Philbin Gets New 'Life' with ABC

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Regis Philbin is returning to ABC primetime next year, this time as host of the network's revival of "This Is Your Life." "This Is Your Life" was a prototypical reality show that began on radio in the late 1940s and was a staple of television's infancy. The show details the life story of its guests, complete with surprise walk-on appearances by long-lost relatives or other influential people in their lives. The original series, which featured a mix of celebrities and everyday people as its testimonial subjects, was hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards. "The show is a roller-coaster of emo-tions – there's comedy, anticipation, tears of joy – and no one can take an audience on that ride better than Regis," said ABC executive vp alternative programming Andrea Wong. Philbin's long association with ABC most recently included his stint as host of the wildly popular primetime game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" from 1999-2002. He co-hosts the syndicated morning show "Live With Regis & Kelly," which has been carried by most ABC-owned stations since 1989.