I’ve been taping Live with Kelly as my DVR is still set to record it after all the drama over Michael Strahan leaving the show. I haven’t been watching it though, and I suspect a lot of people are in the same boat.But producers may have a way to get women in my demographic to tune in – Rob Lowe! ET is reporting that Lowe is being considered as Michael Strahan’s replacement. It sounds like their source is Lowe considering that he also gave them quotes about how he’s about to have a lot of time on his hands and would be thrilled to get the job. This is confusing to me because the last time we talked about Kelly’s potential co-hosts she was looking to bring in one of her friends, like Anderson Cooper or Andy Cohen, while producers were hoping for someone of a more diverse background. Kelly’s guests co-hosts have included actors and comedians like Daniel Dae Kim, Jussie Smollett and Cedric the Entertainer, and we haven’t see Lowe on the show yet. I guess he was in contention to replace Regis before Strahan ultimately got the job though, so he thinks he has a shot.
The network has been talking to Lowe’s reps again, the source says, having chatted with the actor about the highly coveted gig back in 2012, when ABC was looking for Regis Philbin’s replacement. Lowe, 52, had impressed viewers at the time when he guest-hosted for two days. But the job, of course, ended up going to Michael Strahan.
Lowe is also currently a free agent since his Fox show, The Grinder, got canceled earlier this month after one season.
ET caught up with Lowe on Monday on the set of his upcoming film, How to Be a Latin Lover, where he wasn’t counting out the potential huge, new gig.
“I hosted it with Kelly and had the time of my life,” he commented. “I love her … I love being able to talk to an audience every morning like that and just being fun, counter-punching, being silly, and talking about cool stuff.”
Lowe also acknowledged he’s in a good place in his personal life to accept the position. His 19-year-old son, John, is currently attending Stanford University, and his elder son, 21-year-old Matthew, is preparing to go to law school.
“My kids are out of the house, they weren’t then. Who knows… But listen, man, I don’t want to go up against Anderson Cooper,” he joked. “I don’t know if I’m going to go back as an actual guest host yet. … You never know! You never know.”
Page Six ran this story today with the first line “‘Live’ may have already found a replacement for Michael Strahan,” but it sounds more like Lowe is hoping he’ll get a shot at guest hosting. Plus he seems to be trying to put this out there to gauge interest. He’s an OK choice and he’s certainly nice to look at, but I still like Anderson Cooper better. When Cooper gets the giggles it’s the best.
One of the reasons Kelly gave for pushing Strahan out sooner than his planned exit was that she needed to test out her rapport with potential replacements. If she hasn’t worked with Lowe in years, I doubt they would offer him the job until they’ve vetted him along with a bunch of other candidates. ET also reports that Ryan Seacrest is going to co-host with her for a day next month. He has some time on his hands after Idol has wrapped but he has a radio show and produces all those E! shows. Seacrest bugs and I wouldn’t watch him, but it’s not like he has time for this other than to drop by.
Photos credit: WENN.com, FameFlynet and Getty
i watched with Fred Savage as a co-host and thought he was charming and funny.
So now that Grinder is cancelled both he and Fred are free?
I say no to both Fred and Rob.
What a cutie, right? He is a nice, normal down to earth man. I love that he didn’t end up a jaded, crazy d bag.
Is Savage a conservative? I really don’t mind conservatism in principle (economically…not socially. Social conservatism has no place in politics), but Rob Lowe is intolerable. I would pay $ to meet someone who could be a conservative without being a bitter jaded jerk who is incapable of recognizing inequity or communicating their principles without negating the experiences of whole socioeconomic classes.
I’ve watched a few clips on youtube and I liked Fred Savage quite a lot.
He looks so damn good. Wow
Isn’t this the guy who had a threesome with some 16 year olds and said some islamaphobic crap or was that someone else?
^^^this!
YUP! He is not in contention.
That’s the one. Known most recently for displaying his ignorance on Twitter (is it good for anything else?)
Yeah, but he also has hit shows under his belt, most recently Parks and Rec, so that doesn’t appear to have affected his career.
I really, really love Parks and Rec but I hated that he was on it. I try not to support creeps and I wish he hadn’t been cast.
I’m sorry, but I loved Chris Traeger (when he was introduced as a character). A lot.
Back in the day, Rob was the easiest cute boy in Hollywood (his signature move: walking up while you were browsing at Tower Records on Sunset; saying, “Hi, I’m Rob Lowe.”). Yes he did the underage-porn thing; yes he’s an Islamophobe. He was also terrific on Parks and Rec. All these things being true don’t make Rob Lowe a complex guy, though.
He and Kelly would be great together. They’re both easy on the eyes, massive control freaks, and really shallow. It’s perfect!
I am a long time fan of Live with whoever. Have been watching the guest cohosts shows and Fred Savage was great!!
NOOOO! Fred Savage all the way! Rob Lowe just seems so try-hard these days…please go away rob
Rob Lowe couldn’t even get along that well with the Parks & Rec crew. Live isn’t happening.
Right? Whenever I watch blooper reels for Parks, he seems like, I don’t know, not as gelled with the other actors, not as funny. He was great in the character, though.
that is what i’m saying, if he gets the gig there is going to be drama everyday and sometimes live hahahahha he is a bigger diva
No. He’s creepy looking and not at all charming enough to watch every morning.
Just no. THAT is the best you can do Live?
I do think Rob is entertaining as an actor, but I don’t really care for him as a person. So…no.
Rob Lowe always seems to me to be a storyteller. He is fun to listen to, but I don’t know how well he could handle asking questions and letting someone else tell the story. He is pretty to look at, but I wouldn’t start tuning in just for him.
this is going to be a disaster, he is a bigger diva lol
YESSSS!!!
Two high-maintenance pretty ones?? I don’t see it working to well.