"Reege" Recovers

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

25 Mar 2007 02:32 PM

I don't know exactly when it happened. My best guess is that it occurred sometime in college during my first stint as an intern at a local television station. It was then that I got hooked watching Regis Philbin's morning talk show. Back then he shared airtime with Kathie Lee Gifford, but there was no question that he was the driving force behind the show.

Fast-forward about 15 years and Reege is still on the air (though now with the ultra-peppy Kelly Ripa) and I check in every so often to reminisce about my carefree days as a college coed. If you are a die-hard Philbin fan or just an occasional viewer like me, you likely know by now that the ageless talk show host underwent heart bypass surgery last week.

On Friday's show Philbin called in to give an update on his post-surgery recovery. Philbin reported that he's in pain, but doing well.

"Well, you know, I think I'm through the worst of it," Philbin told co-host Kelly Ripa. "I guess I was a little unprepared for, you know, the first week and what they actually do to make this thing happen - and so, some of it came as quite a shock."

What shocked me was Philbin's age. I happen to share the same birthday as his former co-host (Kathie Lee Gifford) and know how old she is, but when Philbin revealed that he is 75-years-old I about had a heart attack.

Whoa! Yes, it did make me feel old, but it also made me wonder how he is able to keep it all together after nearly 50 years as an entertainer. Just last year Philbin was flying back and forth between New York and L.A. twice a week as he hosted both his morning chat fest and NBC's primetime show "America's Got Talent." That's a grueling schedule to keep regardless of one's age.

Philbin noted that he's in pain around his heart, back and leg where doctors took some arteries for the bypass, but hopes to be back on the air in about a month.

By the amount of emails he has received (more than 15,000 at last count) I'd say there are quite a bit of fans hoping Reege's road to recovery is a smooth one.

Are you a Regis fan?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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