Dropping details! Ryan Seacrest<\/strong><\/a> shed light on his decision to leave Live With Kelly and Ryan<\/em> on Thursday, February 16.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cKelly [Ripa]<\/strong> <\/a>and I have some news here. This is something that she and I have been talking about for a long time and it was a tough, tough decision. Last year, we spoke and I made the decision to make this my last season as cohost with Kelly here on Live \u200bWith Kelly and Ryan<\/em>, which is bittersweet,\u201d the 48-year-old TV personality said with Ripa, 52, by his side.<\/p>\n The former soap star noted that Seacrest was \u201ca gem\u201d and one of her \u201cbest friends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe greatest part of this entire experience has been that you\u2019ve gone from being a friend to a family member,\u201d she gushed. \u201cYou are family to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Seacrest, who joined Live<\/em> in 2017, called it \u201cremarkable\u201d to be on the morning show for several years, revealing that he initially only signed a contract for three seasons.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce American Idol<\/em> starts from Los Angeles live later in the spring, I\u2019ll head out to the West Coast and host that show \u2014 the 21st season of American Idol<\/em> \u2014 from Los Angeles,\u201d he explained, noting that he\u2019ll guest host Live whenever asked. \u201cAs a dear friend coming in, but as a best friend in this moment<\/a>, to have your kindness, your thoughtfulness, your levity, your friendship, I look up to you. I respect you so much. I love the fact that we get a chance to sit here every day and connect with you at home, in your kitchens, in your living rooms at work. There\u2019s nothing like this on television.\u201d<\/p>\n Seacrest noted he was \u201cgetting emotional\u201d but \u201cpromised\u201d Ripa he wouldn\u2019t cry.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said he was supposed to be here for three years,\u201d the Live Wire<\/em> author said. \u201cWe were just like, \u2018Oh, don\u2019t be ridiculous. I mean, you already moved your sofa here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The On Air with Ryan Seacrest<\/em> host added: \u201cThree turned into six because of the genuine fun of being on this television show every hour of every weekday. I love you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n The twosome then confirmed that Ripa\u2019s husband, Mark Consuelos<\/strong><\/a>, will be taking over in the coming weeks.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe are so aware of the importance of continuity and consistency and, like, the familial vibe that we all have here. It only makes sense to not just our viewing audience at home, but our audience here within our staff, our support system, our extended family, to bring in somebody that we know and love and who\u2019s really always been here,\u201d Ripa said. \u201cThe only person I can think of that is capable of, you know, holding your torch the way you have held it. And that would be, my husband, Mark Consuelos, in what Ryan and I are calling the nation\u2019s weirdest social experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n Seacrest joked that the actor told him \u201che\u2019s got a list of things to address\u201d in his first episode when he joins \u201cin a few months.\u201d<\/p>\n After the pair learned Consuelos will be a guest on the Friday, February 17, show, Ripa quipped that he wasn\u2019t even aware that the announcement was coming on Thursday. Seacrest subsequently revealed that he spoke to the Riverdale alum days ago.<\/p>\n \u201cI talked to him over the weekend \u2014 he\u2019s excited!\u201d he declared. \u201cHe\u2019s not sure for how long, but he knows the sign is changing.\u201d<\/p>\n Ripa and Consuelos, who wed in 1996, share three kids<\/a>: Michael, 25, Lola, 21, and Joaquin, 19.<\/p>\n
\n Ryan Seacrest and Mark Consuelos<\/span> Shutterstock (2)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Ryan-Seacrest-Says-He-Extended-Live-With-Kelly-and-Ryan-Contract-3-Years-Spoke-to-Mark-Consuelos-About-Replacing-Him-2.jpg?w=700&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest<\/span> ABC\/Lorenzo Bevilaqua<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Ryan-Seacrest-Says-He-Extended-Live-With-Kelly-and-Ryan-Contract-3-Years-Spoke-to-Mark-Consuelos-About-Replacing-Him-3.jpg?w=700&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos<\/span> Richard Shotwell\/Invision\/AP\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n