Fast Facts
Title: Live with Regis and Kelly
Hosts: Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa
Previous Hosts:
- Kathie Lee Gifford (1985-2000)
- Ann Abernathy (1984 – 1985)
- Cyndy Garvey (1983-1984)
Announcer:: Tony Pigg
Personalities: Michael Gelman, producer.
Format: Live, one-hour, coffee talk (hosts in big chairs/stools in a breezy, open setting).
Broadcast information: Syndicated, broadcast live at 9 a.m. weekday mornings in most markets, check local listings .
Tapes: Weekdays, originating from ABC Studios in New York City
Premiere Date: April 4, 1983
Overview:
Live with Regis and Kelly began its life as The Morning Show, a local morning talk show broadcast on ABC in New York, starring Regis Philbin and Cyndy Garvey. Garvey left after a year and was replaced, in 1984, by Ann Abernathy. Abernathy departed a year later.
In 1985, a young singer named Kathie Lee Johnson joined the program. It was instant chemistry between the two co-hosts, and the TV show took off. It went into syndication in 1988 and has been a popular mainstay every since.
Kathie Lee, by now well-known by her married name, Kathie Lee Gifford, left the program in 2000, hoping to spend more time with family and nurture her singing career. It took a year and a considerable number of guest hosts to find someone to replace her.
During that year, Philbin hosted the program alone, and it was renamed Live with Regis. Dozens of guest hosts sat across from Philbin, including a young soap actress, Kelly Ripa.
Ripa made an impression from the get-go and became the odds-on favorite to secure the position well before her official start date, Feb. 5, 2001. Ratings have risen considerably since the addition of Ripa, and Live with Regis and Kelly is set to continue for many years to come.
Popular Segments:
Travel Trivia: A home viewer is quizzed about the previous day’s show and, if they get the answer correct, wins a vacation prize.
Relly Awards: Given out each year in response to the show’s perpetual Emmy nomination (and subsequent loss). The Rellys celebrate funny and memorable moments from the previous year’s shows.
Guest Hosts
On occasion, when either Regis or Kelly are away from the program, a guest co-host will sit in for that person. Here are just a few of the regular guest co-hosts.
- Jon Stewart
- Jimmy Kimmel
- Rachael Ray
- Craig Ferguson
- Rosie O'Donnell
- Joy Philbin (Regis’ spouse)
- Mark Consuelos (Kelly’s spouse)
- Tony Danza, sit-com star and former talk show host
- Pat Sajak, host of Wheel of Fortune
- Seth Green, actor and creator of Robot Chicken
- Bill Maher, talk show host
- William Shatner, actor
- Kevin Bacon, actor
- Drew Carey, actor and game show host
- Valerie Bertinelli, actress
- Neil Patrick Harris, actor
- Anderson Cooper, journalist
- Betty White, actress
- Serena Williams, athlete
