Is it too soon to discuss replacing Regis?

Within hours of Regis Philbin's retirement announcement, the Internet is already abuzz about who will take the talk show host's place.

Mr. Philbin, 79, revealed his retirement plans on this morning's Live With Regis and Kelly show, noting he would step down around the end of summer, the Associated Press reports.

"I don't want to alarm anybody," he said. "This will be my last year on the show."

Mr. Philbin has been co-hosting the talk show for 28 years. Even though he didn't specify a departure date, there's already plenty of questions about who will fill his shoes.

The Huffington Post put together a slideshow of possible candidates, including Jeff Probst, host of the television game show Survivor, Mark Consuelos, husband of Mr. Philbin's co-host Kelly Ripa, actor Neil Patrick Harris, and industry veteran Bryant Gumbel.

People magazine has put up an online poll, asking readers to pick their favourite Regis replacement.

Sure, it's important in succession planning to pick a replacement early, but with the announcement barely out of Mr. Philbin's mouth, is there such thing as doing it too early?