American Idol season 18: Ryan Seacret returning as host
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the entire judging panel, including the likes of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie, would be coming back for another batch of episodes. It was strange at the time that Ryan was not included in that, but there was never any serious doubt that he would depart. He’s been a part of the show from the beginning, and we think that most of the reason for the wait had to do with all of the other duties that he has. He’s a busy guy when it comes to the world of television and there are a lot of different things that need to be properly negotiated.
Ryan’s deal is done for him to be there for the taping of auditions this fall — by auditions, we mean mostly the ones filmed with the judges. It’s far from the first thing contestants go through on their road to stardom.
For some more American Idol video coverage, check out the latest on the subject of the show’s future below! After you check that out, subscribe to CarterMatt on YouTube and then also view our American Idol playlist for more news.
In a statement (via Deadline), here is some of what Ryan had to say about getting back this gig:
“American Idol has been my home for 17 seasons and I can’t wait to return to the stage … It’s the greatest gift to be able to play a part in discovering new talent with a franchise that has been such a relevant part of American culture for so many years.”
Meanwhile, ABC programming head Karey Burke added this:
“We are delighted that our entire Idol dream team will be reuniting for the upcoming season on ABC … Ryan has been hosting Idol since the beginning, and the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the show after 17 seasons are remarkable. We can’t wait to see what’s in store as Ryan, our superstar judges and in-house mentor set out on their nationwide search for the next great music sensation.”
Note that there is no premiere date just yet for American Idol season 18, but we would expect it at some point in the late winter/early spring. For now, let us know in the comments what you think about Ryan coming on board as host. (Photo: Fox.)