Ryan Seacrest Opens Up About His Time Co-Hosting Live With Kelly Ripa

It’s been nearly six months since Ryan Seacrest wrapped up his final episode of Live With Kelly and Ryan, and fans are finally getting the inside scoop on what really went down between these two TV legends. In a heartfelt conversation during SiriusXM’s “Let’s Talk Off Camera” podcast on October 11, Ryan revealed just how much he valued his time alongside the one and only Kelly Ripa.

Revisiting the Magic of Live

Reflecting on his tenure as co-host, Ryan, now 48, admitted that no other show quite compares to the unique bond shared with the Live family. “There’s no other show that feels like Live with the family of people,” he reminisced, adding, “There really isn’t.” It’s clear that the chemistry between Ryan and Kelly was something special, and it didn’t happen overnight.

The Challenges of Finding His Footing

For all the magic that viewers witnessed on screen, Ryan admitted that his early days on the show were nothing short of terrifying. “It was hard for me to find my footing,” he confessed. He explained that the fast-paced nature of live television, combined with the limited time he and Kelly had to prep backstage, made every episode feel like a high-stakes performance. “Whomever you were with, you don’t speak beforehand,” Ryan told listeners. “You go out and you just do it, and it comes together—and that’s terrifying to think about if you’ve never done that before.”

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Ryan added that while he was used to the radio world, where he could script and rehearse segments, television brought an entirely different level of pressure. “On the radio, sure, but it’s different when you’re on television and it’s 9:00 and it’s go time and it’s true,” he said. “We would quickly say ‘Hi,’ and grab each other’s hands and go.”

Life After Ryan: How Things Stayed the Same

These days, Kelly Ripa is co-hosting Live With Kelly and Mark alongside her husband, Mark Consuelos. But even with a new partner in the mix, Kelly revealed that some things never change. “It’s exactly the same,” she said, laughing. “You and I, I think, had the most conversations of any cohosts I’ve ever had backstage, as much as they tried to keep us separate.”

Both Ryan and Kelly admitted that there were plenty of times when producers would tell them to “save it for the show.” But Kelly stood her ground, explaining, “I kept saying, ‘Guess what? Ryan and I are friends. We have a relationship and we can actually recreate this moment on camera and it’s fine.’”

A Look Ahead: Ryan’s Excitement for Wheel of Fortune

In addition to reminiscing about his time on Live, Ryan couldn’t help but gush about his upcoming role as the new host of Wheel of Fortune. Taking over from Pat Sajak for season 42 next year, Ryan is thrilled to team up with the iconic Vanna White. “She’s such a part of our lives, isn’t she?” he said of his new cohost. “I mean, you think about Americana and you think about comfort and you think about these franchises. She’s such a staple for all of us.”