Ryan Seacrest is the most powerful man in reality TV

Multihyphenante producer, radio personality and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest tops The Hollywood Reporter’s fourth annual Reality Power List. Seacrest ousts his former Idol colleague Simon Cowell from the No. 1 spot — which he held in ...
2009 and 2010 — to lead a roster of 50 industry heavyweights in the reality television world. With The X Factor not yet on the air Stateside, Cowell dropped to No. 6 this year. (Seacrest was ranked No. 5 in 2010.) The rankings were determined by, among other things: Having a reputation for quality and innovation within the business; the indelible mark one makes on his or her shows as overseeing executive, producer, or talent; ones overall impact on pop culture, and the “watercooler” factor: Ones ability to create dramatic, comedic and can’t-miss TV moments.