By Patrick Kevin Day, Los Angeles Times –
LOS ANGELES — Seth Meyers begins a week-long guest hosting stint on “Live! With Kelly” on Monday and many interested parties will be watching those shows very closely.
According to Roger Friedman on Showbiz411, Meyers is the lead choice to replace Regis Philbin as the permanent co-host alongside Kelly Ripa on the “Live!” show in September. The other two hopefuls are former New York Giant Michael Strahan and singer Josh Groban.
All three have filled in as co-hosts several times since Regis left the show last November, but Meyers’ upcoming week of shows is the first time a guest host has stayed for a full week since Neil Patrick Harris did it late last year. Sadly, Harris’ role on “How I Met Your Mother” prevents him from being in the running for permanent host. Another show favorite, Anderson Cooper, is also committed to his other shows (“AC360” and “Anderson”).
Meyers is currently head writer and host of “Weekend Update” on “Saturday Night Live.”
A spokeswoman for “Live!” said the show would not comment on any co-host speculation.
The new season of “Live!” begins in September and it’s widely believed the new host will be selected by then.
Producers have taken their time finding a permanent replacement for Philbin. A variety of guest hosts have taken the chair next to Ripa since last November, and continue to do so. Besides Meyers, Groban, Kristin Chenoweth and Matchbox 20 singer Rob Thomas will also be co-hosts in July.
