Ryan Seacrest: I Didn't Have a Meltdown; Was Just Being "Playful"
Credit: Joey Foley/Getty Images
Ryan Seacrest says he was "just having fun" on Tuesday night's Idol -- where he waltzed with a random audience member during Tim Urban's performance, did the air guitar and made a sexual quip to Adam Lambert.
"Often, I will playfully do things to amp up the energy for the live show, because it's at the end of my long day," Seacrest, 35, tells the Los Angeles Times of his hyper behavior, which caused Entertainment Weekly to declare that he'd "completely lost his everlovin mind."
PHOTOS: Idol's Top 12 this year
"I was enjoying it. We've done this show for nine years. When they take me out into the audience, sometimes the energy out there takes me to a different place," adds Seacrest, who also hosts a morning radio show on KIIS-FM, produces several shows for the E! network and hosts its news show.
Of his decision to dance with a beefy guy in the audience, which he joked was season 8 contestant Michael Sarver (it wasn't), he says, "That guy looked like the most inappropriate person to dance with, so I figured, 'Let's pick him up and just dance with him for a second.'"
PHOTOS: Amazing Idol makeovers
(Urban, meanwhile, has said, "I didn't really know what they were doing...people were laughing, so I just had to zone out and keep thinking about my song.")
Seacrest says most of his dialogue is "unscripted," including his quip to Lambert (he told the season 8 runner-up, "My tongue isn't nearly as talented as yours") and his joke about season 1 co-host Brian Dunkleman helming Idol Gives Back.
"I was also setting up the fact that we're going to do a 10-year anniversary and look back on all of the different things that have been a part of this show... including my see-through shirts, my frosted tips, Simon with the bad hair and his pants jacked up," Seacrest says, "so the 10th-anniversary season is gonna be fun."
Tell Us What You Think
17He wouldn't have a meltdown if he just came out and told everyone that he was gay because evryone knows that he is.
Ryan you are an untalented moron. I wish we could vote you off the show.
Ryan - you are an untaleted moron. I wish you could be booted off the show.
TO: "krys" who said: LBM, obviously Ryan's antics didn't 'harm' Tim's status as he was not voted off so your argument is moot. What is obvious, to use your term, is that you completely missed LBM's point.
LBM, obviously Ryan's antics didn't 'harm' Tim's status as he was not voted off so your argument is moot.
Ryan Seacrest owes Tim Urban an apology. What Seacrest did, and the postential for distraction, could have really harmed Urban's performance. And please - no snarky comments about Urban -I'm no fan either but there were huge stakes this week and it is unfathomable to me that Seacrest would make that sort of call. Seacrest owes Adam Lambert an apology as well. Although Lambert should NOT have had to feel as though he needed to tweet that he would be on his best behavior (ridic), Lambert was thoughtful enough to do so and here he is on his best family friendly behavior (as if he's incapable of it, again, ridic) and Seacrest goes and leads Lambert down this path - totally unfair to Lambert (were high stakes involved for Lambert Tuesday and Wednesday night as well!). But who Seacrest really owes an apology to is Brian Dunkelman - that crack was just downright meanspirited. Dunkelman has responded brilliantly actually btw - check it out on the internet. Seacrest, who I actually LIKE, was a first class boob on Tuesday night.
That was rude to Tim what was he thinking? Why doesn't he give at least one of his jobs to someone else that works hard and needs a break, how selfish. On that note I do like Ryan but he needs to grow up.
Tim should receive an apology from Ryan, this was a double elimination round and everyone of the contestants had to be spectacular to advance, and here comes secrest dancing making the audience laugh during Tim's performance.UNREAL
I saw Ryan on Oprah and was amazed at how much he works. To function properly, everyone needs to get adequate rest otherwise it starts affecting your mind and I know from experience. Ryan need to quit one of his 12 jobs before he has a real meltdown. It happens
Ryan HAS lost his mind and it is making the the show nearly unwatchable. Is it it any wonder Simon is leaving the show early--and by that I mean Simon has obviously already checked out of any emotional investment in the success of this season of Idol. He has NO patience for Seacrest's nonsense and doesn't care if their unfriendly, inappropriate exchanges help ruin the show. Now it is just a toss up of which one will make the most inappropriate scene on the show -- but most of Simon's are all Seacrest provoked. SO Seacrest GROW UP and be a professional host that people would like to welcome into the living room!
Ryan was totally obnoxious on Tues. night and totally unfair to Tim Urban. Could have screwed up his performance, but fortunately, he was able to ignore the laughing. Ryan acts like the show is all about him now and it's starting to bug me!
P.S. We don't care how long of a day you've had. You chose to work all kinds of jobs and I'm sure you're luceratively reimbursed for them, but that doesn't give you license to become a distraction on your IDOL gig, since I'm sure it is the most lucerative for you. We all like you, but don't push it!
Ryan is just having fun, lay off him!
He's probably exhausted and letting off steam. It's live TV, and people are a little stupid sometimes. But he's funny. And I love how he keeps Simon in his place. What can I say? He's a short guy and I love short guys!
Yeah, right, Ryan. I could make many comments about your behavior, but the only one I care to make is that it is not fair to Tim or any of the other contestants to have you potentially distracting the contestant, or distracting the audience and the viewers with you antics. If Tim had been voted off this week, we, as his fans, would have cried foul because you have no business doing anything during his performance that takes attention away from him and puts it on you. Grow up, Seacrest!
I think we need a new host on Idol. Ryan is TOOOOO drawin-out drama dude... it's gettin' kinda old.
I'm kinda gettin' a little tired of Ryan's drawing-out drama on Idol. I think we need a new host someone like Robyn Williams! HAHA!