Ryan Seacrest

Ryan John Seacrest was born December 24, 1974 in Dunwoody, Georgia. He is an American television personality and anchor. Seacrest is also a former children's game show emcee who gained prominence as the host of the reality-television talent-search series American Idol

At a young age, he knew he wanted to be a DJ, and idolized radio personalities like Casey Kasem and Dick Clark. At the age of twelve, he made business cards for work, and handed them out when he met people.^[1] He also hosted the morning announcements at his high school.^[2]

Seacrest began his career in 1990 at age 16 while still in high school as an evening radio host for Atlanta's WSTR. He was one of Atlanta's youngest DJs with high ratings.^[3]

After completing high school, Seacrest went on to attend the University of Georgia where he majored in Journalism. During his freshman year of college, Seacrest was offered his first television hosting job as the host of ESPN's "Radical Outdoor Challenge," a program in which athletes competed against one another for cash prizes.^[3]

In 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 2001, Seacrest hosted the weekly syndicated internet game show, Click, which lasted only two seasons. Seacrest's first major television job was as the host of The New Edge, a weekend morning show created by CNET showcasing new technology. Later he co-hosted, with MTV's Maria Sansone, of the syndicated Gladiators 2000.

Seacrest's career took a turn in the right direction when he accepted the position as co-host of the hit reality TV series American Idol in 2002 in television with comedian Brian Dunkleman.

The program went on to become a success when the ratings went throught the roof. This put Seacrest in the national spotlight. The following year, he became the sole host when Dunkleman left the show. In 2003, he hosted the spin-off show, American Juniors.

In January 2004 in television, 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, 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.^[4] This show, also known as On Air With Ryan Seacrest, remains on the air.

In late April 2005, Seacrest received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the age of 30. The reward was for his contributions as a radio personality, and not for his television work.

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.^[5] On December 31, 2005 Seacrest performed much of the show's hosting duties. Dick Clark's role was limited by speech and mobility challenges 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).^[6]

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. ^[7] 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.

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.^[8]

Seacrest dated actress Shana Wall from 2004 through 2005. They have since been spotted together on various occasions.^[9] In March 2006, he was photographed kissing actress Teri Hatcher, who later told Access Hollywood that she was "not attached."^[10] Seacrest also stated on the May 2, 2006 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show that he, "went out with Teri Hatcher a couple times, but that was it."

In a 2003 interview, Ryan 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."^[11] Stuff magazine called him "the American poster boy for metrosexuality."^[12]

In an episode of Robot Chicken they have Seacrest saying his catchphrase "Seacrest out!" in various place: first on the set of American Idol, then sliding into home plate at a baseball game, and finally wearing a dress in front of a mirror.^{[citation needed]}

Seacrest's height appears to be a constant source of humor for the media including E! News's E! channel sister show The Soup. One clip showed The Soup host Joel McHale and Seacrest together at the 2006 Emmy Awards, Seacrest visibly stepping on a platform to get on equal footing with McHale. "Here's the scary part," McHale commented, "I'm five foot-three." (in reality, McHale is 6' 1").

His co-host on E! News, Giuliana DePandi, is known for wearing flat shoes on the show when together.

His height has varied in reports between 5' 5" (1.65m) to 5' 9" (1.75m). Seacrest officially claims the latter. Rumors continue to persist about his height and no recorded "on camera" measurements have put these to rest.

• On Air with Ryan Seacrest: Host, executive producer
• American Top 40: Host
• 2003 Radio Music Awards: Co-host

• Click: Host
• E! News Live: Co-Host
• Gladiators 2000: Co-Host
• Wild Animal Games: Host
• The New Edge (show): Host
• Ultimate Revenge: Host
• Reality Check: Jack Craft
• The NBC Saturday Night Movie: Host
• American Idol: Host (season 2-present) Co-Host (season 1)
• American Juniors: Host
• Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve: Co-host, executive producer
• Hey Arnold!: Fighting Families Host
• Riverworld: Sam
• E! News: Executive producer
• 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
• NBC Saturday Night Movie: Host
• Disneyland 2000: 45 Years of Magic: Host

Seacrest has a personal clothing line, called the R Line.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Ryan Seacrest.

• RyanSeacrest.com, official website
• Ryan Seacrest: Behind the Scenes at E!
• Ryan Seacrest at IMDb
• Larry King Live interview
• Time Out New York interview
• DigitalReview.net Biography and reviews of Ryan Seacrest