Kelly Ripa has picked Ryan Seacrest as her ‘Live’ co-host after a one-year search. The daytime television talk show host announced that radio and television personality Ryan Seacrest is set to co-host the popular morning program. Kelly is hoping to get a jump start in the ratings with Ryan.
Of course, Ryan Seacrest is no stranger when it comes to hosting television shows. He was the former host of Fox’s ‘American Idol,’ has his own radio show and just recently renewed his contract to host red carpet specials for the E! Network. In other words, television viewers are going to be seeing Ryan Seacrest everywhere in the coming months, whether they like it or not.
What’s more, Ryan Seacrest was also tipped for a top co-hosting job on the ‘Today Show’ nearly five years ago. Insiders say that Ryan plans on hosting ‘Live!’ with Kelly Ripa four days a week in New York City. He’ll tape Friday’s episode of ‘Live!’ ahead before making his way back to Los Angeles for the weekends.
Earlier reports indicated that Jerry O’Connell, Fred Savage and even Christian Slater were top contenders for the job. But instead Kelly picked someone more seasonal and experienced to sit by her side every morning.
It took Kelly Ripa almost one year to find a replacement for her former co-host, Michael Strahan, who left last year to take a position with ‘Good Morning America.’ Reports said that Kelly was blindsided by the news. A lot of viewers were surprised to see Kelly take out her frustration on Michael by humiliating him on air. Before his departure, she embarrassed him by mentioning his private issues and his divorce. According to Michael Strahan, he and Kelly haven’t spoken to each other since their fall-out.
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