With Regis Philbin Out, Could One of These Ten Fill In?

Jan. 19, 2011 — -- They don't make 'em like Reeg anymore.

On Monday, after Regis Philbin announced his plans to retire later this year from "Live With Regis and Kelly," one question quickly popped into the minds of America's TV-watching masses: "Who can replace Regis?"

The answer: No one. Like Larry King, who vacated his marquee show in 2010 after 25 years, Philbin comes from a bygone era of broadcasting.

He cut his teeth in the 1950s, when the number of television channels was less than ten, not four digits deep. He maintained his likability in part because he didn't have the TMZs of the world tailing him as he became big. He didn't quarrel with his cohorts; he's pretty much universally regarded as a good guy.

But, as they say, the show must go on. While there may not be anyone in today's television arena who can fill Philbin's shoes, Kelly Ripa's got to share her coffee with someone. Below, a look at ten potential candidates for the job:

Mark Consuelos. Ripa's husband has often filled in for Philbin. A soap opera star with impossibly white teeth, Consuelos and Ripa make a lovely on-air pair. But will upbeat husband-wife banter be too cute for some viewers to stomach in the morning?

Anderson Cooper. Another favorite Philbin fill-in, with his "Live" stints, Cooper shows that his less-serious side is as watchable as his CNN fare. But there's a scheduling conflict: Last year, Cooper inked a deal to debut his own daytime TV talk show in fall 2011.

Alec Baldwin. He's got the gravitas, the gait and the grays of a man who knows the ins and outs of the entertainment industry. And he's funny. While Jack Donaghy fans might be loathe to see the "30 Rock" star move to daytime TV, watching him grill celebrities and the people who want to be them could make up for it.

Kathy Griffin. No, she's not a man. But the always outspoken Griffin could provide the ideal foil to the perfectly poised Ripa. Her Bravo series is going off the air -- she could use another gig. (Of course, she'd have to keep her New Year's Eve antics to a minimum.)

Bryant Gumbel. Gumbel has long served as a replacement for Philbin, but he flexed his morning show celebrity interview muscle long before that. Gumbel was a co-host of "The Today Show" for 15 years.