Retired racing legend Jeff Gordon has zoomed to the top of ABC’s short list to succeed Michael Strahan as Kelly Ripa’s new Live co-host, TVLine has learned. Gordon has experience sitting alongside Ripa. During the Live With Regis and Kelly era, he served as Ripa’s sidekick nine times. (He even did a stint opposite Reege in 2001 before Ripa came on board). He most recently appeared on the show in June 2015, but just as a guest. Since retiring from professional stock car racing in 2015, the 44-year-old Gordon has transitioned into broadcasting (he currently serves as a Fox NASCAR analyst). Should he snag the Live gig, his career path would closely mirror that of the man he’d be replacing; Strahan, who exited Live last month for a full-time gig at Good Morning America, also segued into broadcasting after retiring from the NFL. Live is expected to continue pairing Ripa with a parade of guest co-hosts until a final decision is made later this summer. Other names in the permanent co-host mix include former Grinder star Rob Lowe and Ripa’s BFF Anderson Cooper. Gordon’s spokesperson, declined TVLine’s request for comment.(TVLine)(6-18-2016)
UPDATE: Jeff Gordon talks about possible talk show gig: On Saturday morning at Sonoma Raceway, Jeff Gordon affirmed his commitment to his position as an analyst in the FOX Sports television booth. But that doesn’t mean Gordon is ruling out moonlighting as co-host for ‘Live with Kelly.’ Prevalent rumors have Gordon on the short list to fill the role of departed Michael Strahan as Kelly Ripa’s sidekick on the show. ‘Well, I’m flattered that my name has been associated with that,’ said Gordon, who has filled in as an occasional co-host of the show. ‘You know, I’ve always maintained a great friendship with the show and some of the producers and folks within the show. I had a great time co-hosting on that show, and I mean, I certainly would welcome it. My priority is FOX and FOX Sports and NASCAR, so I will definitely be back in the booth next year. If there was something that would fit into and around that-great. I don’t know if that’s a reality, but it’s been really interesting kind of seeing that unfold. I really don’t have anything that I can say about it.’(NASCAR Wire Service and see an Q&A; at the Charlotte Observer)
