Idolatry
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.
Last Thursday I photographed the American Idol auditions in Orlando. Other than the disastrous planning on the back end, it was a good time. However, having to get up at 1:30 a.m. so I could leave my place at 2:15 a.m. so I could meet up with my crew at 3 a.m. so we could be in Orlando by 5 a.m. kinda sucked. But not surprising. Nothing like working on 4 hours of half-sleep. You know, that kind of sleep where you’re too worried about not waking up on time so you never really sleep. Fun. I guess it simply didn’t occur to anyone doing the logistical planning that it might be a good idea to arrange for hotel rooms for the night before the gig. If I hadn’t found out about it the afternoon before, I would have booked my own damn room!
Ryan Seacrest looks exactly like he does on the tube. He’s as tall as I expected him to be. Wears hip, trendy clothes and is put together. And he actually seems to be a decent, down to earth human. He was approachable and friendly with the hopeful singers waiting for their chance to be humiliated and made fun of on television and the web. He was accommodating and friendly with the press. He posed for a few pics and signed some autographs. He even seemed to be genuinely enthusiastic to be there doing his job. So, despite what Simon says, he’s not the complete dolt I thought he might be.
