(Photos: Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and TV Distribution / Pawel Kaminski)
It’s official. The Live with Kelly TV show is rebranding as Live with Kelly and Ryan, as Kelly Ripa has announced Ryan Seacrest will be her new co-host on the daily talk show.
Since Michael Strahan exited the syndicated series for ABC’s Good Morning America, Ripa has been trying out a slew of co-hosts. Seacrest will also executive produce Live, along with Ripa and Michael Gelman.
Check out this ABC press release for more.
‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’ Debuts Today, as Ryan Seacrest Joins Kelly Ripa as ‘Live’’s New Permanent Co-Host
‘LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN’ DEBUTS TODAY,
AS RYAN SEACREST JOINS KELLY RIPA AS ‘LIVE’’S NEW PERMANENT CO-HOST
A new era in daytime television began today when Kelly Ripa introduced the permanent co-host joining her on the top-rated, Emmy-winning “Live” franchise: veteran broadcaster RYAN SEACREST is the new co-host of the newly re-christened “Live with Kelly and Ryan.”
Beginning with today’s inaugural broadcast, Seacrest joins Daytime Emmy Award-winner Ripa as co-host and a fellow executive producer on daytime’s longest-running, No. 1 entertainment talk show. A staple of modern American pop culture and media, and a household name from his decades on the radio, on television and as an Emmy-winning producer, Seacrest also has been a longtime friend of “Live,” with many guest appearances and multiple co-hosting stints.
“Ryan is a quintessential broadcaster and at the top of his game,” said Ripa. “I am thrilled to start my mornings with him every day, and we are so fortunate at ‘Live’ to have him join the family.” She added, “Ryan is a close friend and his star shines as brightly off camera as it does on. His tremendous success is only matched by his impeccable reputation. Plainly said, everyone loves him, and so will our daily viewers.”
“Not only is Kelly Ripa one of the most talented live hosts in broadcast TV, she’s also become a very dear friend to me over the years. It’s consistently been my privilege and pleasure to work alongside Kelly with all her incredible talents, charm and humor – whether hosting the Disney Christmas Day Parade special with her a decade ago or guest co-hosting alongside her on ‘Live,’ it’s always just been easy and fun to share a set with her, and we have a blast,” said Seacrest. “I’ve been so fortunate in my career to be a part of some incredible TV programs, and I’m excited to join daytime’s top entertainment talk show, and most important, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather share this new chapter with than Kelly Ripa – she’s a dream broadcast partner, and I can’t wait to start.”
He added: “I also want to genuinely thank Bob Iger, Ben Sherwood, Rebecca Campbell, Dave Davis, Janice Marinelli, and of course Michael Gelman, who all have been incredibly supportive in making this new chapter happen for me.”
Seacrest will make the move to New York immediately to begin his co-hosting duties, and will continue hosting and executive producing “On Air with Ryan Seacrest,” his market-topping No. 1 nationally syndicated LA morning drive-time radio show for iHeartMedia’s 102.7 KIIS-FM, as well as a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show. New York’s ABC7, home of “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” will house a brand-new iHeartRadio studio for Seacrest’s New York City location.
Seacrest will also continue as host and executive producer of two large live franchises, E!’s Live from the Red Carpet award shows, as well as ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.”
“With Ryan, ‘Live’ has a new co-host who is a master of live TV, as well as a terrific interviewer with tens of thousands of hours of live broadcasting experience,” said Michael Gelman, executive producer, “Live.” “When you combine those attributes with the talents and experience of the incomparable Kelly Ripa, you have two skilled and entertaining broadcasters with great chemistry. Add in an experienced production team and a successful 30-year franchise, and you have the perfect combination.”
“One of the secrets to ‘Live’s’ decades of success in daytime is the relatability of our hosts and their ability to deeply connect with the audience. Ryan has a charm and charisma that resonate with his devoted TV and radio audiences, and together, he and the remarkable Kelly Ripa will take ‘Live’ to a whole new level. We’re delighted to introduce this extraordinary new team of Kelly and Ryan to our family of ‘Live’ station partners and millions of viewers,” said Janice Marinelli, president, Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and TV Distribution.
“For four decades, WABC has been the proud home of ‘Live.’ With this announcement, the show begins another amazing era, and we couldn’t be more excited to have a true broadcaster like Ryan Seacrest join the legendary Kelly Ripa as co-host. Our viewers are in for a real treat,” said Rebecca Campbell, president, ABC Owned Stations & ABC Daytime.
“Live with Kelly and Ryan” is distributed in national syndication by Disney | ABC Home Entertainment and TV Distribution. The show is produced by WABC-TV in New York and executive produced by Michael Gelman, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. Visit “Live” on Facebook and Instagram (@LiveKellyandRyan), and Twitter and SnapChat (@LiveKellyRyan).
What do you think?. Are you a fan of the Live with Kelly TV series? Will you tune in to watch Live with Kelly and Ryan?
I am so tired of hearing about her “baby daddy” Her kids, her vacations, her parties, poor Ryan can’t get a word in edgewise. It’s all about her. Enough already…Take the show off the air please.
the show stinks I thought today I would watch the new line up with Megyn Kelly at 9 AM but nope I was so mad when the Kelly and ryan show came on BOOOOOOO!!!!
After 30 yrs. of watching i would like to say, “ugh”. These two do not mesh. Im done watching thus …
show smells with ryan, childish. Time to change the producer to Michael G.
If it was up to me,get her off the show
don’t & will not watch her show,she is a spoiled Brat& I don’t like her!!!
This show needs to be cancelled! It is so terrible now, there is absolutely no compatibility between these two, I have quit watching – although without Kelly there it is 100 percent better. She is so full of herself and has the most annoying voice.
The show is worst then ever with Ryan. He acts & dresses like he is 15 to 20 years old somebody needs to teach him to dress. He always seems confused like he never knows what is going on & can not interview any of the guests. If it was not for guest cohost like Busy he would just sit there not know what to do. Kelly was better off by herself with guest cohost.
The talk show is boring and there exists a dull chemistry between the 2 hosts. Terrible choice!
Nope, stopped watching when Michael S left.
Used to watch it b4 Michael. Never cared for him and don’t care for Ryan either. I watched occasionally when she had lots of different co hosts…. depending on who the co host was. She talks too much about herself.
I don’t watch the show, I work in the day time, but when Michael S was on the show I would record a show time to time. I can’t see Seacrest bringing the same personality to the show that Michael did. he has a great voice and is smart but not much personality. wish them the best. show probably won’t suffer ratings drop. their writers seem to know how to cater to their audience.
I think that this a Wonderful & Perfect hosting duo!! So Very Happy for both Kelly and Ryan!! Not sure how Superman Seacrest can have ALL the Energy to add this SHOW to his Myriad of productions LOL….BUT More Power to U Ryan!! Can’t wait to see U both in Action! Best Wishes!
The addition of Ryan Seacrest should make a good co-hosting team. I think ABC/Disney worked overtime to make Kelly happy, after her reaction to Michael Strahan moving to Good Morning America. ABC/Disney could have handled that situation better, but after all, Michael was not scheduled to leave Live for several months after the announcement. Kelly made this an untenable situation. After the way Kelly Ripa has treated Regis and Michael, I wish ABC/Disney would find a good talent to replace her. Kelly needs to appreciate Regis, as he helped pave the way to where she is today, and not blame… Read more »
I like Kelly. Ryan seems like a poor choice as he’s kind of odd.