Problem with the "he is sort of there" sort of host is that the worst kept secret in talk shows is the host has to appeal to people. There are maybe a dozen or so guests who can significantly increase the ratings to a given show. Otherwise, the ratings are based on whether viewers will watch the host for the sake of the host (oddly the opposite is true of a music DJ, which again explains why Seacrest's will succeed in Arbitrons... they listen for Lady Gaga, not for him).
I don't think Seacrest "makes it look easy." Time and again, he has proven that he is underwhelming, unengaging, just there to fill the gaps between the stuff people actually want to see. People did not watch the Today show when I was younger; they watched Bryant and Katie. Not sure the same would be said about Ryan and Ann. On Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 10:09 AM, Greg Schienke <gschie...@gmail.com> wrote: > God and my wife know just how much I dislike American Idol (and all > reality shows, but I digress), but when I am forced to be in the room > when it is on, I think that Ryan Seacrest is very good because "he is > just sort of there." The host of Idol is the lesser part of the > triangle dynamic of the show and Seacrest appears to accept that role. > Even more importantly during the audition phase of the show (which is > the part I truly hate because I feel so bad for some of the people > that I am uncomfortable), Seacrest appears to honestly feel bad for > those told they won't be going on, at least those people who were > sincere before going into the room with the judges. > > In some ways I think knocking on Seacrest is like making fun of Barney > in that it is a simple way for a person to feel that he or she has a > bond with those people who agree. At best I was apathetic towards > Barney, but avoided using him for an easy joke. However, after seeing > how much my daughter loves the show and by extension Barney, I've > reached the conclusion that most of the people making fun Barney do so > because it is an easy joke or they have never seen the effect of that > purple dinosaur on a toddler. Personally, even if I was prone to make > fun of Barney I would be less apt after watching my daughter watch > him. There are probably a million-and-one reasons to mock Ryan > Seacrest, but within the context of American Idol he is very good. > > Now, as for potential morning-show hosts, it is a shame that Tom > Bergeron is apparently never considered. I can understand why he > would not want to give up his high-paying, high-profile jobs at ABC > and I know the 20 months of Breakfast Time were lightening in a > bottle, but I think I'd actually DVR the first hour of a morning show > if Bergeron was one of the hosts. > > Greg > > > > -- > United Wisconsin is for Wisconsin residents to sign a pledge to recall Scott > Walker. Since we can not distribute the actual petitions until 11/3/11, sign > a pledge for recall as we will only have 60 days to collect 540,206 > signatures. > > The database will be essential for a successful recall. > http://www.UnitedWisconsin.com <http://www.unitedwisconsin.com/> > > -- > TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "TV or Not TV" group. > To post to this group, send email to tvornottv@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > tvornottv-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -- Kevin M. (RPCV) -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to tvornottv@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tvornottv-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
