Watch Jimmy Kimmel Grill Kelly Ripa on First Michael Strahan-Less Live

Jimmy Kimmel's stint guest-hosting the first Live with Kelly and ??? of the post-Michael Strahan era was predictably awkward.

The "vice presidential" candidate didn't pussyfoot around the uncomfortable questions during Monday morning's show, asking Kelly Ripa and executive producer Michael Gelman questions about Strahan's poorly executed departure that left Ripa feeling disrespected. The first thing Kimmel said was, "Where's Michael?" He then said that awkward interview king Howard Stern gave him some questions to ask Ripa, and he went through some of them, like, "Will you ever talk to Michael Strahan again?" He noted that there are still pictures of Strahan up backstage, to which Ripa perhaps half-jokingly replied that they haven't gotten around to taking them down yet.

Ripa played it very cool, actually, taking her friend's good-natured ribbing in stride, and vowing to quit in solidarity with him if he gets fired for roasting ABC executives at Tuesday's upfront presentation.

Strahan's last show was on Friday. Ripa will have a series of guest co-hosts including Jussie Smollett, Anderson Cooper and Josh Groban until a permanent replacement is found.

Who do you think should be Kelly's new co-host? I think a turkey sausage would do a great job.