Getty ImagesAmerica, meet Kelly Ripa's first batch of new Live! cohosts.
The show has revealed the lineup for Ripa's first week of guest cohosts after Michael Strahan departs the series on May 13.
We already knew that Jimmy Kimmel is filling in on Monday, May 16, but the lineup for the rest of the week is as follows: Empire star Jussie Smollett on Tuesday, May 17, comedian Cedric the Entertainer on Wednesday, May 18, ABC News anchor David Muir on Thursday, May 19, and Hawaii Five-0 star Daniel Dae Kim on Friday, May 20.
ABC announced two weeks ago that Strahan would be leaving his morning talk show to join Good Morning America in the fall, surprising everyone—including Ripa, who has hosted Live! since 2001.
"After meeting with the producers of both Live and Good Morning America, and after speaking with Kelly and Michael, we have decided on a plan that best advantages both shows for the future. To that end, Michael's last day on Live will be on Friday, May 13, which not only gives the show the chance to have a nice send-off for him during the May book, but to also immediately begin the on-air search for a new co-host," a show spokesperson told E! News in late April. "This plan also allows GMA to start integrating Michael into the show more often this summer before his full-time start in September."
After the network bungled the announcement, Ripa took several days off (during which Erin Andrews, Shay Mitchell and Ana Gasteyer cohosted alongside Strahan), before returning and addressing the controversy.
"Guys, our long national nightmare is over," she said when she returned. "I'm going to be completely honest: I'm fairly certain that there are trained, professional snipers with tranquilizer darts in case I drift too far off message. I first want to honestly, sincerely thank you for welcoming me back to this show."
The host continued, "The love, the show of support to this bizarre time has been really overwhelming. I really needed a couple of days to gather my thoughts. After 26 years with this company, I earned the right—and let's be honest, I know half of you called in sick to be here, so we get each other. In that time, I gained some perspective. I always speak from the heart. I didn't want to come out here and just, like, say something I might regret. What transpired, though, over the course of a few days has been extraordinary in the sense that it started a much greater conversation about communication and consideration and, most importantly, respect in the workplace."