By Kevin Coughlin
Don Rickles? A Teddy bear?
We would not have believed it — if it hadn’t come from the man who has spent more time in front of a TV camera than anyone in history, Regis Philbin.
Regis — we’re on a first-name basis now–stopped into SmartWorld Coffee prior to Thursday’s show at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center, where he was scheduled to perform with Rickles.
You remember Rickles, the guy who made insults a (dark) art form. The wiseguy who made wisecracks about “Frank and the boys” to Sinatra’s face on all those Dean Martin roasts.
Rickles, 90, probably would deny it, but Regis insists it’s all an act.
“He’s just a teddy bear. He can’t do enough for you” offstage, he said.
They met in 1960 when Regis had a TV show in San Diego. Now they do 15 or 20 concerts together each year. In the early days, Regis asked Jack Benny why Rickles always performed last in any comedy show.
“Because none of us can follow him!” Benny snapped.
Regis, former TV sidekick to Joey Bishop and host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, left Live! with Regis and Kelly in 2011. That pairing lasted a decade, after 15 years of Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee.
“I miss it,” Regis, 85, acknowledged in his famous Bronx accent. “You do it all those years, you kind of miss it.”
His favorite guests? Eva Gabor and Perry Como rank high. Regrets? He never snagged Cary Grant, despite diligent efforts.
And how about co-hosts? Kelly Ripa or Kathie Lee Gifford?
“They were both pretty good,” he said.