TVSquad

With all the tumult at All My Children lately, here's some good news. For the 40th anniversary in January 2010, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos will return to All My Children for a visit. On January 4th and 5th, Kelly and Mark will guest on the show, presumably as their AMC characters, Hayley and Mateo.

This will be their first return since leaving in 2002. Both have achieved success away from the show, in primetime on dramas and sitcoms, and especially for Kelly on Live with Regis and Kelly in morning talk. However, they both started on AMC and, in fact, that was where they met, fell in love, got married and lived happily ever after.

Bob Sassone already did a post on how the amazing Anderson Cooper caused a little bit of an accident on the set of Live with Regis and Kelly yesterday morning when he subbed for the Reege. As funny as that -- and really, the entire "host chat" segment was -- it was not my favorite thing that happened on the show yesterday.

That honor goes to Cooper's interview with The Bachelorette's Jillian Harris. Harris was on the show with her "fiance," doing the post-finale press tour and shilling for the jeweler who provided the diamond ring that Ed bestowed upon her on Monday's season-ender.

While Kelly stuck to the script and asked the common, "when did you know he was the one?" questions, Anderson wasn't having any of it. He's Anderson freakin' Cooper, and as he demonstrated with his swift takedown of the Lohan clan, he doesn't have time for the shenanigans of D-list reality stars (except Kathy Griffin). So Cooper, always trying to get to the bottom of the story, flat-out asked Jillian how many dudes she boned in the Bachelorette mansion.

He's the Guiness World Record holder for the most time spent in front of a television camera, and now he plans to defend that title for at least three more years. I'm speaking, of course, of Emmy-winning TV host, Regis Philbin.

Regis Philbin renewed his contract with Disney through 2011, assuring that he will be sitting beside Kelly Ripa on Live with Regis & Kelly till he's 80-years-old.

Make that 80-years-young because even though Regis comes on as a curmudgeon, nobody would call him a grouchy old man. In fact, he's still a hoot to watch in the morning as he goes on about the tabloid headlines, the parties and openings he attended with Joy, and the status of the New York Yankees and Notre Dame football.

Frankly speaking, I'm glad that he's chosen to remain active. To me, ever since the day Johnny Carson retired from The Tonight Show, that show has never been the same. The Jay Leno years just don't compare. Johnny retired too soon.

One of the best things about moving your show to New York? New York guest stars. Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa have signed up to play themselves on the September 25th season premiere of Ugly Betty. Conveniently, Ugly Betty's star, America Ferrera, announced the casting news while she was a guest on ... Live With Regis & Kelly.

In addition to the morning duo, other guest stars lined up for the new East Coast version of Betty include Ripa's husband, former All My Children star Mark Consuelos and Long Island native Lindsay Lohan. Lohan is reprising her role as Betty's high school rival for five episodes.

I'm a sucker for shows that are filmed in New York, so I'm super-psyched about this season of Ugly Betty. Now that they've already snagged Regis & Kelly, what other New Yorkers should Ugly Betty try to get as a guest star? Personally, my fingers are crossed for Anderson Cooper. But then again, my fingers are always crossed for Anderson Cooper.

Jennifer Lopez continues her quest to rule the world with a new reality series on TLC.

The actress, singer, clothing and fragrance entrepreneur, and new mom of twins is partnering with actor-producers Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos on a new unscripted series about Lopez's life with husband Mark Anthony, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lopez will also executive produce the show.

"I think it'll be something very exciting," she said earlier today at the Discovery Network's upfront presentation in Manhattan.

You've heard of Ryan Seacrest, right? Well, one of the most reliable news source in the world, The Globe, tells us now that the folks behind Live are courting Ryan Seacrest to replace Regis Philbin on their morning staple. It makes perfect sense. Consider that Regis, who turns 176 this year, has racked up more hours on television than anyone in history, but now has announced he'll be cutting back his television work to three days a week. Then we have Ryan, who can be seen and heard everywhere from his work on E! to American Idol to New Year's Rockin' Eve to his radio show to American Top 40. Maybe he'd give up his morning radio gig for a morning TV gig. Or maybe record one during the commercial breaks of the other.

I almost missed this story, though, because that same issue of The Globe promised to show me how to win the Lottery and I'm busy spending all the money I'm gonna win! So for now, we'll say the rumor's unsubstantiated but if the Weekly World News or The Onion picks it up, then it's official!

[via AOL]

Three weeks ago it was a hot rumor. Now it's a fact. NBC announced that Kathie Lee Gifford will co-host the fourth hour of Today beginning Monday, April 7th. She'll be teaming up with Hoda Kotb for an hour of chit-chat, info, interviews and what have you. I doubt she'll be singing, but then again, if Kathie Lee can cajole them into rolling a piano onto the set, watch out.

"I am truly honored to join the Today show family, many of whom have been friends and colleagues of mine for years," said Kathie Lee via release. "And I'm especially looking forward to working with Hoda, a bright and beautiful woman I admire very much. Together I hope we will bring a fresh and fun perspective to the topics that affect all of our daily lives."

So, AOL TV did a poll about America's favorite talk show hosts and 1.3 million people made their feelings known. Interesting results. I didn't agree with some of them, like who I like waking up with. Diane Sawyer was the top choice, but I'd go for the second place finisher, Matt Lauer. As for whom to go to bed with -- TV talk show wise, that is -- I can't believe most of the people chose Jay Leno. Is he really that popular? I prefer David Letterman; I'm a sucker for the Top Ten lists.

Everyone knew that Regis Philbin is the king, now he'll have some extra hardware to prove it. Like a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. At the upcoming 35th annual Daytime Emmy Awards, June 20 at Hollywood's Kodak Theater, NATAS will present the special honor to Regis, host of Live With Regis and Kelly, during the primetime ABC broadcast. There will be a salute to Regis, no doubt including Kelly Ripa and/or Kathie Lee Gifford, his daytime co-hosts over the years, but the details haven't been announced yet.

For the third year in a row, FHM has named Lost's Evangeline Lilly one of its 100 Sexiest Women. Apparently, Lilly is much sexier than she was in 2006. The actress was #73 last year, and has moved up to #35. I'm sure that she's flattered to have cracked the Top 50. The magazine failed to recognize the sexiness of Lilly's co-stars Elizabeth Mitchell, Yunjin Kim, Emilie de Ravin, and Kiele Sanchez.

Other ABC stars to make the list include Kelly Ripa (Live With Regis and Kelly), Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), Salma Hayek (executive producer/guest star, Ugly Betty), Katherine Heigl, and Kate Walsh (Grey's Anatomy). Teri Hatcher of Desperate Housewives took Evangeline Lilly's old spot, #73. She was #10 last year. I guess sexiness is fleeting. The highest-ranked TV star is Ghost Whisperer's Jennifer Love Hewitt at #14.

Lilly is set to star alongside John Malkovich in Afterwards; it will be her feature film debut. Afterwards begins filming this summer, and will be released in 2008.

To slip up is human. Sometimes we know not what we are going to do, or say things we don't mean to say or have any intentions on doing. If you were watching television yesterday and happened to take some notes, you might have learned a thing or two about slips.

After making an appearance and modeling for a 'Max Factor Clothes off Our Backs' charity event in Hollywood yesterday, Carmen Electra was quoted during her red carpet arrival, that she had never fallen on the catwalk before. Shortly thereafter she appeared on the catwalk and didn't realize she had jinxed herself and made a crash landing on the runway. Followed by an encore crash landing by Allison Sweeney of Days of Our Lives. Extra was there with cameras on and more than willing to showcase for all of us to see. How embarrassing.

However hard she fell, it would never be harder than the slip that George and Izzie made on Grey's Anatomy last night...

Claymates are in for a special treat this Valentine's Day when American Idol's second season runner-up, Clay Aiken, appears on Jimmy Kimmel's ABC Valentine's Day Special on February 14th.

Clay has appeared on Kimmel's show several times and they reportedly enjoy a "good relationship." Let's hope that Clay doesn't ruin this special relationship by placing his hand over the host's mouth while he tries to speak. Not that I can blame Clay for that ugly incident with Kelly Ripa. Who among us hasn't wanted to silence Ripa's big yapping mouth now and again? Still, just to be safe, Clay might want to keep his hands to himself in the future to avoid unnecessary conflict and controversy.

For a montage of past special Clay/Kimmel moments, check out this video that some industrious fan put together.

Rosie's reportedly at it again. She's causing controversy on The View, making more celebrity enemies, or what I call "celenemies." I've been trying to ignore all the hubbub surrounding her star-studded pissing matches with Trump, Kelly Ripa, and the country of China, but since I'm reporting on all things related to American Idol, I am obligated to bring you the latest.

Here's what happened. On Wednesday's episode of The View, Rosie remarked, "Paula was very thirsty last night," implying that Abdul was hitting the sauce throughout the show, until she was blotto. The very next day, angered by the way the judges cruelly treated a certain "monkey-looking" contestant, Rosie called the judges -- "three millionaires, one probably intoxicated."

Or, a better question would be: are you watching any television? Christmas Day can be a busy time, what with gifts being opened, dinners being cooked (and eaten) and annoying relatives to entertain (this does not pertain to Joel, who is coming down to visit today). For others, though, Christmas ends at the last present that's unwrapped, which can lead to a very long, boring day.

So, if you can't take the kids, the wife, or the annoying relatives (once again, not Joel, I swear) you can tune into the annual broadcast of the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade (filmed at the beginning of December) hosted by Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest and featuring Beyonce, the cast of High School Musical and the Doodlebops. If that's too much Christmas then you may want to tune into CNN for a, ready, Larry King Live marathon. Other non-Christmas marathons are Crossing Jordan on A&E, My Super Sweet 16 on MTV (they played music videos once, didn't they?), In Living Color on BET, and Super Millionaire on GSN.

Of course, if you are still in the holiday spirit (or, in the holiday spirits, if you know what I mean) TBS airs their annual 24-hour marathon of the classic holiday movie A Christmas Story, while networks like Hallmark and Lifetime will air a variety of made-for-TV holiday movies. Then again, if none of this is of interest you can always pop in a DVD from the complete The West Wing set that you received.

Oh, and Joel, dinner is at 2:00 pm.

The CW has given script commitment to a comedy being developed by Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos. The comedy is loosely based on their experiences working on soap operas. Before hosting Live with Regis and Kelly, Ripa used to star with her husband on All My Children.

The CW already has a similarly-themed comedy, All of Us, created by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, about their real life experiences as husband-and-wife actors.