“You just love that you don’t have to do it anymore!”: Ryan Seacrest Does Not Regret Quitting ‘Live’ With Kelly Ripa
Ryan Seacrest’s departure from the popular talk show Live! left fans with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation. However, his recent surprise return as a guest on the show sparked discussions about his decision to leave. Co-host Kelly Ripa suggested that the 48-year-old had no regrets about his departure.
Read more: How Much Money Has Ryan Seacrest Earned from American Idol?
Despite this, the reaction from fans after his absence suggested a lack of enthusiasm, indicating that the show didn’t succeed as well during his time away. Seacrest’s return involved conversations about the impact of his presence and the dynamic he brings to the show.
Ryan Seacrest’s Did Not Regret Leaving Live
Ryan Seacrest recently made a guest appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark, but he didn’t seem to miss hosting the show too much. During his return, he playfully teased his former co-host and his replacement, Mark Consuelos, sharing the leisurely mornings he now enjoys.
Jokingly referring to his new routine, he shared,
“I walk through the forest … and I look for the beans of coffee. I take them, I harvest them, I take them back, I roast them, I milk some almonds and I make a latte.”
As the hosts caught up on what the former co-host missed during his absence, he quipped, “I got out just in the nick of time.” This marked Seacrest’s first guest appearance on the rebranded Live with Kelly and Mark since leaving the show in April.
Seacrest’s return shouldn’t come as a surprise to Live viewers, as he had previously expressed his intention to visit the show often, even after his departure.
Further, the 52-year-old warmly stated,
“He’s forever adopted. He’s forever a New Yorker and forever a Live co-host, whether he likes it or not.”
After Seacrest expressed his continued support for the show, praising the dynamic between Ripa and Consuelos. Ripa commented, “…You just love that you don’t have to do it anymore.”
During his appearance, the media personality promoted the season finale of American Idol, which airs on ABC. However, following Seacrest’s departure from Live, the current co-host of the show faced some mixed reviews from fans, particularly regarding their public displays of affection and pre-recording of shows.
Fans Showed Disappointment Towards The Show After Ryan Seacrest’s Departure
Kelly Ripa and her husband faced backlash from disappointed fans after it was revealed that episodes of their morning talk show, Live with Kelly and Mark, were being pre-recorded.
Viewers took to Twitter to express their frustrations, mentioning the co-hosts for not broadcasting live as the show’s name implies.
Fans suggested changing the show’s title to reflect its pre-recorded nature and expressed doubts about its longevity. Some criticized the hosts for not understanding the concept and one user tweeted,
“Maybe they should change the title if it’s no longer live. The Kelly & Mark Show .. or is it even worth trying since it will be circling the drain before long.”
Another social media user wrote,
“Are they changing the name to Taped With Kelly and Mark? That show needs to end!!!!”
One more mockingly stated,
“Thought ratings have been low since Ryan [Seacrest] left. Seems like they can pre-tape all they want, it’ll just prolong the obvious.”
While some insiders argued that pre-recording episodes was a standard practice to provide fresh material during the summer, critics viewed it as a departure from the show’s supposed live format.
The decision to pre-tape episodes allowed the couple to take a break over the summer, a tradition the show had followed for years. Live with Kelly and Mark had already faced backlash when Consuelos joined as Ripa’s co-host, with viewers expressing disapproval of his debut episode, mentioning it as uninteresting and lacking chemistry.
However, both partners were initially irritated by the complaints but have since defended their show and praised each other’s contributions. Ripa told a media outlet,
“I had no concerns about how well he was going to do, and he proved me right. I’m so proud of him, but I was never worried.”
The reaction from fans showed the important role Seacrest had played on the show and the strong connection he had established with the audience.
Source: Page Six
