Ryan Seacrest quits ‘Live’: Kelly Ripa’s husband Mark Consuelos to replace him
nypost.comlengthy tribute to Ripa shortly after announcing his exit from the show. “I’m going to miss my work wife and all the laughter we share,” he wrote. “When I signed on to host Live in 2017 it was meant to be for three years, but I loved the job and working with Kelly so much that I extended my time and last year I made the decision to stay on for one more final season. “ “I’ve been grateful to be able to share a cup of coffee with our viewers everyday, one of the best parts of the gig,” he added.
Seacrest vowed to regularly return to the show in a guest co-hosting capacity whenever he was in New York. He also offered his congratulations to Consuelos, whom he called “a brother.”Meanwhile, the show’s longtime executive producer Michael Gelman, also offered an on-air tribute to Seacrest. “Goodbyes are never easy, but we look forward to welcoming Ryan back regularly with open arms,” he declared. “Live” has been on the air nationally since 1988, when it was co-hosted by Regis Philbin and Kathie-Lee Gifford.
The duo became a beloved fixture on morning television, before Gifford stepped down from the show in 2000. Ripa joined Philbin as co-host in 2001, with the show re-branded as “Live with Regis and Kelly.”The pair had a famously frosty relationship off-camera, but worked together for a decade.
Philbin retired in 2011. Michael Strahan subsequently joined Ripa on “Live with Kelly and Michael” for four years before he moved to “Good Morning America.” Seacrest joined the show in 2017..
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