Kelly Ripa Signs New 5-Year Deal w/ "Live!"

[JamesG]

Kelly Ripa Signs New Five-Year Contract for "Live! with Regis and Kelly"
11/8/2011
by Lacey Rose


With her long-time co-host Regis Philbin prepping for next week's exit, Disney-ABC Domestic Television has locked Kelly Ripa into a five-year deal at "Live!"

The lucrative pact will go into effect next fall and extend through 2017, setting Ripa up to be a 16-year veteran of the morning chatfast.





The timing is particularly pivotal given the weight being placed squarely on her shoulders as the series prepares to drop the "with Regis" from its title.

The search for a new co-host has been underway for months -- with names from Ryan Seacrest to Bravo's Andy Cohen bandied about -- but nothing official has emerged.

Said a source close to the production, "No decision has been made yet."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...d-kelly-258866