American Idol Host tragically killed in salon accident

TV Host Seacrest dies in fiery explosion

West Hollywood - Ryan Seacrest, host of the popular Fox reality series American Idol, died today in what police are calling a tragic hair-tinting accident. The television personality was apparently consumed by a deadly fireball after ashes from a cigarette ignited hair dye being applied to his short, spiky locks. Eye witnesses said the ashes immediately turned into flames as the alcohol/dye mixture covering Seacrest's head proved to be an all too combustible fuel. A police spokesperson said "the young fella just didn't have a chance with all that stuff on his head and with that synthetic fibred t-shirt he was wearing. I guess that's the look nowadays, but kids out there need to know that hair dye, tight-fitting rayon, and fire just don't mix."

"I was applying the third coat of our Sundrenched Morning blonde dye to his tips....I had already told him twice that he could not smoke in the salon, he just wouldn't listen," recounted an unidentified stylist.

"He kept asking me, 'Do you know who I am?' I told him I didn't know who he was, but he couldn't smoke inside anyway," she continued. "Then one of my co-workers asked him if he was the actor who played the new male nurse on General Hospital. I think that may have made him angry. I turned my back for one second and the next thing I knew his little body just burst into flames like a firecracker."

"The little man was just burnt to a crisp. I never seen anything like that before," relayed Vivian Tran, owner of Vivian's Hair and Nail Salon, shuddering as she spoke. "All that was left was his tiny shoes and a charred pair of expensive women's jeans."

Fox Television has released a statement expressing their "heartfelt sorrow at such a tragic loss of talent." The studio has declined to state whether the current season of American Idol will go forward without its now departed host. However, former host, Brian Dunkelman was spotted leaving the Fox studio lot with what was described by one on-looker as an "odd grin on his face."

Celebrity reaction to the tragedy has just begun. Elton John has already announced that a tribute song, based on his hit singles Candle in the Wind and the Princess Diana tribute, Candle in the Wind '97, will hit the airwaves next week, to be followed by a prime-time telethon. The new Elton tribute song is tentatively titled This Time I'm Literally Talking 'Bout a Candle in the Wind (Goodbye Idol Host). All profits from the song and the television special are said to be going to the singer's Save Elton John charity fund.

Dozens of Seacrest fans have been spotted laying bouquets of flowers, bottles of hair dye, and size-small designer t-shirts at the site of the long-cancelled, On-Air With Ryan Seacrest talk show, as well as at the entrance to Fox's studio lot. "We miss you Ryan, you will always be our Idol," read one young fan's tribute sign. Another sign read simply, "Seacreast Out? Why so soon God? Why?" Seacrest's fans will have only memories of the thirty-something, semi-talented television personality to inspire them after today's tragic loss.