Mark Or Anderson?

Kelly Ripa on Reege's replacement

By Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

Several names have popped up as possible replacements when Regis Philbin announced he was leaving the show. Here is Kelly's Ripa's take on what a good candidate needs to have to do the job.

What about her husband, Mark Consuelos? "I could work with Marc. … At the end of the day, we love each other and we really like each other. Mark went to Notre Dame and Regis says that's why I got the job." But, she says, "Mark's response is 'I like being married better than I would like hosting the show.' He thinks it would be too revealing, too much of our lives. He never watches so he doesn't know how much of our lives I give away! He has no idea. Once in a while he'll come on to defend himself. I do enjoy that."

"Truly, it's a wide open canvas. And everybody is in play. Everybody is a possibility. It's nerve-racking. It's exciting. I relate to Regis on a whole new level now because I realize how unsettling it must have been for him when Kathie Lee left."

The show is known for its Halloween extravaganzas. What it will ultimately come down to, she jokes, is "Who's a gamer for Halloween? At the end of the day, it's going to be 'who likes to put on a dress!?'"

Erin Andrews filled in for Kelly recently. How about Erin? "I would love her. She's gorgeous. She could do that sports thing."

Ripa has always gushed about Anderson Cooper, but he's launching his own show. What about Anderson? "The love of my life. Shh. Don't tell anyone. I'm so proud of him. He's an extraordinary person. He's a great human being. And quite frankly, he doesn't need a co-host. He can use his audience as his co-host."