NY1's Pat Kiernan on his dream job on Live! With Kelly

Last week the Irish Canadian co-hosted Live! With Kelly for a shot at what he has described as his dream job

When Pat Kiernan walked onto the set of Live! With Kelly last Wednesday, the studio audience erupted. Looking dapper in a pale blue shirt and charcoal tie, this was the NY1 anchor’s live audition for a role he has described as the job of a lifetime.

The rapport between Kiernan and host Kelly Ripa was palpable as he sat comfortably in the seat formerly occupied by broadcasting icon Regis Philbin.

“This is a moment that you all should know has been no less than a year in the making. I started hearing about you and me working together a year ago,” Ripa said while the cameras rolled.

After Philbin retired in November, the show’s producers lined out a slew of guest hosts to sit alongside Ripa since the daytime show was rechristened Live! With Kelly. Some notable co-hosts have been Alec Baldwin, Neil Patrick Harris, Randy Jackson, Seth Meyers and Jerry Seinfeld.

Kiernan’s extensive experience in front of the camera as a host on the top-rated cable channel NY1 meant he was well prepared for his cameo on national TV.  However, executives remain tight-lipped about who will nab one of the most coveted positions in daytime TV.

Kiernan pointed out that in spite of his busy schedule with NY1, he still gets to watch Live! With Kelly as it usually airs when he is on his lunch break.  His regular work day begins at 4 a.m.

“I've watched for years and I think that we will have good chemistry together,” he assured Ripa.

Kiernan’s popular NY1 segment, “In the Papers,” has become a must-see among New Yorkers in the mornings.

“I trade on the work of other journalists and hold up the various newspaper articles that are my favorite of the morning,” Kiernan told Ripa’s audience.

Adding a flavor to his time with Ripa, he shared the technique to his signature newspaper moves, such as “the pivot” and “the reveal.”

Kiernan’s slot was well received by audiences shown by an online poll conducted by the Huffington Post which showed that over 65 percent of their readers feel that Kiernan is the man to replace Philbin.

Later that night Kiernan and Ripa had an exchange via Twitter. “It was truly a pleasure! Let’s do it again,” tweeted Ripa.

The Irish Voice spoke with Kiernan after the show and he told of his feelings after his appearance.
“It met my highest expectations at how things could go the first time. You immediately see the things you would have done differently,” he says.

“It felt like we had the chemistry, and it felt like it would get easier and easier every time we did the show.”

Kiernan has made no secret out of the fact that his dream job would be to replace Philbin.

“I think at this point I made it clear that I would love to come back,” he told the Irish Voice. “The evidence is in front of them now.”

Irish Canadian Kiernan traces his interest in news back to his adolescence in his home town of Calgary, Alberta.

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Nster.com