# Was Regis Philbin a Legend? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 3, 2020, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142 "2020-08-03T05:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142/1 "2020-08-03T05:39:03Z")
The current cover of People has a picture of Regis Philbin and the caption “Goodbye to a Legend.” I don’t mean any disrespect to the man, but do you think he qualifies for “legend” status? I guess I don’t, but maybe I am under-appreciating his work. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142/2 "2020-08-03T05:43:44Z")
I get the sense Regis was much beloved and respected in the entertainment industry beyond the extent he was was by the public at large. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142/3 "2020-08-03T05:47:11Z")
For people that read _People Magazine_? Sure. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142/4 "2020-08-03T06:01:10Z")
Maybe I am just being too harsh. Kobe Bryant died this year. I think he was a legend. Kirk Douglas and Little Richard seem like qualifying legends. John Lewis surely. Kenny Rogers? Maybe. Don Larson, Buck Henry? Olivia de Havilland? Wilford Brimley? I Don’t know. Perhaps there should be a standard. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142/5 "2020-08-03T07:49:54Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > For people that read _People Magazine_? Sure. Aye; I’ll second this. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142/6 "2020-08-03T07:57:56Z")
I have watched very little of Philbin but I don’t think the word legend is misplaced. He apparently holds the world record for the most number of hours on television and he was obviously very good and very highly paid at what he did over a long period of time. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142/7 "2020-08-03T15:17:02Z")
“I like my legends living.” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142/8 "2020-08-03T21:01:01Z")
Regis struggled for many years in the sixties and seventies. A lot of his shows were in local markets. He had a small talk show on Lifeline in the early 80’s that focused on health and fitness. I watched it occasionally. He finally hit the big time partnering with Kathie Lee. I don’t recall who she replaced. That morning show was originally local to NY. It’s popularity soon expanded to full network coverage and a national audience. Regis success got even bigger after hosting Millionaire. I guess fans of People magazine consider him a Legend. I liked Regis and have heard he was a great guy off screen. I wouldn’t call him a Legend. He was a very successful performer that will be warmly remembered. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-regis-philbin-a-legend/917142/9 "2020-08-04T18:57:48Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > “I like my legends living.” Yeah, he caught by death. Loser. 😄 Actually I never watched him or cared about him, but I do know who he is. Maybe that’s what makes him Legendary. Even non-fans know who he is.