Ryan Seacrest Comments On Chris Daughtry Send Off and Taylor Hicks Future  5/12/06

RYAN SEACREST TELLS "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD'S" NANCY O'DELL WHY HE WAS SO ABRUPT IN ANNOUNCING THAT CHRIS DAUGHTRY WAS VOTED OFF "AMERICAN IDOL"

Seacrest: "I Was Shocked When I Was Told. I Wanted It To Resonate On The Air. I Really Did. I Wanted The Audience At Home To Be Shocked That He Was Leaving.

BURBANK, Calif. - May 11, 2006- Ryan Seacrest tells "Access Hollywood's" Nancy O'Dell why he was so abrupt in announcing that Chris Daughtry was voted off "American Idol." The interview took place this morning on "On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" and airs on "Access Hollywood" Thursday, May 11, 2006 (Log on to AccessHollywood.com to check local time and station).

Last night, "American Idol" fans were shocked when they found out Daughtry was voted off and this morning, the show's host, Seacrest, told O'Dell why he was so abrupt in announcing Daughtry was going home. "I was shocked when I was told. I wanted it to resonate on the air. I really did. I wanted the audience at home to be shocked that he was leaving."

When asked if he thought "American Idol" finalist Taylor Hicks would be able to sell albums post Idol, Seacrest said, "I think he will sell albums. You got 30 million people watching a television show. He's got a following."

"Access Hollywood" is produced by NBC and distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. Rob K Silverstein is the executive producer.

Source: Access Hollywood Press Release