Ryan Seacrest: The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business
An Astrological Profile
Sun in Capricorn
Ryan Seacrest is the consummate Capricorn — ambitious, career-minded, and determined. He's got three planets in the earthy sign — the Sun, Mercury, and Venus — and like Capricorn's signature animal, the mountain goat, he won't let anything stop him from reaching his goals. His rising sign is Capricorn, too, which means the face he shows the world is true to his Capricorn Sun.
Seacrest has been the host of American Idol since the show premiered in 2002. For most of the show's first nine years, he routinely exchanged barbs with judge Simon Cowell — but secretly, Cowell admired Seacrest's drive.
"I'm going to hate reading this," Cowell once said, "but Ryan has a tremendous work ethic. He wants all the glory, but he's prepared to work for it, and I've never heard him complain."
Seacrest started climbing toward success almost as soon as he could talk.
"Instead of playing with G.I. Joes or Cowboys and Indians," his mother told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "he would always have a little microphone and do shows in the house."
At one point, people started calling the family's home just to listen to Ryan's voice on the answering machine — proving the fact that Capricorn children often seem older than their years. "They thought I had a professional doing it," his mother said. "That's when I thought, This might be bigger than I think it is."
Seacrest was only 16 when he won an internship at WSTR, one of Atlanta's top radio stations. Before long, he was hosting the 7-to-midnight slot. He worked there during his high school years, and then majored in journalism at the University of Georgia. During his freshman year, ESPN hired him to host a game show called Radical Outdoor Challenge.
In 1994, he left college and moved to Los Angeles, where he joined KYSR-FM as the $15-an-hour host of the station's afternoon drive-time show, Ryan Seacrest for the Ride Home. The show went into national syndication. In short order, Seacrest also started hosting a long line of television shows, including Click, Gladiators 2000 and Wild Animal Games.
Merv Griffin, who produced Click, told The New York Times that Seacrest's energy "just baffled me. I couldn't keep up with him. … He had this spiky haircut, and we knew all the little girls in the audience would love him, and they did."
Seacrest hosted a short-lived Idol spinoff, American Juniors, in 2003, followed by another brief series, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, in 2004. That year, he also took over as host of Casey Kasem's weekly radio show American Top 40, and he replaced 22-year host Rick Dees on the daily morning-drive show for KIIS-FM.
In 2005, he became the executive producer and co-host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve . When Dick Clark suffered a stroke, Ryan hosted most of the show.
"I have never seen anyone work so hard at so many different things," Clark told Time in 2005. "You've got to have brains to make it look easy."
Seacrest won a Daytime Emmy for co-hosting the 2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. That year, he also started as a substitute host for Larry King Live.
By 2006, Seacrest had signed a three-year, $21 million deal to host and produce programs for E! news, including E! News and its red-carpet award shows. His production credits now include Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Denise Richards: It's Complicated, and Momma's Boys, He's reportedly working with E! to develop and produce a dance show featuring Lady Gaga's choreographer.
The rest of Seacrest's birth chart is just as interesting as his Sun sign. Here are some highlights.
Moon in Taurus
The Moon was in Taurus when Seacrest was born. The Moon rules emotions, and its placement is a perfect complement to Seacrest's professional ambitions. A Taurus Moon symbolizes common sense, good judgment, and an aversion to risk.
In fact, Seacrest confessed that joblessness is one of his greatest fears. "I'm frightened by the thought of being out of work," he told The New York Times. "Growing up, there were people on shows like Diff'rent Strokes, Facts of Life and Love Boat that you thought would be huge stars for the rest of their lives, and they've just vanished. You never want to be that person."
A Taurus Moon can also be indicative of someone who wants to provide for the less fortunate — and Seacrest has established his own charitable foundation. In 2007, he also signed a partnership deal with Crest and Scope, who agreed to match his personal donations to Operation Smile.
Mercury in Capricorn
Mercury is the planet of communication — and in Seacrest's case, the messenger planet is a definite asset. In Capricorn, Mercury is careful and considered. Seacrest knows what to say — and when to say it — to make the best impression. Interestingly enough, Seacrest isn't one for "idle" chatter.
Venus in Capricorn
Venus, the planet of love and attraction, suggests that Seacrest truly loves his work. Venus also tends to inspire an affinity for classical values and conservative ideals — and Seacrest, who always wears a finely tailored suit when he hosts American Idol, is one of the best-dressed men on television.
Mars in Sagittarius
Mars is the planet of action and assertion — and here, in outgoing, adventurous Sagittarius, we see that Seacrest has been blessed with a sense of daring and adventure. His Sagittarius Mars also describes his public persona: he's honest, open, and optimistic, but he's armed with a quick wit.
Jupiter in Pisces
Jupiter — the planet that rules Sagittarius — was passing through sensitive, watery Pisces when Seacrest was born. That placement enhances his sense of empathy and intuition. He's remarkably compassionate — especially when it's time to eliminate an Idol contestant.
Planets in Aspect
Seacrest's chart also features a number of interesting aspects, or planetary connections. His Sun and Mercury, for example, are almost in the same degree of Capricorn, a conjunction that symbolizes clear thinking and communication.
His Sun and Moon are about 120 degrees apart — a link that suggests a certain amount of good luck working in his favor, as well as a good deal of support and encouragement from his parents during his formative years.
The Moon and Mercury are also trine, which means he's readily equipped to describe what he — along with the rest of the country — is feeling during every broadcast. He's able to see problems objectively, and make quick decisions on the job.
Mars is conjunct Neptune, an aspect that adds idealism, magnetism, and some impulsivity to Seacrest's personality. Mars is also conjunct the North Node, which suggests that his drive, success, and public visibility are his destiny.
Venus is 60 degrees from Jupiter — an aspect called a sextile. Both planets are known as "benefics," because they act like benefactors, bestowing gifts wherever they go. Both planets give Seacrest a generous measure of confidence and charm, and add to Seacrest's popular appeal.
Saturn is the planet of limitations and restrictions, but in Seacrest's case, it's linked to Jupiter through another 120-degree trine. That's an aspect that benefits him in the long run, because it demonstrates that he can learn from his mistakes. A strong Saturn in a birth chart can also suggest friendships and productive relationships with older people, powerful people — like Casey Kasem, Dick Clark, Merv Griffin, and Larry King, the men who mentored Seacrest and welcomed him into their fold.
Sources
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Seacrest
www.people.com/people/ryan_seacrest/biography
www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ryan-seacrest/bio/195321
www.americanidol.com/bio/ryan_seacrest/
www.eonline.com/celebs/Ryan_Seacrest/115953
