Love him or hate him (I'm ... ahem ... in the first camp), you have to admit his career's been impressive. Ryan Seacrest has parlayed his American Idol hosting gig into a lucrative $45 million, three-year deal. CKX, parent of Idol producer 19 Entertainment, is making Seacrest the richest-ever reality host. Recession, out!

This could be taken as a sign that the juggernaut known as American Idol is far from slowing down. The "talent" showcase, which airs for dozens and dozens of hours each spring on News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) FOX, has seen ratings slip slightly during its eight seasons but remains the top-rated show on television, by a long shot. Committing to Seacrest for an additional three years means we'll have at least three more dramatic seasons, three more top twelves, and hopefully at least three more contestants with the talent of Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, or Kelly Clarkson.

About every 10 seconds or so this season, "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest or one of the judges brags about how this group of contestants is the most talented in the show's history. They speak about the huge number of votes being cast and the huge number of song downloads sold on iTunes. Well, as the Associated Press points out, the American people would beg to differ.

"The 21.8 million people who watched last Tuesday's competition was the show's smallest Tuesday audience in more than five years," the AP said. "The show did better the next night, with 22.9 million, but that was the smallest Wednesday audience in three years, according to Nielsen Media Research."

But Idol fans and shareholders of News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) should not get too down since the show can be saved if producers follow my advice:

As an American Idol host, American Top 40 radio DJ, and anointed successor to talk show god Larry King, Ryan Seacrest is the 76th best-paid celebrity in America, earning $14 million a year, according to Forbes.

Now, he's looking to up his income astronomically. Mr. Seacrest has signed a new contract for his five-hour radio show with Clear Channel Communications (NYSE: CCU), and it comes with an interesting twist. According to the Wall Street Journal(subscription required), "Mr. Seacrest will own and control a portion of the advertising time on the show. The goal: bringing in some of the sponsors he already has a relationship with on television, with the potential fringe benefit of getting them more interested in radio. He will also sell some of his own advertising on the "American Top 40" radio countdown."

Mr. Seacrest's ad selling duties will apply to ads integrated into the show -- for instance, saying that a coming song is "brought to you by" a brand. The more ubiquitous between song commercial breaks will still be handled by the networks.

Reading the Journal article, you get a feel for what a savvy entrepreneur Mr. Seacrest is -- he's more than the smirky metrosexual that he comes across as on American Idol.

With traditional radio outlets struggling to say relevant in the face of what are seen as more viable advertising outlets like the internet, the networks are on the lookout for new ways to sell ads. If this works, we could see a lot more of it in the future.

Earlier today, Jonathan Berr noted that the Golden Globes broadcast on General Electric Company (NYSE: GE)'s NBC Network had been canceled. Yes, it's a shame we at home won't be able to comment on the fashions and root for our favorites. Yes, it's a shame for the struggling Peacock network (still often in fourth place) to miss out on the ratings and ad revenue easily procured from a red-carpet event. NBC shells out $5-6 million a year for the broadcast rights and can count on $15-20 million in ad revenue as a result. But yes, it's a testament to the power held by the Writers Guild of America.

Unfortunately, not everyone is giving the Guild its due respect. NBC Entertainment co-chief Ben Silverman aired his grievances about the Golden Globes debacle in a very public forum, speaking with EI Entertainment News anchor Ryan Seacrest. According to the cable network's website, Silverman said "It feels unfair" that United Artists and David Letterman's Worldwide Pants have brokered deals with writers, but Dick Clark Productions (the Globes' producer) is not being given the same option.

SIlverman opined that: "Sadly, it feels like the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in the high school are trying to cancel the prom. But NBC wants to try to keep that prom alive."

Wow. Is it me, or did a top-ranking NBC executive call the Writers Guild ugly, mean nerds? The man's company is out a cool 10 or so million, but the decision has now been made and should be dealt with. Be careful, Ben, or you're going to get a prom like the one Carrie White attended.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve is a tradition for many Americans. Some tune in to catch a particular musical act; some just keep it on mute to watch the ball drop. The program has aired every December 31 since 1972 on The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS)'s ABC Network and is typically a high ratings draw for the network, particularly at a time when so many regularly scheduled programs are in reruns.

Living legend Dick Clark has served as host or co-host for every broadcast with two exceptions, the most recent being 2004, as he recovered from a stroke. The last two years, Ryan Seacrest, of American Idol hosting fame, has helped man the mic in Times Square. In 2005, it was announced that Seacrest will be handed the hosting torch should the 77-year-old Clark be unable to perform his time-honored role.

But count on ringing in 2008 with the Idol emcee and the "America's Oldest Teenager." It was announced this week that the pair will again share hosting duties for the 36th edition of the broadcast. The show will run 3-1/2 hours and begin at 10 p.m. Eastern time on - when else? December 31 (it's a Monday this year).

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

Perhaps it's the age of YouTube and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) video, which provides near-immediate access to all important televised events in case something was missed. Could have been the heavy-handed censors at News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) FOX Networks, who filtered out more than one relatively sterile comment. Maybe it was the lukewarm reaction to first-time host Ryan Seacrest.

Whatever the excuse, ratings for the Primetime Emmy Awards - broadcast Sunday evening on FOX - scored just 13.1 million viewers, the second-smallest audience on record (exceeded only by 1990). The audience was well below the year-ago Emmy broadcast, which brought in 16.2 million viewers for General Electric's (NYSE: GE) NBC Network.

In terms of the important adults 18-49 demographic, the 2007 Emmys posted a preliminary 4.3 rating/11 share, a 17% drop from 2006, according to Variety. What's more, the ceremony was topped in the ratings game by an early-season edition of Sunday Night Football, which pitted the New England Patriots against the San Diego Chargers on NBC.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

Love him or hate him, (I'm ... ahem ... in the first camp), there's no denying that Ryan Seacrest is among the hardest working men in show business. From his exhausting gig as the face of American Idol every spring to collaborations with the E! cable channel, a weekly hosting turn of the American Top 40 countdown program, and a morning radio show in the Los Angeles market, the diminutive media linchpin is carving out his claims to be the country's next Dick Clark.

News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) FOX Network, which airs American Idol, announced that Seacrest will serve as host for the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards, to be aired live on Sunday, September 16. In a press release from the network, FOX's president of alternative entertainment, Mike Darnell, asserted that "Ryan Seacrest is known and loved by television audiences around the world ... he's a consummate host of major live broadcast events and a proven talent who always makes it look easy..."

Ken Ehlrich, executive producer of the Emmy broadcast this year, promises that Seacrest will help infuse this year's Emmys with a "freshness, enthusiasm and professionalism [into] some of the innovative things we have planned."
Personally, I'll be even more likely to tune into the awards show with Seacrest hosting. He's quick on his feet, sharp, and funny in a manner often stifled by his Idol gig (or so I allow myself to believe). And like it or not, Seacrest is also an indelible part of today's TV fabric.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

American Idol didn't just jump the shark last night. It transformed itself into a nauseating celebration of corporate sponsorship and celebrity self-indulgence that was breathtaking to behold.

Though AIDS in Africa and hunger in America are serious issues that deserve the public's attention and charitable donations, I had trouble taking "Idol Gives Back" seriously. Then again, my cynicism kicks into high gear whenever I see a gaggle of celebrities trying hard to convince me that I should care about something. Actors and corporations have a right under the first amendment to express their political views, but I have just as much of a right to ignore them.

"Idol Gives Back" was all about the close bonds between Hollywood and Wall Street.

American Idol makes big money from the advertising that's integrated into its show such as the glasses on the judges' table that have the Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) logo on them and those idiotic Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) commercials featuring the contestants doing renditions of pop hits that have as much musicality as a high school rendition of "Grease."

As an Idol viewer, I can live with all of that stuff. Heck, I even put up with the hapless Sanjaya Malakar, who was in the audience last night.

But host Ryan Seacrest took America's top-rated program into new territory last night with his prodigious thanking of all of the sponsors, including Fox's parent News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) and ExxonMobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM). He made these multi-billion corporations sound almost saintly at times.

This post is written as part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst 2006. Vote for Simon Cowell's T-shirt or check out the other signature styles.

Simon Cowell, the snarky judge of the successful reality shows American Idol and POP Idol, is probably best known for exactly that -- his style of judging. His direct, no-nonsense, politically incorrect and brutally honest commentary has earned him nicknames such as Judge Dread and Mr. Nasty (probably naasty with a British accent).

Simon Cowell ranked 29th in the Forbes Top 100 Celebrities list, with his top attributes being "rude" and "mean." It's no wonder when he says to contestants things like, "If your lifeguard duties were as good as your singing, a lot of people would be drowning."

But as much as Simon Cowell is known for his snarky ways, he's also known for his manly monochromatic T-shirt collection, most notably the tight black Armani T-shirt, of which he owns 30, no less.

Jeans and T-shirt -- gotta love that, don't you? Who wouldn't wish to become rich and famous without ever worrying too much about what to wear? Wouldn't it be great if you knew that whenever and wherever you went, you could wear your jeans and black T-shirt? And this might be the exact appeal of Simon Cowell's "uniform"; it's plain, simple and any of us can do it. That's what I like about it. Cowell doesn't dress too fancy or patronizing (like fellow weasel Ryan Seacrest), so that when he says what he has to say, it's taken seriously.