1999-2010

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Brian Dunkleman profits from former co-host Ryan Seacrest's cheap shot on American Idol


The American Idol studio audience gasped and began to applaud when host Ryan Seacrest announced last night that Brian Dunkleman would co-host next week's Idol Gives Back charity show-- only to mutter in disappointment and distaste when Seacrest quickly said it was merely his latest misguided attempt at humour. It was a cruel, bitter joke from a guy who's profited so greatly from the starmaking Idol gig that he shared with Dunkleman on the show's first season (and which Dunkleman walked away from on moral grounds). Seacrest, who'd developed into a classy television presence in preceding seasons, has fallen apart this time around, with lame attempts to one-up professional comedian Ellen DeGeneres and uncomfortable sexual set-tos with his friend Simon Cowell. This latest display, following his dance with a male former contestant during one hopeful's performance and a reference to gay Adam Lambert's "tongue talents" made last night's episode especially unappealing.


The one who comes out on top, of course, is Dunkleman, who'd already won many new fans and was applauded for his self-deprecating hipness with his fictional comedy series American Dunkleman (produced by our pals at Frozen Pictures). In the aftermath of Seacrest's cheap shot, Andy Denhart writes:

"Brian Dunkleman is the real winner here, especially because he’s self-aware and humble in a way Seacrest will apparently never be."

Now it's up to Idol's producers to do the only right thing: book Dunkleman as a surprise co-host or guest on the Idol Gives Back show. The move will inspire goodwill and bring in the donations.

UPDATE: Click here to check out Lyndsey Parker's follow-up, "Brian Dunkleman back in the spotlight," at Yahoo music.

2 comments:

RC said...

Can I just point out what is missing in American Idol - the funny!??!

Brian Dunkleman was FUNNY and it was Idol's loss when he left. Ryan was a horrible host the first 5 or 6 seasons but he saw the cash cow and went for it; he couldn't be fired after he bought his way in.

Ryan does what he does and seems to genuinely love music in all his awkwardness. He's fine and it really is his show now, a success. Even if it is missing the funny.

#IDOL #singer

RC said...

Can I just point out what is missing in American Idol - the funny!??!

Brian Dunkleman was FUNNY and it was Idol's loss when he left. Ryan was a horrible host the first 5 or 6 seasons but he saw the cash cow and went for it; he couldn't be fired after he bought his way in.

Ryan does what he does and seems to genuinely love music in all his awkwardness. He's fine and it really is his show now, a success. Even if it is missing the funny.

#IDOL #singer