Michael Strahan's journey from football star to TV host [Videos]

August 22, 2012|By Chuck Schilken

<p>Michael Strahan appears to have made the leap from sports star to mainstream television personality after reports that he is in talks to be Kelly Ripa's permanent co-host on the long-running "Live!" daytime talk show.</p><p>ABC is expected to make the official announcement in early September, according to Broadcasting & Cable.</p><p>The former New York Giants defensive end has made several appearances as Ripa's guest host since the departure of original host Regis Philbin last November. As you can see in the video above, Strahan definitely went all out in those auditions.</p></div></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-ctr-lt-in-top" class="mod-latarticlesadcpc mod-adcpc with-fourth-cpc"><script type="text/javascript"> var adSkipCounter = 0; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "tv host guest host michael strahan";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,8321278795,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; google_image_size="300x250"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="2"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "medium_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=33325821&cat=arts+%26+entertainment&pe_id=33325821&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=6138855783&rnccn=CMI-A-009&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=ctr-lt-in-top", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletextwithadcpc mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext"><p>A seven-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion, Strahan has been planting the seeds for the transformation into an all-around entertainer for years. One might say he made his acting debut while still playing for the Giants, with his final sack of 2001 to set an NFL record with 22.5 single-season sacks (best supporting actor goes to Brett Favre).</p><p>After helping the Giants defeat the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, Strahan ended his 15-year NFL career and immediately became a presence on television. He is a host on "Fox NFL Sunday," starred in the short-lived Fox sitcom "Brothers," has made numerous guest appearances on other shows and appears in commercials for Subway, Snickers, Dr. Pepper, Right Guard and others.</p><p>So that is how a popular athlete goes about becoming a daytime TV fixture (paying attention, Tiki?). Let's just hope Strahan gets along with Ripa slightly better than he did with Tom Arnold as a guest on Fox Sports' "The Best Damn Sports Show Period."</p><p><strong>ALSO:</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-michael-strahan-live-cohost-kelly-ripa-20120821,0,6596271.story">Michael Strahan reportedly named "Live!" co-host</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/football/nfl/la-sp-nfl-report-20120822,0,2188031.story">Steelers expect receiver </a>Mike Wallace<a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/football/nfl/la-sp-nfl-report-20120822,0,2188031.story"> to report this weekend</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-maurice-jones-drew-20120822,0,2032892.story">Maurice Jones-Drew miffed at </a>Jaguars<a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-maurice-jones-drew-20120822,0,2032892.story"> team owner Shad Khan</a></p></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para-ad-cpc" class="mod-adcpc"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; 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