And Kelly Ripa's New Co-Host Should Be...
Live With Kelly and...TBD!
After seven months of a rotating roster of guest co-hosts, Live has yet to find a replacement for Michael Strahan...not that Kelly Ripa has minded the prolonged search, saying she's having "a great time."
But the show will eventually have to fill the seat full-time, so we decided to rank most of the contenders, including Jerry O'Connell, Jussie Smollett, Andy Cohen and more...
Neil Patrick Harris
Another popular guest host, the How I Met Your Mother star recently said his busy schedule would keep him from adding permanent host to his resume. "I've got another good job," he told E! News. "I'm doing a series for Netflix that'll happen in January and that takes up well over half my year. So the rest of my time is spent with my family, chilling and relaxing."
Ryan Seacrest
Listen, the guy is always busy, so why not add a quick hour of fun banter with Kelly to his day? He's co-hosted six times and definitely has the effortless energy the show needs, but we don't see him deciding to join the show on daily basis.
Morris Chestnut
Though he's currently starring on Fox's Rosewood, Chestnut has been able to co-host a few times and definitely has the charisma.
Jim Parsons
With The Big Bang Theory's end possibly in sight, the New York-based actor could easily transition to the Live desk after co-hosting three times. (But yeah, we don't see this as his next career move.)
Anderson Cooper
Kelly's BFF and top choice for the gig, but he chose to resign with CNN. "He's my life. He really is," Kelly told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live. "He's the one that got away and keeps getting away and gets away all the time."
And that's why he didn't snag a higher spot on his list, as he's the one that got away for us, too.
Joel McHale
Though he currently has a new show on CBS, McHale definitely is funny enough for the job, has co-hosted six times and was in the mix for the gig back in 2011 after Regis Philbin departed the show.
Keegan-Michael Key
Funny? Check. Smart? Check. Handsome? Check. Chemistry with Kelly? Check. The Key & Peele creator and star impressed us the three times he hosted.
Jussie Smollett
The charming and charismatic Empire star has guest-hosted a lot in the past few months, but something tells us he may decide to focus on the hit Fox show and his music career before taking over in any permanent capacity.
Mark Consuelos
While we think the husband-wife dynamic is fun for a morning talk show, and the couple has great banter, we're not sure it'll work on a permanent basis.
Andy Cohen
One of Kelly's closest friends, the Watch What Happens Live host has said his deal with NBCUniversal couldn't make a permanent gig on Live! possible, though he did write in his book Superficial that he sometimes wishes he could do it.
Carrie Ann Inaba
The Dancing With the Stars judge has hosted alongside Kelly five times, and is the frontrunner among the female contenders, and she definitely has the energy for a daily morning talk show. But would she be able to make it work with Dancing With the Stars airing in the fall and spring?
Josh Groban
The only thing people love more than Josh Groban's music? Josh Groban himself, as the fan-favorite sub has filled in four times and was even one of the network's top picks to be Regis Philbin's replacement before Michael Strahan landed the gig.
Busy Philipps
While we've loved her on Dawson's Creek and Cougar Town, we think Busy is best at just being Busy and would be a great permanent co-host.
Christian Slater
The Mr. Robot star is definitely interested in the gig, and has put in the time, co-hosting five times. "All I can say is I love doing it and who knows? We'll see what the future brings," the Golden Globe nominee recently told us, going on to gush that hosting Live! is the best way to start the day.
Jerry O'Connell
It takes a lot of energy to be operating at the top your game each and every morning, and the Scream Queens star definitely has it. Plus, he wants the gig, and has guest-hosted the most amount of times (13) among all the contenders, including the epic annual Halloween episode.
"Jerry's staying super positive about it, but says he's totally in the dark on the selection process," a source shared with E! News. "If he's chosen, he says he'll probably be the last to know. He's adores Kelly though. If she asks, he'd love the job."
Fred Savage
A fan-favorite guest host (he's appeared 11 times), the biggest con for the actor and director seems to be relocating his family from California to NYC.
Richard Curtis
The high school science teacher rocketed to the top of most people's Live co-host radars after he won a contest to be Kelly's partner-in-morning-chit-chat crime…and was quickly booked for multiple return visits. He's relatable and his easygoing personality and sense of humor could make him the perfect co-host.