Ryan Seacrest to Host Live Late Night Show at Rio Olympics

Ryan Seacrest is headed to late night.

The multi-hyphenate has been tapped to host NBC’s late night coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The show will be live, like much else on Seacrest’s resume, and feature a mix of interviews, human interest stories and a round-up of the day’s news. It will be filmed outside of Copacabana.

Seacrest served as a correspondent for NBC’s 2012 coverage of the London Games, which drew a record 217 million-plus viewers. There, Seacrest was one of the hosts of the Closing Ceremony, and interviewed Olympians including U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps during the Games.

“The late night atmosphere will be electric, 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 NBC Olympics exec producer Jim Bell, in a statement announcing the news Wednesday.

Added Seacrest: “I appreciate Jim Bell’s confidence, along with everyone at NBC Sports. I can’t wait to reunite with the team of broadcasters and producers for the 2016 Rio Olympics, and I look forward to hosting the live late night show.”

Earlier this month, NBC Sports execs told reporters that they expect the Rio Games to exceed the more than $1.1 billion in advertising booked for the London Games. Boosting the bottom line is the advantageous time zone — Rio is just one hour ahead of the U.S. eastern time zone — and the continued interest in live events.

The news of Seacrest’s late night show comes as his contract with sibling E! is set to expire after September’s Emmy awards, where he’ll once again appear on the red carpet. Elsewhere on TV, he’s prepping his fifteenth and final season as host of American Idol, and will continue emceeing ABC’s New Year’s Eve program, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. His short-lived Fox reality show, Knock Knock, was pulled the week before last.

Seacrest, who is repped by CAA and Hansen Jacobson, has tentacles in radio, as host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest and American Top 40, along with fashion (a tailored clothing line at Macy’s), technology and philanthropy.  

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