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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 4 SepteMber 2017
Easy does it: Kelly and Ryan kick off a new ‘Live’ season

By FRAZIER MOORE Seacrest on the “Live” set at 9 a.m. Eastern, “Megyn
AP Television Writer after a recent broadcast. “I Kelly Today” will go head-
NEW YORK (AP) — On his first spent my first five years on to-head against “Live with
appearance on the soon- the show terrified. He came Kelly and Ryan” in many
to-be-rechristened “Live to it, day one, ready. I feel cities starting Sept. 25.
with Kelly and Ryan,” Ryan so fortunate and thankful.” What steps are being taken
Seacrest had something “I’m excited to see her to defend “Live” against
rare for someone who every day,” Seacrest jumps this much-hyped rival?
seems born to be on TV: in. “We already knew “I’m not being dismissive,
butterflies. each other, but I discover but I don’t really think
Stepping on camera after something new about her that much about the
Kelly Ripa broke the news every day.” competition,” says Michael
of her new co-host last That discovery process is Gelman, the steady-as-he-
May 1, Seacrest was seized the so-called “host chat,” goes executive producer
by an odd, intrusive notion: a daily batting-the-breeze of “Live.” Now 56, he has
a desire “to just get invited between the co-hosts that stewarded “Live” since
back tomorrow.” begins each show and has he was in his 20s and has
Ripa was jittery, too. She’d stood as the signature of likely produced more live
been presiding over “Live” since it began. television than anyone on
“Live” for — can it really “There are moments,” says the planet. Rivals? Gelman
be this long? — 16 years, Ripa, “where we come has seen them come and
first alongside founding in totally prepared and go.
host Regis Philbin, then, rested. And moments In this Monday, May 1, 2017, file photo, released by Disney/ABC Megyn Kelly, he says gently,
for a few years, Michael when we come in NOT Home Entertainment and TV Distribution, Kelly Ripa and Ryan “is gonna do what she’s
Strahan, then, the past rested and totally NOT Seacrest pose for a photo at “Live” in New York. gonna do. We do what WE
year, paired with no fewer prepared — if they gave Associated Press do to keep our show fresh,
than 68 tryouts from whom Ph.D.s in screw-ups, we’d to change things up but
Seacrest had been chosen. be adjunct professors. But Productions has signed a “Live” a special duty. to keep it the same. I think
“As the show began, it was those are the moments multi-year overall deal with “There are very few about what my audience
such a secret,” recalls Ripa. that are so revealing.” ABC Studios. opportunities to do what wants to see.
“I was so nervous that I was “There has to be a level Meanwhile, he will we get to do on ‘Live,’” he The fact that a new show
going to blurt it out before of trust and respect to do continue his syndicated says. “I’m 42 years old, and is coming on is not our
he came out, and ruin what we’re supposed to daily radio show, as well to find something new on focus.”
everything.” do in those first 20 or 22 as a nationally syndicated a daily basis in a medium I The focus remains on
She didn’t, and he was minutes,” Seacrest notes. Top 40 radio show, all love is exciting.” nurturing the evergreen
back the next day, and the “With Ryan, I walk into conveniently broadcast “Live” has dominated familiarity that “Live” has
next. On Monday “Live with every conversation with from his iHeartMedia studio entertainment talk TV in enjoyed with its viewers for
Kelly and Ryan” launches ease,” Ripa says. in the same Manhattan daytime for decades, and a generation.
a new season — its 30th in “There is no TIP-TOEING!” complex where “Live” that is unlikely to change. Seacrest cites the words
national syndication — of Seacrest laughs. originates. Even so, a face-off is nigh of his mentor, Dick Clark,
goes-down-easy chat and There is certainly no tip- He also hosts and that media handicappers in voicing his own “Live”
interviews (check local toeing by Seacrest, a executive produces ABC’s will delight in tracking: Kelly goal at Ripa’s side: “When
listings for time and station). legendary multi-tasker: He annual “Dick Clark’s New vs. Kelly. That is, Megyn someone watching literally
By now, the instant rapport stays on the run. Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Kelly, former Fox News feels like they know you
the pair radiated four After joining up with “Live,” Ryan Seacrest,” and is a Channel star who earlier and could walk up and
months ago is simply he agreed to return as busy producer of series in this year jumped to NBC start a conversation, and
taken for granted by all host of the upcoming which he doesn’t appear, News and will anchor the feels almost as if they
concerned. revival of “American Idol,” including “Keeping Up with third hour of NBC’s “Today” could DO your job — that
“I don’t feel like there was whose new network, ABC, the Kardashians” and its (currently averaging 2.4 it’s THAT easy — then
a break-in period,” says is, like “Live,” owned by many spawn. million viewers versus 2.8 you’re creating the right
Ripa, still seated beside Disney. His Ryan Seacrest Still, Seacrest consider million for “Live”). Airing atmosphere.q
Joan Osborne channels her inner Bob Dylan on covers album

By MARK KENNEDY had to match him — that works so quickly,” she said. stands arms folded as she She also shows what she’s
AP Entertainment Writer the whole room became “He has an idea. He does leans on a car as a subtle capable of doing, espe-
NEW YORK (AP) — When this tunnel.” On that day it. He’s bored with it, he homage to an old image cially on “Highway 61 Re-
Joan Osborne first met in 1998, the two did three moves on to something of the rock great. visited,” which leans on
Bob Dylan, the two singers quick versions of his icon- else.” Osborne, 55, clearly “There’s political songs — Middle Eastern rhythms.
got very, very close. There ic song “Chimes of Free- wasn’t bored with Dylan like ‘Masters of War’ — and Osborne was inspired by
wasn’t much of a choice dom,” which would play or his songs. The Grammy- then there’s very tender, Dylan’s use of biblical im-
— they had to share the over the end credits of the nominated singer of the romantic love songs like agery in the song and de-
same recording studio mi- NBC show “The 60’s.” Each hit “One of Us” has put ‘Buckets of Rain’ and kind cided to weave in sounds
crophone. “I’m like liter- take was completely dif- together a new album of of everything in between,” from the area. “Certainly,
ally inches away from his ferent. “You’ve got to be her unique takes on 13 of said Osborne. “He’s got Dylan’s version is amaz-
face,” Osborne recalled. focused on him or you’re his classic tunes. “Songs this incredible range of ing and incredible and we
“I had to focus so particu- going to be left behind. I of Bob Dylan,” released what he can do as a writer were not trying to out-do
larly on his mouth and his felt like that was an inter- Friday, is equal parts trib- so I wanted to dig into all him. What we were trying
lips just to get the phrasing esting challenge but also, ute album, musical ex- those different territories of was to bring a different
right — because I was do- for me, it was a testament periment and fan letter. what he’s capable of do- flavor and a different per-
ing harmony to him and I just to the way his mind On the album cover, she ing.” spective.” q