Michael Strahan exiting ‘Live with Kelly and Michael’ earlier than planned on May 13

We imagined that the final months for Michael Strahan and Kelly Ripa on “Live with Kelly and Michael” could be awkward, but as it turns out, it will be more akin to “final weeks.” Today, it was confirmed that May 13 will be the last day for the former NFL star on the show before moving into a more permanent capacity later this year.

In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, a representative for the show explains that much of the reason for this is to give the show time to begin a search for a proper successor, which will probably happen via some guests stints, much like after Regis Philbin departed:

“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. This plan also allows GMAto start integrating Michael into the show more often this summer before his full-time start in September.”

It’s probably not the best idea to start listing off contenders before Strahan even leaves the show, but for the time being, we anticipate that some of the leading candidates here could include Neil Patrick Harris or Ripa’s good friend Andy Cohen. More names will probably be apparent the more that we see some people trying out; chemistry probably matters here more than star power, since you can build an audience based on a good product.

If you missed it, head over here to watch a video from this morning featuring Ripa’s explanation for staying off the air for a few days; also, sign up over here to secure some other TV news on all we cover, sent right over to you via our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: Live with Kelly and Michael.)