Ryan Seacrest, the master Hollywood multitasker, was named Kelly Ripa’s Live co-host on Monday, giving him a high-profile platform and bringing stability to an important ABC morning show as it prepares for new competition. (NYT)
Seacrest has become ubiquitous at the TV hosting game since establishing himself with American Idol back in the early aughts. In addition to being a frequent guest host alongside Ripa on Live, Seacrest and Ripa previously co-hosted several Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade specials for ABC between 2005-2009, alongside Ripa’s previous Live colleague, Regis Philbin. (Mashable)
Seacrest’s move into the seat next to Ripa comes nearly a year after Ripa’s former co-host, Michael Strahan, left the Disney-distributed show for an anchor slot on ABC’s Good Morning America. (Variety)
Seacrest has long been based in Los Angeles, where he not only oversees a production company but also hosts a local and national syndicated daily radio show. Though Ryan Seacrest Productions and Ryan Seacrest Enterprises will stay put in L.A., he will relocate to New York, where he’ll transition his radio work. (THR)