Regis Philbin Retiring (Already?)
Regis Philbin announced yesterday to the world on Live With Regis and Kelly that he is retiring this summer. It came as somewhat of a shock because we’ve all gotten used to the notion that somehow this youthful gentleman will be on TV forever. Turning 80 this year, Philbin is in slightly worse shape than he may seem; he has undergone a triple-bypass surgery as well as a hip replacement. Still, in spite of these health crises he has always been the perfect pro, exchanging barbs with both David Letterman on his show and Kelly Ripa on Live. In the clip above, Philbin returns to the show after the triple-bypass in 2007 and Ripa’s praise reveals just how much she admires him. After his retirement announcement she told him: “I think I can only speak for America and all of us here when I say that it has been a pleasure and a privilege and a dream come true, and I wish I could do something to make you change your mind.”
Regis Philbin started out as a page on The Tonight Show sometime in the Middle Ages. He got his own show in San Diego in 1961, served as Joey Bishop’s sidekick on TV for a while, and in 1983 he started Live as a local New York program. He has become a legendary American TV icon and it is easy to see why everybody seems to love him; he’s funny, clever, immensely likable and doesn’t mind making fun of himself. He’ll be damn near impossible to replace on the show.
Published by Stefan Hedmark 2011-01-19 14:53
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