As to his replacement, my sources confirm that the short list is the two people who were candidates the last time – Anderson Cooper and Neil Patrick Harris.  For NPH, it would be a step in the right direction after his variety show disaster.  But it would be quite limiting in terms of future acting.  Anderson is a better fit on many levels.  And, as it happens, his CNN contract is up at the end of the year.  Perhaps ABC could sweeten the deal by throwing in a position in their news division (a division replete with gays).  Plus, Anderson would get to spend every day working with his best friend, Ripa.  When asked by Andy Cohen if he would take the job, Cooper said,  “Look, I’m very happy at CNN.  It would be a dream to work with Kelly, but nobody’s offering anything.”  Yet.

This leads to yet another update from Cooper.  Last week, I told you about his older brother Christopher‘s 40-year estrangement from the family.  Cohen asked Cooper about his relationship with his older brothers, and the silver fox made this seemingly innocent statement: “It’s good.  Stan is a great guy and I’m close with his kids.  And Chris has come back in my mom’s life and, um, so, it’s good.”  Sounds like the documentary helped bridge this four-decade gap – good news for the 92-year-old Gloria Vanderbilt.  And just in the nick of time.already!