Ryan Seacrest is reportedly finalizing a deal that would make American Idol's front man one of the highest-paid reality TV hosts.
Seacrest, whose pact with Fox's juggernaut expires at the end of next season, now pulls just shy of $5 million a year for his Idol work. His new deal with Idol producer 19 Entertainment, would extend his run by three years and deliver a "major pay raise," sources tell the Hollywood Reporter.
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Nigel Lythgoe is stepping away from the American Idol juggernaut, which he has helped exec-produce since its inception, so as to focus on So You Think You Can Dance as well as a brand-new project. But contrary to some online reports, he is not ending his overall relationship with Idol producer 19 Entertainment.In a statement explaining his decision, Lythgoe says, "Due to the huge success of So You Think You Can Dance, my summer will be taken up by travels to South Africa, Australia and Canada, to work on local versions of the show. [As such] I will step back from my day-to-day producing work on American Idol and will be devoting my time to a new venture with [Dance cocreator] Simon Fuller."Fuller, says Lythgoe, "is without doubt a man of vision, and I look forward to partnering with him on new and exciting challenges."Fuller in turn hails Lythgoe as "the best producer I have ever worked with. We are a great team and have shared phenomenal success. Under our stewardship, 19 [Enterta...
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Have you written a song deserving of all the glitz and cheese that is the American Idol finale? Then today's your lucky day. For the second year in a row, Idol creator Simon Fuller and his company 19 Entertainment are scouring the country looking for the perfect song for this season's finalists to perform. Last year's winning number, "This Is My Now," beat out 25,000 songs to become the first single for Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks.Songs must be submitted online between today and March 31. The entries will be narrowed down to 20, and the winner will be chosen by fans through an online vote that begins April 10. The winning track will be announced and performed at the Season 7 finale on May 20. — Adam Bryant
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American Idol producer Simon Fuller is known for producing shows with high pop-music star wattage, but for his next series, he'll be going inside a less glamorous profession: ER surgery and life as an EMT.His upcoming drama pilot, Austin Golden Hour, has been green-lit by the CW and will follow action in real time, starting from each show's big starting trauma. The show will follow a group of tight-knit ER surgeons and EMTs in Texas, centering on their work and, of course, their personal lives.If this sounds familiar, the storyline was birthed from the experience of ER alum Lance Gentile, who cowrote the pilot. Think Fuller's up to made-up drama? Or will this series need resuscitation? I'm biding my time in the waiting room. — Anna DimondWatch American Idol clips in our Online Video Guide.
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The man who gave us Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and, um, William Hung — Simon Fuller — will receive the Producers Guild of America's Visionary Award on Feb. 2 at their awards dinner. Sadly, his beef tenderloin will still be overcooked, and his mashed potatoes lumpy.... For his charity work, Richard Gere has been given the Marian Anderson Award by the city of Philadelphia. — Ben Katner
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