( 4UMF NEWS ) Michael Strahan Makes Live! Debut:

Michael Strahan stepped out of an SUV and jogged onto the set of “Live! with Kelly” Tuesday morning, making his co-hosting gig official and confirming the country’s worst kept secret.

He was named Kelly Ripa‘s permanent partner, taking the spot left vacant when longtime “Live!” host Regis Philbin left the show in November.

But not before Ripa dragged out the official announcement with three extra minutes of suspense. “It’s an exciting day around here,” she told the audience. “It has been nine months and I’m about to give birth to my new co-host.”

The seat was kept warm by 59 different guest co-hosts over the past 10 months. They’ve ranged from celebrities to sports stars, including former Giants defensive end Strahan, who has guest co-hosted several times.

Speculation has been building for months over who’d get the job. In July, a report claimed that Strahan, singer Josh Groban, and “Saturday Night Live” star Seth Meyers were being seriously considered for the job, with Meyers as the frontrunner.

But as of Aug. 21, several reports zoomed in on Strahan as the chosen one.

The first guests for the new era of “Live!” were actress Claire Danes and “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips, who performed on the show for the first time.

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