The Race Narrows: The 8 Current Contenders for Kelly Ripa's Live! Co-Host
It's been over a month since Michael Strahan left Live With Kelly and Michael, and the search for a new co-host for Kelly Ripa is heating up.
No official announcements have been made about who will fill Strahan's seat, but Ripa's already had a full slate of guest costars – including some repeat visitors.
PEOPLE has rounded up a list of possible candidates whose names have generated some attention – read on to find out more about the frontrunners.
1. ANDERSON COOPER
"When Regis [Philbin] left, the person Ripa wanted more than anyone else was Anderson Cooper, but he was busy launching his own talk show," a source told PEOPLE after Strahan announced his departure from Live. "Now that he'd be free, she would love it to be him."
Cooper is already a seasoned journalist – he served as host for his own talk show from 2011–13 and continues to work on-air at CNN. The silver-haired star has already co-hosted with Ripa several times since Strahan left.
2. ANDY COHEN
The Watch What Happens Live and Radio Andy host is really good friends with Ripa, which makes for a seamless dynamic off screen – and is the reason why Ripa considers Cohen to be a top contender.
A source previously told PEOPLE, however, that Ripa and Cohen are "such great friends in real life it might actually hurt the host chat element of things, where they each talk about what they did the night before or over the weekend, etc."
3. FRED SAVAGE
Fred Savage's show The Grinder has been given the boot, freeing him up for a co-hosting gig. Savage will join Ripa on the air July 13-15, and was already by her side in May to interview Emilia Clarke and BacheloretteJoJo Fletcher.
He's even got the support of his Wonder Years castmate Danica McKellar: "He's so good with physical comedy," she told PEOPLE. "He's just fast and smart, he's all over it."
4. ERIN ANDREWS
Ripa is open to switching the gender of her show partner, and Andrews might just be the woman for the job.
Andrews, who has often stepped in for Ripa, has worked as a co-host on both ESPN and Dancing with the Stars, as well as serving as a correspondent for GMA.
5. SETH MEYERS AND JOSH GROBAN
Sources told PEOPLE in April that Late Night's Meyers and Groban, who have both served as guest co-hosts on Live previously, are two of the prominent names on a short list of stars who will rotate in and out of the vacant chair next to Ripa until a more permanent replacement signs on.
Both have already stopped by, with Groban taking the seat next to Ripa as recently as June 21, when Oprah Winfrey stopped by.
6. JEFF GORDON
Live! with Kelly and Jeff? Jeff Gordon is not opposed to the idea.
Addressing reports that he's at the top of the list for Strahan's replacement, Gordon told the Associated Press: "I've always maintained a great friendship with the show and some of the producers within the show. I had a great time co-hosting on that show, and I certainly would welcome it."
He added, "My priority is Fox and Fox Sports and NASCAR, so I will definitely be back in the booth next year. If there was something that would fit around that, great. I don't know if that’s a reality."
Gordon has co-hosted the show with Ripa an impressive 9 times since she first joined Regis Philbin.
7. ALEC BALDWIN
Alec Baldwin has the experience for the job – and would love to do a show where he can stay home with his younger kids.
"I used to guest on that show with her and guest host with her," Baldwin toldEllen DeGeneres last month. "People say that to me every now and then. Because I have always wanted to do a show where I can stay home."
8. MARIO LOPEZ
Mario Lopez also addressed rumors on The Ellen DeGeneres Show – and he seems a little tickled by the potential.
"That's very flattering," the Extra host said with a laugh. "I know some people were saying that. Again, very flattering. I love Kelly. I've guest-hosted with her a few times. She's awesome. ... I'm looking forward to going back and guest-hosting."
Live! with Kelly airs weekdays (check local listings).
