I only have one first-hand observation about Regis Philbin and it isn't much of one. I was at a Hollywood-type benefit maybe ten years ago. There were lots of folks around who looked like Someone and they may or may not have been. Regis was definitely Someone and he was meeting everyone who wanted to meet him, shaking hands with everyone who wanted to shake hands with him and posing for photos with anyone who wanted a photo with one of the most-seen people in the history of television.
What struck me was that he acted like someone doing a real, real good impression of Regis Philbin but maybe taking it a little too far over the top. If this had been a sketch with Dana Carvey playing him and you were directing, you'd tell him, "Dana, pull it back a little bit. You're exaggerating him a little too much." It was kind of like Regis doing Regis doing Regis.
I remembered him back when he was the announcer on the late night show Joey Bishop did challenging Johnny Carson for a time. Mr. Philbin then seemed bland and ill at ease. You wondered why, of all the people in show business who could announce Joey's show and get some laughs on the couch, they picked this guy. But over the years, he morphed into a great host and a great guest and someone that audiences genuinely loved.
I was introduced to him and he acted like it was a big deal for both of us to be meeting, which was the way he treated every single other person there. Because you have to say something friendly to a person you meet in this circumstance, I complimented him on a recent guest appearance on David Letterman's show and said, "It's easy to see Dave loves you."
He replied, sounding more and more like the Dana Carvey imitation, "That's because I'm always available! Someone cancels, it's 'Call Regis!' and I'm there like a trained cocker spaniel! But you know what they say…showing up is 90% of everything! I may not be the funniest guy on TV but I'm really good at showing up."
That he was. For a time there, it felt like anytime anyone on any channel turned on a TV camera, Regis showed up. He not only showed up, he had something interesting to say and he wasn't afraid if it made him the butt of some joke, just so long as it was interesting. Television already misses him.