I don't know if this is the same for everyone, but something I've noticed. I've always been intrigued when someone tells me about their latest 'favorite' video or 'cool' picture they found. Once they post it, whether it's through an email, or their own website, I always find it interesting to take note of the person and the 'subject'.  It's almost like an insight into their Favorites on their computer.  It doesn't have to be a radio person, but what if.....what if... Listeners feel the same way? What if they're tuned to the station, listening to 'your interest', and suddenly they wonder a bit more about you?" In between promos and liners, you toss out one of these 'lifelines'. Once or twice an hour.
You could love those tearful email forwards. You could love the nasty filthy blue material. Or, you could love animals or anime. If you make it part of your identity, just a part of your 'focus', you just might be getting listeners based on their own curiosity. If you focus on Hollywood and you have the money backing you to make the connections to include in your show, eventually it will become you. (See Seacrest, Dees, and other jocks we're bitching about).
I might be way off base, but more times than not, I've always tried to find one or two things I can 'throw' out there on the show and it's cool to hear the feedback or the questions for days after. They didn't phone at the time. They didn't email immediately. (Both are things some Programmers use to gauge success. My thought is: it's 2008, people are way too busy to call radio stations unless you're 'Breaking the Bank'. Course, if you've taken the boot camps, seminars, etc, you have two or three friends who 'plant' calls. The more voices and opinions they have, the better. Listeners are none the wiser. Hell, why not even 'say' you got an email or emails? They teach this stuff in broadcasting school now right? Sure, for us, we know when the jock's full of crap, but the listener doesn't.)
Then again, most times, the average listener didn't even hear the entire 'bit'. But they have questions and they know who to talk to for the whole story.
To me, it means they're tuned to the station and we've driven some kind of curiosity.  Hollywood, Local, LifeStyle, or a mix of all 3, those are the elements that make a radio person interesting in this day and age.  I can't help but notice all that stuff with these 'Vanilla' jocks we're referencing. The difference being, the money and investment they recieve. Plus, the support of their employers, past and present.
As Scorpio pointed out, for most of us, we don't get that opportunity. Hell, some people don't even believe it exists. Sad, very sad.

Has anyone spent some time listening to this Seacrest show?

Is a repeat of the KIIS-FM Morning Show or something new?

Seacrest must be doing something right, he is going to be on the new Virgin radio 999 in Toronto at 7 until 10

Quoted from DirkSteele

It is a dead guess, but don't rule out some corporate muscling here.  Calgary is a strange market to experiment with especially with The Vibe doing so well...but bringing in a US mid-day show is right up the alley "Mr. If It Works There It Will Work Here".....the Astral VP Programming-English.  If they do the same thing on MIX 99 Toronto after experimenting in Calgary...you have your answer.

Sorry for quoting myself...but there is your Calgary answer.  It was a corporate deal.  Seacrest is rolling through BC and in Toronto.

It was all Ross Davies.  Chad didn't have a choice.  He probably loves that!

Maybe Ross will put a national sports network on Astral's remaining AM's like he did for CHUM.  That worked out GREAT!