QUICK TAKE

THE THIRD TIME�S THE CHARM: REGIS PHILBIN RETURNS AS �HANDSOME HAL� ON ABC�S �HOPE & FAITH� IN FEBRUARY SWEEPS

The third time�s the charm when Regis Philbin guest stars on ABC�s �Hope & Faith,� reprising his role as the over-the-top car dealer, �Handsome Hal,� opposite his �Live with Regis and Kelly� co-star, Kelly Ripa. The episode will be taped in January for air during February sweeps.

It seems that �Handsome Hal� has fallen on hard times, having been busted for running a scam at his car dealership and been left by his wife. After Hope (Faith Ford) chastises Faith (Kelly Ripa) for gloating over Hal�s bad luck, Faith (Kelly Ripa) invites him to stay with her while he gets back on his feet. The odd couple decide that her acting talent and his people skills make them the ideal team to audition to be hosts of the Glen Falls morning show. But will the duo have that perfect TV chemistry?

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

Philbin, whose Christmas CD, �The Regis Philbin Christmas Album,� made a splash this holiday season, recently hosted �The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Day Parade� with Ripa. In 2004 he was recognized for setting the Guinness World Record for Most Hours on Camera, having logged more than 15,000 hours (�Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,� �The Joey Bishop Show,� �The Regis Philbin Show,� �The Morning Show,� �Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,� etc.) on television.