Closer USA – August 05, 2019

Viewersconnected

withthe duo’s

willingnessto get

personal.Regis

stones; KathieLee

gave detailsof her

pregnancies.

After being pairedup

on the syndicated

Morning Show

in 1985, the

twosome went

national on Live With

Regis and Kathie Lee

on Sept. 5, 1988.

T

hepastfewmonthshavebeen

a whirlwindof recordingstu-

dios,businessmeetingsand

charity events for KathieLee

Gifford, so she’s especially

looking forward to somequiet

ti me with close friends — like her formerco-

host Regis Philbin. “He’s such a sweetheart.I

love him to pieces,” Kathie Lee tells Closer. “ He ’s

back now from California, so we’ll spenda lotof

ti me together this summer.”

The pair’s effortless rapport, whichviewers

got to witness firsthand when they co-hosted

Live With Regis and Kathie Lee from 1988 to

20 00, continues to be a precious commodityin

both of their lives. “They’re like army buddies,”

says an insider, who calls their relationship

loving and supportive. “They went through

a unique time together, pioneering theearly-

morning TV format. They genuinely likeand

love each other.”

SPECIAL CHEMISTRY

Regis, 87, a broadcasting veteran, recognizeda

kindred spirit when he met Kathie LeeJohn-

son in 1985. “My God, she is so alive,” hegushed

when the bubbly redhead replaced AnnAberna-

thy as his co-host of The Morning Showin1985.

“RegisandI wereinstant.”

Aftergettinggoodratings,thepairwent na-

tionalwithLiveWithRegisandKathieLee, where

they began each broadcast with 15 minutes of

candid, personal chatter. It’s a gimmick seen on

many shows today, but back then it felt fresh and

daring — as when Kathie Lee discussed her hus-

band Frank Gifford’s 1997 infidelity.

Though they clicked on-air, Kathie Lee and

Regis didn’t see each other a lot socially — but

that changed after Kathie Lee left Live in 2000.

“The two couples got together in Connecticut

over dinner and these dates became a staple of

their relationship,” confides the insider. Regis

and Frank bonded over football while Kathie Lee

and Joy Philbin “became close friends, too.”

When Kathie Lee joined Today in 2008, Regis,

who left Live in 2011, began to make frequent on-

air visits. He and Joy were also there for Kathie

Lee when Frank passed away in 2015. “My dear-

est friends knew I was going through a terrible

time. A desert,” says Kathie Lee.

In the 34 years since they first met, Kathie Lee

and Regis’ friendship has only grown stronger and

become more precious to both of them. “They are

true survivors in a tough business. They both love

to laugh. They get the joke and they make the joke,”

says the insider. “They sincerely want the best for

each other.” — Louise A. Barile, reporting by

Diana Cooper & Katie Bruno

MORNINGTELEVISION’S

FA VORITEDYNAMIC

DUO WILLBE MAKING

NEWMEMORIESTHIS

SUMMER

STAR ST ORY

REGIS & KATHIE LEE

TOGETHER

AGAIN!

Perfect

Partners