family). In 1997, Seacrest hosted the weekly syndicated internet game Click, which lasted only two seasons. Also from time to time he became a substitute host for E!'s Talk Soup.

2000-present

Seacrest appeared as the host of the fictional game show "Lover's Lane" on "Beverly Hills, 90210" in "The Final Proof".

Seacrest's first major television job was as the host of "The New Edge", a weekend morning show created by CNET showcasing new technology. Seacrest accepted the position as co-host of the hit reality TV series "American Idol" in 2002 with comedian Brian Dunkleman.

"American Idol" went on to become a success when the ratings went through the roof. This put Seacrest in the national spotlight. The following year, he became the sole host when Dunkleman left the show. (In a 2005 interview on the syndicated Howard Stern Show, Dunkleman insisted that it was his idea to leave "Idol", to pursue his career as an actor, but he was bitter at Seacrest's occasional put-downs after Dunkleman's departure.) In 2003, Seacrest hosted the spin-off show, "American Juniors".

In January 2003, Seacrest launched a daily entertainment/variety/talk syndicated television program, "On Air with Ryan Seacrest". Due to low ratings, the show was cancelled and aired its last episode on September 17, 2004. In January of 2004, Seacrest became the new host of the legendary radio program "American Top 40", created and formerly hosted by Casey Kasem. The show was syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks. Before he took over as host on AT40, he was a substitute host four times in 2003. In February 2004, Seacrest became host of popular Los Angeles radio station KIIS's morning show, replacing long-time host Rick Dees.^[11] This show, also known as On Air With Ryan Seacrest, remains on the air. "Every day I've showed up at a radio station, and every day I've essentially talked on the radio. I mean every day of my life — Monday through Friday — since I was 15. So for me, I'm so used to walking into a studio and having interesting conversations people can relate to. It's my job."^[12]

In January 2005, Seacrest hosted the "Celebration of Freedom" concert in Washington, DC for President George W. Bush, the Bush family and the United States Military.^[13]

In late April 2005, Seacrest received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the age of 30.

In August 2005, it was announced that Seacrest would become executive producer and co-host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, and that he would be the legendary producer-host's eventual successor.^[14] On December 31, 2005 Seacrest performed much of the show's hosting duties. Dick Clark's role was limited by speech and mobility issues due to his recovery from a stroke. Seacrest also occasionally serves as a substitute host on the CNN television program Larry King Live.

In January 2006, U.S. cable channel E! announced a three-year, $21 million deal for Seacrest to host and produce various programs, including E! News and its red carpet awards show coverages (E!'s signature piece of original programming).^[15] An Associated Press profile portrayed Seacrest as using both the deal with E! and the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve involvement as a springboard towards a long-lasting career in television production and ownership. ^[16] In April 2006, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for co-hosting the 2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. Seacrest had a very amusing cameo in the summer 2007 blockbuster film Knocked Up, where he steps out of his usual friendly host role on E! and rants about the stupidity of the interviews he has to conduct, noting that no one has anything to say about an exit strategy in Iraq or dealing with (presumably North) Korea.

Seacrest hosted the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 16, 2007.^[17]

In May 2008, reports said Seacrest would be executive producer for a new reality dating show, "Momma's Boy," for NBC. According to a casting announcement, the series will follow mothers as they work with their sons to find their perfect match^[18].

Seacrest is also the executive producer of E! reality show Denise Richards: It's Complicated which premiered on May 26, 2008. The show has received numerous negative reviews. The Boston Herald rated the show a D. It's critic Mark A. Perigard said of the first episode:

"Denise Richards’ life is one steaming pile of pig poop...Literally"^[19].

In August of 2008, ABC picked up the option in Seacrest's contract to extend him as co-host of New Years Eve through 2010, ringing in 2011, also renaming the program 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest', to reflect Seacrest's success as co-host, said in a statement by Orly Anderson, president of Dick Clark Productions. ^[20].

In August of 2008, Ryan Seacest names his longtime William Morris Agent, Adam Sher, as C.E.O. of Ryan Seacrest Productions. ^[21]

In August of 2008, Ryan inks an expansive deal with the Comcast Entertainment Group, keeping him on E!Entertainment Television through early 2012. Comcast also gets first-look rights at all Ryan Seacrest Productions products.^[22]

Radio

• On Air with Ryan Seacrest: Host, executive producer
• American Top 40: Host
• 2003 Radio Music Awards: Co-host
• Star 98.7: Former Afternoon Drive Deejay at the Adult Contemporary Los Angeles station.
• 102.7 KIIS-FM: Current Morning Drive Deejay with co-host Ellen K on the Top 40 Los Angeles station.
• 100.3 Z-100: Co-Host
• 99.9 Virgin Radio : On air with Ryan Seacrest
• 107.5 The River : On air with Ryan Seacrest
• Z99.5 WZPL: Afternoon show (4-7pm) host, whilst regular deejay Kelly McKay is on medical leave.

Film

• Knocked Up as Himself
• Get Smart as Himself (Host of American Top 40)

Television

• CNET Central: Co-Host
• Miley & Mandy as Himself
• Super Bowl XLII (2008) Host for pregame and halftime shows
• Gladiators 2000: Co-Host
• Wild Animal Games: Host
• The New Edge: Host
• Ultimate Revenge: Host
• Fear Factor: Contestant
• Reality Check: Jack Craft
• The NBC Saturday Night Movie: Host
• American Idol: Co-Host (season 1); Host (season 2-present)
• American Juniors: Host
• Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve: Co-host, executive producer
• Hey Arnold!: Fighting Families Host
• E! News: co-host
• Larry King Live: Guest host, substitute host
• Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade: (2005) Host
• America's Party: Live from Las Vegas: Host
• Good Day Live: Guest host
• Disneyland 2000: 45 Years of Magic: Host
• Robot Chicken: (2005) Himself
• Click: Host
• 59th Primetime Emmy Awards: Host
• Mind of Mencia: (2005) Himself
• Blind Date: Himself
• Punk'd: Himself

In 2008 it was announced he has 2 new shows: Bromance, a reality show on MTV featuring Brody Jenner,^[23] and an untitled scripted series he is producing with Paris Hilton.^[24]

References

External links

• Official website
• TheBeat 94.5fm - Ryan host the show "at 40 with Ryan Seacrest"
• Ryan Seacrest at the Internet Movie Database
• Larry King Live interview
• Time Out New York interview
• DigitalReview.net Biography and reviews of Ryan Seacrest