Kelly Ripa is currently testing out other co-hosts to take the place of Michael Strahan on Live with Kelly. As you’ve heard, Strahan left several months earlier than he originally planned after Kelly was blindsided by his departure. Producers colluded with Strahan to hide his exit from Kelly, whom he’d worked with for four years, until right before the announcement was made to the public. Kelly took her vacation a couple of days early and made it clear in interviews and in some barbed statements on the show that she was hurt. While I don’t think Kelly was entirely mature in the way she handled the situation, I do think it was bad form that she was left out of the decision making process. So that’s why I’m side-eyeing this report from Page Six that Kelly is ruling Live “with an iron fist” and wants to control everything that’s going on with the show. Maybe she just doesn’t want to get screwed over again:
“They are now calling her ‘Queen Kelly’ ” backstage, said a source. “It’s like her royal court,” and everyone is being loyal and falling in line.
The insider added that the buzz at the show is that Ripa wants to be consulted on all moves at “Live” these days. “From the bookings to the comedy bits . . . It all has to be approved or suggested by Kelly,” said a source.
Page Six previously reported that Ripa had a “total meltdown” after it was announced by ABC that Strahan would leave and the network had waited till the eleventh hour to inform Ripa and the show’s staff.
Spies told us pictures and signage of Strahan were scrubbed from the “Live” lobby just hours after his departure. Another source further said that “there was a celebratory atmosphere” at the show. Rumors have run rampant over who will replace Strahan — with buzz surrounding Rob Lowe, Anderson Cooper and Sherri Shepherd (who has shot down the possibility).
But a spokesperson for “Live” said of Ripa’s new demand to approve everything and anything after Strahan left: “The hosts of ‘Live’ always have had major input with regard to the production of the show. This report is completely false.” Ripa’s rep didn’t get back to us.
Incidentally, this piece was co-written by the same author who pointed out that Emma Stone couldn’t play tennis well enough to not require a body double on the set of Battle of The Sexes. This sounds completely normal to me. Kelly was left out of something that was in the months for works so she’s making sure that doesn’t happen again and that she has input at the place she’s worked for over 15 years. If a man was insisting on having decision making power at his job would he be given nicknames and made fun of for it? Doubtful. I’ve never heard of that. “Oh that Kevin, always so bossy at work and trying to have a say in everything.”
Kelly has a new home collection at Macy’s and I’m going to post her Instagram for it even though it all looks rather fug to me. She has hustle, I’ll give her that.
Good lord that angle is horribly sexist. I bet no one would call her “King” if she was a man. This media angling just reinforces the sexist stereotype that women who push for better career opportunities as “pushy” and “bitchy”. Ugh.
Exactly. A guy would just be acting “normal” to take charge.
If the show doesn’t like it, they can dump her for someone else. But she’s good at her job and makes it look easy. Contrary to her critics, it’s not easy.
It was pathetic when so many slammed her for no reason and tried to compare their own little jobs to hers. What is that? Resentment at a woman for being successful?
“The View” has proved how hard it is for even professional actresses / celebrities / comedians to step in and be easily entertaining and watchable on a daily basis. Some have it, most don’t.
“If a man was insisting on having decision making power at his job would he be given nicknames and made fun of for it? Doubtful.”
Yup. That’s all that needs to be said. Nothing to see here people…
PS – I so prefer Cooper over Lowe.
I would poke fun of a guy who got all fussy over someone’s promotion names – mr. drama, etc.
At least they’re not criticizing her tennis skills?
Yea, this is totally a sexist take on Kelly caring about her show and demanding that she be in charge, just like any man would. Team Kelly all the way.
I agree. These article writers need to F off with these 1950’s ideas that woman are over stepping by getting things done. Ugh it’s so tiring. Have them hang on your every wish Kelly, because if your name was Kevin they would have been doing it for years,
Imagine a woman wanting a say on a show entitled “live with Kelly”, people are dumb
“If a man was insisting on having decision making power at his job would he be given nicknames and made fun of for it? Doubtful. I’ve never heard of that. “Oh that Kevin, always so bossy at work and trying to have a say in everything.”
yeah, EXACTLY.
was letterman called “King David”? Was Carson called “King Johnny”?…NO. go on with your bossy self, Kelly!
ETA: the pattern/style of her line of homegoods reminds me of a cross between marimeikko (sp?) and laura ashley.
If she’s treating the staff below her like peasants (which who knows – she’s always seemed very type-a to me) then the royalty title makes sense.
I’m not saying it’s not sexist – because it certainly has sexist roots and the writer of the article seems to be. But I bet you ANY male boss type who is type-a and demanding is getting called names behind their backs by lower staff. It might not be known outside of that staff, but disgruntled employees are nothing new, and school-yard name calling certainly isn’t either. This ones just getting ground because of the previous to-do that happened.
Ugh blatantly sexist especially when one considers how fawned over male talk show hosts are for anal retentive dictates (ie Letterman and his rule about keeping the studio unbearably cold).
This article reads to me as if it was from a paper in 1950. I’m a “bossy” lady because I’m assertive, I care about details, and I want my work to be respected. If I were in her position I would absolutely want review of the details that make up the show that I’m hosting; especially if I’d been in the game for over 15 years. You should always be respectful and polite in business, but I’m sick and tired of strong women being given derogatory and dismissive labels when their behavior would be expected AND respected if they were men. ENOUGH.
lol how dare she want to have some say in what happens on her own show. It’s not like her name is right in the title or something…OH WAIT.
They need to hire Fred Savage! He was awesome!
Obviously not going to be a popular opinion here, but she still comes across as someone who wants to have a say in everything – including things that she shouldn’t. Yes, her name is on the marquee. Yes, she should control a lot of details about her show. No, she shouldn’t have a say in a co- worker’s career decisions, and there’s a reason there are other people involved in the show, directors, producers, lighting, sound… Let them do their jobs too. Oh, and the men who want to control everything at work, including issues outside their job description? We call them a**holes.
Totally agree with you. She’s not getting these names because she is a woman, but b/c aside from her perky (and annoying) attitude what exactly does she bring to this show that makes it her show? Replace her with any other perky blonde and this show would surely go on.
I tend to agree with you. I think dick people are routinely called out on being dicky, male or female. In this case, if it quacks like a duck, looks like a duck…
The thing is, it really isn’t “her” show. She didn’t create it, she didn’t pitch it…she merely replaced someone. So sure, she should have respect for being the *host* of the show, but the show’s format has shown that ALL of the hosts are replaceable and the show goes on.
I don’t have respect for any professional, or rather, any human, treating another person in a lowly fashion.
So the Tonight Show isn’t Jimmy Fallon’s and wasn’t Jay Lenos? Or even Johnny Carsons?
Same with John Stewart and The Comedy Show😏
She herself has admitted many times how competitive she is and isn’t happy unless she wins. Even against her children. Type-A, yes. Very much so. We’ll see how long the show continues on. I am not a big fan of her, she comes across as needy and if she isn’t the center of attention, she will do / say whatever to gain the attention. About the Page 6 story? Sounds made-up
She’s being assertive in taking control of her position so she must be a frigid bitch. She can’t win.
A bow to Queen Kelly!! She should have control after all these years. If it were a male host, you wouldn’t hear about this! Regis was a producer, & look what they did to him. Good that Kelly surrounds herself with people who are looking after her interests. Good for her! Go get ’em, Kelly.
So happy that people are realizing this is 2016, not 1950!
Woman does her job well. Bitch!
There is nothing wrong with that. All shows who have leads, including scripted shows, the leads eventually become Executive Producers and have a say in most things. She should have done this a long time ago. On a side note, I still don’t get how she gets paid millions. I see runs of her show in taxicabs, and she is so so so so screechy and annoying, try-hard, wants to be the center of attention at all times. Ugh. I cannot stand her and her screechy voice, just can’t. So I don’t get what she is getting paid millions for. But clearly she gets the ratings so someone must like her, I guess. But I just don’t see what is wrong with her taking charge. She did use Michael as her punching bag and did mean-girl him, her focus should have been on the network and not Michael.
Listen, if she messes up in her now full on involvement in everything, belieeeeeeeeeeeeeeve me, that will get out. And I think she knows it. So I’m inclined to think she will actually do well and true or not, she should just own the queen title and go the benevolent queen route and everything will be fine.