It will be the end of an era on November 18th when Regis Philbin does the final episode of “Live! With Regis & Kelly.”
Philbin started the show back in 1983 when it was known as “Live with Regis & Kathie Lee.” That’s almost 28 years, but at 80-year-old, no doubt that Philbin is ready to retire and made the announcement today. He did however say the show would go on.
Philbin’s retirement was first announced in January. At the time, he said, “There is a time that everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people.” Always the jokester, Philbin said today, “Last January I made the announcement that I’ll be moving on. But I never gave you an exact date. So I’m pushing it back five years. Just kidding.”
No replacement has been named yet, but Philbin said Kelly will be trying out new hosts, just as he did when he found her 11 years ago.
Philbin has had a great career. He holds the Guinness World Record for most time spent in front of a television camera – 16,100 hours and counting. A radio host, Philbin appeared briefly on the “Westinghouse Tonight Show from Hollywood.” After lasting only a few weeks because of bad ratings, Philbin returned to radio until 1967, when he appeared on “The Joey Bishop Show” until 1969. He co-hosted A.M. Lost Angeles with Sarah Purcell from 1975 until 1981 then Cyndy Garvey until 1981. At the same time, he was a game show host for “The Neighbors” and “Almost Anything Goes.”
During the early ‘80s, Philbin co-hosted an NBC series with Mary Hart, but it only lasted 18 weeks. He followed Garvey to New York to do “The Morning Show.” Garvey left and Ann Abernathy briefly co-hosted before Philbin found the right combination with Kathie Lee Gifford. He gained even more success as the host of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” from 1999 until 2002.
Over his career, Philbin has won four Daytime Emmys and was named the TV Guide Personality of the Year in 2011.