This probably isn’t how Ryan Seacrest envisioned the Oscars going for him this year…
First reported by Deadline a couple hours ago and now apparently set to take place as E! films their live red carpet pre-show for the major awards gala, Seacrest and the crew are on a slight tape-delay to try to avoid moments that are uncomfortable or confrontational on live TV this afternoon.
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Deadline spoke to an industry source earlier this afternoon while the decision was still being made, and the quote — about Seacrest’s alleged sexual misconduct history and the network’s plans to have him on the red carpet even so — is a juicy one.
Here’s what a production insider had to say about it (below):
“The plan being considered is to mainly ensure plenty of time to either cut to Giuliana [Rancic] or to pull the plug altogether unnoticed if an on-camera encounter with Ryan goes into tricky territory.”
Hmmm….
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But an E! spokesperson in the same story really danced around the question of a tape-delay, saying (below):
“It’s business as usual. As always, we tape multiple sources of content simultaneously to deliver the best possible show, and there are often brief delays between interviews.”
That’s really a nothing-burger of an answer.
Again, we’ll see if anything major comes down in the next couple hours, but regardless, the fact that we’re even here means Seacrest is in a much different spot than he’s ever ben through his previously-professional career.
Yikes…
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Obviously, tape delays aren’t rare in situations like major live televised events, both for shows and red carpets, but this is certainly uncomfortable territory for E! and Seacrest, considering they don’t really have any idea how stars may react to them.
Thoughts, Perezcious readers?? Share ’em with us in the comments (below).
[Image via Media Punch.]
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