It's no longer simply "Live! With Kelly" -- now, it's "Live! With Kelly and Michael." As of Tuesday morning, former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan joined Kelly Ripa onstage as her new, permanent co-host, replacing Regis Philbin.
Strahan was chosen out of a group of 59 guest co-hosts who appeared with Ripa over the last 10 months. Strahan was a repeat guest host, and the "secret" that he'd been picked to join her in the hosting chair was revealed by the trade publication Broadcasting and Cable in August.
"It's an exciting day around here," Ripa told her audience Tuesday morning. "It has been nine months (since Regis left) and I'm about to give birth to my new co-host."
Strahan was shown exiting an SUV and hurrying on to the set during the show, where he gave Ripa a big hug.
"I'm speechless," the Strahan said.
Strahan also currently hosts "Fox NFL Sunday," and the LA Times projected he would likely keep both positions if he was chosen as Ripa's co-host.
Regis Philbin left in November, having hosted "Live!" for over 28 years. Ripa joined him in 2001.
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