After six seasons on “Live With Kelly and Ryan,” Ryan Seacrest bid farewell to the talk show this morning. It was an emotional day for both Seacrest and his co-host Kelly Ripa, as they shared tears and heartfelt messages.
Seacrest, who resides in Los Angeles, made the difficult decision to leave the show due to the challenges of commuting between the two cities. Hosting “American Idol” in Los Angeles added to the strain. He explained, “Flying back and forth became a lot. I had told Kelly that this wouldn’t be something that I could sustain forever, given the obvious geographical reasons, and she understood.”
While Seacrest had his reasons for departing, saying goodbye was still emotional. In the final episode, both hosts became teary-eyed while expressing their gratitude.
Seacrest shared, “I know how fortunate I am to have been a part of this show for the past six years. It’s difficult for me to articulate how much being here and being welcomed into your homes every day has meant to me. I am honored to be a part of this family.”
Ripa also got emotional as she bid farewell to Seacrest, saying, “These past six years have flown by. Although we’ve been friends for decades, I feel like I’ve gained a younger brother/oldest son through this experience.”
Ripa had nothing but praise for Seacrest, highlighting his goodness, kindness, charm, brilliance, authenticity, and generosity. Amidst the emotional moments, she injected some humor by joking about teasing him on social media and keeping the same mailing addresses.
But then she turned serious, saying, “From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all of us, I want to thank you for being incredible. You are an irreplaceable and authentic part of this show. You will forever be considered family. It’s not goodbye; it’s see you soon. I love you.”
The final show featured a special guest, First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden. Seacrest’s family, including his parents, sister Meredith, and girlfriend Aubrey Paige, were also present. The episode included video clips showcasing both fun and emotional moments from Seacrest’s time on the show.
As Seacrest passes on his hosting role, the show already has a new co-host lined up, and it’s someone Ripa is familiar with: her husband, Mark Consuelos. Consuelos made an appearance on the final show with a special cake, and Seacrest symbolically passed on the torch by giving him his mug.
Seacrest took over as the host of “Live” in 2017, succeeding Michael Strahan who left to co-host “Good Morning America.” The morning show has seen various hosts over the years, with Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford originally capturing audiences’ hearts. Since Gifford’s departure in 2000, Ripa has been Philbin’s full-time co-host, solidifying her place in the show’s legacy.
The final show was a beautiful culmination of six incredible seasons. We will miss seeing Kelly and Ryan together but wish them both the best as they embark on new chapters in their careers. If you love Kelly and Ryan, please share this story and spread the love!
