Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen has given his two cents on Ryan Seacrest’s casting to be the new “Live With Kelly” co-host. Pictured: The talk show and radio host arriving at the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 15th Annual “An Enduring Vision Benefit” in New York City on Nov. 2, 2016. Reuters/Brendan McDermid

Andy Cohen is sharing his thoughts on Ryan Seacrest’s casting as the new co-host of Kelly Ripa on “Live with Kelly.” The famous talk show and radio host revealed that he approves of the former “American Idol” host taking over Michael Strahan’s seat.

Cohen was previously being linked to the talk show following Strahan’s departure. However, he rejected the chance to do the show for he was too busy for the co-host position. So what does he think now that the vacancy is being filled by Seacrest? In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Cohen revealed that he actually approves.

“I think it’s good. He’s a star, he’s an adult, they’re equals,” Cohen said of Seacrest, who now has his name on the rebooted “Live with Kelly & Ryan.”

Cohen also spoke of Ripa saying, “I think it’s great for Kelly. She’s had a lot on her plate for the last year doing that show alone, and so I think it’s great.”

READ: Reactions to Ryan Seacrest snagging co-hosting position with Kelly Ripa

Last year, reports claimed that Ripa was trying to get Cohen to replace Strahan. Cohen has a lot of experience being on the show as he has guest-hosted six times already. Explaining why he couldn’t commit to doing the show with Ripa, the 48-year-old TV personality said, “First of all, they never asked, and second of all, I couldn't do it. I'm exclusive to NBC Universal and they let me do Love Connection for Fox, but that was a week of work. This is a real job.”

Cohen also admitted that if he were to do “Live with Kelly,” this would entail him to give up his resting time. “I would never sleep again and I don’t already,” he said.

Apart from the “Watch What Happens Live” host, other top contenders for co-hosting the show were Anderson Cooper, Fred Savage, Jerry O’Connell and even Ripa’s husband, Mark Consuelos. In the end though, it was Ripa’s personal pick, Seacrest, who got the position.

Ripa has since revealed why she chose Seacrest. “It had to be somebody we would all want to hang out with — and not just on camera,” the 46-year-old actress and talk show host told People. “Because we all do hang out together when we’re not on-camera. That’s an important thing.”

She also revealed that she and Seacrest get along well because they “do work out together.”

Meanwhile, Seacrest has received some flak following the announcement that he is replacing Strahan. Fans of the live talk show took to social media to voice out their disapproval of the new co-host. Some expressed their disappointment and said that there are better choices out there to fill the co-hosting position.

Ripa has been the host of the show since 2001, a year after Kathie Lee Gifford exited the then “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee” show. When Philbin retired in 2011, Strahan took over the co-hosting job in 2012. Unfortunately, the former NFL player left the show in 2016 for a spot on “Good Morning America.”

Do you think Cohen would have been a better pick than Seacrest? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

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