Interview with American Idol's Ryan Seacrest
American Idol Host Introduces his New Reality Show, Momma’s Boys
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest is one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors, right behind George Clooney, Robert Pattinson (Twilight), and James Franco (Milk). In addition to recently being named one of the most powerful people on television today by Entertainment Weekly Magazine, he's also a self-confessed momma's boy. Perfect, then, that he should be the executive producer of Momma's Boys, a new reality show premiering on E! in Canada and NBC in the U.S. next Tuesday December 16. (Subsequent episodes air on Mondays.)
The premise is simple: put a gaggle of good girls and bad girls together with a group of decent guys and watch them fight for the men's hearts. This all happens under the watchful - and sometimes bigoted - eye of mom who is present for every date, kiss, and flirtation. Momma's Boys gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "a mother's love."
Casting is already under way for a second season. Ryan Seacrest spoke to Suite101 this week from his offices at E! in Los Angeles.
The Original Mrs. Seacrest
Suite101: To what extent did the idea for the show spring from your real-life experiences?
Ryan Seacrest: I can relate to this concept because I'm pretty close to my mother. I don't generally take her out on dates but she has snuck into the basement a couple of times, certainly when I was a kid, to see if I was really watching a movie. It is important to have an open relationship with your mother, your father, whoever it is in your life. And I am really close to my mom. And she's part of the decision-making process, whether it be personal or professional. I don't put her in the passenger seat, though, when I'm out with a girl.
Q. So, how involved is your mom, Mrs. Seacrest?
Ryan Seacrest: Well she gave birth to me, so every aspect. Well she's not officially involved. She kind of - we had her do some promotion for us because it seemed like the real honest and genuine way to introduce this concept. In terms of my everyday life, you know, I talk to her just about every day. I email with her back and forth. We spent Thanksgiving together. We'll spend Christmas together; my mom, dad and my family. And I actually like it. I don't live in Atlanta where they live, but I spend a lot of my free time hanging out with her. And I think that she's gotten to be a better friend and a closer friend as I've gotten older.
Mom Vs Girlfriend
Q. How catty does it actually get between the moms and the dates?
Ryan Seacrest: Everybody showed up with a pretty open mind and then once they got there it didn't take long for animal instincts to kick in. The mothers - who for the most part are sweet and loving of their sons - they had good intentions and then that clearly shifted once you got a chance to see them in this environment together. These are moms that are clearly obsessed with control when it comes to their sons' lives and women certainly play a major part in that process for them. And so they did not hide their feelings once they got in the middle of all these girls.
Give It To Us Straight, Momma's Boy
Q. And what about the guys? Are they just serious momma's boys?
Ryan Seacrest: I don't think the guys could exist without their mothers within ten yards. The guys are great guys. I mean they're handsome. They are focused guys. They're driven guys. But they do have a crutch and that is relying on their moms for laundry, for cooking, for, you know, room and board. I think that at some places they would've wished that their moms weren't watching over their shoulders as they were getting into a hot tub with the girl because the guys are certainly there to conduct themselves as their mothers would want.
Simon Says...
Q. Seems like Simon Cowell would be a perfect candidate for the show.
Ryan Seacrest (clearly joking): Simon being single? Actually, I'm a little bit worried about him. It's a tough time for him right now and so I've just been the shoulder to cry on. I'm a little concerned at going into the holidays which is a tough time to be alone, wondering how he'll make it. So I don't think he'd be ready for this quite yet.
What do you think about this article?
More in Film & TV
Latest Articles