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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > December > 13
Saturday, December 13, 2008
12/13: Interview with Ryan Seacrest’s mom about his show “Momma’s Boys”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I tried in vain last week to get Dunwoody High School grad and busiest man in Hollywood Ryan Seacrest on the phone. I wanted to talk to him about the new reality show he’s executive producing on NBC called “Momma’s Boys,” which debuts Tuesday at 10.
But alas, Seacrest was too busy. So I buzzed his mom Connie Seacrest, who still lives in Dunwoody for insight into her son. The show itself features three “momma’s boys” mixing it up in a mansion with 32 single women (several from Georgia) and the three moms.
“I never considered him a momma’s boy,” said Connie, who flew out to Hollywood in the fall to shoot show promos with Ryan. “But we have a great relationship. He likes to run things by me and I’m happy to tell him what I think. I’m prejudiced but the reason he survives out there is he still has some grounding and good ol’ Atlanta roots.”
Connie hears from her son frequently by email and talks to him on weekends when she has time. Even when “Idol” is off season, she can listen to him online every morning while he does his Los Angeles morning show or see him at 7 p.m. on E! “I can keep tabs on him, like if he lets his beard grow too long. You know — that scruff,” she said.
Naturally, she’d love for Ryan to settle down and find the right girl but she’s patient. (She recalls him bringing home some nice gals in high school but doesn’t get a chance to scrutinize them to any degree now.)
“We all want what’s best for our kids,” she said. “Sometimes it takes longer for some than others. For Ryan, it’s smart he knows what his time frame is. He wouldn’t be the best in relationships until he has more time to be a social person.”
“He wants to be successful,” she continued. “I think he’s put blinders on about letting himself fall in love. For now, that’s on the backburner.”
And yes, Connie and her husband Gary will have the fondue — a Seacrest Christmas tradition — ready for her son when he comes back to Atlanta next week.
On Sunday, I will post a blog entry about my visit to Gwinnett Arena to see Michael Johns at the Infinite Energy Tennis Slam, where he is singing Saturday night between tennis matches. On Monday, I’m trying to procure an interview with David Cook before his appearance at the Q100 Christmas concert also including Natasha Bedingfield and O.A.R.
