By Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times –
Where in the world is Ryan Seacrest?
A man who has built a career on sheer ubiquitousness, Seacrest’s much-touted inclusion as a special correspondent for NBC’s Olympic coverage seemed both jarring — enough about these athletes, let’s talk Mariah! — and eerily inevitable. Who would be surprised if he is next seen administering the oath of office come January?
And yet Seacrest’s presence at the London Games has been most notable for its absence.
During early days, as the “Today” team settled in on the Thames, we heard a lot about what Seacrest was going to do (interview athletes, keep track of social media), and watched as he and Matt Lauer palled around. Just, you know, a couple of blokes in London town, not two highly ambitious men who, earlier this year, jokingly circled each other amid rumors (ha, ha) that Seacrest might be vying for Lauer’s job.
But after an initial big showing, Seacrest has gone strangely silent, especially in prime time. On the “Today” show, he’s joined the regular team to participate in a few group events — the “Today” team tries racewalking! Lauer makes on Vanity Fair’s Best Dressed! — and, on Wednesday, offer a pre-taped interview about gymnast Daniel Leyva’s relationship with his personal coach who is also his stepdad.
But if NBC executives hoped Seacrest would bring ratings magic, they may be disappointed — early numbers indicate that while up from last week, and once again ahead of “Good Morning America,” “Today” is falling short of past Olympic numbers.
In prime time, Seacrest’s role is even less clear. NBC’s decision to use his pre-taped heart to heart with Michael Phelps and fam in place of Akram Khan’s tribute to the 2005 London bombing victims during the opening ceremony probably didn’t help — through no fault of his own, Seacrest became the first big target for critics and coverage-haters, an instant symbol of NBC’s self-referential and often overly American-centric tone.
Phelps went on to fall short in his first event, as did favored gymnast Jordyn Wieber soon after Seacrest interviewed her and teammate Gabby Douglas. A Seacrest curse? Not exactly. On Tuesday, Seacrest showed up in prime time, using a pre-taped interview with Phelps and his coach to introduce the men’s 200 meter butterfly; Phelps took silver and tied for the world record number of Olympic medals (he would break the record later that day).
But even by the relatively low standards of the genre, none of his interviews have been great, highlighting not only his lack of sports knowledge but also the mystifyingly successful Seacrest brand of blandocity. Though inarguably one of the hardest workers in the industry, he is, on television anyway, a personality marked mostly by lack of personality, a greeter more than a host, a scrim more than a player.
Honed by years spent riding herd on the emotional maelstrom that is “American Idol,” he has developed an air of friendly but purely passing interest. He’s that hand on your shoulder that could mean encouragement or sympathy or just a gentle reminder to keep things moving because, you know, you had your shot and we need the room.
There is a steeliness to Seacrest that allows him to hold his own against the likes of Simon Cowell or, for that matter, Bob Costas, but its origins are unclear — he is neither artist nor entertainer; he is certainly not a journalist. He is a survivor but one is never quite certain to what end. Surely it cannot be to ask a bronze medal winner how he is feeling.
During his time with the American women gymnasts, he did gamely attempt a split (something Savannah Guthrie wisely refused to do) but he also, rather embarrassingly, told them he had “personally” passed along their affection for his pal Justin Bieber, who in turn would be sending them “a package.” This kicked off a weirdly high Olympics profile for the singer who has, thus far, tweeted congratulations to gold-winning swimmer Missy Franklin and Canadian gymnast Dominique Pegg.
Take that, British equestrian Zara Phillips. Sure, you have two princes and a duchess watching you, but Seacrest delivered Bieber.
