Kelly Ripa’s Season 29 Guest Co-Hosts: Who Has Best Odds for Permanent Gig? (Photos)
Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan spent four seasons together on “Live.” But ABC announced this spring it would move Strahan to “Good Morning America.” ABC spent the summer trying out guest hosts, with six – presumably finalists? – sharing the love seat in early September. Who has the best odds to turn a guest host stint into a regular job? We take a look.
Michael Weatherly
The actor is sitting in with Ripa on Sept. 13. But there is no way he’s going to be a regular daily host – not this year at least. He’s the star of “Bull,” CBS’ new crime drama about a jury expert based on Dr. Phil. This guest stint is a promo for the CBS show – nothing more.
Odds: 100 to 1
The “Mr. Robot” costar is kicking off the season premiere with Ripa on Sept. 5. But does a veteran actor really want to be tied down to a multi-year deal where he plays a talk-show host every day? Seems a stretch.
Odds: 11 to 1
Anderson Cooper
The CNN newsman is having an especially high-profile year thanks to the presidential election. He’s a favorite of Ripa’s, but would he really want to give up his journalistic prestige to preside over a morning chatfest? Seems unlikely – especially after his own solo talk show flopped in syndication.
Odds: 8 to 1
Morris Chestnut
The “Rosewood” star will sit in with Ripa on Sept. 6 and 7. He visited the show earlier this year as a guest. But he faces the same problem Weatherly does – he’s committed to another show, one that requires long production days.
Odds: 11 to 1
