I fear this is the kind of news that will push way more talented people off the ledge: Ryan Seacrest Productions has signed a new multiyear deal with Comcast Entertainment Group that expands his TV and New Media production biz across the cable giant's networks. The agreement gives the cable giant first-look rights to all his company's projects through August 2011. It also expands Seacrest's aslready in place deal to provide programming to Comcast's family of networks. So now, instead of just E! and The Style Network, Seacrest can program for G4, Versus, Golf Channel, exercise TV, FEARnet, Comcast Sportsnet and PBS Kids Sprout. (What, not Shark Week on The Discovery Channel?) The new pact also includes a new advertising relationship between E! and Seacrest's radio properties, which include the syndicated American Top 40 and the Los Angeles-based On-Air With Ryan Seacrest. The deal follows yesterday's news that Seacrest's longtime William Morris agent of 8 1/2 years Adam Sher is leaving to head up Ryan's production company. How sad is it that Comcast's Ted Harbert, who used to run ABC Entertainment, calls it "a personal and professional thrill" to be in even bigger business with the Viscount Of Vapidity. Yes, showbiz is very very unfair.
Is Ryan Seacrest Now In Play? His Agent About To Become His Production Partner
“I fear this is the kind of news that will push way more talented people off the ledge”
pretty damn funny, Nikki.
Comment by keven with an "e" — August 20, 2008 @ 5:41 pm
“Viscount of Vapidity.” HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!
Comment by Tuptim — August 20, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
More power to Seacrest for taking advantage while the opportunities are there. No one can deny he’s a “worker.”
I would, however, expect more from Ted Harbert. That quote is laughable and perhaps he’s been watching too much of his E! programming and his brain intelligence has shrunk?
Comment by Troy — August 20, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
I wonder if Ryan knows who he is really getting in bed with? Just take a look at the Comcast listing in Wikipedia. I knew they were horrible, but now I feel the word horrible is due an apology. They are one of the worst customer-relation companies in the world.
Comment by Cable Company From Hell — August 20, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
Nikki, I thought I felt a disturbance in the force today. Yikes! There is only one true response to Seacrest’s new venture: yawn.
Comment by savvydude — August 20, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
Thank god I don’t watch any of those channels. This might be why.
Comment by peggy — August 20, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
I love Ryan and don’t understand why everyone is hating on him. Be happy for the guy. I think his accomplishments are wonderful.
Comment by cmgsoon — August 20, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
i hate everyone and everything but this guy really is a hustler.
mad props to this guy.
hopefully he’ll make W/O a Paddle 3.
Comment by denver — August 21, 2008 @ 12:28 am
You’re going to be his best PR overseas, Nikki.
Honestly, before visiting your blog regularly for my highest enjoyment I didn’t know this gentleman (I know who Dick Clark is, I’m not totally ignorant). I like Piers Morgan (yep, it’s me… lol) and Simon Cowell.
In France we have an equivalent of Mr Seacrest, a very popular presenter working since the sixties. I guess in both cases the secret must be hard work and an intelligent sense and feeling of the manner to obtain consensus.
Comment by Thierry Attard — August 21, 2008 @ 4:14 am
Surely Satan had a hand in this deal…
Comment by Rich D — August 21, 2008 @ 6:01 am
Why are Ryan Seacrest and Elizabeth Montgomery getting a star on the Walk of Fame in the same year?
Comment by Jenn — August 21, 2008 @ 6:27 am
american cultural wrecking ball, swinging again.
velvet mafia 2.0…
‘bromance’ blllaarrrgh
Comment by edgar cayce jr — August 21, 2008 @ 6:46 am
Viscount of Vapidity. Fanfreakintastic!
Comment by Julie — August 21, 2008 @ 7:35 am
Ohhh Nikki…how do you really feel about the heir to Dick Clark’s life?
Someone has to do it….might as well be a out of sorts short guy who will never ever age.
Love the Shark week comment….Nikki is feeling good today!! haha!
Comment by Kimberly A. — August 21, 2008 @ 8:35 am
I’m not a big fan of Seacrest…in fact, I hate his guts. But you gotta respect the guy. He’s the hardest working man in showbiz and I predict that in the next 10 - 15 years he will show up on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans.
Comment by Ronald Reyes — August 21, 2008 @ 8:44 am
Aw, there’s a place for happy shiny people.
I just wish to fuck they weren’t paid ALL the money!
Comment by Mike Cane — August 21, 2008 @ 9:37 am
I guess I just don’t get why Seacrest is so important… I mean, good for him. But I don’t see him as this huge talent that makes me want to turn on my television (or now Internet connection)…
Hollywood is not about talent though, Nikki. You know that. It’s about connections. And occasionally, we do get blessed with talent too.
Comment by helenofpeel — August 21, 2008 @ 10:05 am
Wow the jealous actors that can’t get a job pushing a broom are amazing. Too bad for you, pushing the union to extremes and are now seeing the fruits of their labor. More reality shows with a single host and no actors or writers around to be paid.
Comment by Sour grapes much — August 21, 2008 @ 11:25 am
Good for him.
Comment by scott — August 21, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
Aww..shucks! He sure needs another 10M to fatten his already fat bank account!
Comment by Armand — August 21, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
First of all, i found this great site last week or two. I love this site.
I am just tire of reading about the stars on tv guide, people, entertainment tonight and such all the time.
behind the scenes of hollywood is very interesting.
Ryan Seacrest wants to be Dick Clark of HIS generation.
Dick is up in the years.
Pretty soon, Dick will retire some day.
To me, Ryan is the second coming of Dick Clark.
Comment by kazz falcon — August 21, 2008 @ 5:59 pm
I think that Ryan deserves everything that he is getting.
He works very hard. And he is a great person. Plus he is not in the crazy world of scandals like other celebrities
Comment by Sabrina — August 21, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
I have to wonder if he’s overextending himself, but the viewers and listeners will determine that in due course. And Nikki, the world isn’t a zero-sum game.
Comment by will — August 24, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
I was sure this article was going to be about the bidding war between Massengill and Summer’s Eve to get this epic douche to endorse their products.
Comment by Not So Fresh — August 26, 2008 @ 7:05 am