American Idol: Is Ryan Seacrest Out After This Season?

The 11th season of American Idol premieres on FOX on January 18 with all of last seaon's judges — Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson — still on the panel, but could this be the last season for emcee Ryan Seacrest? Seacrest, who has been with the show ever since its first season, will finish out his $45 million mega-deal at the end of this season — a deal he is not likely to get again, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Seacrest's contract, which began in 2009, paid him $15 million a season for three seasons, but with the show's ratings remaining strong after founding judge Simon Cowell's ouster, studio execs say they could do without Seacrest and swap him for someone cheaper.

Meanwhile, Seacrest may have plenty of other options. He's already got his high-paying radio deal and a huge gig at E!, which includes an entertainment news show and producing cred on Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Rumor also has it that Seacrest, who won an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, will start appearing on NBC's The Today Show, eventually replacing anchor Matt Lauer, whose contract is up this year, as well.

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