Really, Ripa? Kelly Ripa made a surprising admission speaking with the Hollywood Reporter at its Wednesday, April 10 bash in NYC for the 35 Most Powerful People in Media list: She seems to have lost touch with her longtime former Live! cohost, Regis Philbin.
Asked to compare Philbin, 81, with his replacement Michael Strahan, Ripa, 42, mused, "Well they're both incredible storytellers. They are both fiercely competitive." She added jokingly: "And they're both incredible football players." (THR included Ripa and Strahan on its annual power list.)
Ripa, replaced Kathie Lee Gifford in early 2001 as Philbin's partner on Live!, with Philbin retiring in late 2011; former NFL star Strahan, 41, officially joined the show last September. But when THR asked Ripa (moved to tears when Philbin left in November 2011) if she still keeps in touch with Philbin, she replied, "I haven't seen him, no."
For his part, Philbin gave high marks to Strahan back in the fall. "He's got a good sense of humor. He's a good guy. I think they're doing great," Philbin, 81, told Us Weekly.