Regis Philbin Announces This Is His Last Year On TV

[JayR]

I wasn't aware that she had one before replacing Kathy Lee Gifford as Regis' co-host.

Her bio states she was an actress, but I don't remember anything special she did.

Kelly Rippa was on All My Children before leaving Pine Valley to be Kathy Lee's permanent replacement.

Before that, Kelly was on Dance Party USA.
;D

 

[Ultimajock]

Regis is one of the last of the true broadcasters. Broadcasting has killed its own farm system and the ladder Regis climbed has been taken away. Now notoriety trumps talent and experienced. ABC will probably drag out some stand-up comedian, or lawyer, or reality show contestant, or beauty contest winner, or failed actor as they've done before and then what Regis brought to the party will really be noticeable.

...when he guested on one of Phil Donahue's last MSNBC shows in '03, I called in and asked Philbin what the most tangible differences were between the network executives of "today" and those he had to deal with in '67 when he worked on The Joey Bishop Show. Philbin immediately responded that the suits of '67 were willing to take chances, while the guys there "today" didn't have the courage to do so. Can't argue with that statement. On the other hand, Tom Snyder, God rest his soul, blogged ten years ago that it was time then for Regis to hang up the mic, and I can't argue with Snyder's observation, either...

Bob Barker has gone. Larry King has gone. Letterman may be the last real broadcaster left.

...you're forgetting Charles Osgood and Bob Costas...

 

[TheBigA]

Regis is one of the last of the true broadcasters. Broadcasting has killed its own farm system and the ladder Regis climbed has been taken away.

I don't know about that. The farm system is still there. It's just that there's less of a reason to leave the farm for the network. I mean what's the motivation? Money? You can make more working at a major market local station or cable channel. The game today is to own your own show. That's what Oprah has now. OWNership. Not just slaving on master's farm system any more.

One of the other problems is that Regis's generation refused to retire. So he in effect killed off an entire generation of replacements. Same with Leno, Letterman, and King. Anyone who might have wanted to get those jobs are now too old to start. I thought Rick Dees might have been a good replacement for Dick Clark, but Dick wouldn't leave. Now it's too late. All the people who would have replaced Regis, Letterman, or Leno are over 60 now. They have their own show someplace else.

 

[gregg75]

Anybody have Tony Danza's phone number?

 

[quadraphonic]

Anybody have Tony Danza's phone number?

That sounds kind of weird, even in context. ;D

 

[searadiofreak]

Sorry, but this smells like a "false" retirement. Yes, he might leave his daytime talk show...big ceremony, yadidah. Until he comes back as a substitute host 9 months later. Same with Millionaire. He already has made his "comback" on that show in 2010. Anyone expecting a Johnny Carson disappearence will be let down. This guy will be front and center on TV for many years to come, just not on a daily basis. Providing good health...and godspeed on that.BTW, I heard a report of "40 years" on TV tonight. Nope. 50+ atleast, as he was the sidekick to Joey Bishop well back into the 60's.

 

[Markxxx]

Maybe it'll be Kelly and Kathy Lee

 

[TheBigA]

I bet her agent has already made the call. Heck with her agent...I bet she ran up Broadway yelling "Mememememe!"

And that would be "Kathy Lee and Kelly" But it's negotiable.

 

[LKellerIII]

Sorry, but this smells like a "false" retirement. Yes, he might leave his daytime talk show...big ceremony, yadidah. Until he comes back as a substitute host 9 months later. Same with Millionaire. He already has made his "comback" on that show in 2010. Anyone expecting a Johnny Carson disappearence will be let down. This guy will be front and center on TV for many years to come, just not on a daily basis. Providing good health...and godspeed on that.BTW, I heard a report of "40 years" on TV tonight. Nope. 50+ atleast, as he was the sidekick to Joey Bishop well back into the 60's.

Uh - Regis is 80. For comparison purposes: Johnny Carson retired when he was 67, and died at 80. Philbin has been doing TV for 6 decades. Why not retire and enjoy some leisure time for the few years he has left? I'm not trying to be morbid - just realistic. The average American life span is 76 years of age for men...so Regis has already worked 4 years past the point the average man dies.

Could he come back a few times a year and guest-host? Sure, why not. Working a few days or weeks per year is retirement.

 

[dave73]

Any bets on whether ABC will want the 9-10 AM slot for a third
hour of "Good Morning America"?

They won't get it because not every affiliate carries Live after GMA if they even carry it at all. Classic case in point is right here in Denver where KWGN 2 (CW) has the rights to Live while KMGH 7 (ABC) has Millionaire & Inside Edition.

If Live is ever cancelled, KWGN 2 would likely replace it with another syndicated program. No problem for them.

Cheers

I think all the ABC O&Os carry Live at 9 AM, except for one. And we all know why WLS-TV in Chicago doesn't. WLS-TV did run the show (when Kathie Lee was there) in overnights back in the early-to-mid '90s. Then at some point Disney moved the program over to WGN-TV, where it airs against Oprah at 9.

Perhaps if Mr. Philbin announced his retirement before Ms. Winfrey announced her departure, the cards may have been aligned for a third hour of Good Morning America with the all-important, soon-to-be-eight ABC O&Os on board in unison.

Live is done at WABC studios, but the show is syndicated. Had the show been a network show, then WLS-TV would have been forced to carry it at 9am. Instead, they have focused on Oprah the entire time, while during the 2 times they carried the show, show it in the overnight hours. It had previously been on WBBM-TV at 9am. It went back to WLS-TV during the overnight hours, then WGN-TV decided to pickup the show, where it currently airs now at 9am. If the new Live without Regis bombs in the ratings, then there's a chance a station like WGN-TV will just show another hour of Rachel Ray in its place (her show comes on at after Live on WGN-TV)

As for those who would think that ABC might expand Good Morning America to 3 hours; I doubt it'll happen. ABC affiliates might cry foul if they have to give up that hour for an extended GMA, if they already have a successful syndicated show in that timeslot. WLS-TV (ABC O&O) already has plans for a new local morning show to replace Oprah in September, & they definitely don't want to shelve those plans. You have to remember that Live with Regis & Kelly is syndicated, & not all ABC affiliates carry the program (WLS-TV being the only ABC O&O to not carry the program right now).

 

[LibertyNT]

I know WFAA doesn't Carry Live!
Instead our local Fox Affiliate KDFW carries it.
But then again WFAA is owned by Belo and not ABC

 

[TroyG]

I know it's going to be a pretty logical-and a No brainer, I think Regis will pass the torch over to Mark Consuelos, who happens to be Kelly's real-life husband, and former AMC castmate.

 

[mjlarochelle]

I've also heard speculation about Howie Mandel replacing Regis.

 

[bpatrick]

I think now that a third hour of "GMA" is out. In my
local paper this morning, there was this: "According
to the syndicated show's distributor, Disney-ABC Domestic
Television, "Live!" will carry on, with a new co-host to be
named to join [Kelly] Ripa." Some the names the article
mentioned: Jeff Probst, Mark Consuelos, Ricky Gervais, and
Mike Sorrentino.

 

[ding12]

I think now that a third hour of "GMA" is out. In my
local paper this morning, there was this: "According
to the syndicated show's distributor, Disney-ABC Domestic
Television, "Live!" will carry on, with a new co-host to be
named to join [Kelly] Ripa." Some the names the article
mentioned: Jeff Probst, Mark Consuelos, Ricky Gervais, and
Mike Sorrentino.

I suspect it will be Live with Kelly and ___, with Kelly's name moved first. I'd expect the new co-host to not to make more than Kelly, so no one too famous. New co-host could be her husband, Mark Consuelos, who subs for Regis often.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

The Washington Post put a poll on their website yesterday. Neil Patrick Harris was a popular suggestion.
http://www.allourideas.org/regisphilbin/results?all=true

I was disappointed that "a wooden stick" wasn't in the top half of choices. Larry King, "The Situation", and Sarah Palin brought up the rear.

 

[TheBigA]

Larry King, "The Situation", and Sarah Palin brought up the rear.

Larry was on Craig Ferguson's show last night and said although he's a couple years younger than Regis, they both got started the same year: 1957. Regis in San Diego, Larry in Miami.

 

[MattParker]

The show is nothing without Regis. The co-host is Regis' foil - nothing more.

If you don't believe me, check out Hoda and Kathie Lee.
Anybody know where Cyndy Garvey is these days?

It doesn't matter which empty suit they put in there, Live with anybody else won't last a year. Kelli Rip-off can go back to soaps and reality shows. ABC would do better spending their time developing a new show concept from scratch.

 

[ding12]

ABC would do better spending their time developing a new show concept from scratch.

I think they might have it on their radar. I wouldn't be surprised for Disney-ABC Domestic Television and the ABC O&Os to tto get another syndicated show for next year cleared on atleast WABC, WPVI, WTVD and KGO and maybe KRTK. It won't be easy though, and the new show likely has a higher chance of failing.

KABC will be picking up Dr. Oz, so might not have room on the schedule, and WLS has announced a 9am newscast (which could be scratched, but unlikely)

For WABC/WPVI/WTVD, it could be scheduled as:
9-Live with Kelly and
10-[another show produced by Disney-ABC Domestic Television (just like Tony Danza, and Wayne Brady show)
4-Rachael Ray

That would allow another show to possibly replace Live with Kelly, or the two could stay together if they manage ok.
Rearranging schedules might halt the launch of a 4pm newscast in NY and Philly.

 

[ssetta]

I wonder what's going to happen in Boston. Right now, Regis & Kelly airs on WHDH, the area's NBC affiliate. After the Oprah-calypse, the Ellen DeGeneres show, which is currently on at 9 am on WCVB (up against Live) is moving to 4 pm, where Oprah once was. At the same time, Live is going to move from WHDH to WCVB. So now I wonder what WCVB will do.