Regis Philbin Replacement: Who Will Fill His Seat?

Who will fill Regis Philbin’s seat on ABC’s Live! with Regis & Kelly?

Here are 10 names making the industry rounds as potential pairings for Kelly Ripa. Some of these celebrities been previously reported and others are new. At least a couple, we’re told, are non-starters. ABC, unfortunately, has no comment. Here’s what we think:

– Ryan Seacrest: You can’t have a major talk show vacancy without his name coming up. He could clearly handle the job. The trick (as is the case with several names below) is working around his existing deals.

– Jeff Probst: The Survivor host is a superb interviewer, he has co-hosted the show in the past, and his contract is up this year.

– Mario Lopez: Another former Live! co-host. We’re told he’s potentially a popular contender, but that his deal with Extra may hold things up.

– Chris Harrison: The Bachelor host is already in the ABC family. If he can handle crazed bachelorettes, surely he can work with sweet Kelly, right?

– Mark Consuelos: Yup, Kelly’s husband. He’s an actor and reality show host. We’re hearing he’s an unlikely choice.

– Chris Cuomo: The 20/20 host is another ABC insider.

– Anderson Cooper: Woulda-coulda-shoulda. He’s busy trying to get his own daytime talk show off the ground.

– Billy Bush: Like Lopez, there’s an entertainment news program deal to work around — this time, with Access Hollywood.

– Neil Patrick Harris: Considered a fantastic substitute co-host on the show. But would he want the gig?

– Mike Rowe: Now this is an interesting name. The Dirty Jobs host and Deadliest Catch narrator has a ton of female fans. Could this blue collar man’s man pull off the celebrity bantering and hamming it up with Kelly? Why, this could be his toughest job yet.

Bonus: Here’s some names floated by other publications: Nick Jonas, Bryant Gumbel, Glenn Beck, Tom Bergeron, and Larry King.

And, yes, all those who are supposedly being considered are men (though one publication did mention Jane Lynch).

Keep in mind that when Kathie Lee Gifford left Live, similar lists circulated the media as producers began to reach out to prospective talent. And you know who wasn’t named on any of those lists? Kelly Ripa.

Regis Philbin Is Leaving Live!

So long, Regis.

After 28 years and three different co-hosts, Regis Philbin says this will be his last season on his morning talk show – the program currently known as Live! with Regis and Kelly.

"It's been a long time, it's been 28 years since I've been here. And it was the biggest thrill of my life," Philbin, who will turn 80 in August, said on the program Tuesday morning.

He added jokingly: "Everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people."

Philbin's program began in 1983 as The Morning Show, a local New York City broadcast which he co-hosted with Cyndy Garvey. Kathie Lee Gifford replaced Garvey in 1985, and the show, renamed Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, went national in 1988.

Gifford left in 2000, and the show became Live with Regis for a season. It was renamed in 2001, when current co-host Kelly Ripa joined full-time.

"I think I can only speak for America, and all of us here, when I say it has been a pleasure and a privilege and a dream come true [working with you]," Ripa told Philbin on Tuesday. "And I wish I could do something to change your mind."

Sure, Regis Philbin is irreplaceable. But for the sake of argument, who could potentially fill his shoes when he retires from Live! with Regis and Kelly at the end of this season?

Mark Consuelos and Jeff Probst are possibilities. Both have guest-hosted in Philbin's absence, and Consuelos would have an easy time lobbying for the job – as he's married to current co-host Kelly Ripa.

Some other fun choices: comedian Kathy Griffin, who energizes any talk show she's on; Project Runway's Tim Gunn, who's a friend of the show; and Nick Cannon, who currently hosts his own morning radio program in New York City.