Showbiz411

Michael Strahan was just announced and presented as the new co-host of “Live.”  There’s some kind of weird synergy in the choosing of Michael Strahan as Kelly Ripa’s new permanent co-host today. Strahan played his whole career for the New York Giants. Wasn’t someone else connected to “Live” once a Giant legend, kids? Yes, Frank Gifford, husband of Kathie Lee, Regis’s long time partner before Kelly. And so it goes, the circle will not be unbroken. Let’s hope Straha takes a page from Regis Philbin’s playbook– he’ll have to go out three or four times a week, and bring back some good stories to entertain Kelly and the audience. What’s really cool: the new trend for African American male co-hosts of entertainment shows. Kevin Frazier’s on “The Insider.” E News just announced Terrence Jenkins as their co host with Giuiliana Rancic, and now Strahan. Maybe the world is evolving after all.

Roger Friedman

Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News. Friedman previously wrote the Intelligencer column at New York Magazine, He writes for Parade magazine and has written for Details, Vogue, the New York Times, Post, and Daily News and many other publications. He is the writer and co-producer of a film about R&B Music called “Only the Strong Survive,” which was released by Miramax in 2003 and was a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals.