Host boast

No one does Regis Philbin better than Neil Patrick Harris.

He even beat out Regis for “Best Regis” in the annual “Live with Regis and Kelly” Relly Awards competition.  He’s that good.

So, the minute Regis announced to last week’s Las Vegas audience that he was taking a leave of absence from the show to have hip-replacement surgery — we’re talking 4-6 weeks off, people — my first thought was…

Neil Patrick Harris.

Let’s face it.  He is the obvious choice to fill Regis’ chair.  He triumphed at the Tonys.  He elevated the Emmys.  He can keep the Rege in ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ and, at the same time, give us a glimpse of what the show could be in that far away future.

Look — I love Anderson Cooper’s silver hair in the host chair, and am often charmed by Bryant Gumbel’s new-found sense of humor…but Neil Patrick Harris is Kelly’s hosting soul mate.  He’s the sun to her moon, the yin to her yang, the salt to her pippa.

Gelman, if you’re reading this — and if you are, hire me soon in some over-paid capacity– please, give us Neil Patrick Harris while Regis is away.

It will be legen — wait for it — dary!!