Michael Strahan Is Kelly Ripa's New Co-Host [POLL]

ABC

The Former New York Giants Star Lands the Permanent Gig as Regis Philbin's Replacement

Sorry Anderson Cooper and Seth Meyers and Jerry O'Connell and, well, all those dozens of other people who tried out to nab that early morning seat next to Kelly Ripa … Regis Philbin's permanent Live! replacement has been chosen, and it's former NFL star Michael Strahan.

The surprising choice was expected to be officially announced by ABC execs on Sept. 4, but industry magazine Broadcasting & Cable has broken the news that Strahan is the man, as the magazine quoted "multiple sources with knowledge of the situation."

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Strahan is a surprise choice only because Meyers seemed to have a lock on the job.

But in his many guest appearances as Ripa's co-host, Strahan was charming and at ease in what is a job that's a lot tougher to pull off than it looks, and he has great chemistry with Ripa.

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Strahan's hiring ends months of guest host fill-ins for the co-host spot Philbin vacated in 2011, with the line-up of guest hosts -- which included the aforementioned Cooper, Meyers and O'Connell, Jerry Seinfeld, Alec Baldwin, Martin Short, Andy Cohen, Reggie Bush, Howie Mandel, Chris Harrison, Rob Lowe, Neil Patrick Harris, Carrie Ann Inaba, Nick Lachey, Mario Lopez and Sam Champion -- reportedly using the guest appearances to audition for the permanent job.

Strahan, meanwhile, should probably start thinking about what he's going to do with all the frequent flyer miles he's reportedly going to rack up.

Though Live! -- now Live! With Kelly and Michael? -- airs every weekday from New York City, Strahan is also keeping his job on Fox NFL Sunday, which originates from Los Angeles.

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Strahan is also engaged to Nicole Murphy, Eddie Murphy's ex-wife and one of the stars of VH1's Hollywood Exes, who lives in Los Angeles with the five children she shares with the comedian.

As the L.A. Times points out, Strahan can look to his new co-host for moonlighting advice, as Ripa juggled roles on All My Children and the sitcom Hope & Faith throughout her years on Live!

So, now that Strahan appears to be the official choice for the job, tell us: