“Live With Kelly” has revealed the next batch of co-hosts who will join Kelly Ripa on the ABC daytime show for the week of Aug. 8.
“Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons will return for the Monday show, then actor Jerry O’Connell will be back for three more days, with “American Idol’s” Ryan Seacrest wrapping up the week.
Ripa has had over 20 different “Live!” guest co-hosts since Michae Strahan’s departure in May for “Good Morning America,” as the show tries out candidates en route to a permanent replacement. Co-hosts have included Anderson Cooper, Fred Savage, Jimmy Kimmel, John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer, “Empire” star Jussie Smollett and “ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir.
Online sportsbook Bovada had Savage and Andy Cohen listed at 7/2 odds to join Ripa on a full-time basis, though the former just signed an overall deal with Fox, making his appointment to the chair vacated by Strahan unlikely. Bovada had Cooper listed as the frontrunner anyway, with 3/1 odds.
Perhaps surprisingly, Savage has filled in the most on the show, and while many speculated that his “Grinder” co-star Rob Lowe would be high on the leader board, he hasn’t shown up once. Behind Savage in total appearances is Cooper, whom TheWrap previously reported was Ripa’s personal choice to share early morning coffee with going forward.
“Live With Kelly” is distributed in national syndication by Disney-ABC Home Entertainment and TV Distribution. The show is produced by WABC-TV in New York and executive produced by Michael Gelman.