CCSU’s Gigliotti To Ripa, “Give Gil A Chance”

CCSU English and Latin prof, Gil Gigliotti, also known as a tap-dancing, Frank Sinatra nut with a radio show, is trying to “date” Kelly Ripa.

He thinks if he can get enough names on a petition, he can somehow coerce the talk show sweetheart into letting him audition as her new co-host for “Live With Kelly.”

For those who don’t know the back story, Ripa was left solo last year when long time co-host Regis Philbin stepped down from the morning show. Since then she has been “trying out” a revolving door of  prospective co-stars ranging from Nick Lachey  and  Josh Groban, to a laundry list of retired athletes including Jesse Palmer and Michael Strahan. And then there was ESPN’s own Mike Greenberg.

Gigliotti, an author with a  slightly flimsy tv resume that includes a YouTube video and a website on 13 reasons he should be given a chance, is looking to his public for support.

The English professor has set up a petition website and is collecting names until May 31, which, for some reason, is the timeline he has decided is the drop dead date for getting his chance at a rendezvous with Kelly.

But word is it may be for naught. Ripa supposedly has hinted that she wants CNN newscaster Anderson Cooper, a regular guest host, to become her steady.

And the irony of it all, Gigliotti knows the “other man” very well.

The met three years ago when the CNN newscaster was a guest speaker at the university’s Robert C. Vance Lecture.

Calling his quest, “quixotic and trivial” Gigliotti has his own philosophy about attracting Ripa’s attention.

“They’re still looking for someone to replace Regis, and, since they’re trying out all sorts of folks,” said Gigliotti. “I figured why not a 50-year-old academic/Sinatra scholar/dj/television-host-wannabe?

Gigliotti’s petition is at  http://bit.ly/L3GaJ7  His reasons why are at  http://bit.ly/JtmPac