FAITH DISCOVERS THAT HER EX-HUSBAND, �THE GOOCH,� HAS RETURNED TO TOWN, BUT HER HOPES OF RECONCILIATION ARE CRUSHED WHEN SHE LEARNS HIS NEW ZEN LIFESTYLE INCLUDES A VOW OF CELIBACY, ON ABC�S �HOPE & FAITH�

Kelly Ripa�s Real-Life Husband, Mark Consuelos, Reprises His Guest-Starring Role as Gary �The Gooch� Gucharez

�Now and Zen� � Faith is surprised to spot her ex-husband, �The Gooch� (Mark Consuelos), in her yoga class, having returned from playing baseball in Japan. Although she is still attracted to him, she is shocked to discover he has adopted a Zen lifestyle -- forsaking his sports career, his car, his cell phone and sex for a life of celibacy and meditation. Hope encourages her to move on to other romantic possibilities, such as their attractive yoga instructor, Kiley. However, when Kiley and Faith get too close for comfort, �The Gooch� is overcome by jealousy and is forced to reveal to Faith the truth about his return from Japan, on �Hope & Faith,� FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

�Hope & Faith� stars Kelly Ripa as Faith, Faith Ford as Hope, Ted McGinley as Charley, Megan Fox as Sydney, Macey Cruthird as Hayley and Paulie Litt as Justin.

Guest-starring are Mark Consuelos as Gary �The Gooch� Gucharez, Trevor St. John as Kiley and Kara Jackson as end zone girl.

�Now and Zen� is written by Christy Stratton and directed by Scott Ellis.

�Hope & Faith� is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC�s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning.

A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.