“American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest will handle similar duties a year from now at the 2016 Olympic Games.
“The late-night atmosphere will be electric,” said NBC’s Jim Bell, Olympics executive producer. “And we’re thrilled to have Ryan Seacrest in the middle of it all capturing Rio’s unique flavor, talking to Olympic athletes, and telling the stories of the day.”
Said Seacrest in a statement: “Joining the NBC Olympics team at the 2012 London Games [as a special correspondent] was an exhilarating experience. … I can’t wait to reunite with the team of broadcasters and producers for the 2016 Rio Olympics.”
(Highly) unpopular opinion alert: Ryan Seacrest is going to be a great host for NBC’s late-night Olympic coverage: http://t.co/NYApRRc0SB
— Chris Chase (@ChrisChaseFTW) August 12, 2015
Ryan Seacrest is a producer of broadcast and cable TV shows, as well as nationally syndicated radio and local radio, including “American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest” and the weekday “Direct from Hollywood.”
In 2014, Bob Costas was NBC’s late-night and prime-time host of the Sochi Winter Olympics. Mary Carillo hosted late-night coverage in three earlier Games.
In 2004, Seacrest carried the Olympic flame during the torch relay for the Athens Games.
Ahh Ryan Seacrest is covering the 2016 Olympics!! Another reason to love him! Omg this is great news.
— Beks (@RebekahCastor) August 12, 2015
NBC announced today that Ryan Seacrest will serve as host for NBC’s late night coverage of the 2016 Rio Games. Which is awful.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) August 12, 2015
Athens 2004 Olympic torch bearer to host NBC’s Rio Olympic late-night coverage. http://t.co/ysxq0eSmuK
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) August 12, 2015