The worst kept secret in daytime TV has been he choice of cohost for “Live! With Kelly.” Kelly Ripa had to pretend she was making the big announcement Tursday morning on the start of the new season. She spent a full year trying out hosts – some of whom would have never had the time to seriously consider the gig. But in former NFL star Michael Strahan she found someone with a lot of weekday time on his hands (he still helps host Fox Football on Sundays).
He’s an affable guy who clearly gets along with Ripa, who seems even more frail and breakable next to him. But on the premiere of what will apparently now be called “Live! With Kelly and Michael” he was also clearly nervous. They didn’t have that timing or knowledge of eachother that would allow each one to know when to jump in or when to hold back.
What may be more odd than a big African-American former New York Giant with Ripa instead of twice as old Regis Philbin, who retired, is that Ripa now takes the lead seat on the left where Reege once sat.
While she was a perfect, shiny foil for Philbin, she’s a little tentative taking the lead spot. And Strahan was doubly so.
Still, they had a lot of business about being the first official day together, and then a pointless competition with visiting Olympic gold medal gymnasts, that they scarcely had time to talk to interview a good guest, Claire Danes of “Homeland.”
It wasn’t clear either co-host had seen the show; they preferred to talk to her about her pregnancy. And while Strahan is a pleasant enough co-host, he doesn’t have the natural curiousity that used to fuel Regis’ interviews.
Well, they have a lot of time to get it better.
Strahan wasn’t the only African-American male making his daytime debut in a field that’s been free of men of color since Montel Williams..
It was another name with a similar vintage at thehelmof “The Steve Harvey Show,” which positions the comedian and radio host as a kind of advice giver. Because he’s been married, divorced, and raised a blended family, he said he has had just about every human experience, so he could help.
Harvey is not the first bald headed man with a mustache but few credentials to have his own show. The other was Dr. Phil. And while Harvey doesn’t put that kind of title before his name, he’s free to advise a self-styled “worst dater in America” and a mom who posts too much on Facebook. Sounds like the subject matter for the show won’t get too deep.