"LIVE! WITH KELLY" ANNOUNCES TEN SEMI-FINALISTS FOR "COAST-TO-COAST CO-HOST SEARCH"

NEW YORK, NY - July 9, 2012 - Today Emmy-winning syndicated morning show "LIVE! with Kelly" announced the ten semi-finalists for "LIVE's Coast-To-Coast Co-Host Search," which will give one lucky viewer the chance to go from watching "LIVE" at home to co-hosting for a day with Kelly Ripa.

Thousands of viewers submitted video entries, of up to 60 seconds in length, demonstrating why they should have a chance to co-host with Kelly. On July 3, the submissions of 25 top contenders were posted on the "LIVE" website, and today the Top Ten were announced live on the show. They are:

Dena Blizzard from Runnemede, New Jersey
Katie Boggs from Agua Dulce, California
Michael Buckley from Meriden, Connecticut
Tawsha Connell from Nashville, Tennessee
Mikey Kay from New York, New York
Rory Kramer from North Hollywood, California
Jennifer Mendonca from Neshanic, New Jersey
Brian Olatunji from West Bloomfield, Michigan
Will Tant from New York, New York
Markette Smith from Washington, DC

Beginning today, viewers can log onto livewithkelly.tv and vote for their five favorite video submissions. Voting is open through Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 3:00 p.m. ET, and viewers can vote once each day. The five finalists will be announced on "LIVE! with Kelly" on July 12, and the co-host hopefuls will travel to New York during the week of July 16 to compete for a chance to become Kelly's guest co-host on July 24.

"LIVE! with Kelly" is distributed in national syndication by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Produced by WABC-TV in New York and executive produced by Michael Gelman, "LIVE! with Kelly" airs in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Visit "LIVE" on the web at www.livewithkelly.tv, on Facebook, or follow "LIVE" on Twitter @LiveKelly.