Kelly Ripa New Co-Host: Guest Co-Hosts Line Up Ahead Of Season Premiere, Raise New Questions

Kelly Ripa’s new co-host has loomed for months now. Since the announcement of Michael Strahan’s departure from Live!, the question of who would replace Strahan has been a big question for viewers at home, as well as ABC. Instead of scrambling for a new co-host for Kelly Ripa, ABC has taken their time, to test who works better with Kelly in the other chair. The end results are a handful of people who exude chemistry with Kelly Ripa.

Kelly Ripa’s new co-host has a bunch of famous faces circling for the job, but a few have risen to the top as favorites, like Anderson Cooper, Jerry O’Connell, and Fred Savage. Even though there’s not a straight answer on who will have the job in September, many are vying for the role, and some aren’t afraid to talk about possibly having the cushy gig. As the Inquisitr reported, one of Kelly Ripa’s new guest co-hosts, Jerry O’Connell, recently opened up about what it’s like to work with the queen of daytime television. If going by O’Connell’s words, it seems like a perfect match.

“I would do anything Kelly asks. She is the sweetest … I loved hosting with her. I’m in awe of her,” he told Extra. O’Connell went on to gush about how Kelly manages to seamlessly balance both family and work.

“She has it all figured out as a parent. It’s incredible to see how she’s found balance with career, marriage, and parenthood,” O’Connell added.

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are tearfully sending their son off to college. https://t.co/4sfSjzmfSj pic.twitter.com/45L8zZpRqL

— E! News (@enews) August 28, 2016

While we don’t know if Jerry O’Connell will wind up as Kelly Ripa’s new co-host, he is right about Kelly Ripa’s ease in balancing everything. In the middle of looking for a new co-host for Live, and wondering about chemistry tests with the rotating chair of guests, Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos spent the weekend sending their oldest son Michael, 19, off to college. While the family was certainly on her mind, just going by Ripa’s Instagram, as September looms viewers at home wonder what’s going on with the co-host position.

Many viewers had assumed that Kelly’s new co-host was going to be announced before the premiere date, but The Wrap released a current lineup that includes new faces and some who have already tested for the gig. Here’s the schedule of famous faces ushering in premiere week:

Christian Slater: September 5
Morris Chestnut: September 6-7
Anderson Cooper: September 8-9
Chris Harrison: September 12
Michael Weatherly: September 13
Neil Patrick Harris: September 14-16

As the Wrap notes, Christian Slater has the honors of kicking off the season premiere on September 5, 2016. While it was suspected that ABC and Kelly Ripa would settle on someone before the premiere date, it looks like the network is giving Kelly the first three weeks in September before picking an official new co-host to share the Live! title with.

Of the decision, ABC told the Wrap the following.

“As the exciting search for Kelly’s new on-air partner continues, a diverse group of personalities will join her on the show.”

Thank you @LiveKelly and @KellyRipa @andersoncooper for having me this am to talk @mcctheater and NYC and Betty! pic.twitter.com/8CjsKCJBTT

— Beth Behrs (@BethBehrs) June 2, 2016

If we analyze this new group of potential co-hosts, it’s easy to see who the real contenders are from the new crop of names. While Christian Slater is opening the show, which might point to ABC favoring him, Slater still has his show Mr. Robot to tape, and would probably be unavailable to pull double duty on a regular basis.

The same could be said about Michael Weatherly, who has a new show called Bull. Chestnut also has his own show called Rosewood to film, as well. The question still looms over fan favorites Anderson Cooper and Neil Patrick Harris, as both seem perfect for the job. Back in April, Cooper said it would be “a dream job” while on Watch What Happens Live!. At the time, he still seemed on the fence due to his commitment with CNN.

“Look, I’m very happy at CNN. It would be a dream to work with Kelly, but nobody’s offering anything, so..,” Cooper said.

https://youtu.be/x_KJJvTBOyQ

Who do you think is going to be Kelly Ripa’s new co-host?

[Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Photo]