Ryan Seacrest’s landed yet another hosting gig, as Deadline now confirms that he’ll join Live With Kelly Ripa in what was once Michael Strahan’s post. Earlier this morning, CNN shared a report that Seacrest was going to permanently set up shop in the morning talk show, after guest hosting with Ripa on five different occasions. But Ripa’s made it official, telling Deadline, “Ryan is a quintessential broadcaster and at the top of his game. I am thrilled to start my mornings with him every day, and we are so fortunate at Live to have him join the family…. Plainly said, everyone loves him, and so will our daily viewers.”
The announcement brings the protracted search for a new name to add to the Live With Kelly title to an end, after months of speculation and celebrity guest hosts. Seacrest, who’s emceed everything from a New Year’s Rockin’ Eve to American Idol, will keep his iHeartMedia show, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, even as he moves to New York to work the morning shift with Ripa.