{"id":11273,"date":"2016-04-29T06:00:06","date_gmt":"2016-04-29T11:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=11273"},"modified":"2016-04-29T06:01:14","modified_gmt":"2016-04-29T11:01:14","slug":"will-eric-ferguson-get-fun-call-from-kelly-ripa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2016\/04\/29\/will-eric-ferguson-get-fun-call-from-kelly-ripa\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Eric Ferguson get \u2018fun call\u2019 from Kelly Ripa?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Eric<\/a>

<\/a> Eric Ferguson and Kelly Ripa (2011)<\/p><\/div>\n

As one of Chicago\u2019s highest paid and most popular radio stars, Eric Ferguson knows he has a pretty sweet gig hosting the top-rated morning show on WTMX FM 101.9.<\/a><\/p>\n

But after two decades of mixing it up with co-host Kathy Hart on the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station every day, what if something new came along?<\/p>\n

Reports<\/a> this week that ABC was seeking a new co-host for Kelly Ripa on \u201cLive!\u201d now that Michael Strahan is headed for \u201cGood Morning America\u201d brought to mind an earlier talent search on the nationally syndicated talk show.<\/p>\n

In January 2011, shortly after Regis Philbin announced he was leaving the program, Ripa welcomed Ferguson as co-host for a day. He\u2019d been one of five radio personalities from across the country to win a contest for the guest shot in New York.<\/p>\n

No one called it an audition at the time, but Ferguson clearly hit it off with Ripa (as the video below shows<\/a>) and came back to Chicago beaming about the experience.<\/p>\n

So has he thought about throwing his hat in the ring this time?<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael Strahan is leaving a great job \u2014 one of the best,\u201d Ferguson said Thursday. \u201cI already have a great job that I love. A lot of people are hoping the phone rings to talk about it. . . . It would be a fun call to get.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hey, a guy can dream, can\u2019t he?<\/p>\n