Tension and awkwardness aside, Kelly Ripa reportedly wanted her former Live! With Kelly co-host, Michael Strahan, out so she and show producers could secure his replacement ASAP. Almost two weeks after the ex-football star’s departure, she may soon get her wish in Rob Lowe.
Following the recent cancellation of Lowe’s show, The Grinder, earlier this month after only one season, a source told Entertainment Tonight that the actor’s team is allegedly in talks with Live producers to get him to join Ripa at the desk as co-host for the morning talk show.
Lowe told ET on Monday that he “had the time of his life” when he guest co-hosted with Ripa in the past. He also was reportedly in the running to replace Regis Philbin back in 2012, but the job went to Strahan.
“I love her … I love being able to talk to an audience every morning like that and just being fun, counter-punching, being silly, and talking about cool stuff.”
Nevertheless, there may be one person who could be standing in Lowe’s way — Anderson Cooper. Rumors have been swirling for weeks that Live would replace Strahan with the CNN host, but Cooper says he is happy where he is. ABC also has yet to offer him a contract.
“Look, I’m very happy at CNN,” Cooper said on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live! “It would be a dream to work with Kelly, but nobody’s offering anything.”
In the meantime, Ripa has been having fun with her guest co-hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Empire‘s Jussie Smollett. Ryan Seacrest will join the former soap actress at the desk in June.
(Via Entertainment Tonight)
