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.

Mario Lopez: I'm Going to Be a Dad!

People magazine's 2008 Bachelor of the Year, Mario Lopez is now a frontrunner for a new title: sexiest father alive. The Extra host's girlfriend is expecting their first child in the fall.

"I'm really excited. I'm happy. I can't wait to be a dad," Lopez stated.

Lopez, 36, and his girlfriend, actress Courtney Mazza, 28, met in 2008 when Lopez starred in A Chorus Line on Broadway.

So is the former Dancing with the Stars competitor – and longtime playboy – ready for diaper duty?

"Of course," Lopez says. "I grew up in a large family. I'm fired up! I don't know what we're having. I'm going to wait to see [the baby's gender] so it will be a surprise."

Lopez is also the host of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew.

Broadway’s Nick Adams Talks About Abs!

Broadwat hottie, Nick Adams, was recently interviewed by UInterview about his awesome body and he had plenty to share about it, as well as, about other celebrity hunks.

Nick is best known for his performances in shows as A Chorus Line and Guys and Dolls.

Nick explains why chiseled abs have become all the rage: “We’re genetically attracted to it. It’s like a peacock with beautiful feathers. Women with large breasts, men are attracted to that. With abs, it’s something that’s very prominent, it’s a sign of strength and health, and I think anyone would be attracted to that. And it has just become a point of obsession with men. All these health magazines, shirtless guys with chiseled stomachs, and in the last five to ten years have really become an obsession. You look at photos from 30 years ago, people didn’t spend as much time developing their stomach as they do now.”

Nick is asked to rate the 10 men who readers have voted as having the best abs of the decade. Here is some of what he had to say about some of the dudes:

Matthew McConaughey: I’m a huge fan of because he has great abs, and he’s always shirtless, and he always looks flawless. His body is always in perfect shape. Yeah, just no matter what lighting he’s in or where he is, he is always without his shirt and his abs look amazing.

David Beckham: He just looks like he’s in shape from soccer. He’s a great athlete, it doesn’t really look like he goes to the gym much, I think that’s just from his job. But you can see from his Armani underwear ads, he definitely has a nice body.

Ryan Reynolds: Ryan Reynolds is definitely top of my list. His body especially in that movie Amityville Horror is unbelievable. That was a lot of time at the gym and dedication. All around physique, for me, my number one pick. His abs are ridiculous.

Taylor Lautner and Zac Efron: To me, they still look like a kids. I didn’t look like that when I was their age, so I gotta hand it to them. It’s hard really have a cut body at that age, but I don’t think they hold a candle to the other men on the list, in my opinion. … If somebody wants a skinny, well not a skinny, but a lean, sort of boyish physique they definitely look great.

Mario Lopez and Jake Gyllenhaal are two guys who didn’t make the top 10 but Nick thinks they should have: Well, I mean [laughs] Mario Lopez [who he worked with in A Chorus Line] does have an amazing set of abs, I can tell you from seeing them first-hand, he has a great stomach. Jake Gyllenhaal boasts a great body, but he’s not on here.

For the complete interview, click on this link: http://www.uinterview.com/style/abs-fab-the-best-abs-of-the-aughts.

Mario Lopez Shuns Playgirl

Although Levi Johnston irked Sarah Palin’s family by stripping down for Playgirl, Mario Lopez avoided the same fate by turning down an offer from the skin publication, which is now available only online.

“I was flattered that they asked, but I politely declined,” the energetic former Saved By The Bell star/current Extra host, 36, said during the Charmin Restrooms opening held this week in NYC’s Times Square. “I don’t think my mom would be too happy about that, and I have no interest to be honest.”

But that’s not the only present the muscley mama’s boy has in store for his loved ones. Despite a denial that they were a couple several weeks ago, he’s committing to “someone special” in Courtney Mazza.

“Everything’s good,” he tells me. “She has her own passions and interests, and I have my own passions and interests. I think that’s what keeps things healthy. We both like to exercise, dance and that sort of thing, but she’s her own person.”

This holiday season, lucky Courtney will be lavished with luxuries by the actor, whose book Mud Tacos is out now.

“I’ve gotta keep it a surprise, but I’m a good gift giver,” he says. “I pride myself as a good gift giver, so my family always does well. I don’t care so much about gifts for me. I like to see the reactions. I’ve got lots of nieces and nephews, so I’m going to spoil them.”

“I feel pretty set. Even when I was a kid, I never really asked for too much. I don’t have too many crazy requests. I want to get an iPod with a bunch of whole new music. That’s about it. Maybe a cool new laptop, but other than that … I always like getting the same thing every year. I like getting cologne and aftershave, new scarves, I like getting movies, CDs and books.”

But you did not catch him waking up early for sales trumpeted by retailers this Black Friday.

“I avoid the stores, to tell you the truth,” he says. “It’s crowded, everything seems like it’s a mess. I always think I can get the same stuff on Saturday as I could get on Friday. The whole weekend’s pretty crazy. I just stay out of it.”

Star Sighting: Let's Eat Cake!

Though he doesn't turn 36 until October 10th, Mario Lopez gets a jump-start on his birthday festivities – with the help of his body-baring birthday cake – celebrating at the Borgata Hotel's club mur.mur in Atlantic City on Saturday.

Mario Lopez Back on Nip/Tuck

Producers of Nip/Tuck have found something even more proocative than when they showed Mario Lopez naked in the shower revealing his hall of fame buns back on Season 4.

The former AC Slater of Saved By the Bell and current host of Extra! will reprise his role as plastic surgeon Dr, Mike Hamoui when the series premieres its sixth and final series on FX on October 14th.

In a recently published photo, Mario is wearing a sexy lingerie outfit. I’m not sure that the storyline is but I do know this: I like it!

Star Sighting: Backseat "Cutie" Driver

After helping his gal pal Eva Longoria Parker reportedly celebrate her birthday over the weekend in L.A., Mario Lopez pops up in New York City Monday, where he grabbed a cab at Rockefeller Center.