Who knew? When DJ Ryan Seacrest joined Brian Dunkleman as co-host on the first season of American Idol back in 2002 no one really thought he would go much farther than that. Fact is, many people thought it was Dunkleman who would go on to bigger and brighter things. Yet here we are, six years later, and Dunkleman is nowhere to be found while Seacrest has become a media mogul and one of the busiest personalities in the world of television. That presence will continue well into the next decade.

Seacrest has just inked a new deal with Comcast Entertainment Group that will keep him connected with their networks through 2012. This means he will remain the anchor and managing editor of E! News Daily and executive director of E!'s Live From the Red Carpet Specials. In addition to that, Comcast will get first-look rights to all of Ryan Seacrest Production's projects for not only E!, but G4, Versus, Style and The Golf Channel. The agreement also includes increased advertising for Seacrest's radio properties.

While there are those who feel that Seacrest fell into this string of good luck, I think there is much more to him than we see on the exterior. Behind those good looks and gentle joshing between himself and Simon Cowell on American Idol, Seacrest looks to be a shrewd business person who is on the road to become the next Dick Clark. Considering he has all but taken over the New Year's Eve mantel from Dick Clark, that road may be very short.