Neil Patrick Harris Reveals He Discussed Co-Hosting Live Before Michael Strahan Got the Gig

Live with Kelly and Neil? Turns out that was once a possibility

While appearing at the 92nd Street Y's "Food Talk" with Geoffrey Zakarian, Neil Patrick Harris was asked if he was interested in the co-hosting gig up for grabs on the morning show.

"[Guest hosting is] super fun [but] I have no interest at all in doing it all year long. It's a hard show," said Harris, 43, according to Page Six.

Harris' husband David Burtka was quick to add that the job was once offered to the How I Met Your Mother alum.



"That's so absolutely not true," Harris said back, before admitting, "Well, before the [ Michael Strahan] chapter ... it happened, we talked about the possibility .... They wanted to gauge my interest."

Harris went on to add who he'd like to see in the seat next to Kelly Ripa.

"Who do I think would be best? Anderson Cooper would be the perfect host for that show," he said. "His [CNN] job requires him to sit and read ... he's required to tell the news ... [but] he has so many fun opinions. It would be so fun to see him not doing hard-hitting news every day."

As of right now, Ripa, 45, is in no rush to fill Strahan's empty seat with a permanent co-host.

"Kelly has always felt strongly that the show will need a permanent co-host and she is committed to finding one," a source recently told PEOPLE. "But that process cannot be rushed, and so she is happy to take her time to make sure that the chemistry is right."

Live with Kelly airs weekdays (check local listings).