It was an emotional hour on the last day of Live with Kelly and Ryan as Ryan Seacrest said goodbye to the show he co-hosted for six seasons with Kelly Ripa.
The previously recorded episode featured an interview with First Lady Jill Biden and several clips highlighting some of his best moments since joining the show on May 1, 2017.
Ryan’s final broadcast as co-host concluded with a moving speech from Kelly.
“This has, without question, been the fastest six years of my life, and although you and I have been friends for decades and decades, I feel like I’ve gained through this process a younger brother-slash-oldest son,” Ripa said. “That’s how I feel about you. It’s the weirdest thing — it’s very complicated.”
She continued, “I’m so grateful that our success together on this show has led to us developing an even closer, yet also codependent relationship. For many years, Ryan’s ability to be the person featuring the talents of other people, that’s been part of his job, right? But on our show, I feel like you got to show off your immeasurable talents to the world, to our audience, to our viewers, and our viewers got to know the you that we all know.”
“You are layers upon layers of goodness”
Kelly jokingly compares Ryan to an an onion with lots of layers, but says, “…really, what you are is a blooming onion, because you are layers upon layers of goodness — of kindness, of charm, of brilliance, authenticity, and generosity. Your generosity is unmatched.”
After a bit of joking and ribbing Ryan on some of his weird ways, Kelly gets serious.
“From the bottom of my heart and the bottom of all of our hearts, we just want to thank you for being wonderful, for being an original, authentic addition to this show,” Ripa said. “You are forever our family. We will never say goodbye to you. We will only say, ‘See you soon.’ I love you.”
“I am a very lucky guy,” says Ryan in his own heartfelt goodbye. “I want you all to know it’s not lost on me how fortunate I am–fortunate to have had the seat next to you Kel for six years. You’re incomparable. There’s no one like you. Fortunate to have this job where I get to talk and laugh and screw things up…fortunate to connect with viewers from across America and Canada.”
“I’m honored to be a part of this family”
“I’ve spent my entire career talking–talking on the radio, talking on television. Words are my bread and butter, its my wheelhouse,” says Ryan. “But today, it’s hard to put into words how deeply I’ve appreciated being here and being with you, being invited into your homes every day to try and deliver a smile or a laugh or two.”
“I’m honored to be a part of this family. I’m blessed with so many memories.” He goes on to praise the producers and the hard working crew. “This is a special place,” he says.
“Memories of my good friend Kelly Ripa. What can I say after what you’ve just said, so heartfelt, to me?” he said. “I so appreciate your leadership, your love, your wisdom, and I really do feel like a family member, and we’ll have that forever, and I will miss you the second we say goodbye today — at least for the weekend! I love you.”
Below, clips of Kelly and Ryan walking out on stage for the first time in 2017 and the last time in 2023. Plus highlights from Ryan’s six season run.
“I’m going to miss my Live family”
Afterward on social media, Ryan posted, “I’m going to miss my Live family, there’s no other place like it… I’ll miss the red herrings, the on-air spills, the street snow angels to horseback riding, to breaking world records (or trying to), to the Halloween show (that’s actually a lie, that shows a lot of work and no-one works harder than the crew and the producers to make it all happen), I’ll miss Estherrrr who makes everything seamless, I’ll miss Deja’s energy every morning, Art Moore and his contagious enthusiasm, Gelman’s briefings that usually end up in discussions about last night’s dinner, and Kelly our leader and family to me.”
“I’ll miss all of it, especially sharing a cup of coffee with everyone in the morning, watching at home. I’m truly grateful and honored to have been a part of it for 6 years. Thank you. See you this Sunday at American Idol from Hawaii.”
Ryan shared with People magazine that Kelly and her husband and new co-host Mark Consuelos bought him a golf bag as a going away present. “I’m starting to get sporty now. I’m into tennis, I’m into golf — meaning I’ve gotten some equipment. Kelly has heard and seen the photo evidence of me wanting to get into golf. So she and Mark purchased me the most beautiful, elegant, designer golf bag that now I have.”
And that’s not all the couple gifted him, “She and Mark gave me these beautiful custom-made golf balls with my face on them and it says on the ball, ‘Ryan’s Balls.’
Headed back to the West Coast
Actor Mark Consuelos will join wife, Kelly Ripa, as co-host of Live starting Monday, April 17. The show will be rebranded as Live with Kelly and Mark. Kelly Ripa has hosted the show since 2001.
Ryan Seacrest “Live” Bosses Feared his “Exhaustion”
Ryan plans to move back to the west coast and will remain part of the Disney family. He’ll continue to host American Idol and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. He’ll also continue his radio show on KIIS-FM and plans to open 3 more Ryan Seacrest Studios for children. Ryan’s departure from Live, which he began hosting in 2017, is timed with the beginning of the American Idol 2023 live shows. He needs to be back in Los Angeles to pre-tape the American Idol Top 20 episode on April 19. The following Monday, American Idol goes live for the rest of the season.
The American Idol Top 26 episodes, filmed at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii in February, will air Sunday April 16 and Monday April 17.
