It was an emotional exchange.
Ryan Seacrest broke down in tears Friday during an episode of “Live with Kelly and Ryan” after welcoming Ripa’s husband and latest cohost Mark Consuelos onto the show, reports Entertainment Weekly.
It was announced Thursday that Seacrest, 48, would go away the daytime talk show after six years and concentrate on hosting the singing show “American Idol.
“That is something that [Kelly] and I even have been talking about for a very long time, and it was a tricky, tough decision,” Seacrest stated. “Last 12 months we spoke, and I made the choice to make this my last season as co-host.”
Seacrest said that he wouldn’t be gone from the show ceaselessly and that he would seem as a special guest host every now and then.
It was later revealed that Ripa’s husband Mark Consuelos would take over the vacant spot.
The “All My Children” star appeared on the show Friday to pay tribute to Seacrest.
“I do wish to say, you’re a brother to me, you’re a member of the family to me. I’ve turn out to be so close with each of you,” Seacrest told Consuelos, 51. “The three of us sat — before I moved out here — and had real conversations about doing this for just a few years. It ended up being longer than I assumed, and I couldn’t be happier to see you are available and be next to your wife, who we each know is essentially the most amazing human being on the planet.”
Consuelos echoed the sentiment saying that he was glad the “American Idol” host had turn out to be a component of the family.
“I couldn’t consider a greater person to take a seat next to my wife for the past six years,” gushed Consuelos. “You’re a real friend. You’re a brother. You’re generous to my wife, to my whole family. I got to fulfill your loved ones. I like your parents, your niece, your sister, your brother-in-law.”
“That chair you’re sitting in, it’s an iconic seat. It’s a fantastic honor for me to take a seat there. It’s an iconic show, and I believe it’s going to be a blast. Thanks.”
In accordance with an insider on the show, nobody was surprised on the host’s departure. The insider revealed that Seacrest was feeling the strain of pulling triple duty between his radio show, “Idol,” and the talk show.
“A few of Ryan’s absences created tension with everyone involved on the show,” said the insider. “But everyone cares about him and respects him and just desires to ensure that he’s OK.”
Meanwhile, Seacrest’s partner Kelly Ripa, 52, has rarely missed a day in her 23 years on the show.
