The most powerful man in Reality TV
Photo: @THR
Ryan took the number one spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s Reality Power list. The article explaining why he’s number one (not that we need any convincing!) is a great read. Here are a few of the many highlights:
He is everywhere. For the impact he has made — and continues to make — as the agent and arbiter of popular culture, the American Idol host is No. 1 on our list.
Burke, who previously served as Comcast’s COO, couldn’t be happier. “It is rare to find someone who excels both in front of and behind the camera, but that certainly applies to Ryan,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s been a big part of E!’s success in recent years both on-air and as a producer, and we are pleased to be in business with him.”
Indeed, in a universe where many outsiders ask, “What does this man do to earn more than $55 million a year?” — after all, he doesn’t act, sing or dance — Seacrest has the industry wondering, what does he not do?
Seacrest has another 19 projects in development and nine more being considered. They range from game shows to docuseries, and he smiles at the mention of each of them. Unlike many brand-name producers who slap their names on series and walk away, Seacrest is famous for his involvement in every stage, from casting to tone to the music in his shows.
“I work best inundated with things,” Seacrest says, “when it’s like raining information.”
To hear Fuller tell it, it is Seacrest who deserves much of the credit. “He’s the unsung hero of American Idol,” gushes Fuller, who praises the ease with which Seacrest carries the live show, comparing him as many do to legends like Dick Clark. “Ryan is one person I would not want to lose.”
Finally, there’s his hush-hush cable network. Seacrest says the idea is “still very active,” and he will be a partner in it if the team, which includes CAA and live entertainment giant AEG, can get it on the air.
Read more: Ryan Seacrest Is No. 1 on THR’s Reality Power List
Ryan’s position at the top of this list is hard-earned and well-deserved, and the article highlights a side of Ryan that often seems to be overlooked by those who underestimate him or think he’s just a [very] pretty face or an inoffensive purveyor of all things pop culture.
