Regis Philbin eyeing primetime TV variety show

NEW YORK — After ending his run on ABC’s "Live! With Regis and Kelly," Regis Philbin is aiming for a bigger primetime talent show geared to the whole family, he told the New York Post’s Page Six.

Philbin, who hosted the first season of NBC’s "America’s Got Talent," has formed RAF Productions with former "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee" director Barry Glazer, "City Island" executive producer Edward Walson and Writers Guild Awards executive producer Cort Cassidy, it reported.

The Clicker: Regis Philbin leaves 'Live' after 28 years on air

“We’re contemplating a show that is sort of a talent show, but it involves the whole family,” Philbin told Page Six. He added that it would be “a family competition, which is something new in our business.”

The Post also said that Philbin, 80, has been contacted by "Gangland" producer Michael Manshel about other concepts, including reviving the variety TV format.

“(An) entertainment type of show would appeal to me,” Philbin told the Post. “In our business you don’t want to say variety because it’s frowned upon now, but something with people who are performing.”

Discussing the farewell programming that "Live" ran in recent weeks, Philbin said: “It’s too much!” and it felt too much like “shoving it down people’s throats.” Said Philbin: I’m not retired yet, I’m just moving on.”

He also said his departure was a business decision. “It wasn’t that ABC didn’t try to negotiate with me,” Philbin told the Post. “As it happens in this business, sometimes you don’t really like the terms so you just walk away with that in mind.”

And asked about Katie Couric’s $10 bet that Philbin would cry on his last show, the TV legend quipped: “Well, she never paid me,” Regis said. “I’m still looking for a $10 bill somewhere.”