Who Should be Kelly Ripa's New Live! Co-Host?

Live! with Kelly and...?

Now that the backstage brouhaha at Live! With Kelly and Michael has been settled-ish, it’s time to focus on the very real drama of finding someone to replace Strahan after his May 13 departure to Good Morning America. Here are some of our suggestions, but please, ABC, tell Kelly before you make any announcements.

The Newsie: Anderson Cooper

Cooper and Ripa are besties already, so their chemistry is set. And with his CNN background, we could see more in-depth interviews, which might appeal to the ABC News division that already oversees The View.

The Jock: Hélio Castroneves

With three Indy 500 titles under his belt, this charmer who also won the fifth season of Dancing With the Stars can handle live-TV pressure and could bring a whole new audience of race fans to the show. Plus, imagine all the “Ripa gets a Brazilian” jokes to be made!

The Woman: Megan Mullally

Who says it has to be a dude? History could be made by filling the vacant seat with a second woman, and the Will & Grace Emmy winner—who was so much better than her short-lived 2006 daytime talk show—could balance out the frenetic Ripa with her more measured comedic chops.

The Musician: Michael Bublé

Anyone who has seen the Canadian crooner’s Christmas specials knows that he’s just as engaging in front of a live crowd as he is amazing behind the microphone. Oooh, that could mean more musical guests too!

The Reality Vet: Matt Iseman

To hold his own with the hilarious Ripa, the new sidekick will need a quick wit and a command of timing. The American Ninja Warrior host and stand-up comic has both, as well as talk-show training from his gig on Hallmark’s Home & Family.

The Trade: Sam Champion

Since Strahan is leaving for GMA, why not serve up a little turnabout and snatch the morning show’s former weatherman? Champion left for the Weather Channel in 2013 (where he’s been underused), but ably filled in on GMA during replacement Ginger Zee’s maternity leave earlier this year. Plus, he’s a scream.