LOS ANGELES - Ryan Seacrest can't act, sing or dance. What he can do is keep his composure when Sacha Baron Cohen approaches him on Oscar's red carpet and dumps ashes all over his tuxedo.
That may sound like a trivial talent, but it's so valuable that if Matt Lauer decides not to renew his contract, NBC might pay Seacrest millions to co-host "Today." It's also a big -- and underappreciated -- reason why "American Idol" continues to be a success.
"It's because of him that the show runs as seamlessly and perfectly as it does," said "Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez. "We all follow him. He's amazing at what he does and he doesn't get enough credit for it."
It's easy to hate on Seacrest: those pretty-boy good looks, that glib demeanor, the fact that his production company churns out those Kardashian reality shows.
But when "Idol" goes live, as it did this month, Seacrest becomes the "circus master," as judge Randy Jackson describes it.
Next time you're tempted to use him as a punch line, imagine having to comfort shaking contestants, rein in Steven Tyler, cut to commercials and watch the clock, all while some producer is yapping into your earpiece.
"It's becoming a bit of a lost art," said Carson Daly, who displays his own nimbleness when hosting live episodes of NBC's "The Voice." "All these reality stars get rewarded for doing outrageous things. In comparison, those of us who do this may seem less exciting."
Daly and "Idol" executive producer Ken Warwick agree that radio is the best training ground for anyone tackling live television.
