A Date for Kelly Ripa\'s New Co-Host

By BRIAN STELTER

Inauguration day for Kelly Ripa's new co-host will be Sept. 4, the producers of her show said Monday, without saying who the co-host would be.

They said Ms. Ripa would start the new season of “Live! With Kelly” alone on Sept. 3, then be joined by her new partner the next day. Her show has been searching for that person since Regis Philbin left last winter. 

Since then, 59 men and women have been guest hosts, Disney-ABC Domestic Television pointed out in a news release on Monday. The producers are said to be seeking an entertainer to sit next to Ms. Kelly, someone like Seth Meyers, the “SNL” comic who filled in on “Live! With Kelly” several times earlier this summer. Mr. Meyers subsequently denied reports that he was going to become Ms. Ripa's co-host.

Whoever it is, teasing the audience with the announcement date two weeks in advance assures that the show will receive a bump in the ratings when the c o-host is revealed.