Hey, the bird show.

Nobody could have predicted how big American Idol was going to be. I mean, during the whole duration of the show, the thing was a ratings winner. And even after the show was over, when they had auditions here in Atlanta, people were going nuts lining up to try out for American Idol. Well, we were a little anxious about it, too, so we thought we'd just give Ryan Seacrest a call. he was here in Atlanta, so we might as well call him, find out what he thought so far of the American Idol tryouts. What's up, dude? How you doing, dude? I'm tired. Oh, are you sleeping? I just got in on the red eye. Oh, did you really? You did. Your flight just got here? What's that? Your flight just got in? Yeah, like an hour ago. Have you even been asleep yet? No.

That's all right.

Are you trying to... What's that? Your flight just got in? I just got in, yeah, like an hour ago. Have you even been asleep yet?

No. That's all right. Are you trying to go to sleep? Not anymore. Sorry, dude. I'm so sorry. I was going to say, welcome to Atlanta, but you already know your way around the city pretty well. Dude, I can't wait. My mom and my dad are in Dunwoody. I can't wait to see them.

What do you have planned for the couple of days that you're here?

Like you must have a craving for Atlanta, even out in L.A. Like when you get back, where's the place you got to go? The place I have to go is home for my mother's cooking. Yeah. Yeah. So I'll see them probably tomorrow because we've got a long day of auditions today. Where is home? What part of Atlanta are you from? Is it Dunwoody? Yeah, I went to Dunwoody High School. I grew up there.

So, we got to go out tonight? Yeah. I mean, they may want to go out and just grab a beer or something, but you know, we're on this pretty tight schedule where we've got to auditions into the night and then with the flying around. I think yesterday morning, I was in New York when I got up and I flew out to L.A. to do my radio show in the afternoon and then took the red eye here. The schedule's pretty crazy. So, Ryan, what are the chances that we see you out tonight with like Paula and Simon and rain? Tita, baby, Cheetah. We're coming. Like up on the top deck of Lulu's all sharing the same fishbowl. I'm going to try and get that and Paul am able to swing through the varsity. Yeah, you got to introduce her to the varsity. Bring Simon over to the varsity, man. Wouldn't that be it? Actually, that's a very good idea. This food is extraordinary. That would be a very funny idea. You and Simon get along really well, don't you? You can tell that you guys give each other a lot of crap. It never stops. But it's playful. Yeah, it never stops. I mean, we do it. We leave each other messages. We try and out through each other in all facets of our real lives. But yeah, never stops. We get a kick

out of topping each other and playing with each other, joking around. What have you thought

about the talent trying out this time around compared to last? I think we see it, well, obviously

a lot of people, a lot more people have showed up. I think we've seen a lot of very good

singers, people who obviously have good

voices, but we're looking for that someone that sort of leaves the room and you still keep thinking

about them like a great date, you know? I think they've also raised the bar when it comes to

who they're going to put through to Hollywood. I think they've certainly raised the bar when it comes to that, you know,

finding that talent and putting them through to the next level.

Now, Ryan, I was planning on using any opening I could find to ask the following question

and you just gave it to me.

Speaking of great dates, there are some rumors about you and Paula Abdul is the start of American Idol 1.

Hang on, hang on, Paula.

Oh, they want to talk to you?

Damn, that's the same thing.

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