Summer is about to heat up, and that means it’s time for the often-dreaded bikini season. If you’re looking to ditch the regular old gym routine and take a cue from celebs who work on their fitness, here are some star favorites. We’re breaking down what Hollywood’s hottest do to stay in shape:

SoulCycle 

What is it: With locations in New York and LA, stationary bike riding studio SoulCycle has a devoted celeb following. Their website says: “SoulCycle’s full-body workout has revolutionized indoor cycling and taken the world of fitness by storm. Combining inspirational coaching and high-energy music, SoulCycle offers an engaging workout that benefits both the mind and the body.”

Who does it: Alessandra Ambrosio, Katie Holmes, and Jennifer Garner are all spin-class attendees. The Victoria’s Secret Angels even attended a special Supermodel Cycle Ride to raise money for cancer research last year. On the morning of the Golden Globes, Kaley Cuoco tweeted: “The best possible thing to do before a big evening, “WORK OUT! Starting my golden globes day w @soulcycle !!!!” Talk about dedication.

Physique 57

What is it: “Physique 57 is an innovative workout program that combines isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches to systematically lengthen and sculpt your muscles and create a beautiful, lean body. Our process is similar to interval training, but we’ve taken that concept to the next level to make it even more effective,” their website explains.

Who does it: Denise Richards, Zooey Deschanel, and Kelly Ripa. “It takes a lot to motivate me to exercise, but Physique 57 is the ideal workout. It’s efficient, fun and targeted to get the results you didn’t think were possible!” Demi Moore has said.

Tracy Anderson Method

What is it: Celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson is responsible for many hot Hollywood bods. The website describes the workout by saying, “Based on over a decade of research on different muscular structure groups, Tracy Anderson has created a fitness method that can transform any problem area or body type. Tracy has created and patented over 3,000 fitness movements and her varying moves target every muscle in your body. The sequences strategically exhaust the muscles in a way that does not create bulk, and that strengthens the connection to the body. This program is designed for anyone to achieve a perfect body naturally.” There are studios in LA, The Hamptons, and London, plus workout DVDs.

Who does it: Nicole Richie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kim Kardashian to name a few. Paltrow recently remarked, “I just got obsessed. When you see results like that, I started following everything she said and she completely transformed my body and I’m so grateful.”

Zumba

What is it: Zumba‘s website explains, “Zumba Fitness is a global lifestyle brand that fuses fitness, entertainment and culture into an exhilarating dance-fitness sensation! Zumba® exercise classes are ” fitness-parties ” that blend upbeat world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography, for a total-body workout that feels like a celebration.” Fun times!

Who does it: Jordin Sparks, Vivica A. Fox and Shakira can all credit the “fitness-parties” for their fit figures. Shakira discussed her workout of choice with PEOPLE. ”Even during pregnancy, I kept doing it until almost the end,” she said.

Barry’s Bootcamp

What it is: According to their website, “Barry’s Bootcamp combines intense cardio with strength training in every class. It is the affordable, effective and fun solution to fitness in the 21st Century. Our incredible workout is enhanced by the most current music, easy to handle equipment, night club lighting, and the city’s most qualified trainers who happen to look like movie stars…”

Who does it: Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Biel, and Kim Kardashian. Kim has tweeted, “Barrys Bootcamp & pilates done before 9am! I feel good! Beast mode day 2! Double workout week!”

Crossfit

What is it: “CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide,” says their website.

Who does it: Kelly Clarkson, Elizabeth Banks, and Channing Tatum. Kelly Clarkson has said, “You never work out more than 35 minutes, but it’s so intense… It makes me feel like G.I. Jane. It’s very empowering.”

Would you try any of these celeb workouts?

The stars showed their true colors — with their clothes — on Friday, rounding out another week of celebrity sightings.

David Beckham brought a splash of red as he celebrated the launch of his H&M Bodywear Collection in Paris, France. The 38-year-old greeted fans and sign autographs on his way into the store.

Elsewhere in France, Dita Von Teese donned a form-fitting green dress as she made her way through Nice Airport. The night before, the model and dancer hit the red carpet in a black gown for amfAR’s 20th Annual Cinema Against AIDS gala.

Meanwhile Jeremy Renner suited up for the Cannes premiere of his new film The Immigrant, along with co-star Marion Cotillard, Wendy Williams flashed her pearly whites at a taping for Extra in Los Angeles while Kourtney Kardashian paid a visit to sister Kim in Beverly Hills.

Kelly Ripa is looking for confirmation on whether or not she’s the coolest mom in the world, now that she’s gotten a tweet from the one and only Britney Spears.

On Thursday afternoon, Spears told her 26 million followers about her love for the morning talk show host.

Love watching @livekellyandmichael, @kellyripa is so inspiring to women! I have such a #girlcrush :)

— Britney Spears (@britneyspears) April 25, 2013

To which Ripa replied:

Aww, @britneyspears you are the best! #gimmemore!

— Kelly Ripa (@KellyRipa) April 25, 2013

If I show my kids a tweet from @britneyspears will they think I’m cool then??? If not then, WHEN?#tilltheworldends

— Kelly Ripa (@KellyRipa) April 25, 2013

On the same day, Spears, 31, was spotted flaunting her toned arms as she hit a gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The “Scream & Shout” singer donned a fun tank top that read, “Do you wanna KISS.”

It was recently announced that Spears will appear on the upcoming soundtrack for the Smurfs sequel, out this summer.

“I have always loved the Smurfs as a kid and now my boys are the biggest Smurfs fans EVER,” the superstar said in a statement last week. [via Billboard]

“I wanted to surprise them with a song in the movie. I know they’ll think it’s Smurftastic!”

Are you looking forward to new music from Britney Spears?

New York Fashion Week has only just begun, but it’s already bringing major star power. While the red carpet was mostly black and white at amfAR’s annual gala, the runway at the Hammerstein Ballroom was painted red for one of our favorite events of Fashion Week — the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show.

Not only does the annual fashion show — which is part of The Heart Truth campaign for heart disease awareness — combine style and a great cause, but the runway is always filled with a bevy of stylish superstars, all clad in red.

In past years, some of sports, music, TV, film and fashion’s most accomplished female figures — Sheryl Crow, Lindsay Lohan, Katie Couric, Fergie, Kim Kardashian and Venus Williams, to name a few — have practiced their cat walk during the annual Red Dress Collection runway show.

And this year’s show brought another superstar lineup of ladies in red to the runway.

Kylie, Kendall and Kris Jenner, Minka Kelly, Kelly Osbourne, Tony Braxton and Today Show host Savannah Guthrie were among the famous faces who graced the catwalk in a whole new batch of red dresses designed by the likes of Carolina Herrera, Norma Kamali and more.

See all the ladies in red who strutted their stuff at the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show.

Who modeled your favorite red dress? Share below.

Nipped, tucked, reconstructed and Botoxed — just some of the many alternatives stars have taken to achieving eternal youth.

Plastic surgery continues to be a tricky topic in Hollywood, with celebs often denying having any work done to enhance their image.

While some stars remain dedicated to aging gracefully, others have learned to love cosmetic enhancements, even opening up about their decisions to go under the knife (or needle) — all for the price of beauty.

Most recently, Kelly Ripa admitted to using Botox in an interview with ELLE.

“Every seven months or so my eyelid skin rests on my eyelashes,” said the 42-year-old mom of three. (via ABC News)  “So I feel like it makes my makeup artist’s life easier, and it makes my eyes look a little more open on TV, which is where I happen to work right now.”

On the other hand, stars like Kathy Griffin undergo more drastic procedures, such as liposuction, the devastating results of which she featured in her 2009 biography, Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin.

“It is embarrassing,” Griffin says. Still, she maintains, “I want women to know that this is what lipo looks like. Like, are you sure you don’t want to just work out a little more?”

But, despite her liposuction debacle, Griffin has no regrets.

“I work in an industry where if you don’t get a little nip and tuck, a lady of my age is going to end up playing Katie Holmes‘s great-grandmother in the Dawson’s Creek reunion. I’m never going to be Halle Berry, but I want to look as good as I can,” she told People in 2003.

Who else has fallen under the allure of plastic surgery? Launch the gallery to find out!

Then, tell us: Would you ever go under the knife? Sound off in the comments!

Kelly Ripa is moving on . . . from her Manhattan digs.

The 42-year-old talk show host and her husband Mark Consuelos have listed their 6,800 square foot SoHo loft for $24.5 million, according to the New York Daily News.

The two-floor home includes five bedrooms, some 3,000 square feet of outdoor space, a Balinese wall and home gym.

“You look at them and say, wow, they really made it,” a source close to the couple told the Daily News.

“This is how celebrities are supposed to live. But it’s tasteful, and suitable for a family which you don’t have to find a lot in downtown lofts.”

Other features of the luxurious apartment include a kitchen with two dishwashers, hot tub, media room, outdoor kitchen and roof deck.

Raphael De Niro — son of Robert De Niro — is sharing the listing with Adam Modlin of the Modlin Group.

What do you think of Kelly Ripa’s downtown loft? Check out the gallery, above for photos of the home and weigh in below.

“Après moi, le déluge,” said King Louis XV of France, predicting the anarchy of the French Revolution that followed not long after his demise.

Oprah Winfrey could have said the same thing. The end of her 25-year-old talk show last year left a power vacuum in daytime talk that many competitors scrambled to fill, unleashing chaos in the sunny realm of morning and afternoon chat. Some combatants were new to the arena, some returned after long absences, and some were battle-scarred veterans who had never left the field. At stake: the loyalties of viewers (many of them searching for a new daytime haven after Oprah’s departure) and the dollars of sponsors (ditto).

The battle began in earnest with the launching of no fewer than six new shows in September and October. By the end of November, however, ratings sweeps began to make clear who was on top, who was struggling, and who was on their way out.

Some stayed just above the fray — or just below it. The View is, by now, an institution, one that can survive any cast change to its panel and still land big, enviable “gets” like the Obamas. At the other end of the food chain, Maury Povich and Jerry Springer maintain an if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it attitude to their long-running circus-freak sideshows, which will always have a loyal if not large following.

Here, then, is a gallery of the winners and losers of daytime talk in 2012. Relish their victories, lament their defeats, but always remember: behind all that happy chatter lie untold reserves of ruthless ambition.

What do you do on after your last day as the sexiest man alive? Bradley Cooper joked, “We do a retreat, we have a retreat that we go on. [George] Clooney runs it. We go up to Lake Tahoe.”

Speaking with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on Live with Kelly and Michael Tuesday, Ripa then continued to joke that maybe there’s a chance he could repeat. However, it was reported last week that Channing Tatum will take the title from Cooper when People hits the news stands on Wednesday.

Earlier in the morning, Cooper joked with Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today, “There’s a whole decompression. After this I get whisked away to somewhere in Wisconsin and they talk me down for a week. I think Matt Damon started it. “

Cooper, 37, was working the morning show circuit to promote his new film, Silver Linings Playbook. which co-stars Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Deniro.

The Hangover star plays Pat, a man who is bipolar and is released from a mental institution, then moves in with his parents (Deniro and Jacki Weaver). He meets a mysterious girl, Tiffany (Lawrence).

Silver Linings Playbook was filmed in Philadelphia, Pa. near where Cooper is from. Given that most actors who star in Philly-set movies happen to be from New York, he says director David O’Russell wanted to make sure they did a good job representing the city. He tells Ripa and Strahan that the iconic DeNiro asked his uncle for help with his accent and lines.

“[Deniro's uncle is] sitting in between Bob and David O’Russell and we went through the entire script,” says Cooper. “At the end of it, he walked out. There’s something about Philadelphia people. There’s a real confidence… He walked out and he’s like… ‘We’ll see how he does if he does it the way I said it.’ ”

You can watch portions of Cooper’s interview with Ripa and Strahan above and below.

Silver Linings Playbook is out in limited release this Friday and nationwide on Nov. 21.

Will you be seeing Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook? Let us know in the comments below!

Donning a strapless, cropped black top and baggy plaid pants, Gwen Stefani flaunted her six-pack abs and sculpted biceps as she rocked the stage on Tuesday in Paris, France — proving that motherhood is certainly not interfering with her fitness plans.

The mother of two — Kingston Rossdale and Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale — previously told Harper’s Bazaar that she gets a full cardio workout while jumping around onstage during concert performances in front of her countless screaming fans.

Stefani, 43, may even be in better shape than her previous No Doubt days.

The wife of Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale revealed, “There is no secret: you just have to eat healthy, work out, and torture yourself!”

Although Stefani claims to “hate talking” about her body all the time, she gushed about how important it is for her to cram in some much-needed gym time.

“I like to wear clothes too much, so I try to keep focused,” said Stefani, “but it’s more for my brain than it is for my body.”

She isn’t the only celebrity mother with a super hot buff body. Click through our gallery above to see more of Gwen’s rock hard abs and other muscular mothers.

Celebrities have been taking shelter in posh uptown hotels after being displaced from their homes due to Superstorm Sandy’s destruction.

While most of downtown New York City remains powerless, Hollywood’s A-listers are making themselves home in the city’s most famous hotels like the Mark Hotel, The Carlyle, and the Lowell.

So where have they found shelter from the storm?

Alec Baldwin and new wife Hilaria escaped to the ultra chic Lowell Hotel after their SoHo apartment lost power. Joining them at the uptown hotel is movie magnate Harvey Weinstein and Marchesa designer wife Georgina Chapman.

Sarah Jessica Parker was spotted at the Plaza Athenee, according to the NY Post. Her West Village home is among the millions that went without power due to the powerful storm.

The Mark has become a veritable who’s who of hurricane refugees. Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber were spotted checking into the hotel with their sons, Sasha and Samuel, late on Tuesday evening.

Helena Christensen, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, Russell Crowe, Marc Jacobs, and Kelly Ripa were also among the famous faces spotted at the luxurious east side hotel.

Also at The Mark, Emma Stone and Jonah Hill were doing their best to avoid cabin fever by sipping on cocktails in the hotel’s lobby bar.

The Carlyle is a home away from home for lovebirds Mary Kate Olsen and beau Olivier Sarkozy. Models Lily Donaldson and Karlie Kloss are also staying at the Upper East Side landmark.

Other celebrities, including Real Housewives of New Jersey reality stars Joe and Melissa Gorga, rode out the storm in their home with the help of a generator.

More than 8.2 million homes and businesses were without power due to superstore Sandy on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama declared the New York and New Jersey region a major disaster area, NBC News reported.

Does the First Lady like the commander-in-chief in boxers or briefs?

“None of the above,” Michelle Obama joked on Friday’s Live! with Kelly and Michael.

The First Lady answered this question and more during a lightning round of trivia questions with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan when her taped appearance on the morning show aired. Obama also revealed one of her nicknames for the POTUS, “Honey” and his nickname for her, “Meesh.”

What other fun facts did we learn about the president’s wife?

When asked her favorite reality show, she revealed, “You know I do love a little Real Housewives every now and then.” She also spilled the names of her celebrity crushes: Denzel Washington, George Clooney and Will Smith.

As for whether she is a morning or night person, the first lady said she is most definitely a morning person, telling the co-hosts, “I can’t stay awake past 9 o’clock.”

But before then she added that she is the life of the party. The first lady also mentioned her go-to karaoke song is any Stevie Wonder whereas her husband’s is Al Green or Marvin Gaye.

As for her guilty pleasure: “French fries.”

In addition to the lightning round of questions, Obama also talked about the importance of early voting, how she feels when she watches her husband in the debates (“I compare it to the Olympic parents watching their kids on that balance beam.”) and her husband’s reactions during Sasha and Malia’s basketball games.

Watch the first lady’s entire lightning round above and a portion of her interview with Ripa and Strahan below.

Which fun fact were you most surprised by? Sound off in the comments below!

Happy birthday to the lovely Kelly Ripa, who turns 42 today!

The Live With Kelly and Michael host may be one of the best-dressed talk show hosts today — but the peppy morning-show maven wasn’t always so chic.

The mom of three — with actor Mark Consuelos — has definitely transformed her look since her soap star days on All My Children, ditching the bleached blonde Barbie locks and perma-tan for a sleek bob and designer duds. Although Ripa has two children and entered her 40s since joining the show, the muscular mother’s body looks better than ever, too.

And Ripa’s style has undergone an equally impressive transformation…

Ripa’s chic quotient has risen along with her star-status over the years, and these day’s she’s one of daytime TV’s most stylish stars.

Aside from swapping the peroxide for more natural-looking highlights, the blonde bombshell has gone from cheesy to chic in the style department, too.

Instead of the shiny, skimp soap-star dresses of her past, Ripa now shows off her fit figure in perfectly-tailored, feminine pieces, with curve-hugging pencil skirts, short printed frocks and floaty tops among her work-wear staples.

On weekends, Ripa switches to mommy mode, opting for casual but still put-together looks that are perfect for running errands and watching her kids’ soccer games. The hot mama often shows off her sculpted stems in shorts, or in boot-cut jeans that flatter her petite frame.

Take a look through our gallery to see how Ripa has transformed from soap opera star to chic morning show maven.

Time for Celebuzz‘s weekly roundup in One Minute Buzz, where special guest host Hyla reviews some of this week’s biggest celebrity news stories in under a minute.

In this latest episode, Seal is caught on-camera accusing his ex-wife Heidi Klum of “fornicating with the help” — yet the Project Runway host denies the claim.

What else is stirring in Hollywood?

Snooki gave the world a first glimpse of her baby boy Lorenzo on the cover of People magazine with an adorable photo of the Italian duo.

And it looks like pop star Katy Perry and singing sensation John Mayer are back together — spotted on an intimate date in Los Angeles, Calif.

But which celebrity got a new co-host who towers over her by more than a foot?

Watch the One Minute Buzz above to find out.

Another day and Olympic champion Ryan Lochte is on TV again. On Friday, the swimmer, who won five medals at the summer Olympics in London, participated in the Live! with Kelly and Michael’s “Challenge with the Champions.”

For his challenge, the stud had to participate in strip trivia along with the two co-hosts. “Sink or Swim” trivia asked Lochte, Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan to answer questions about water ranging from hard (“What was the first ship to have a heated pool?”) to easy (“How do you spell ‘pool’?”). A wrong answer equaled losing one of your articles of clothing.

So how did Lochte lose the challenge?

After answering two questions wrong, Lochte was the first of the three to strip down to his trunks and get in the dunk tank. Though he was able to answer his first question about the heated pool correctly (FYI, it was the Titanic.), he could not name the person the bikini was named after or how many pounds a gallon of water weighed.

Strahan also ended up in the dunk tank even though he didn’t lose the game.

In addition to Lochte’s attempt at strip trivia, the Olympian talked about his training and dating. Ladies, he says that he isn’t seeing anyone at the moment.Once again, he also clarified the statements his mother made about his love life and his tendency to have one-night stands.

He told Ripa, “She had no idea. When I heard about this I called her and was like ‘Mom, what are you doing to me?’ I was like ‘Mom, you just said I go out on one night stands. Do you know what that means?’ and she said ‘Yeah, you just go out on dates because you don’t have time to have a relationship.’ She had no idea. “

Lochte has recently been doing a TV tour of sorts, filming cameos on 30 Rock and 90210 as well as acting as a fashion correspondent for E! News during New York Fashion Week.

To see Lochte get dunked be sure to watch the video below.

What show do you want to see Lochte on next? Let us know in the comments below!

For the first time since her horrific accident on the set of CBS’ The Good Wife, Kristin Chenoweth made stepped into the public eye with an appearance on Live! with Kelly and Michael.

The Broadway star chatted with co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan about her neck injury, revealing she’s on the mend but still “issue ridden.”

“I have a skull fracture, and a rib issue and a neck issue and a hip issue,” Chenoweth explained. “I’m just issue-ridden. But I’m getting better and I wear my neck brace on and off and I’m trying to build these muscles back up but this [her head] is healing.”

How does she describe the accident and her recovery thus far?

Chenoweth sustained multiple injuries after lighting equipment attached to metal rods fell into her. “It knocked me in the face and slammed me down to the ground,” she recalled. “We were shooting outside for The Good Wife and the back of my head got hit on a curb so I was out cold.”

“I woke up to the EMT workers,” she continued. “Josh Charles (who plays Will Gardner on the CBS drama)…was holding my hand. He’s my angel…. And then I woke up in Bellevue [Hospital] and then I saw a lot of prisoners attached to their gurneys and I thought ‘Oh, the police are all here to see me.’ No they were there for the criminals.”

Joking with Ripa about the clothes she was in when she woke up, the diminutive star said, “I was wearing my outfit from The Good Wife. I think I might have stayed in it a couple of days. They gave it to me, which I thought was nice.”

“If this is what you got to do for free clothes, then send another lighting piece down on my head,” Chenoweth added in jest.

Though she has had some speech and memory issues, “that’s getting better,” she revealed. “There’s still some pain and issues but I just feel like I’m so blessed and lucky and grateful because it could have been a lot worse.”

Chenoweth recently filmed a short scene with co-star Alan Cummings after temporarily leaving the show due to her injuries.

To catch Chenoweth’s entire interview, launch the videos above and below.

The Good Wife returns Sunday, Sept. 30, at 9 PM on CBS.

It looks like Live! made a good choice in choosing Michael Strahan to be Kelly Ripa’s co-host. The footballer’s first official appearance gave the talk show a 24 percent boost from last year’s season premiere. In fact, the show scored its second highest rating since the departure of Regis Philbin and it’s highest ratings for the day after Labor Day in nine years. [Deadline]

Who will play Marnie’s mom on HBO’s Girls?

We’ve met Hannah’s (Lena Dunham) parents on HBO’s hit show, Girls, now it’s time to meet the mother of her former roomie. Marnie’s (Allison Williams) mother will be played by Rita Wilson. The Frasier actress and wife of Tom Hanks has already begun filming her role. [Hollywood.com]

Kate Del Castillo of Weeds will embody the Weeping Woman in the Halloween episode of NBC’s fairy tale based drama, Grimm. The episode, entitled “La Llorona,” focuses on a woman named Maria who tearfully wanders the earth looking for the ghosts of children she killed after killing herself. [THR]

Chuck Lorre, executive producer and writer of The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, has signed a four-year deal with Warner Bros. Television extending his relationship with the studio until 2016. Lorre will continue to EP his current shows, including Mike & Molly, in addition to developing new comedies, dramatic series and possible long form projects. [Warner Bros.]

After months of anticipation, Kelly Ripa finally announced what most viewers already knew: Michael Strahan has officially joined Ripa as her new Live! co-host.

The retired New York Giants defensive end made his debut as the permanent co-host of the daytime staple on Tuesday, joining Ripa in the studio for a round of cheers from the audience — and confetti.

“It’s so nice to have a co-host who can literally sweep you off your feet,” said Ripa, after Strahan greeted his new partner with a bear hug.

Is Strahan the right man for the job?

“As a guest co-host, Michael’s chemistry with Kelly was off the charts, and continued to grow each time he visited the show,” said  Live!‘s executive producer, Michael Gelman, in a statement confirming Strahan’s hiring. “The interaction between the co-hosts always has been what makes this show different from any other on television. Kelly and Michael’s ability to play off of one another and just plain have a good time together creates great TV for the audience.”

Strahan, 40, made 16 appearances as Ripa’s guest host since Regis Philbin’s departure last November. One of his most memorable stints on Live! involved stripping for actor Channing Tatum.

Given his charismatic rapport with Ripa, rumors had cited him as a frontrunner — out of 59 auditioned contenders — for the position since August.

“I try to not think about it as replacing Regis because nobody could ever do that,” Strahan told Headline News in May. “When you put it in that aspect, when you think about it [like that], it’s just too big. So I just look at it as an opportunity to go on TV and tell stories and have fun.”

Strahan’s inaugural guests on Tuesday were actress Claire Danes and American Idol champ Phillip Phillips.

Former NFL star Michael Strahan is ready to tackle a new role.

Strahan will take the seat alongside Kelly Ripa as her permanent co-host on Live! With Kelly — a post that’s been vacant since Regis Philbin stepped down last November — Broadcasting & Cable reported Tuesday.

The news broke just a day after Live! announced that Kelly’s new partner in crime would join her for the debut of the show’s new season on Sept. 4.

Strahan, 40, has made many appearances — 16 in this year — as Ripa’s guest host since Philbin’s departure. He once even stripped his suit off a la Magic Mike while Channing Tatum was on the show.

Given his rapport with Ripa, rumors have pointed to him as a frontrunner — out of 59 auditioned contenders — for the position.

“I try to not think about it as replacing Regis because nobody could ever do that,” Strahan told HLN in May. “When you put it in that aspect, when you think about it [like that], it’s just too big. So I just look at it as an opportunity to go on TV and tell stories and have fun.”

So what’s the down-low on this former footballer?

Celebuzz is breaking down all you need to know about Ripa’s new co-host.

1. He won the Super Bowl with the Big Blue.
Strahan is a returned New York Giants defensive end. The lifelong athlete, who played at Texas Southern University, helped the G-Men capture the Super Bowl XLII title, taking down the previously undefeated New England Patriots. Shortly after that win, he retired after 15 NFL seasons in 2008.

2. He already appears on a TV show.
Strahan serves as one of the hosts of Fox NFL Sunday, a popular pregame program that runs during football season. If reports of Strahan landing the Live! co-host spot prove true, he won’t drop his Fox gig. But the busy schedule will turn Strahan bi-coastal: Live! shoots in New York City, while Fox NFL Sunday is produced out of Los Angeles.

3. Once upon a time, he had his very own sitcom.
Strahan starred in a short-lived FOX sitcom called Brothers, in which he starred as a former NFL star (shocker) dealing with post-gridiron life. The ex-Giant also made numerous guest appearances on other shows, such as Chuck, and appears in commercials for Subway, Snickers, Dr. Pepper and Right Guard.

4. He is engaged to Eddie Murphy’s ex-wife.
After two failed marriages, Strahan is now engaged to Nicole Murphy, who was married to comedian-actor Eddie Murphy for 13 years. From his previous relationships, Strahan has four kids, including seven-year-old twin girls. Nicole has recently stepped out of the shadow of her famous ex, making a name for herself on the new VH1 show, Hollywood Exes.

5. He adores Kelly Ripa.
“I think the show fits my personality,” Strahan gushed to HLN of Live!. “I get along with Kelly great. I love her. She’s really a sweetheart. But it’s a contrast. Here I am, this big athlete guy. Here she is, this little woman. But I think we relate in a lot of ways because of kids and family, and life in general.”

6. He’s pro PETA.
Following the 2007 arrest of Michael Vick on dog-fighting charges, Strahan appeared in a public service announcement for PETA, urging viewers to make dogs part of the family by allowing them indoors during the winter.

7. He went through a headline-hitting divorce.
In his 2005 bitter divorce battle with now ex-wife Jean, Strahan was accused of domestic abuse and carrying on multiple extramarital affairs. A judge eventually awarded Jean a whopping $15.3 million, a sizable chunk of Strahan’s reported $22 million net worth.

Do you think Strahan suits Live! With Kelly? Weigh in below.

Kelly Ripa‘s No. 1 draft pick of Michael Strahan as her cohost on Live! is the right choice because “he’s got a broad opinion on a lot of things,” according to his sister.

The ex-New York Giant has reportedly landed the much-coveted slot as Ripa’s cohost on Live! With Kelly, which has been vacant since Regis Philbin stepped down last November.

“He thinks he’s a comic,” Sandra Strahan told Celebuzz, in an exclusive interview.

“He’s got a broad opinion on a lot of things and they have a great rapport.”

Though there has been no official confirmation from Live! — it had been announced that the new cohost will be introduced Sept. 4 on the show — Strahan’s sister confirmed the 6-foot-5, 275 pounds former footballer has been vacationing in the Bahamas.

“Michael told us he wanted to take a break from it all, because he’s been working so much,” Sandra added.

Strahan, 40, was one of 59 guest hosts who Ripa tried out, including Saturday Night Live star Seth Meyers and singer Josh Groban.

Others who warmed the seat included Mark Consuelos, Neil Patrick Harris and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Strahan will keep his gig with FOX on FOX NFL Sunday.

Said his sister: “I was surprised he wanted it so bad, because it’s so confining. He’d have to be in New York five days a week. But, he’s excited about it and that’s what matters. He’ll just have to be bi-coastal.”

He has big shoes to fill. Philbin retired from the popular daytime talk show in November 2011 after 28 seasons.

In an interview with Celebuzz in April, 80-year-old Philbin doubted whether the Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, was even trying to find the right candidate to fill his legendary shoes.

“I don’t see anybody new on the show,” the man known as Reeg said.

“I wonder sometimes if they’re even looking for a new co-host. I see people like Seth Meyers — a terrific guy — but he’s got a show, Saturday Night Live and I don’t know if he could or would want to undertake this other show, as well.

“I don’t see anybody that they’re trying out — anybody new, I might say — that they’re trying out to get the job. Not yet, anyway.”

An ABC spokesperson told Celebuzz the network had no comment on co-host speculation.