Andy Cohen, Ryan Seacrest’s Friendship Over the Years: Everything to Know

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Andy Cohen and Ryan Seacrest’s Relationship Through the Years: Everything We Know

The saga continues. Andy Cohen surprised viewers when he chose to ring in the end of 2021 by taking several shots before calling out Ryan Seacrest while cameras were rolling.

Cohen previously had nothing but praise for Seacrest after the former E! News host joined his friend Kelly Ripa on the Live With Kelly show. After the Hope & Faith alum announced Seacrest as her first choice to replace Michael Strahan, Cohen showed his support for the new talk show pair.

“I think it’s good because he’s an adult. He’s a big star and he’s a big name. So I think it take a lot of the burden off of her, because she’s been doing this alone for the last year,” the Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen host explained to Entertainment Weekly in May 2017. “It’s equal now — which is good.”

The On Air with Ryan Seacrest radio host went on to make several appearances on Cohen’s late-night talk show before the Riverdale guest star’s memorable New Year’s Eve Live hosting gig.

During the livestream, Cohen addressed his thoughts on Mayor de Blasio after taking several shots with cohost Anderson Cooper.

“Watching Mayor de Blasio do his victory-lap dance after four years of the crappiest term as the mayor of New York — the only thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on is what a horrible mayor he has been,” he yelled as Cooper tried to stop him in December 2021. “So, sayonara, sucka! 2022! It’s a new year because guess what? I have a feeling I’m gonna be standing right here next year, and you know who I’m not going to be looking at dancing as the city comes apart? You!”

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After viewers questioned why Cohen later decided to refer to Seacrest as a “loser,” the Real Housewives producer clarified the situation.

“Listen, I will not be shamed for having fun on New Year’s Eve. That’s why I’m there. That’s why they bring me there,” he said on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show at the time. “It’s a four and a half hour show. The booze started kicking in around 11:30 [p.m.]. So everyone’s focusing on kind of the last 45 minutes or hour we were on the air. It kicked into high gear with 45 minutes left. We’d done 15 interviews before that point. And I won’t be shamed for it.”

Although Cohen didn’t intend to call out Seacrest, he noted that he had “a blast” hosting the show, adding, “Anderson had a blast. We left and we were like, ‘That was fun! What a fun New Year’s Eve.’ There will be no apologies for drinking on New Year’s Eve. None. The only direction I get every year from [CNN president] Jeff Zucker is, ‘Have fun.’ That is my job.”

After speculation emerged about the Bravo personality being removed from the New Year’s Eve hosting roster, the network released a statement, saying, “Andy said something he shouldn’t have on live TV. We’ve addressed it with him and look forward to having him back again next year.”

Scroll down for everything we know about Cohen and Seacrest’s relationship over the years:

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The Final Choice

Following Strahan’s shocking departure from his talk show gig alongside Ripa, Cohen weighed in on Seacrest taking over for the former athlete.

“I think it’s good. He’s a star, he’s an adult, they’re equals, I think it’s great for Kelly,” the Missouri native exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2017. “She’s had a lot on her plate for the last year doing that show alone, and so I think it’s great.”

The producer also revealed that he was never in the running to join Ripa on stage, saying, “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. would never sleep again and I don’t already.”

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Some Sage Advice

After Ripa chose Seacrest as her cohost on Live With Kelly and Ryan, Cohen revealed the insight that he would offer the new addition about his longtime friend.

“I think he should not underestimate how smart she is. I just don’t think he should underestimate her in any way,” he said during an interview with Entertainment Weekly in May 2017. “She’s smart. She’s been doing that show for a long time. She’s a business woman, a great mom and just don’t underestimate her.”

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The Ultimate Trio

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in September 2017, the host played a game with Seacrest and Ripa titled Which Host Knows Kelly Ripa Best?

Cohen and Seacrest answered various questions about the former soap actress to see who knew her better.

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Getting a Little Too Honest

During CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live in December 2021, Cohen made headlines when he seemed to throw shade at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.

“If you look behind me, you’ll see Ryan Seacrest’s group of losers performing,” the Andy Cohen Diaries author said at the time. “I’m sorry but if you’re watching ABC, you’re watching nothing.”

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Making Amends

Although Cohen’s surprising comments went viral, he admitted that he only regretted what he said about Seacrest, noting during a January 2022 episode of his radio show, “The only thing is that I slammed the ABC broadcast and I really like Ryan Seacrest and he’s a great guy. I really regret saying that, and I was just stupid and drunk and feeling it.”

That same month, Cohen explained that Ripa was “not upset” about being caught in the middle.

“As I was going on my rant about Journey, I did wind up kind of starting to throw ABC under the bus. And that is my only regret from the night,” he said on The Howard Stern Show, adding that he texted the American Idol host after the mistake. “I was, as they say, in my cups and I was kind of enjoying the rant. I was like, ‘Wow, it’s really fun being on CNN and just ranting like a nutty guy.’ So I kept going.”

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Taking Pride in His Work

Shortly after Cohen’s comments made the news, Seacrest took to social media to share a screenshot highlighting the Rockin’ Eve‘s ratings. An article from The Wrap reported that Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve was the highest-rated New Year’s Eve special at 19.6 million viewers — its highest in four years.  

“Thank you to everyone who made this year’s #RockinEve another success!” Seacrest wrote via Instagram in January 2022. “To all those who tuned in, to my amazing co-hosts @lizakoshy, @ciara, @theebillyporter, @roselyn_sanchez, as well as the incredible artists and the crew who made the 50th Anniversary so special. We couldn’t have done it without you!”

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Weighing In

“I don’t advocate drinking when one is on the air,” Seacrest told Entertainment Weekly in December 2022 amid reports that CNN would limit alcohol intake for its hosts. “I don’t know how that started as a tradition but it’s probably a good idea [to scale back], CNN.”

At the time, the Live With Kelly and Ryan cohost joked about Cohen’s past comments about him during the CNN broadcast. “There’s some pretty respectable people or at least one, right?” he joked about CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live. “I think there’s a serious journalist and then a friend of mine who has a lot of fun, but it’s probably a good idea.