Ryan Seacrest Reveals The Secret To How ‘The Kardashians’ Really Got Started

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Most people think the Kardashian-Jenners got their reality show because of Kim Kardashian‘s infamous tape with Ray J. The truth is, Keeping Up with the Kardashian’s executive producer, Ryan Seacrest was simply looking for a family who’d be willing to be filmed. At the time, the Kardashians were merely an option. Here’s how they became TV royalty.

Why Ryan Seacrest Gave The Kardashians Their Big Break

Seacrest had one goal — to replicate the success of MTV’s The Osbournes. “I loved watching The Osbournes, which was really the first show of this [reality] genre. I started thinking about what another show could be like or who another show could be about, which is how [The Kardashians] started,” he told Haute Living. “We went to some casting directors in L.A. and said, ‘We’re interested in meeting families who want to be on a series or are interested in being in the world of television. The Kardashians were interested.” One day, Seacrest sent a cameraman to film the Kardashians having a Sunday barbecue. The footage turned out to be exactly what he was looking for.

“We got linked up through a casting director. I had met the girls before, but I didn’t know the family well,” the producer continued. “So I said to a guy in my office, ‘Why don’t you buy a video camera and go out to their house on a Sunday when they’re having a family barbeque, shoot it, and then we’ll watch it and see what we think.’ I remember perfectly: he called me from their house Sunday afternoon and said, ‘It’s absolutely golden; you’re going to die when you see this tape. They’re so funny, they’re so fun, there is so much love in this family and they’re so chaotic—they throw each other in the pool!’ We watched it and rushed the tape to E! immediately, and that was the beginning.”

For momager Kris Jenner, the reality show was a solution to her family’s financial issues at the time. “So many people have said to me for years and years: ‘You should really have your own reality show, because your life is so crazy,'” Jenner recalled. “My girlfriend Kathie Lee Gifford used to always tell me, ‘You’re really our reality show. People don’t even know what’s happening here.’ And that was when the big kids were babies. It’s always been something that people were throwing around. And then when Deena [Katz, casting director] came over, I think a light bulb just went off for both of us.”

Why The Kardashians Moved From E! To Hulu

Jenner admitted that the main reason they moved to Hulu was because of the money. “Well, money always matters,” the matriarch said. “I think that anybody would be foolish to say that money doesn’t matter anymore.” Khloé Kardashian added that despite making more money in their new show, The Kardashians, they all make the same amount. “We’re all equals,” said the Good American founder who also explained how Hulu’s offer “was just the perfect fit for us,” hence their decision to leave E!.

“It definitely played a factor because we give so much of our personal lives up for entertainment,” she said of money being a factor in their move. “We always have our private family conversations, and we’re pretty brutal, me and my sisters, with what we will settle for or not settle for. But not all money is good money. It has to be a good fit, and Hulu was just the perfect fit for us.” Walt Disney Television’s chairman of entertainment, Dana Walden also hinted that Hulu’s offer certainly didn’t come cheap.

“We stepped up to a great deal that they very much deserve,” said Walden. “Who would you want more for your unscripted slate than the Kardashians? They perfectly symbolize our strategy, which is taking big shots, but the right shots, and betting on incredible talent and best-in-class opportunities in each genre.” Jenner probably negotiated a great deal for the family, too. Kardashian herself said that their mom “fights like a pit bull” when it comes to these things.

What Ryan Seacrest Feels About The Kardashian’s Move To Hulu

Seacrest supports the family’s move to Hulu. Speaking to People, the KUWTK co-creator even expressed his excitement for the Kardashian’s new journey. “I think they have a lot of ideas and [will do] a lot of things that they may have not had a chance to do with Keeping Up with the Kardashians, because it was such a strong franchise and people wanted what they saw from the family. And that’s what they got for 20 seasons,” he said.

He added that he’s sure the Kardashians have new ideas that will keep the fans on their toes. “So I have a feeling they have a stack of ideas,” Seacrest continued. “My guess would be they want to evolve a little bit from the show that everybody has seen and do something differently. I’m sure it will definitely pique people’s interest, but I think it remains to be seen what exactly they will do.”

At the end of the KUWTK, Kim thanked Seacrest for giving them their big break. “We’ll forever cherish the wonderful memories and countless people we’ve met along the way,” she said. “The thousands of individuals and businesses that have been a part of this experience and, most importantly, a very special thank you to Ryan Seacrest for believing in us, E! for being our partner, and our production team at Bunim/Murray, who’ve spent countless hours documenting our lives.”