Guilty Secret: I have been a long-time fan of Kelly Ripa. Never watched the soap, but enjoyed the morning show for many years and many co-hosts. Also thought the *Hope & Faith *sitcom was good, and really did show her chops as a comedic actress.
I personally wish that Kevin Pereira, who cohosted Attack of the Show! on G4 back in the day, had been selected instead. I hope this doesn’t sound too uncharitable, but I’m glad that both Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper were both passed up in the end since both men are out-of-the-closet homosexuals. Sorry, but it too often feels that the American television industry is forcing the homosexual agenda down the collective throat of viewers these days.
I think both Andy and Anderson were too much gal-pals with Kelly to be a good fit as a permanent co-host (fine as guest hosts now & in the future). Not their homosexuality
per se, for instance Neil Patrick Harris, also out of the closet, is IMHO a very complementary host with Kelly.
Also among my favorite guest hosts were Fred Savage and Jerry O’Connell*. I was surprised by many of the guests hosts during this past year, who are fine for a couple of days or a week, but don’t they have other jobs somewhere? I also found it interesting how low-key it was played this time – When Regis retired, they spent a year openly talking about filling the co-host slot. This time, it was hardly mentioned (if at all), to the point where I wondered if “Queen” Kelly might not want another permanent host after the way she’d been “done wrong”? I was caught completely off guard when the job was given to Seacrest.
(* Huh – Those two and NPH are all former child stars. Weird.)
All that said: Seacrest is growing on me. He is pretty much a *tabula rasa *for me since I was never into *American Idol *nor any regular gig he may have had. It is seeming a little like he is contractually obligated to be obsequious or something (which, given the footsteps he is following, is perhaps understandable, but I hope it might wear off eventually).
tee
