By Emily Krauser
12:18 AM PDT, October 27, 2016
In April 2016, Michael Strahan announced that he would be leaving 'Live!' after just four years to take a full-time position at 'Good Morning America.' Following some highly-publicized strain between Strahan and Kelly Ripa, the bubbly host set off on a journey of guest co-hosts on May 16. Here's a look at who joined Ripa on the morning talk show ahead of Ryan Seacrest being named her permanent co-host.
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Richard Curtis
Instagram
The Pennsylvania high school teacher was the winner of Live! With Kelly's co-host search and beat out thousands of entrants for a chance to sit next to Kelly Ripa. The father of two was such a hit on the Oct. 21 episode that the daytime talk show invited him back to guest co-host a few weeks later.
Joel McHale
Instagram
The Community alum graced the Live! stage on June 7 and 8, joining Ripa for interviews with James Corden and Ethan Hawke, and even doing a psychic reading for a trivia caller and audience members. McHale returned to co-host on Aug. 15 and 26.
Anderson Cooper
Instagram
Ripa's BFF returned for another stint as co-host, joining her for a hilarious conversation about all things waffles on Aug. 1. "Like, there's pancakes. Why do you need a waffle?" he asked Ripa with a straight face. The CNN journalist also co-hosted on Aug. 2, and came back on Aug. 24
Keegan-Michael Key
Instagram
The 45-year-old comedian joined Ripa in attempting to make their whole audience feel uncomfortable with a little staring contest when he co-hosted Live! on Aug. 23. "The is the Emmy show," Key joked as he tried not to break eye contact. The Key & Peele star also co-hosted on July 19.
Andy Cohen
Twitter
Ripa and the Watch What Happens Live host donned checkerboard-themed suits in honor of the Soapbox Derby on July 18. Cohen also hosted on May 26 and 27 and Aug. 19 and 22, but despite frequent Live! appearances and rumors, he will not be leaving his show to join Ripa full-time. "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as host is continuing on the network and [was] recently renewed through 2017," a Bravo rep told ET in a statement.
John Leguizamo
Instagram
We're not sure if the Bloodline star could appreciate Liam Hemsworth being a guest on Live! on June 20 as much as we did -- but he does look pretty happy! Leguizamo returned as co-host on August 18.
Guillermo Diaz
Instagram
The Scandal star adorably fangirled about Madonna on Live With Kelly's temporary but very seasonal beachhouse set during his pre-recorded co-hosting stint on July 8. He also helped interview Laverne Cox and noshed on sausages during a cooking segment with Adam Richman. Diaz returned to the Live stage on August 17.
Jussie Smollett
Twitter
The Empire star helped Ripa interview Andy Samberg on May 17, the same day Strahan made his first appearance on Good Morning America after bidding farewell to Live!. Smollett returned on May 30, when he got to chat with none other than Mariah Carey. The actor also returned to co-host on August 16.
David Muir
Instagram
The World News Tonight anchor posed with Ripa and guest Julianne Moore on May 19, returning to co-host the show on August 15.
Ryan Seacrest
Twitter
America's favorite host with the most not only looked fabulous while posing for photos with Ripa on June 9, he also got to chat with Paula Patton about the fun of being newly single in the modern dating world. Fun for all! Seacrest returned as host on August 12.
Jerry O'Connell
Instagram
The 42-year-old actor seemed comfortable as he started his three-day co-hosting stint on July 27. According to his wife, Rebecca Romijn, he'd be a perfect fit to play co-host full-time. "I think he'd be great!" she told ET in April. "He and Kelly are awesome [together]!" He and Kelly were clearly jiving well, as the actor returned to co-host August 9, 10 and 11.
Jim Parsons
Twitter
Kelly Ripa returned from the Fourth of July weekend with a bang -- Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons, that is! The adorable actor helped interview Power star Omari Hardwick and Denis Leary on July 5, and returned again the next day, as well as on August 8.
Nick Lachey
Instagram
The 42-year-old singer brought the heat while co-hosting on Aug. 5, joining his band 98 Degrees for a special Live! performance.
Josh Gad
Instagram
The 35-year-old actor seemed to have a blast as he joined Ripa on the show for two days in a row, starting August 3. "Thank you @livekelly for bringing me on to co-host and for teaching me all about the joy of watermelons," he captioned a sweet photo of himself and Ripa on Instagram.
Alan Cumming
Instagram
The Scottish actor took over hosting duties on July 26, helping Ripa interview Suicide Squad star Joel Kinnaman.
Christian Slater
Instagram
The Mr. Robot star was Ripa's co-host on July 25 when they scrubbed some pups with Zachary Quinto and Dr. Courtney Campbell.
Taye Diggs
Instagram
The 45-year-old actor put his game face on as he co-hosted the show on National Hot Dog Day on June 22. Chef Eric LeVine helped Diggs and Ripa prepare for the big day with a couple of epic hot dog recipes.
Tony Goldwyn
Instagram
Turns out the Scandal star is just as great at playing co-host as he is at playing president. Goldwyn helped Ripa out as they interviewed Late Night host Seth Meyers on July 21.
Carrie Ann Inaba
ABC
During the first of her two-day stint on Live!, the Dancing With the Stars judge caused Ripa to do as spit take as they hilariously described the perils of growing older -- namely trying to suck in their bellies -- on July 11.
Dwayne Wade
ABC
Ripa and the NBA pro came up with their very own belly button-centric handshake when Wade hosted the morning talk show on July 7, just one day after announcing that he signed with the Chicago Bulls. The 34-year-old basketball player was accompanied to the NYC gig by his wife, Gabrielle Union.
Josh Groban
Instagram
A beloved guest and former guest co-host on Live!, the opera singer returned for a pre-recorded episode that aired on June 21. The pretty stellar episode included an appearance by Oprah, who helped the duo celebrate National Selfie Day.
Kevin Hart
ABC
The New Jersey native had a ton of fun with her co-host on June 16. They tested out their knowledge of wedding etiquette to help Hart prepare for his upcoming nuptials.
Jerry O'Connell
LIVE with Kelly and Michael
The 42-year-old actor got the most out of his two-day co-hosting gig on June 15 and 16, collecting a lozenge spit out by guest Jeff Goldblum during his interview. "It's going on the internet!" O'Connell joked, hard candy in hand. "Right there, Jeff G.'s Halls. Still fresh!"
Morris Chestnut
Instagram
The Rosewood star got into the morning groove with Ripa and guest Trevor Noah on June 13.
Alec Baldwin
Instagram
Ripa was one lucky lady when she was sandwiched by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and her guest co-host, Baldwin, on June 10.
D.L. Hughley
Twitter
The 53-year-old comedian was lucky enough to try out some of Freddie Prinze Jr.'s fried chicken recipe when he co-hosted Live! on June 6.
Mark Consuelos
Instagram
Ripa couldn't have asked for a better co-host than her husband of 20 years! The delightful couple chatted about oldest son Michael's 19th birthday party before welcoming guests Laura Linney and Paula Abdul on June 3. Consuelos joined his wife once again on Jun 17.
Anderson Cooper
ABC
Ripa's BFF joined her for a slew of mornings, including June 1, 2, 22, and 23. On his first post-Strahan co-hosting appearance, Ripa and Cooper adorably did the salsa before interviewing Gloria Estefan, then formed a conga line with the "Get On Your Feet" singer. Cooper also made an attempt to #SaveTheGoobers from movie theater extinction during his most recent visit with Ripa.
The 48-year-old CNN correspondent has been named as a co-host frontrunner, though he did admit during an April appearance on Watch What Happens Live! that he hadn't been offered anything yet.
Common
Twitter
Talk about a busy morning! The "GO!" rapper talked about the challenges of raising a teenage daughter, taught Ripa his crazy hard workout, and chatted with Maya Rudolph on May 31.
Seal
Twitter
The GRAMMY winner joined Ripa for interviews with Stephen Amell, as well as Dancing With the Stars season 22 winner Nyle DiMarco, runner-up Paige Van Zant, and their respective pro partners on May 25.
Fred Savage
ABC
Ripa has had many adorable co-hosts over her 15 years at Live!, but none may have been as universally hailed as the Wonder Years alum when he returned for a two-day behind-the-desk stint on May 23 and 24. He will return for another two-day stint in July.
Daniel Dae Kim
Twitter
How could the Hawaii 5-0 star not smile when Blake Shelton came to visit Live! on May 20?
Cedric the Entertainer
Twitter
Talk about Baywatch babes! The 52-year-old comedian gamely took part in a slo-mo run with Ripa and guest Zac Efron on May 18.
Jimmy Kimmel
Twitter
The late night talk show host was honored as Kelly Ripa's first post-Michael Strahan co-host on June 16, and he took the job seriously, grilling the 45-year-old TV personality over Strahan’s last episode. "Everything on Friday's show was hugging and kissing. Was that genuine hugging and kissing?" he asked, to which Ripa responded, "Yes, we don't fake hug and kiss. It wasn't air kissing."