live! with kelly

Jimmy Kimmel Gets to Be the First to Audition for Kelly Ripa’s New Live Co-Host

ABC's
Kimmel to the rescue. Photo: Randy Holmes/ABC/Getty Images

Now that Michael Strahan is departing Live for Good Morning America months ahead of schedule, the search for Kelly Ripa’s new wingman (or woman!) is on, and it begins with Jimmy Kimmel. The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host will guest co-host ABC’s other Live on May 16, just three days after Strahan’s final show. Ripa’s BFF Andy Cohen has already turned downed the job (because he’s busy running Bravo), while her other reported top choice, Anderson Cooper, says he’s “very happy at CNN.” So until ABC finds someone worthy of faking a friendship with Ripa full-time, she’ll have a rotating cast of guest hosts to keep Strahan’s chair warm. Kimmel probably won’t be a permanent fixture (he already has his own show and he’s hosting the Emmys), but, oh, just imagine all the mean tweets he’ll have Kelly rip to shreds.

Jimmy Kimmel to Guest Host Live With Kelly Ripa