When wild Seacrests attack

Throughout the run of "American Idol," there has always been tension between host Ryan Seacrest and judge Simon Cowell. Seacrest makes fun of Simon's v-neck T-shirt, Simon questions Seacrest's sexual orientation (while giving him a smarmy wink). It's harmless, even if annoying. Previously I ignored these antics as an inane way to create some sort of comic element on the show.

This season, however, Seacrest has increased his hostility past the point of awkwardness and into the realm of "please stop." On two separate occasions, including the last results show, Seacrest charged up to the judges desk to get face to face with Simon. Both times Simon was cleary not in on the joke and recoiled as if Seacrest was a rabid chihuahua. At one point, I thought that Simon was very close to slapping him.

So the question on my mind, and mouthed by Simon last week, is "what's the matter with him?" Maybe Seacrest sees that his future as a host for the most-watched show is coming to an end. Ratings have been down all season. Or maybe he's jealous that Simon is bailing before the ratings really start to plummet. When Simon's "The X Factor" launched in the UK, the Brit version of Idol, "Pop Idol," was scrapped.

The problem with those theories is that Seacrest doesn't have all of his Easter eggs in the Idol basket, as he hosts a radio show, works on E!, and has set himself up to be the next Dick Clark at New Year's Eve. While none are presumably as lucrative as Idol, they are better than going back to hosting Saturday morning kids shows like "Gladiators 2000."

Maybe Simon has switched to a new deodorant and the scent is driving Seacrest insane. Who knows what secrets are hidden behind that skinny tie and frozen smile.