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!!
Live on
“Regis is here!” — Regis Philbin (anytime he walks into a room)
David Letterman — who has poked fun at the man more than anyone on television — called Regis while taping last night’s Late Show to lament his decision.
Personally I applaud Rege for leaving before he ‘needs’ to… for retiring while he still loves the job and while the audience — and the industry — still loves him. Now executive producer Michael Gelman must find not just a new co-host, but the right co-host, to join Kelly at the Live desk.
I think we know how I feel about this.
Way back in November 2009, when Regis had heart surgery and was out for six weeks, I made my preference known.
And still today, I will accept — without too much whining — only one of the following to sit by her side: Neil Patrick Harris or Anderson Cooper.
Anderson just signed a deal to host his own daytime talk show, so I would think that takes him out of the running. Which can only mean one thing….
If Gelman has a brain in that yoga-toned body of his, America will soon be waking up to the next great morning show:
(I think she’s earned top billing by now.)
It will be legen — I’m still waiting for it — dary.
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