WILL she or won’t she?
Regis Philbin’s wife Joy seems to have first dibs on the job everyone in TV seems to want right now – replacing Kathie Lee Gifford on “Live with Regis & Kathie Lee.”
A regular substitute for Kathie Lee and an established audience favorite, Joy has so far declined to say whether she wants to join her husband as a permanent co-host when Kathie Lee exits in July.
“I think every time you see her on the show she’s having a great time – I can’t imagine Joy not wanting to do it every day,” says Charles Cook, executive producer of “Donny & Marie” and a veteran of the daytime talk-show business.
Joy has the built-in advantage of having plenty of on-air experience with Regis – she holds the record for number of times subbing for Kathie Lee – and the camera loves her.
More importantly, ratings for “Live” “are always very strong” whenever she’s filled in over the years, says a “Live” spokeswoman.
Joy wouldn’t be interviewed for this story. She is neither actively campaigning for the spot – nor eager to stop the speculation that it is hers for the asking.
Regis has said that even he isn’t sure if his wife would want the job.
“Some people are afraid of husband-wife combinations,” Regis told Matt Lauer during a recent “Today” show interview.
“Maybe [they’re] fearful for their own marriages – maybe fearful that the audience may not like that. But we’ll have to see.”
“Wouldn’t that [hiring Joy] be the most natural way to handle this?” Lauer asked.
“You know, I don’t know,” Philbin said. “I don’t think Joy would accept. I don’t know if she wants the job or not is my final answer.”
Industry insiders seem intrigued by the possibility of Joy joining her husband in the show’s famous “host chat” segment – and by the built-in chemistry the Philbins already have.
Heck, Joy and Regis have even performed together in live stage act that plays theaters around the country.
“The only person you keep hearing to replace Kathie Lee is Joy, but nobody is saying she’s going to get it,” says one knowledgable agent.
“But that [offer] might just be out of respect,” he says.
“I don’t think Regis would want her in that seat every day. She’s great for filling in, but on a daily basis, it’s probably better to have someone with a whole different world they can talk about.”
“Mrs. Regis Philbin is not all that bad in that role,” says another well-placed source. “In fact, she’s terrific – but I don’t think she wants to work that hard, and I don’t blame her.”
Besides subbing for Kathie Lee, Joy has done commercials and hosts occasional specials for Home & Garden Television.
She also hosts a syndicated show called “Haven,” which revolves around all things furniture-related.
If she wanted to do “Live,” Joy would also have to consider the daily grind of rising extremely early every morning – and going to work with her husband on live television.
“It’s one thing to have a spouse at work and someone who’s home,” says “Donny & Marie’s” Cook. “To put the two together is very difficult, and it would be difficult to air their [private] laundry every day.
“I think having Joy [as the regular co-host] is the safer way out – but it’s probably not a feasible long-term solution.”