Ripa Named New Co-Host

Feb. 5, 2001 -- Regis Philbin finally answered the question his fans have been asking for weeks, today naming All My Children's Kelly Ripa as his co-host on Live With Regis.

Philbin opened the show by announcing, "Say hello to my new co-host!"

"She's here, and she ain't leaving," he added.

Ripa replaces Kathie Lee Gifford, who left the show in July.

Ripa won't be leaving her soap. Like Philbin, who also hosts ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, she'll be working two jobs. The only difference is she's four months pregnant.

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The perky, 30-something Ripa has co-hosted the show several times since last fall. Just like Gifford — who was known for discussing intricacies about her pregnancies and children on the show — Ripa recently announced on the show that she is expecting.

Over the last six months several other women have appeared as temporary co-hosts, including Philbin's wife, Joy CNBC financial reporter Maria Bartiromo and legal assistant Erin Brockovich, whose life story and court battle against utilities giant Pacific Gas & Electric inspired a hit movie starring Julia Roberts.

Ripa has played Hayley Vaughn Santos on All My Children since 1990, and she has twice been nominated for a daytime Emmy. She is married to Mark Consuelos, who plays her husband, Mateo Santos, on the show. In real life, the couple have a 3-year-old son, Michael Joseph.