Will 'Live! With Kelly' Swap Regis With a Woman?

By Rob Shuter Posted Jan 18th 2011 07:00PM

Showbiz icon Regis Philbin's announcement Tuesday that he'll leave his daily talk show after 28 years may have caught viewers off guard, but people in the television biz have been telling me for a year now that Regis has been looking to hang it up. And with him retiring so soon (late summer), sources close to Kelly tell me that producers are open to making an unconventional choice with his replacement.

"This is not a sudden decision," insiders tell me. "Regis has been talking about his exit from the show he loves for a long time. You just don't get out of bed one morning and decide to quit a job after 28 years. A lot of deep thought went into this."

And now that Regis, 79, has made his intentions known, the search for a replacement has officially begun. One thing's for sure, they'll have to work fast.

"The 'Live' franchise will continue, and in the coming months Disney-ABC Television Group will name a new co-host to join the talented and captivating Kelly Ripa," a statement from ABC Television reveals.

I was at ABC studios in New York just hours after Regis made his announcement and an executive that spoke on the condition of anonymity told me that producers have been "unofficially testing" out possible replacements for a while, but that they haven't necessarily found Kelly's partner yet.

"The show can definitely survive without Regis if they find Kelly the right new co-host," an ABC exec tells me. "For some time they have been unofficially testing out potential replacements on the show. Neil Patrick Harris, Anderson Cooper and even Kelly's husband, Mark, have filled in; yet no one was as good as Regis."

Anyone who has seen the current incarnation of 'Live' knows that Regis and Kelly have always had more of father-daughter type of relationship, and Bill Carroll, Katz Television Group's VP and director of programming, believes those days are long gone now.

"I would anticipate that they would likely go with someone who is closer in age to her with the idea that they are going to do it for another 10 years or so," he tells PopEater. "I would think they would look for someone with the type of longevity she might have."

Going one step further, all this speculation has led some producers to once again argue that trying to find a man to replace Regis may be impossible, and that the only option is to find another woman.

"The incredible success that the 'Today' show is having with Kathie Lee and Hoda is a model everyone is trying to copy," a friend of Kelly's tells me. "Kelly has a ton of girlfriends and is totally open to the idea of sitting next to a woman every morning. Plus, this way you are not trying to replace a legend but rather take the show in a different direction."

Who should replace Regis?

Tags: kelly ripa, live with regis and kelly, regis philbin

Comments

(74)

Tuesday 18 January

By rick

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You mean he is still on the air? Someone really watches this waste of time show?

By Gina

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You seem pretty interested in that "waste of time show" considering you obviously wasted your time reading the article.
Does that mean your favorite shows are the Kardashian's and the Real Housewives shows? It would certainly figure.

By William Bischoff

Yes, someone is still watching this show! Millions of people. Just because you don't, doesn't mean that millions of other people should watch "your" show preferences. If you have any.

By librarynun2

Another woman would be boring. While their opinions may differ, the frame of mind and perspective on subjects would likely be similar. The rapport between Regis and Kelly is amusing and entertaining. I believe another male would work best, someone a bit older than Kelly for the generational seperation as well as the opinion factor.

By Russell

Another woman would just be a shorter version of the View where 4 or 5 women sit around and talk over top one another for about an hour. If tht happens, the show will lose a long time viewer; ME.

By fiona

Kelly would play off a man better than another woman. Kathy Lee and Hoda are horrible, and frankly, the only reason people watch is they're waiting for Kathy Lee to wreck the train. Their viewers are like rubberneckers. When Kelly is hosting with Anderson Cooper they are fun to watch because they have a wonderful rapport. And although their chemistry is different than Kelly and Regis', it's amusing and genuine at the same time.

Wednesday 19 January

By joselineodile

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you are right another woman cannot be good for this show. Kelly is very witty with another man, of course not her husband, but she is wonderful with Howie Mandell, Jeff Probst, or Bryan Cambell (sp_.

By Mark Sappenfield

What a rude ocmment to make. If you didn't like Regis Philbin, why did you read the article?

By Annette212

i enjoy the show when anderson, neil and mark are on! any of them would be great. maybe they can mix it up a bit, rotate weeks?

By russell

Neal P. Harris?? If they put that person on, I'll stop watching the show. I can't stand these admitted homosexuals who decide to bring newborn innocent children of God into their sorded life styles. I feel so sorry because the babies have no choice. May God have mercy on these heathens.

By ED

These two pukes make me sick can't believe people watch Chit like this!!

By Eileen

I really enjoyed Seth Meyers co-hosting. I love him and think he would be AMAZINGGGGG!

By Hmmm

Other than I think they should just cancel the show. Seth Meyers would perhaps be a good fit. The best fit of any I've seen not on the list of those being considered. And perhaps he is being considered.

By Hi Todd

The show is WAYYYYYY better than the LIBERAL View, what a bunch of sick stupid liberal view points. Get Joy, Whoopi and ophrah OFF the air!

By Me

It is people like you that make our country a very disfunctional place. Why can you not be adult enough to have your opinion politically and still act like an adult. As others have said recently, when did words and bullets take the place of votes? Let the voting speak for itself. If you cant handle that then mabye you do not need to be in this country.

By ennui

i have an idea for a host....an evaporating puddle...more intelligent and funnier!

By Lou Rabin

A great loss to the television air waves. Re has been the best. Lou R

By Classy NJ Lady

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I agree with you Lou! A loss for the viewers...Regis is real and entertaining us for years. Thank you Regis.

By Peach

I think one of the best co-hosts they've had, and who has great chemistry with Kelly is Jeff Probst.

By DocRoc

Agreeing with Probst:)

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