Live! with Kelly is going to get a whole lot snarkier on May 16. With Michael Strahan departing May 13, Jimmy Kimmel is stepping in as guest co-host May 16, making him the first in an expected string of temporary replacements until a permanent replacement for the former NFL-star-turned-TV-personality is found.
The news comes just weeks after Strahan announced he’d be leaving Live! with Kelly and Michael for a new gig at Good Morning America, prompting some tension, as reported by Time. His departure date was pushed up, opening the door for the parade of guest co-hosts. Kimmel — whose show is in its 14th season — obviously has plenty of experience, and should be an ideal substitute.
The Live! with Kelly and Michael official Twitter account shared the news today, conveying plenty of enthusiasm.
Monday, May 16th, @jimmykimmel will be Kelly’s first guest co-host! pic.twitter.com/yZtNhstsB0
— LIVEKellyandMichael (@KellyandMichael) May 3, 2016
Ripa and Kimmel have shared the screen before, though not in quite the same capacity. She has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! multiple times, including this past February, when she told Kimmel that her son is his biggest fan. Presumably, she likes him as well, otherwise we wouldn’t expect to see him brought on board.
While the late-night host’s brand of humor is a little edgier than we typically expect from a morning show, it’ll be a fun extra jolt to start the day with, much like your first cup of coffee. Kimmel has proven himself to be versatile over the years and has previously ventured onto the set of another ABC series as well. He memorably appeared on The Bachelor during season 19, crashing dates and asking awkward questions.
Kimmel should add just as much flair to Live! with Kelly and may set a high bar for Ripa’s future guest co-hosts during his brief stint behind the morning show’s desk.
