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.

Ryan Seacrest's former American Idol cohost Brian Dunkleman is sitting on his own multi-million dollar goldmine

Word that Ryan Seacrest signed a well-deserved $45 million deal to host three more seasons of American Idol has apparently led to a barrage of Brian Dunkleman jokes on Twitter, the radio and across the universe (Tabloid Baby pal Nili informs us that "Howard Stern was making fun of Brian Dunkleman on his show today... Artie Lange said he was doing stand up in Peoria and Howard said he was cutting coupons out of the Pennysaver...") Dunkleman was Seacrest's cohost on the first season of American idol, but quit the show-- yes, he quit-- because he thought it was "mean to kids."

On the surface, Dunkleman has not achieved the same level of success as his former cohost, but he has carried on an is sitting on a multimillion dollar goldmine in the form of a scripted comedy series about his travails, mishaps and public persona called American Dunkleman. Check out the trailer above and, agent and network pals, set up a meeting.

Massacres, Murders: Now THAT'S Entertainment!

Try to figure out this alert just to sent to us from the E! Entertainment network, an indication that the slaphappy scandal channel and bloated pinup killer is taking a disturbing shift away from its bailiwick in what appears to be a misguided step in the tradition of the dowagers at Entertainment Tonight turning murder trials and massacres into fun stuff, the rent boys at the corporate porn-pushing gossip site TMZ.com making crass cracks about real news like possible sex assault charges against the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands ("No more T&A in T&C!") or the gang at the Today show injecting themselves into real life tragedies:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

E! EXAMINES
THE MOST VIOLENT EVENTS
OF OUR TIME

IN THE STARTLING SPECIAL
"GOING POSTAL: 15 MOST SHOCKING ACTS OF VIOLENCE"
PREMIERING FRIDAY, APRIL 25 AT 8PM ET/PT

Includes Interviews With Victims' Families, First-Hand Accounts From Survivors And On-The-Scene Experts About The Dramatic Events That Shocked And Changed Our Nation

Los Angeles, CA, April 21, 2008 – In today's world, the news is filled with stories about school shootings, workplace homicides and shopping mall attacks, making violent acts seem almost commonplace. Tune in as E! examines some of the most horrifying events that shocked our nation and claimed countless innocent lives. Plus we'll reveal astonishing acts of bravery involving men and women who stepped in and saved many from certain death. The two-hour countdown special "Going Postal: 15 Shocking Acts of Violence" premieres Friday, April 25 at 8PM ET/PT, only on E!

From the Columbine High School massacre that left an indelible scar across the country to the more recent horrors that occurred at Virginia Tech, we'll explore these terrifying crimes, uncover what provoked them and examine how the world today has changed as a result of these atrocities.

The two-hour special includes interviews from victims' family members and survivors who recount the gripping life-and-death moments. Plus learn about the inspirational stories of those who sacrificed to save others. And hear from experts including psychologists, criminal profilers and key law enforcement personnel as they take you inside the warped minds of the individuals whose behavior shaped, shocked and forever changed our world. Tune in when E! presents "Going Postal: 15 Most Shocking Acts of Violence," premiering Friday, April 25 at 8PM ET/PT.

Hey, imagine tuning in to the Ryan Seacrest channeland tuning into that. But maybe we shouldn't be so surprised or offended. After all, this is the network that's bringing us Dina Lohan's reality show. And that should be ending in a body count some time in the future.