Regis Philbin Announces Retirement

Regis Philbin is retiring!  The 79-year-old longtime TV host announced on his LIVE show Tuesday that, after 28 years of hosting the show, he will be retiring this year.

Former co-host Kathy Lee was replaced with Kelly Ripa, who now stands to take over the show.

Now everyone is wondering who will take Regis’s place.

Anderson Cooper, from CNN, has subbed many times in the past, but leaving a primetime news network to go for a one hour morning TV would be a step down. Would CNN let him continue and do both? CNN has been tanking in their ratings the last two years. Would giving him a dual role bring in more viewers?

One other possible option is Mark Consuelas, Kelly's husband, who has co-hosted as a fill-in for Regis on several occasions. Could a husband and wife team make the long term on network TV?

They have a few months to decide what to do. Regis said he won’t actually retire until sometime this summer, probably right before they leave on their summer break at the end of July. According to Radar Online:

"The 79-year-old New York native Tuesday told viewers of his long-running ABC morning show, now called Live with Regis and Kelly, that he'll be wrapping it up sometime this summer."

Philbin is also known for hosting shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Million Dollar Password, and the first season of America's Got Talent.

We wish Regis the best in his retirement years!