Regis Philbin

Host Regis Philbin says of his long-running syndicated show: "I made it a morning show. We have the coffee cup, we have the morning papers. It’s got that feel to it, that’s what I wanted." In his Archive interview, Philbin 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 talked 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, which included the KABC series A. M. Los Angeles, NBC series The Regis Philbin Showand the Cable Health Network show Regis Philbin’s Health Styles. He then talks about the series for which he is most associated 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: his being named to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame and setting the Guinness World Record for most hours on camera.  The interview was conducted in New York City on November 1, 2006. Karen Herman conducted the one-hour interview.