Regis Philbin

REGIS MEETS FINAL UNDERTAKER

 

US TV icon Regis Philbin has died aged 88. Former Tonight Show aide turned frequent guest Regis was instantly known to American viewers for multiple shows: Regis and Kathy Lee (the US version of This Morning with Philip Scofield), as well as hosting America’s Got Talent (the US version of Britain’s Got Talent) and Who Want’s To Be A Millionaire (no idea what this was the US version of, tbh). He appeared as himself in a number of film and TV appearances, including bizarrely Roberto Benigni’s Pinocchio, and the first Tonight Show after the September 11 attacks, in which he implored America to start laughing again.

In the UK, he was perhaps best known for one of two things. For his appearance as himself in How I Met Your Mother, as martial arts expert Regis Philbin, a fellow luster after the mythical greatest burger in New York City. Or, you might have known him from his many references on WWE TV, the best of which was Regis interviewing The Undertaker at WrestleMania VII while Taker and Paul Bearer measured him out for his own coffin. Well, he laughed at the black humour! Whilst far better known in the US, the last week or so of tributes online show clearly what a beloved TV fixture Regis was with Americans, somewhat akin to our own Bruce Forsyth or Bob Monkhouse.

 

He was picked by six teams, including Noah Reason and Not At All Well. No, I gather he likely isn’t.

 

Regis Philbin
25 August 1931 – 24 July 2020
6 teams