Watch Regis Philbin's Touching Goodbye To Kathie Lee Gifford On The Today Show
Pour one out for the wine industry, 'cause Kathie Lee Gifford just left the Today show and profits are probably going to tank from here. On Friday, April 5, Gifford ended her 11-year-run with co-host Hoda Kotb on the fourth hour of Today. As part of her big goodbye episode, her Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee co-host Regis Philbin shared his own sweet message of support:
Kathie Lee Gifford didn't want to get too emotional about her goodbyes -- she's going to keep seeing everyone in her everyday life, including Hoda and Regis -- but she did seem to be touched by Regis' video. As you can see, she mouthed "I love you" after the video aired. Here's his full message, which was accompanied by images from Regis and Kathie Lee's 15 years together on the air:
As Regis Philbin noted, Kathie Lee Gifford is leaving Today to write, produce, and star in movies. Gifford told USA Today she filmed three movies in the past year, including Then Came You, co-starring Craig Ferguson, and A Godwink Christmas, which aired in November 2018 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. She said she has seven more movies in development, including four that are follow-ups to Then Came You.
Kathie Lee said she began her Widow's Peak Pictures to make movies for people, like herself, who've lost their spouses. She also made her directorial debut with the short film The God Who Sees, which is being released today via GodWhoSees.com.
Kathie Lee Gifford said she stayed on Today 10 years longer than she initially planned. She wasn't interested in being part of the morning show, but her late husband Frank Gifford persuaded her to give it a year. She fell in love with Hoda and the rest of the crew and the rest is history. She said she thought she had done the best television she could ever do with Regis, and she's grateful to have had two great TV shows with beloved co-hosts.
Kathie Lee's final Today show was packed with special guests -- including John Cena, Dean Cain, Ryan Eggold, and Barry Manilow. She revealed that she even got a bouquet at home from Howard Stern and his wife Beth, despite Stern mocking Kathie Lee for decades:
Now that's going out on a high note!
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The Today show has seen plenty of upheaval in the past couple of years -- from Megyn Kelly to Matt Lauer. From here, Jenna Bush Hager will take over as co-host of the fourth hour of Today. But Kathie Lee is truly irreplaceable.
Gina grew up in Massachusetts and California in her own version of The Parent Trap. She went to three different middle schools, four high schools, and three universities -- including half a year in Perth, Western Australia. She currently lives in a small town in Maine, the kind Stephen King regularly sets terrible things in, so this may be the last you hear from her.