Ryan Seacrest Almost Had a Different Job on 'American Idol'
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Ryan Seacrest is rattling American Idol fans with the news that he was almost given a different role from his iconic hosting gig.
The TV personality has hosted the popular singing competition show since its first-ever season in 2002, before soon becoming a household name. But according to a new revelation from the longtime host himself, the entire essence of the show was almost very different.
While chatting with Idol winner-turned-superstar Kelly Clarkson for the latest episode of her talk show, Seacrest, 48, admitted that he was almost selected as a judge for season one of Idol, not a host.
"Originally when the producers, Nigel [Lythgoe] and Ken [Warwick], were setting up the show, they had heard me on the radio here in Los Angeles and they thought that I might fit the panel to be up there with whoever else was already on," Seacrest explained in a clip from the new episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
"I guess Simon [Cowell] was already on board, and I don't know who else at that point," he continued, while noting that the hosting gig was really what he had his eye on at the time.
"I was like, 'Wait a minute, I would love to audition to be the host,' and so I auditioned eventually and I got the job," he recalled.
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"So I'm happy to still have the job," he further quipped to Clarkson, 41, who came onto the show as a contestant during the first season, and ultimately took home the show's first-ever winning title. She has since gone on to become one of pop's biggest star's, with three Grammy wins and now, even her own talk show.
Seacrest, though he's picked up an onslaught of other opportunities over the years, has remained on the show, and is currently the host of season 21, alongside judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
"What would it be like if you initially were one of the judges?" Clarkson wondered during her chat with Seacrest, though we know now that the original judges panel ended up being made up of Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
During his Kelly Clarkson Show appearance, Seacrest went on to say that he was practically made for the hosting gig, noting that he's in "auto host mode" all the time.
"I don't know that I'd be able to sit behind the desk and just give feedback," he stated, while joking, "I'd want to do that then toss it to commercial."
It seems that everything worked out exactly the way it was supposed to!
