Regis Philbin Not Retiring, Eyes Talent Show as Next Career Project
A little less than two weeks after Regis Philbin said farewell after nearly 30 years as one of the hosts of ABC’s “Live with Regis and Kelly,” the television personality said he is rested and waiting to jump back in front of the camera.
Philbin aims to host a family talent show this time around, according to The New York Post.
“We’re contemplating a show that is sort of a talent show, but it involves the whole family,” said Philbin to Page Six of The New York Post. He added that it would be “a family competition, which is something new in our business. An entertainment type of show would appeal to me.”
Get Our Latest News for FREE
“In our business you don’t want to say variety because it’s frowned upon now, but something with people who are performing,” Philbin continued.
When asked about the lead up to the big farewell on his previous television show Philbin said, “It’s too much!” and it felt too much like “shoving it down people’s throats.” He continued, “I’m not retired yet, I’m just moving on.”
Philbin was able to host other popular shows that aired in prime time. He was the face of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" on ABC from 1999 to 2002. He returned for "Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire" in 2004 and a 10th anniversary show in 2009.
He hosted a short-lived prime-time revamp of "Million Dollar Password" in 2008. He was also the host of the first season of "America's Got Talent" in 2006.
He said his departure was solely a business decision.
“It wasn’t that ABC didn’t try to negotiate with me,” Philbin told the Post. “As it happens in this business, sometimes you don’t really like the terms so you just walk away with that in mind.”
If nothing else, Philbin's return to television would further solidify his status as the Guinness World Record holder for the most hours on television, currently about 16,500.
Right now, he is on a book tour for his memoir, How I Got This Way.
