Kelly Ripa May Have Found Her Next ‘Live’ Guest Co-Host: You

ABC’s daytime talk show launches fan contest, with on-air winner joining Ripa to host Oct. 21 show

Kelly Ripa
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Kelly Ripa is hunting for her next guest co-host — and that person may just look a lot like you.

On Wednesday’s “Live with Kelly,” Ripa announced a fan contest to find a guest co-host who would appear alongside her on the Oct. 21 show.

“Live” has been without a permanent co-host since ABC moved Michael Strahan to “Good Morning America” earlier this year. A succession of guest chair-warmers, from Anderson Cooper to Michael Weatherly, has been filling in.

The contest, which started today, ends on Sept. 20. Entrants must send in a video up to one minute “demonstrating why you think you can be a co-host for a day with Kelly Ripa,” according to the official rules.

A personal bio of up to 100 words must also be included.

A few words of warning: The video can’t contain any music; recorded songs may create rights issues if “Live” wants to show the footage. Profanity is out, of course, as are political messages, any t-shirts with company logos and any illegal activity. Keep your clothes on.

The videos will be judged for creativity, overall performance, enthusiasm and personality and presentation.

The Top 40 entries will be picked by Ripa’s staff and announced on the Sept. 23 show. Those entrants will be given a “video challenge” that will narrow the semi-finalists down to 20. Viewer voting will winnow the field further.

The final 5 will then run a gantlet of on-air challenges in the “Live” studio in New York the week of Oct. 17. (Yes, in New York – but don’t worry, Ripa will spring for your plane fare and hotel.)

The contest is a promotional stunt that was also done in years past before Ripa and Strahan were picked.

Meanwhile, no word on when Ripa might get a permanent co-host. But judging from the contest, that won’t happen anytime soon.

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