The contenders are Mario Cantone and Ross Mathews. Cantone played wedding planner Anthony Marantino on “Sex and the City.�? Ross is “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’s�? Ross the Intern. They’ll both do a test drive on “The View�? next month. Mario will guest co-host on July 12 and Ross will guest co-host on July 17.

A source close to the show told People magazine, "Barbara's really fond of Mario. So who knows?" Recently departed host Rosie O’Donnell, on the other hand, is a good friend of Ross’s. They often appear on each other’s blogs.

Former View co-host Debbie Matenopoulos told People, "It is high time they put a gay man on that panel. They've said 'We can't put a man here.' I disagree. Why does it have to be guys against girls? I have a better time and solve more problems sitting with my gay guy friends than my girlfriends!"