Ryan Seacrest Is Out at 'Live with Kelly,' and Will Be Replaced by Kelly's Husband

By Dustin Rowles | TV | February 16, 2023 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | February 16, 2023 |

The first announcement to arrive this morning was the departure of Ryan Seacrest from Live with Kelly and [Blank].” Seacrest leaves after six years. Kelly’s former co-hosts, Regis Philbin and Michael Strahan didn’t go on exactly great terms, although both Regis (RIP) and Strahan were professionals about it.

My first instinct would be to attribute Seacrest’s decision to depart to a strained relationship with Kelly Ripa, but US Weekly attributes it to exhaustion. Given Seacrest’s workload (he also hosts American Idol and produces On Air with Ryan Seacrets among other projects), I believe it. He’s 48. He’s obscenely wealthy. He has other jobs. There’s no reason to wake up early every morning and pretend to be chipper. Seacrest’s statement also seemed genuine.

“Working alongside Kelly over the past six years has been a dream job and one of the highlights of my career. She has been an amazing partner, friend, and confidant, and although we will always be a part of each other’s lives, I will miss our mornings together,” he said.

The twist here is what he said next: “It’s been a memorable ride and now I’m excited to pass the baton to Kelly’s ‘real’ husband, Mark [Consuelos].”

That’s how you find a co-host that you can get along with: You bring in the spouse. Consuelos has filled in for Seacrest in the past, the two have good chemistry, and Consuelos seems like a natural fit alongside Ripa. Plus, they can continue to tell stories about how their college-aged daughter walks in on them having sex.

I’d like to attribute all of this to drama, but it makes sense. Consuelos was even up for the job against Seacrest the last go-around. If Kelly and Mark’s working relationship doesn’t work out, hearing about the divorce live every morning could be interesting. (The two have been together for 28 years, so I doubt a divorce is in the cards).

Source: USA Today