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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2007 > September > 06 > Entry
9/7: Seacrest gabs to the media
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ryan Seacrest is not only hosting the E! pre-Emmy red-carpet festivities, but he’ll also be hosting the awards show on Fox Sept. 16. The self-deprecating Dunwoody High School graduate — who also hosts a morning radio show in Los Angeles, the American Top 40 radio countdown (heard on locally on Star 94), “American Idol,” E! network news and the upcoming Super Bowl entertainment festivities — actually found a few minutes to talk to the media this week:
Q: [the first few questions are mine] So you say you’re doing a song-and-dance routine?
Seacrest: Rodney — you know my training and background… We’re still fine tuning exactly how we’re going to pull that off. When I get back to L.A. after Charleston [for “Idol” later round auditions], I will have a better answer for that. We are going to open with a musical number.
Q: We have heard you sing a couple of times on the show
Seacrest: Yes, I have a great falsetto. I can hit those high notes.
Q: You probably have very little time to actually watch TV but what do you see when you have the chance?
Seacrest: Fortunately, I have a DVR. I just don’t see things in real time. I also have access at the E! newsroom. They get tapes and DVDs of everything.
Q: So what do you watch?
Seacrest: In terms of comedies, I like ‘The Office.’ I like ‘Desperate Housewives.’ ‘30 Rock’ makes me laugh. I’m into ‘Heroes.’ Sometimes I catch the ‘American Idol’ results show to see who got kicked off.
The rest are questions asked by other media folks:
Q: Do you ever say no when people invite you to do something?
Seacrest: I was the kid who wasn’t always asked to the dance. When I was much younger, I was picked on a little bit so to be asked to do anything is exciting now. I do have a fear of failing. I don’t know how to do anything else. When opportunities come, I take them.
Q: You aren’t known as a standup comedian. Are you working with any to polish your comedic chops [for the Emmys]?
Seacrest: There will be plenty of comedy, thank God. Good news is Lewis Black, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Ellen [DeGeneres], they’ve all RSVPed. We know there will be laughs within those three hours. I’m not a standup. I don’t think I’ll try to prove myself to be one.
Q: But you will have to entertain in some way, right?
Seacrest: I will try to make the show fun. I’d love to be funny and I’m going to try my best to have a sense of humor. Some laughed just when they heard the news that Ryan Seacrest is hosting the primetime Emmys.
Q: Is America too celebrity obsessed now?
Seacrest: It’s escapism. I think we have plenty of drama and plenty of activity if you will in our own lives. And in some strange way, we feel better about ourselves by escaping into the lives of celebrities.
Q: Do you think Britney Spears can make a comeback?
Seacrest: Well, that is a very interesting question. Her single [“Gimme More”], the version she did with [Atlanta rapper] T.I. got better feedback than her alone. The radio reaction wasn’t overwhelming, but I do think people are warming to that single now. The feedback is getting better. I think there will be quite an interest to what she does at the VMAs. I’m looking forward to it.
Q: There have been complaints that this year’s ‘Idol’ group wasn’t as interesting as past ones. What happened?
Seacrest: We could have done a better job with the storytelling of the contestants, looking at who they are, where they came from, setting up the bio pieces. I think we’ll do more of that this season.
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