Kelly Ripa has experienced her fair share of change over the years as co-host of Live. She started as co-host of Regis Philbin, then partnered with Michael Strahan. After Strahan made a somewhat messy break with the series, Ripa landed Ryan Seacrest as a co-host. Viewers can attest to the fact that the chemistry was different between every different set of hosts, and Kelly Ripa herself has weighed in on the major difference between hosting with Philbin and hosting with Seacrest:
Regis had a mandate: Absolutely no talking off-camera. He had almost a superstition about it. You save it for the show. I'd be like, 'Good morning,' and he'd say, 'Save it for the air!'
Well, that sounds tricky! Regis Philbin had a rule about saving the chitchat for in front of the camera, even apparently to the point that he wasn't a fan of morning greetings. Morning TV shows obviously wouldn't work without some fun banter between the co-hosts, and it probably wouldn't be good for the co-hosts to run out of banter before the camera starts rolling, but no conversation off-camera sounds like it was difficult or Kelly Ripa, judging by her comments to the New York Times. Her dynamic with Ryan Seacrest is evidently much more open.
Despite rumors earlier this year of some tension between Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, the two appear to be quite friendly with each other even off-camera, and their banter hasn't suffered for it. Ripa and Seacrest chat between shows and hang out on the weekends, which sounds about as different from Ripa's behind-the-scenes dynamic with Philbin as can be. Perhaps it's not a surprise that Ripa and Philbin don't speak anymore.
Kelly Ripa seemed to have a pretty solid dynamic with Michael Strahan as well, but they did not part well as co-hosts. Strahan rather abruptly announced his intention to depart the series, and Ripa reportedly was not given a heads up prior to him making the announcement. She took off for a few days after the news broke, and there was enough melodrama that even Maury host Maury Povich claimed that they both "ought to leave their diva cages." Ouch.
Hopefully Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest continue to work well together. Seacrest has a very full plate thanks to his gig as host of the new American Idol, which will take him back and forth across the country on a weekly basis. Still, he seems happy working with Ripa, and viewers have responded well to them as hosts, especially compared the low ratings being delivered by Megyn Kelly in the mornings over on NBC. Only time will tell.
You can catch Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest on Live with Kelly and Ryan on weekday mornings. While you're here, be sure to swing by our midseason TV premiere guide and our 2017 cancellation breakdown.
