Anderson Cooper realized a dream when he co-hosted “Live with Kelly” with Kelly Ripa on June 1.
Cooper filled in as guest host on the morning talk show as ABC executives continue to vet candidates to permanently replace Michael Strahan.
Though the CNN newsman is reportedly a candidate to replace the retired football player, Cooper said he hadn’t heard any news regarding the vacant position during an April interview with “Watch What Happens Live.”
“It would be a dream to work with Kelly, but nobody’s offering anything so …” he said to Andy Cohen. “Listen, I love Kelly and I think that show is—Kelly is the heart and soul of that show and it’s going to go on and continue to be great.”
On Wednesday morning, the longtime friends emerged from backstage to an excited audience.
“Who better to spend hump day with than Anderson Cooper?” Ripa said to the cheering audience.
The pair conversed about their past weekend, which included Cooper inviting the Consuelos-Ripa clan to his Connecticut home on Saturday and Sunday.
Cooper shared that he quickly went grocery shopping before the arrival of Ripa and her family.
“In my house there is hot dogs and buns and that’s usually it,” he said. “So I went to the supermarket in advance and bought everything I thought a Consuelos might want.”
“You did a great job and you are a wonderful host and have an incredible home,” Ripa complimented the journalist.
Upon her arrival, Ripa gifted Cooper with an inflatable gold swan for the pool, which took “six hours” for them to inflate.
The pair also demonstrated awkward dance moves, discussed Cooper’s upcoming birthday and pale skin, and Cooper’s love for oatmeal.
The ABC show will continue to have guest hosts until a permanent replacement is chosen.
According to reports, actor Rob Lowe is reportedly a frontrunner to join Kelly on “LIVE! With Kelly.”
“I hosted it with Kelly and had the time of my life,” Lowe said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I love her … I love being able to talk to an audience every morning like that and just being fun, counter-punching, being silly, and talking about cool stuff.”
Michael Strahan will join “Good Morning America” full-time in September.
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