Kelly Ripa Co-Host: Trouble In Finding Michael Strahan’s Replacement?
Kelly Ripa’s co-host search extends into September as the “morning queen” of Live with Kelly continues the quest for a successor to her quondam consort, Michael Strahan. Is Ripa having trouble finding a suitable replacement for former sidekick Strahan? Previous reports on Kelly’s co-host hunt indicated a new, permanent partner for Ripa would surely be announced by the fall television season; it appears this may no longer be the case.
As Ripa fills the coming two weeks of her Live with Kelly morning broadcast with a power-packed stockpile of celebrity guest co-hosts, ostensibly questionable websites like Celeb Dirty Laundry are describing this summer’s Kelly Ripa co-host interlude as a “Kelly Ripa Crisis.” In what could certainly be viewed as a disputable declaration, Celeb Dirty Laundry claimed that Ms. Ripa is “facing unemployment” without a new Live co-host soon.
Kelly's guest co-hosts week of September 5th & 12th! #LiveKelly #LiveKellyCohost pic.twitter.com/BpBMhvFIkX
— KellyMarkLive (@kellymarklive) August 24, 2016
Gossip Cop shot down Celeb Dirty Laundry‘s seemingly farfetched Ripa assertions last week, citing the outlet’s outlandish statements regarding Kelly’s co-host search as “baseless speculation.” Gossip Cop reported that Ripa’s relationship with Live network ABC “has never been stronger” and that Kelly’s compelling cabal of good-humored guest co-hosts “have fallen over themselves trying to get on with her.”
The Inquisitr previously reported on the Kelly Ripa co-host situation, recounting former co-host Michael Strahan’s last broadcast on Friday, May 13 and subsequent switch to fellow ABC morning television program, Good Morning America. Ripa began Live with Kelly‘s cavalcade of guest co-hosts on the following Monday, May 16. Fan favorite picks for Kelly Ripa’s future co-hosting partner currently include actors Fred Savage and Jerry O’Connell.
As reported by Hollywood Life, Anderson spoke to Watch What Happens Live‘s Andy Cohen about possibly assuming the vacant Live co-host position alongside Ripa. He told Cohen, who is himself a recurrent Kelly Ripa co-host guest, that he would be thrilled with the offer to host with Kelly but doesn’t see the opportunity as currently likely.
“I love Kelly, and I think Kelly is the heart and soul of that show. […] It’s gonna go on and continue to be great and I wish Michael the best in his new endeavor. Look, I’m very happy at CNN. It would be a dream to work with Kelly, but nobody’s offering anything!”
Be sure to tune into Ripa’s show this week as she kicks things off with Interview with the Vampire actor Christian Slater as guest host on Monday, September 5. Tuesday, September 6, and Wednesday, September 7, will feature Boyz n the Hood star Morris Chestnut on Live with Kelly co-host duties. As previously mentioned, Mr. Cooper will end the week with Ripa this Thursday and Friday.
Next week will have Kelly joined by The Bachelor and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host Chris Harrison as co-host on Monday, September 12, followed by NCIS leading man Michael Weatherly on Tuesday, September 13. Star of Doogie Howser, M.D. and the Harold & Kumar film series, Neil Patrick Harris, will be Ripa’s guest co-host for three consecutive shows: Wednesday, September 14, Thursday, September 15, and Friday, September 16.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jinxs6p8Bww
Who do you think should be Kelly Ripa’s co-host? Are you still rooting for Fred Savage, Jerry O’Connell, or Anderson Cooper to take the Live co-host spot? Do you think Ripa should possibly continue the show with guest co-hosts indefinitely? Let us know your thoughts on Live with Kelly‘s latest guest co-hosts in the comments section below.
[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]
