Michael on Kelly's new edict: 'No eye contact'

By DONNA FREYDKIN

Kelly Ripa, his daytime co-host on their syndicated show, recently earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

It's a massive honor. Big. Huge. And Ripa has reacted accordingly, says her "LIVE With Kelly and Michael" cohost Michael Strahan.

"No eye contact. It's in the contract. I have to eat after she eats. I can't look her assistant in the eye," says Strahan.

As for Ripa's husband Mark Consuelos: It's really bad. Mark? I can't even say his name."

Those wondering if Strahan is actually serious should see his serenade with Gabrielle Union, his pal, while crashing a live interview at AOL with her.

"She's phenomenal her. Since the day I met her, she's been cool and normal and funny," says Strahan of Union.

He appreciates famous people who play along on his show, regardless of whether they're having a bad day, or dislike doing press, as many do.

"There are some people who are so nervous, they're so used to being an actor, they don't know how to get out of thinking about how they look to other people. Some people don't want to be there. I say, heck, this is helping you," says Strahan.

The guy has more professions then LinkedIn. He just launched a line of menswear, Collection at JC Penney.

"The suits are great. I wear suits six days a week. I wanted them to be comfortable and stylish but not overly done. Something that truly reflected what I wear -- I wear them every day. And it was important to do something people could afford. This is the best quality we could make for the price point. I'm very hands on. If my name is on it -- I want to be able to hold my head high," says Strahan.

He looks at fabric samples until his eyes cross. But that's ok.

"It's easy to do something and throw my name on it. I hate it. I've never been like that. I feel guilty doing that. I want to be involved. I have so many jobs but that's only in the morning. I needed something for the afternoon," jokes Strahan.

And he wrote a book, called "Wake Up Happy." It is exactly what the title implies, a guide to finding and following your bliss, from a guy who seems to revel in his. For Strahan, it was all about visualizing what he wanted, and then living it.

"I wake up happy every day. Even when I was playing football, with a great job making great money, I wasn't happy. It comes from within yourself. You control your mindset. You control if your day is going to be a positive or negative day. I go into everything with a joy for it. As an adult, it's ok to play," says Strahan, who played for the New York Giants and is a father of four.