Kelly Ripa Reflects on Her Time Co-hosting with Regis Philbin
Anderson here, and today we're diving into a candid moment with Kelly Ripa. You know her as the ever-smiling morning TV host, but there's a lot more to her story than what meets the eye. In a recent interview with People magazine, Kelly opened up about her decade-long relationship with the late Regis Philbin, her co-host on Live! With Regis and Kelly from 2001 to 2011. Let me tell you, it wasn't all rainbows and butterflies. "There were good and bad days," she said. "I don’t want to feel like I’m slamming anyone or that I’m being disrespectful. But I also want people to know it was not a cakewalk." That's some real talk right there.
Writing About Regis: A Difficult Chapter
Now, Kelly, who currently co-hosts with Ryan Seacrest, shared that writing about her time with Regis in her new memoir, Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories, was no easy feat. "It was the hardest chapter to write," she admitted. That gives you a sense of just how much this partnership meant to her and how complex their relationship truly was. It's not every day you get to hear a star open up like this, so let's dive deeper.
The Journey to Becoming Co-host
When Kelly stepped into the role vacated by Kathie Lee Gifford, she wasn't exactly handed a golden ticket to success. "The biggest misconception is that it all came easily," she revealed. People might think she just showed up one day, got the job, and lived happily ever after, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The road to becoming Regis' co-host was anything but smooth. Kelly, who gained fame on All My Children, was one of many candidates auditioning for the job. Even when she became the leading contender, it wasn't a joyous moment for her. She was told the show wasn't looking for a permanent co-host, which added a layer of uncertainty to the situation.
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First Days and the "Entourage" Issue
When Kelly finally got the call that she'd been offered the co-hosting position, her agent warned her, "They want you to know who your boss is." Talk about ominous! Kelly also mentioned that the show didn't want her bringing an entourage, which left her feeling uneasy. On her first day, she brought along just two people—her hair and makeup team. But even that small gesture wasn't met with open arms. Regis reportedly greeted her and Michael Gelman, the show's executive producer, by saying, "Uh-oh, Gelman, it’s got an entourage." Ouch. Kelly recalled feeling horrible about it. "He was probably trying to be funny, but at the same time, it felt like a pile-on," she confessed. It was a challenging start to what would become a decade-long partnership.
Decade of Morning Television
Despite the initial hurdles, Kelly and Regis spent 10 years co-hosting the show on weekday mornings until Regis retired in 2011. Regis passed away at the age of 88 on July 24, 2020, from natural causes. But off-camera, Kelly remembers a different side of Regis. "Off camera and outside of that building, it was a different thing. The handful of times we spent together, I so enjoyed," she fondly recalled. She's also incredibly thankful for the lessons she learned from him. "If I could become a tenth as good, I’d be happy," she said. For Kelly, it was all about taking the audience on a ride and remembering that you're always the butt of the joke. "I loved him, and I still do," she added, expressing her enduring affection for her former co-host.
