Former ‘Live’ Cohosts Kelly Ripa and Regis Philbin’s Ups and Downs Through the Years

BFFs forever. Andy Cohen shared his thoughts about Kathie Lee Gifford refusing to read his longtime pal Kelly Ripa’s memoir — and why the book isn’t slandering the late Regis Philbin.

Kelly Ripa says the reason she did not have a great relationship with the late Regis Philbin could have been due to their age gap. Ripa wrote about her working relationship with Philbin in her book, "Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories." The television actress wrote that she was not given the same benefits as the men she was surrounded by, and told People, "there were good days and bad days… it was not a cakewalk."  Ripa hosted the show alongside Philbin from 2001 until he retired in 2011.

Did Kelly Ripa strike gold when Ryan Seacrest signed on to co-host "Live! with Kelly and Ryan" in 2017? Ripa sparked backlash recently for bashing the late "Live!" patriarch Regis Philbin in her first memoir, claiming the legendary broadcaster made her life incredibly difficult behind scenes. She added insult to injury by admitting their communication was almost entirely nonexistent when he retired in 2011.

A perfect TV match. After 15 years as broadcast buddies, Kathie Lee Gifford and Regis Philbin had a special connection.

Kelly Ripa and Mark Conseulos did not answer questions about the morning show host's relationships with Regis Philbin or Michael Strahan when spotted out in New York Thursday morning. Ripa's new memoir, "Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories," reveals her rocky behind-the-scenes professional relationship with Philbin.  The former "All My Children" star wrote that she was not given the same benefits as the men she was surrounded by, and claimed she had to "earn" her place at the television show. Ripa hosted the show alongside Philbin from 2001 until he retired in 2011.

Kelly Ripa and Regis Philbin worked together for nearly a decade as hosts of "Live! with Regis and Kelly," and the daytime television talk show host didn't mince words while jotting down a few memories of her tumultuous relationship with the legendary broadcaster in her first memoir, "Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories." Ripa's written recollection of their time together on-and-off camera has been met with criticism from fans and foes, including former "Live!" host Kathie Lee Gifford, who admitted she won't be reading the essays, possibly as a subtle homage to her "great friend." In Ripa's new book, she wrote about having trouble working with Philbin, how she was not allowed to use her own hair and makeup team, and didn't receive a wardrobe budget.The former "All My Children" star also shared that her name "had to be smaller than Regis's name on the "Live!" title card and branding.  She noted that receiving the offer to host the popular live show came with a warning, "They want to make sure you know who your boss is." Ripa went on to explain that after Philbin retired in 2011, they never had a relationship outside the studio and only socialized on rare occasions.  Kelly Ripa and Regis Philbin may have had difficulties working together, but Ripa also seemed to find problems in the workplace with Michael Strahan and Ryan Seacrest. (Getty Images) And Ripa possibly learned a thing or two from her late protégé.  Her former co-host, Michael Strahan, was notably missing from her book despite having been by her side on "Live!" for four years beginning in 2012.

Kelly Ripa received criticism from every angle following the release of her first memoir, "Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories," including former "Live!" co-host Kathie Lee Gifford who admitted she wouldn't be reading the book after seeing Regis Philbin's name being bashed. While Gifford stood firm in support of the late broadcasting legend and called Philbin a "great friend" during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, she also noted that Ripa can "say whatever she wants" and that she is a "big believer in freedom of expression." "I don't believe we're supposed to cancel anybody," she noted.  Dave Quast, brand expert and senior vice president of Red Banyan crisis communications, agreed that Ripa "has every right" to detail her own story on paper, despite any adversity she may or may not receive for the experiences she endured.

Kathie Lee Gifford is choosing not to read Kelly Ripa’s new autobiographical book Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories, which includes a chapter on their former mutual co-host Regis Philbin. The TV personality prefers to cherish her own positive memories of the late broadcaster, as opposed to Ripa, who claims she had difficulties with Philbin.

Kathie Lee Gifford is NOT happy with how Kelly Ripa is taking about her on-air past alongside Regis Philbin.

today off with a feud.Former “Today” show co-host Kathie Lee Gifford announced Monday that she has no plans to read Kelly Ripa’s autobiography “Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories” due to comments made by Ripa regarding her former co-host Regis Philbin.“I’m not gonna read the book. I haven’t read it. I don’t even know if it’s out yet,” Gifford said on Monday’s “Good Day New York.”“I just know what Regis was to me.

They sat side by side for more than 15 years as two of the greatest TV talk show co-hosts of all time, first in 1985 on "The Morning Show" and then together nationally in 1988 for "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee." So it came as no surprise that Kathie Lee Gifford recalled only positive memories working with Regis Philbin amid claims Kelly Ripa, who filled in Gifford's seat in 2001 when she left the show the year before, had difficulties with the late broadcaster. "I’m not going to comment on Kelly’s story. It’s hers.

Kathie Lee Gifford is speaking out to defend her late friend and former colleague Regis Philbin following the release of Kelly Ripa‘s memoir.

Kathie Lee Gifford would rather not hear Kelly Ripa’s thoughts on their late co-host, Regis Philbin. On Monday, the former host shared that she doesn’t have any plans to read Ripa’s book,.  “I was very sorry to see the headlines,” Gifford said during an interview with  on Monday.

Kelly Ripa’s new memoir has been making headlines for its buzzy content — but one person who will not be reading the book is her Live! predecessor, Kathie Lee Gifford.

Kelly Ripa has detailed how she feared she would get divorced from husband Mark Consuelos after their third child moved to college and left them as empty-nesters.MORE: Kelly Ripa makes surprisingly candid confession about the beginning of her marriage"It's scary, thrilling, liberating, shocking... and quiet," Kelly shared of living in a house with just Mark after raising three children over their 26 years of marriage.WATCH: Kelly Ripa and Michael Consuelos get into discussion about her eating habits"There were moments when I was like, 'We're going to be that couple: Our third child goes to college and we get divorced because this is it.' But there was this other moment, where we went to the beach alone for the first time since our honeymoon with cheese and a baguette,' she told People, adding that she realized she now had time to notice the sunset."So I think for us, it was 'Oh, this next phase of our lives, this is kind of great.'"Mark and Kelly wed in 1996 and the TV personality added that looking back they were both too young to get married but they have "fought for our marriage when it would have been easier to quit and throw in the towel".The two met on the set of All My Children when Kelly played the character of Hayley Vaughan and her husband, fittingly, her love interest Mateo Santos.

“Watch What Happens Live” on Thursday night, Ripa alleged that she has been “targeted” and unfairly maligned due to her silence on the issue. “I wish I had set the record straight in real time,” she proclaimed.

Kelly Ripa discussed her new book, revealing that the chapters dedicated to her former co-host, the late Regis Philbin, were the hardest to write. While appearing on "Watch What Happens Live" on Thursday, showrunner Andy Cohen discussed the controversy surrounding Philbin, saying that Philbin was never invited back to the show after he left, which Ripa addressed in her book, "Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories." "Live! With Regis and Kelly" ran from 2001-2011. (James Devaney/WireImage) "You became a real target," Cohen said, to which Ripa replied, "I still am.