As if this year hasn’t proven hard enough on our collective psyche, now the angels steal Regis Philbin from us. And yes, he lived a long, good life and he leaves behind a legacy that would be the envy of the most heralded of Popes. But still, his passing makes for one less thing that’s good with the world.
Regis was one big deal, a Bronx born kid who made good on the biggest stage after breaking into show business as a page on the Johnny Carson show. But his story speaks to the value in holding onto your dreams. Because his road to stardom sure as hell wasn’t paved in gold, and the signs, at least early on, were telling him to get lost.
He moved into Steve Allen’s time slot with a talk show of his own in the early sixties, and tanked. And when it looked as if a national brand was not in the offing, he never stopped being Regis. In the seventies, he did a variety show in St Louis and he also hosted a morning talk show out of Los Angeles. In 1981 he hosted a variety show on NBC with Mary Hart that lasted all of four months. It would take four more years for him to catch some much deserved lightning in a bottle when he paired with Kathie Lee Gifford for a morning show, after which things would never be the same for Reeg.
Or for us either.
Thing about Regis, he never took the ebbs personally. He knew that nothing was given and he considered it a privilege to simply be in the game. So when he got busy making all sorts of history on the flip side of syndication for his show Live, he never considered himself a big deal. Even though he was. In an industry where he won awards and produced big ratings, to setting a Guinness world record for most hours on camera in 2004 to hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire– helping to usher in a new age of game shows in the process.
To his lasting credit, the guy never changed. And it’s what we came to love about him most of all. Let’s face it, when you can make Kelly Ripa bearable, you’re doing something right. Regis did that, he made friends . . with everyone. From Presidents to soccer moms, from rappers to writers to Howard Stern. He made everyone believe the world was a better place. And as a fan of the Miami Hurricanes, I couldn’t even hold it against Regis for waving the flag of the Fighting Irish. Yeah, he was that good.
So now the mystic gets him, and I bet he showed up in one of those fantastic suits of his, sporting that signature smile. I sure hope that St Peter gives his people a couple weeks paid vacation for landing Regis.
They deserve it.
Regis was down to earth, yet entertaining. He will be missed.
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Yes he was, and he will be.
Thank you Mike.
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RIP Reeg….
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He will be missed. Thanks LA
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B,
When you told me you were doing a special post on Regis, I hadn’t yet heard he had passed! Bloody hell this avoiding the news thing is not always a good thing.. I am amazed no one I know posted it on FB, FFS.
K. Got that out of my system. Regis Phlibin was a gentleman through and through. When they say to live your life with grace, they should put up Reeg’s face with a link to his bio so they can see how it’s done.
There are those people out there, and they are few, who live their lives with aplomb. This was him. The sky got a shiny star for sure, this time.
Beautiful tribute, Bronx.
Q
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Q
The world and its new cycles and habits is a changing big time. This would have and should have made the rounds, but for the ever present specter of our every day lives right now, it got missed. Too bad really.
Regis was the epitome of grace and class. He was a showman without the braggadocio. He was an entertainer without the pompousness. And hey, how many big names do we know of who never had a bad story told about them? He was also a unicorn in that way.
He sure did make good with the time he gave to us.
Gracias.
B
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I am usually on the ball for these things. It just shook me, to tell you the truth. He should be way more missed than it appears.
Yes, he was. And few are the ones who can say the same. He was a humble man who had a charm immeasurable.
He sure did!
Thank YOU for this.
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I think most of the world is too wrapped up in what comes next right now. We keep hearing different stories every day and it’s to the point where we really do not believe anything at all.
Charm, dignity AND not a single bad story out there about him. Wow.
Thank U for the lovely comment. As per.
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Yeah. Still. I knew whathisname from Fleetwood Mac died (Peter Green, just came to me)… How did I not know about Reeg? And yeah, this is true. There is too much crap in the mix and it becomes rather tiresome to try to filter through some days.
Trifecta of good right there.
MWAH!
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Yes, but do you notice how even big news is slightly dulled now in comparison to before the pandemic got a grip? It’s covered, but not nearly as long or with as much detail.
It is isn’t it?
MUAH!
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Yes, this is true. Makes you kinda want the rest of the news to quiet down at times…
Absolutely.
MWAH!
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What, the COVID 24 Hour News Network? Yanno, it’s gotten to the point where I am dubious when reading headlines that don’t mention it, because I’m thinking . . it HAS to be mentioned somewhere in the article.
MUAH!
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Exactomundo! What? news that has nothing to do with COVID deaths and numbers and masks and riots and …
MWAH!
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That is so pre-2020, I know it.
MUAH!
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So is
Hey!!!
😘
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MUAH!!
Howzzat?
😘
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You know I’ll take all the MUAHs I can get..
That’s much bettah
😘
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Bettah than buttah.
MUAH is that way, yanno?
😘
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Smooth and silky.
MWAH and MUAH are.
😘
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Schweet.
Both!
😘
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We are 😉
😘
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Really nice eulogy my man
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Thank you PM
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Beautifully written and well deserved.
You’re right, the world is a less happy place without him here. The thing I always liked about him is his ability to laugh at himself. He wasn’t afraid to make himself look foolish on his shows and in turn he endeared himself to everyone. So many people think they have a sense humor but unless you can laugh at yourself, you just don’t get it. And yes, he never forgot where he came from. He was one of kind and perfectly made for television. His light will certainly be missed.
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You’re so right about that, George. His ability to be self deprecating, it was not a put on for effect only. He was really that way. He was so damned down to earth.
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He was a humble man. He always talked about his days back in da Bronx. Live it up Reeg.
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One of the good ones. The very good ones.
Thank you for the lovely comment.
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As a fellow Fighting Irish alum, I appreciate these fine words about Regis. He was all that and just a little more. He was a real human being. You did him right, Pilgrim. Thank you.
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You’re another thing I can’t hold against the Irish. You guys . . . stop being so damned awesome, will ya? 🙂
He WAS a real human being. He wasn’t a star in his own life, he was a human being who played a star on TV. You’re right, Boss.
And thank you.
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Lovely tribute!
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Thank you Resa
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Very nice tribute to Regis. He will be missed.
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Thank you Amy. Yes he wil.
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He will definitely be missed. I hate hearing the news lately. This was a wonderful tribute! RIP, Regis! Mona
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That should read “will.”
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Ha, I missed that the first time!
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I changed it for you. 🙂
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Thanks a bunch! 🙂
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Thank you for being so lovely, Mona. Peace to you.
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Dear Marco,
He was a household name who leaves one corner of the house bereft and empty. Well written tribute. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
Yes, you’re so right. The world is just a little bit colder without that gentleman around to make us smile.
Thank you lovely.
Shalom,
Marco
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They should make this his official obit. Just sayin’.
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Eilene, you rock the casbah.
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I didn’t realize he was a Bronx boy. Should’a known. He was so well liked, by everyone. I remember a neighbor I had weeping when he retired. She said, “Who will I have my coffee with now?” I always remembered that. He had a great life, and was so well loved.
We should all be able to check out with that stamped on our passport.
Godspeed Reg!!!
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That was my mom. And her good friend. And millions of other ‘relatives’ that he made over the years. He grew a family on television.
Amen to that one, sister.
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He was like the day time Johnny Carson. He was built in to everyone’s morning alongside their coffee and buttered roll.
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You know it, SB
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Here’s Johnny.
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The heavens must be smiling while we’re sad at this latest loss. Regis will no doubt continue being Regis from wherever he’s at. RIP, Regis.
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No doubt about it. He’s doing his thing in the ether, changing every room he walks into for the better. That never changes.
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To ease the pain of homesickness, I one day turned in to Live with Regis and Kathy Lee. It wasn’t home, but it helped ease me into a life in the new one. It was Regis Philbin who helped me find a kind of joy in my new surroundings.
Wonderful remembrance. Thank you. ~Janet
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Thank you for this beautiful memory, Janet.
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That was a sweet tribute. He was entertaining that’s for sure and don’t think there was scandal in his life like these new cardboard cutouts they have now. It was always funny his hardcore love of The Fighting Irish that always stands out, that and how he gave hundreds of thousands of people smiles, smiles and shiny new suits with the same color tie. Every guy I knew was sporting the Regis look. It was sad to see that in the news, all the good ones keep going and leaving us here with crappy people. A few good ones left though…
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Regis was a unicorn in that way. No scandals, no stories about another side to him. He was always that same guy, with that effusive smile and he always had a story for you.
2020 can leave early if it wants, I tell you what.
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Dude he DID always have a story! And nothing fake or hamming it just genuine. It’s great to be around someone like that. I hear you. 2020 can bounce.
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Nothing fake about Regis. He was one of a kind.
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He’s a classic! Although he was in the biz a long time, he seemed to hit his stride with the public on the late side … and he hit it strong. Thanks Regis … and well done, Marc.
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He was the poster boy for persistence. He stuck with it because it was his passion.
Thank you Frank.
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