(CNN) — “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest isn’t joining the cast of “Today,” but he did swing by NBC’s morning show Wednesday to reveal some news about his future with the network.
The TV producer/media personality/”American Idol” host told viewers that he’ll be part of NBC’s primetime coverage of the summer Olympics in London.
“The plan is for me to join the NBC family and continue to have a role at the E! network,” Seacrest told Lauer. (Comcast controls both networks.)
Seacrest called the overseas Olympics assignment “something I’ve been looking forward to.”
But is the congenial host angling to one day replace the long-standing Lauer? Reports have said that the E! News personality was having conversations of doing just that if and when Lauer leaves, but there’s been reports that Lauer isn’t departing “Today” anytime soon.
So back to the question: When Lauer asked outright if Seacrest has been eyeing his anchor chair, Seacrest responded, “I don’t know…I see you doing this for as long as you want to.”
For his part, Lauer shrugged off the awkward moment, saying amicably that Seacrest “would be great at this job … There is no tension here.”
Hey, what’s one less job for Seacrest anyway?
He hosts a daily morning radio show for Clear Channel in addition to his gigs with NBC, E! and “American Idol.”
As far as his contract negotiations with Fox over “Idol,” Seacrest said, “I plan to say there,” before adding that the deal isn’t “quite there” yet.
