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Kelly Ripa, ‘Live!’ Name First Week’s Co-Hosts — Did Regis Philbin Make The List?

By Ernie Howell
Published on: 14:46 PST, May 4, 2016

Kelly Ripa and her Live! crew have cast the upcoming co-hosts for the first week after Michael Strahan exits the show, multiple media outlets are reporting.

In addition to the previously announced Jimmy Kimmel on Monday, May 16, the show has selected the remaining co-hosts for the week, E! Online reported. Those co-hosts include Empire star Jussie Smollett on Tuesday, Cedric the Entertainer on Wednesday, ABC News anchor David Muir on Thursday, and Hawaii Five-0 star Daniel Dae Kim on Friday, May 20.

While fans of Live! will certainly enjoy the pairings with long-time host Kelly Ripa, fans may have hoped for a reunion with her previous co-host Regis Philbin.

The reason Live! with Kelly and Michael will need to find a new co-host is Michael Strahan announced that he would be leaving for a full-time position on Good Morning America. Rumors have suggested that Kelly Ripa found out mere hours before Michael Strahan’s departure was announced to the rest of the crew, leaving her feeling hurt and disrespected.

In response, Kelly Ripa took a week off from the show in an effort to process the information. While Michael Strahan was initially going to stay at Live! until he started full time with Good Morning America in September, according to Mercury News, that plan has now changed.

A memo was released last week that read, “After meeting with the producers of both ‘Live’ and ‘Good Morning America,’ and after speaking with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, we have decided on a plan that best advantages both shows for the future.”

The memo continued, giving more details, “To that end, Michael’s last day on ‘Live’ will be Friday, May 13, which not only gives the show the chance to have an appropriate send off for him during the May sweeps, but to also immediately give Kelly and the producers an opportunity to begin the on-air search for a new co-host.”

Both Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan seem to have patched things up, and both seem amicable through their last episodes together. According to Redbook Magazine, Michael Strahan had nothing but positive things to say. Of his last days working with Kelly Ripa, Michael Strahan said the following.

“I’m still looking forward to going to work for Live… I love being there. I still love it. It’s a great show, great people, and I’m very fortunate to be a part of it.”

Once Michael Strahan does leave, there will be a slew of people filling the traditionally-male co-host slot. According TVLine, the first guest host will be Jimmy Kimmel. While the late night talk show host usually films in Los Angeles, he will be in New York for his appearance on Live! on May 16.

Other guest hosts will most likely by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, who have appeared with Kelly Ripa in the past. One other name that has floated around but has not been confirmed is Regis Philbin. Regis Philbin was co-host of the show from 1983 to 2011 and was a natural. He had a great rapport with Kathie Lee Gifford and then Kelly Ripa when she became the permanent replacement.

So what has Regis Philbin been doing since he retired from the show? He has appeared periodically on other TV shows, filling in as a guest host when needed. From Piers Morgan Tonight in 2012 to The Late Late Show in 2015, Regis Philbin has kept one foot in the world of hosting. That’s why it doesn’t seem that far-fetched that the 84-year-old would again team up with Kelly Ripa, at least for a few episodes.

According to the New York Daily News, Regis Philbin was approached by the show, but not for a permanent position. Instead, it might be an extended stay as guest co-host. Regis Philbin is also currently appearing on The Today Show on NBC, a high-profile appearance that could be problematic if his return to Live! was lengthy.

Whoever will fill in on Live! with Kelly Ripa — whether it is Regis Philbin or someone else — chemistry seems to be a key. Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan just won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Hosts, an award that the show will want to continue winning.

What do you think about the list of co-hosts joining Kelly Ripa on Live! starting May 16? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

[Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images]

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