Kelly Ripa finally will get new ‘Live!’ co-host on Sept. 4

More than nine months after Regis Philbin retired from the syndicated weekday talk show “Live!,” Kelly Ripa finally has a new co-host, the show announced Monday. But don’t get too excited just yet: Viewers will have to wait until Sept. 4 to find out who got the coveted job.

On Sept. 3, Ripa will kick off the new season of “Live!” by herself. The next day, the show will end months of frenzied speculation when Ripa’s new partner finally joins her onstage. While we don’t know yet who’ll be sitting beside Ripa, the guests that morning will include “Homeland” actress Claire Danes and “American Idol’s” Phillip Phillips.

Since longtime co-host Philbin said farewell last November, “Live!” has cycled through a dizzying array of guest hosts — 59 in total — including Neil Patrick Harris, Taye Diggs, Daniel Radcliffe, Alec Baldwin, Jonah Hill and Michael Strahan. Earlier this summer, rumors swirled that “Saturday Night Live” head writer Seth Meyers would be the next Regis, but he quickly (and adamantly) shot them down.

Also not in the running is Ripa’s husband, actor Mark Consuelos: In an interview with Vanity Fair, the perky blond ruled out the possibility he’d join her on the show.

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Seth Meyers could be the next Regis

Kelly Ripa rules out her husband as ‘Live!’ co-host

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Follow Meredith Blake on Twitter @MeredithBlake