Kelly Ripa is finding that replacing an octogenarian with an artificial hip is not so easy.
It's been some 18 months since Regis Philbin announced his retirement from their popular syndicated daytime talk show, "Live! With Regis and Kelly." And it's been nearly eight months since the longtime broadcaster actually departed the New York-based show, leaving Ripa to trot out a parade of often high-profile guest hosts.
This week, however, reports are swirling across the Web that "Saturday Night Live's" Seth Meyers may be the front-runner to be co-host. The 38-year-old comedian, who has already been a guest host with Ripa on the morning show, will return for another weeklong engagement beginning Monday â€" an important July ratings sweep week.
VIDEO: Regis and Kathie Lee reunite on 'Today'
Meyers, whose sly and acerbic wit would seem an odd pairing with the energetic, wholesome mother of three, apparently isn't the only contender. Former New York Giant Michael Strahan and singer Josh Groban are also said to be under consideration. (A spokeswoman for"Live! With Kelly" would not comment on co-host speculation or the delay in hiring a co-host.)
"Meyers is an odd choice as a replacement for Regis," said Brad Adgate, an analyst for ad firm Horizon Media in New York. "I don't think he was on anybody's short list.
"But if you think about it, it's not so weird," added Adgate. "What he does on 'SNL' and with 'Weekend Update' is basically what he needs to do here, just in a tamer manner."
Executives may too be undecided about what kind of persona will mesh with the 41-year-old Ripa, said television analysts. Indeed, a procession of hosts have marched through the show, including Joel McHale, Neil Patrick Harris, Anderson Cooper, Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Bublé, and even Ripa's husband, actor Mark Consuelos.
VIDEO: Regis Philbin's own version of 'Rent's' 'Seasons of Love'
"The producers have to figure out what sort of relationship they're going for with Regis' replacement," said Bill Carroll, a media analyst for Katz TV group. "Do they want him to be a brother, a husband or a friend to Kelly?"
Carroll views Strahan as a "big broth er" type, Groban as an "aw-shucks" guy, and Meyers as a performer with a "comic edge."
"When Regis was paired with Kathie Lee, they were like husband and wife," he added. "But when Regis was paired with Kelly it was like a not-with-it father and his totally-with-it daughter."
The holdup in announcing a successor to Philbin is not unusual, at least for "Live!," point out analysts. In 2000, executives similarly waited almost a year â€" one also filled with rotating co-hosts â€" before finally naming Ripa after Kathie Lee Gifford left after 15 years.
Strong viewership even since Philbin's retirement has also helped minimize pressure to quickly name a new co-host for the show, which is syndicated nationally by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Overall, ratings are up slightly with the show averaging a respectable 3.3 million viewers per week.
The show traditionally has been lean on younger viewers though, said Adgate, and selecting Meyers may pull in harder -to-reach young adults, which advertisers prefer.
For her part, Ripa hasn't seemed to be in much of a hurry to find her next co-host. In January, she told The Times that she was enjoying the game of musical chairs.
"I'm having fun playing the field," she said. "Every person brings a different energy."
The lengthy search for a co-host stands in stark contrast to the recent sudden moves at NBC's "Today" show, which is locked in a tight ratings battle with ABC's "Good Morning America." Last week, Ann Curry, who had been co-host of the morning program for about a year, was pushed aside and replaced with Savannah Guthrie, who had formerly hosted the show's third hour.
After nearly three decades, Philbin announced his retirement from the morning program in January 2011. Though he gave no official reason, the 80-year-old had been struggling with his health, undergoing triple bypass surgery in 2007 and a hip replacement in 2009.
"It was his show," said Adgate. "At the time, I think people were thinking, 'We can't replace Regis.' He was the fabric of the show and so closely associated with it. I think they feel comfortable picking a co-host now that Kelly isn't the secondary star anymore. She can hold her own. She can run the show."
A decision on a permanent co-host is expected to be officially announced before the new season of "Live!" begins in September.
yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com
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