Fans can expect Kelly Ripa to really open up about her “complicated” relationship with the late Regis Philbin in her new book, Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories. And the 51-year-old presenter and actress explained to People in its latest issue that the chapter about her former Live! co-host, who sadly passed away in 2020 at the age of 88, was “the hardest chapter to write.” Wow!
“There were good and bad days,” Kelly told the mag about her experience co-hosting Live! With Regis and Kelly from 2001 to 2011. “I don’t want to feel like I’m slamming anyone or that I’m being disrespectful. But I also want people to know it was not a cakewalk,” she confessed.
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“It took years to earn my place there and earn things that are routinely given to the men I worked with. Including an office and a place to put my computer,” Kelly added, before confirming that the early days of the show following the departure of Regis’ previous co-host, Kathie Lee Gifford, were not as easy as they perhaps seemed.
“The biggest misconception is that it all came easily,” Kelly cleared up. “People think I just showed up one day and was handed a job and I lived happily ever after and now everything’s perfect. But it never is that way.”
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The mom-of-three also revealed that, prior to sealing the deal and becoming a permanent co-host, her agent reportedly told her, “They want you to know who your boss is,” which Kelly said was “very ominous, and it did not feel good.” She also said that she was discouraged from “bringing an entourage.” “I came with hair and makeup,” she said. “It was not an unusual thing for people on a television show to show up with.”
On her first day on set, Regis reportedly said to Kelly and the show’s executive producer, Michael Gelman, “Uh-oh, Gelman, it’s got an entourage,” which Kelly said felt “horrible.” “He was probably trying to be funny, but at the same time it felt like a pile-on,” she confessed. “I understand that probably he didn’t want a co-host, but the network wanted me to be the co-host and I didn’t think I should pass up that opportunity. I don’t think it was fair to him. But it was also not fair to me.”
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However, despite the hiccups in the earlier days, Kelly revealed that she truly treasured her time with her co-host, in particular the moments they spent away from the show! “Off camera and outside of that building, it was a different thing,” Kelly admitted. “The handful of times we spent together, I so enjoyed. We went to the same resort once on vacation and he came to a dinner I hosted – one of the favorite nights of my life. I never laughed so hard.”
Kelly also referred to her co-host as “the world’s best storyteller,” adding that she will always love him. “If I could become a tenth as good, I’d be happy,” she said, in reference to his storytelling. “It’s taking the audience on a ride with you and remembering that you are always the butt of the joke,” she added. “I loved him, and I still do.”
