About
"Being a good interviewer means that you listen to what the person is saying. You just don't go to the next question and you don't jump all over the guest. You let them be the star of whatever time they have with you."
In his one-hour interview, Regis Philbin (1931-2020) talks about his start in television as an NBC page where, among other things, he was seen on camera holding the elevator door for Eddie Fisher as he exited the stage at the end of his Coke Timeshow. Philbin describes his rise through local broadcasting in such markets as Los Angeles, San Diego, St. Louis, and Chicago. He talks about his first talk show, The Regis Philbin Show, which he produced live on Saturday nights at KOGO in San Diego starting in 1961. He acknowledges the failure of his syndicated show from 1964-65 and talks about his stint as a sidekick to Joey Bishop on his 1967-69 talk show. He chronicles his work through the 1970s and early '80s, including the KABC series A.M. Los Angeles, NBC series The Regis Philbin Show, and the Cable Health Network show Regis Philbin's Health Styles. He then talks about the series for which he is most well-known, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee/Live with Regis and Kelly and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (and comments on the catchphrase "Is that your final answer?"). Philbin also speaks about two career highlights: being named to the Television Academy Hall of Fame and setting the Guinness World Record for most hours on camera. Karen Herman conducted the interview on November 1, 2006 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Regis Philbin on hosting Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Regis Philbin on being inducted in the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2006
Regis Philbin on the highlight of his career and astrologer Sydney Omarr's prediction about it
Regis Philbin on what his talent is
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On growing up in the Bronx and trying to decide what to do as a career
On his interest in television and his quest for his first television job, culminating in his becoming a page at NBC in 1955 and working on The Steve Allen Show
On moving to Hollywood and working at Channel 13
On going to San Diego where he worked on news and sports stories; culminating in his own syndicated show in 1961
On hosting a public TV show, which Joey Bishop sees and asks him to be his "second banana" on The Joey Bishop Show, which he accepts (then briefly walks off at one point)
Chapter 2
On his work in local TV (LA, St. Louis, and other cities)
On his short-lived NBC show, The Regis Philbin Show
On hosting WABC New York's The Morning Show (before going national)
On taking The Morning Show into national syndication as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
On Kelly Ripa becoming the co-host of Live with Regis and Kelly
On hosting Who Wants to be Millionaire?
On appearing on David Letterman's shows; and on hosting 2004's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
On summing up his achievements, on fame, advice to hosts, and his 2006 induction into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame
On how we would like to be remembered
Shows
Coke Time
Regis Philbin on his first small TV appearance on Coke Time with Eddie Fisher
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
Regis Philbin on filling in for Dick Clark on 2004's New Year's Rockin' Eve
Joey Bishop Show, The (1967-69)
Regis Philbin on being asked to be the "second banana" on The Joey Bishop Show; and later walking off the show and returning
Late Show with David Letterman
Regis Philbin on his record number of appearances on Late Show with David Letterman
Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Regis Philbin on taking The Morning Show into national syndication as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Live with Regis and Kelly
Regis Philbin on Kelly Ripa becoming the co-host of Live with Regis and Kelly
Morning Show, The
Regis Philbin on hosting WABC New York's The Morning Show (before going national)
Regis Philbin Show, The (1964-65)
Regis Philbin on his first big break, The Regis Philbin Show , a short-lived syndicated talk show
Regis Philbin Show, The (1981-82)
Regis Philin on his short-lived NBC show, The Regis Philbin Show
Regis Philbin's Health Styles
Regis Philbin on hosting Lifetime's Regis Philbin's Health Styles
Tempo (KHJ-TV Los Angeles)
Regis Philbin on hosting morning show Tempo on KHJ-TV (now KCAL) in Los Angeles for 3 years
Who Wants to be A Millionaire
Regis Philbin on hosting Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Regis Philbin on Who Wants to be a Millionaire's: "Is that your final answer?"
Television Industry
Regis Philbin on syndicating his local New York morning show nationally
Professions
Talk Show Host
Regis Philbin on being a good interviewer
Regis Philbin on the importance of his elongated show opening segments
Regis Philbin on how he works with a co-host
Regis Philbin on the benefits of not booking his own guests
Regis Philbin gives advice to aspring hosts
Genres
Talk Shows
Regis Philbin on hosting his own talk show, which led to being hired as "second banana" on Joey Bishop's talk show
Regis Philbin on the importance of his elongated show opening segments
Regis Philbin on the benefits of not booking his own guests
People
Joey Bishop
Regis Philbin on working on The Joey Bishop Show
Steve Edwards
Regis Philbin on Steve Edwards' beating him out of a local L.A. hosting job
Michael Gelman
Regis Philbin on working with Live with Regis and Kelly executive producer Michael Gelman
Kathie Lee Gifford
Regis Philbin on working with co-host Kathie Lee Gifford
Mary Hart
Regis Philbin on short-lived The Regis Philbin Show , on which Mary Hart was co-host
Kelly Ripa
Regis Philbin on Kelly Ripa becoming the co-host of Live with Regis and Kelly
John Severino
Regis Philbin on working with then-KABC Los Angeles station manager John Severino, who later became ABC Television president (when Live with Regis and Kathie Lee began)
Grant Tinker
Regis Philbin on Grant Tinker offering him an NBC network morning show (The Regis Philbin Show )
Baxter Ward
Regis Philbin on what he learned from working with Baxter Ward