Morning television personality
Regis Philbin was named on Wednesday to host a new prime-time talent contest show that "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell is bringing to rival network NBC this summer.
The upcoming series, "America's Got Talent," is slated to debut June 21 with a two-hour special broadcast, weeks after "American Idol," currently the nation's top-rated program, finishes its latest run on the Fox network.
The choice of Philbin, the veteran breakfast-hour star who helped create a prime-time sensation as host of ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," was a sign that producers are going all-out to score a summertime phenomenon for NBC, which is badly in need of a new hit.
Unlike "American Idol," a singing contest limited to amateurs vying for their first professional record deal, the new talent show from Cowell is open to aspiring performers of all stripes -- singers, dancers, comics, magicians, acrobats, even animal acts.
The winner, to be winnowed from thousands of contestants over the course of the show and voted on by viewers, will take home a grand prize of $1 million.
Cowell, the brutally honest judge on "American Idol," is developing "America's Got Talent" for NBC with "Idol" executive producer Ken Warwick and FremantleMedia, one of the studios behind the Fox hit.
Philbin has been a national morning television fixture since 1989 as co-host of the syndicated talk show "Live with Regis & Kathie Lee," which became "Live with Regis & Kelly" after
Kelly Ripa took
Kathie Lee Gifford's place as his on-air partner in 2001.
He also has been a frequent guest on the late-night TV circuit and emceed New Year's Eve specials for the past two years on ABC and Fox, respectively.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060511/...re_talent_dc_4
Raph's Girl note: Is that your FINAL song?!
