Michael Strahan stepped out of an SUV and jogged onto the set of “Live! with Kelly” Tuesday morning, making his co-hosting gig official and confirming the country’s worst kept secret.
He was named Kelly Ripa’s permanent partner, taking the spot left vacant when longtime “Live!” host Regis Philbin left the show in November.
But not before Ripa dragged out the official announcement with three extra minutes of suspense. “It’s an exciting day around here,” she told the audience. “It has been nine months and I’m about to give birth to my new co-host.”
After being wrapped up in a bear hug and kiss from her new partner, Ripa told Strahan, “I missed you so much.
“It’s so nice to have a cohost who can literally sweep you off your feet.”
“I’m speechless,” Strahan said after the confetti and balloons stopped falling.
The seat was kept warm by 59 different guest co-hosts over the past 10 months. They’ve ranged from celebrities to sports stars, including former Giants defensive end Strahan, who has guest co-hosted several times.
Speculation has been building for months over who’d get the job. In July, a report claimed that Strahan, singer Josh Groban, and “Saturday Night Live” star Seth Meyers were being seriously considered for the job, with Meyers as the frontrunner.
But as of Aug. 21, several reports zoomed in on Strahan as the chosen one.
The first guests for the new era of “Live!” were actress Claire Danes and “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips, who performed on the show for the first time.
The syndicated show can be seen on WABC-TV in New York.
During the first commercial break, both Kelly and Michael poked fun of the show’s new logo:
“Thats it?” asked Kelly, “maybe the first initials of our names could have capital letters?”
Strahan said he noticed it too, “but didn’t want to be that guy who on the first day…”
WRITTEN BYGINA SALAMONE / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS & FULL STORY HERE
