3 WHO IS...
THE JOKESTER
Perry says that she and Bryan are the whoopeecushion pranksters, while the vet Richie is the designated room monitor. “Katy asked, ‘Can we call you papa?’ and I said, ‘You can call me
daddy!’” says Richie, himself the father of three (including Great News actress and former reality star Nicole, 36).
THE SOFTIE
“Some of us are more cut-and-dried, but at the end of the day we believe in constructive criticism,” Perry says. “We all know how it feels to stand there as artists and be judged and have everything on the line and know that this opportunity can change your life, your family’s life and your whole world. We know that exactly.”
THE POP CHART EXPERT
It’s definitely Katy Perry, says Richie. “There are some days where Katy’s talking about someone and I’ll be like, ‘Who the hell is that?’ and she’ll say, ‘That’s a No. 1 recording artist!’”
THE CONSOLER
Seacrest has seen it all in his role as host/ringleader/feelings-soother for 15 seasons. He’s consoled finalists such as Jennifer Hudson, Katharine
McPhee and Chris Daughtry, who all got voted out (and went on to greatness). “You call them learning experiences and not failures. You point out that the experience can be life-affirming even if you don’t win,” he says. “I also learned through those experiences that I’m best when I listen and don’t talk.”
THE NEW SIMON
Though acidic original judge Simon Cowell departed the show back in 2010, his shadow still looms. “We’re not going after certain personas for TV purposes,” says Bryan. “We’re just saying what we feel in our hearts. But I know I will say something and viewers will be like, ‘Dang!’” Richie, he says, is especially good about letting contestants know they just don’t “have it.”
THE CAFFEINE KING
“There must be two or three of Ryan,” says Richie. “I’m not kidding. I don’t know how he does it,” he says of the 43-yearold host of red carpets and co-host of Live With Kelly and Ryan with Kelly Ripa. “Do you do lots of caffeine?” Perry asks Seacrest. “Lots of it,” he says. “I go full-on. I like it really strong.”