Kelly Ripa finally has a 'Live' co-host. One year after Michael Strahan left the show, Ryan Seacrest will fill the empty chair on ABC's popular morning talk show. After much speculation about who would co-host the show with Kelly, CNN reports that Ripa will introduce Seacrest as her new sidekick on Monday, May 1.
Viewers can expect to see 'Live' with Kelly and Ryan coffee cups on the host's table as the morning show rebrands itself to include the former "American Idol" and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" host. Here are three things to know about the Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest's new venture.
Ryan Seacrest is one busy man
Hosting the new 'Live! with Kelly and Ryan' morning show on ABC is just one of Seacrest's many jobs. He's the busiest man in the world of entertainment, or so it seems. Aside from his once-per-year New Year's Eve hosting duties on ABC, he hosts "American Top 40" and "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" on KIIS-FM. Seacrest owns Ryan Seacrest Productions and has produced many E! network shows including "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," "Khloe and Lamar," "Kourtney and Kim Take New York," and "Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami."
Seacrest wasn't the only co-host on the rumor list
Ryan Seacrest co-hosted 'Live' with Kelly Ripa five times after Michael Strahan left the job a year ago.
Other co-hosts included Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, Jerry O'Connell, and Fred Savage. There was speculation that Anderson Cooper, who hosts his own show on CNN, was offered the gig earlier in the year. However, Seacrest is a solid choice for the 'Live' show, especially with news that Megyn Kelly's new show coming to NBC in the same time slot.
The 'Live' co-host selection took a year
Why did it take so long for Kelly Ripa to choose a new co-host? Perhaps the sting of Michael Strahan's departure after four years prompted her to be careful about who fill the role. Strahan gave "barely 30 minutes notice" when he hopped from "Live" to "Good Morning America" last year, something that created a firestorm between the two co-hosts.
CNN reports that Ripa was "blindsided" when Michael left the show. She took several days off and there was speculation that she would leave the show altogether. One year later, she will introduce Ryan Seacrest as her host and, from the chatter surrounding the move, the ratings for her show will skyrocket.
Ryan Seacrest will appear with Kelly Ripa as the new 'Live' co-host on Monday morning, according to CNN. Tune in on your local ABC channel at 10 a.m. ET.
