Regis Philbin’s final appearance on “Live with Regis and Kelly” was today, and everyone is taking the opportunity to remember him fondly, as if he just died. In the New York Times retrospective, Philbin is praised for his spontaneity and storytelling, and recounts a recent tale:
It seems Steve Martin recently tried to induce the famously unsociable Mr. Letterman to his home for dinner. Mr. Letterman countered with a group invitation to a restaurant. Mr. Philbin was invited, as was Mr. Philbin’s good friend Don Rickles.
Wow, Steve Martin, David Letterman, Don Rickles, and Regis Philbin at dinner together. Okay, this could be an interesting story.
“We all went to a private dining room at Le Bernardin,” Mr. Philbin said, weaving the tale. “We sat around the table. It was very quiet. Finally Dave brought up music. And that’s when Steve Martin gave a tutorial on the banjo! For an hour and a half! I’m there thinking, ‘Oh my God,’ and Rickles is rolling his eyes in his head and going, ‘Ooh, hoo.’ ”
That’s it? Four giants of the entertainment industry went to dinner at the most exclusive restaurant in New York, Steve Martin talked about banjos, and a legendary comedian rolled his eyes. Golly, what a shame that Regis is retiring. He’s such a spellbinding raconteur.
(image via)
