Stifle your collective shock and disappointment: Brian Dunkleman will not be returning as Ryan Seacrest's cohost on the next season of ''American Idol.'' Variety reports that he'd been in talks with Fox and the show's producers to reprise his role, but on Thursday, his spokesperson said he would bow out. ''I have decided not to return for season two in order to pursue other opportunities in the world of TV and feature films,'' Dunkleman said in a statement, adding that he was ''so grateful'' for the platform ''Idol'' had given him in its initial season.
What those TV and film opportunities were is not clear. After all, ''Idol'' fans and TV critics had widely derided his hosting skills, and he was the subject of a merciless parody by Jimmy Fallon at the MTV Video Music Awards in August. Then again, maybe he did leave voluntarily; Variety reports that inside sources say Dunkleman was dissatisfied with having to serve as a de facto Coca-Cola pitchman, thanks to the soft drink's ubiquitous product placement.
Still, fans and Fallon treated cohost Seacrest just as viciously, but the show will pay him six figures to return. Judge Simon Cowell is also on board, and judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson are expected to sign on again as well. And the Dunk? Maybe he'll turn up on another Fox show, like the November edition of ''Celebrity Boxing.''
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