Regis Philbin Quotes

You know, I never knew if I had any talent when I started in this business. My first job was being a page at The Tonight Show. I saw Jack Paar come out one night and sit on the edge of his desk and talk about what he'd done the night before. I thought, 'I can do that!' I used to do that on a street corner in the Bronx with all my buddies.

Don't ever rope me in as a late-night talk show host. I don't want to be one.

In fifth grade, we had to write a story and read it in front of the class. When I read mine out, the class were just belly laughing. And I remember being like, 'This is the coolest!' So I want to dedicate my life to trying to make people laugh. I can't imagine doing anything else.

When I was nine, we'd take a bus to the seaside. Coming back, we'd take turns entertaining, singing songs and the like. I tried some stand-up comedy. I had a captive audience in that bus. Then I realized I wanted to do more than that.

I learned the biggest lesson just watching Ed McMahon, watching him watch Mr. Carson's monologue.

Growing up, the one thing I noticed was that everyone seemed to laugh at my jokes wherever I went.

I grew up practically getting into this business because of David Letterman. I wanted to do comedy-based interviews.

My big dream is to be a late-night host, but it's like, what does that even mean?

I love those people who do story-telling and who ramble on, but I don't do that, I tell jokes - the sort of jokes that anyone really could tell in the pub.

What I've realized in the last year, 80% of my act has already happened to me, and it's not until you retell the story at a party or to a friend or it comes up on the podcast that you, I don't know why I'm not doing that onstage!

I love storytellers. When I was growing up, my inspirations were watching Eddie Murphy, Dennis Wolfberg, and Louie Anderson. These guys were great at telling stories, and I made that my own style, talking about things that happened to me and trying to make them funny.

My dad is the funniest human being I've ever met in my life - for years, I'd watch him hold court in whatever situation he was in; he was the most amazing raconteur. I often feel I've hijacked what should have been his career.

I don't do standup.

Bo Schembechler was the best after-dinner speaker I ever heard. He'd even have the old boys in the back of the room snorting and jumping up and down.

I never considered game show host as a career, but it's fun because I get to inject some of my comedy into it.

I got into standup because I wanted to be an actor, and then I ended up loving standup for the next eleven years.

Sometimes I start off shows by explaining to people that it's just a bunch of stories - I always say 'It's like standup, just less funny.'

Being a part of the WWE, I am blessed to have a platform both on social media and TV, with that platform I am able to spread my message and share my story.

It was actually after I saw 'Pinocchio' that I thought I might try and work in that industry in some way.

I love doing stand up. I think it's a really worthwhile art form. It's so unique in all the things it combines, in terms of it being philosophizing, preaching, speaking truth to power and basic communicating. It's a good way to talk back to the world.

I think there's something so funny about Ram Dass. I was lucky enough to sit across from him at dinner once, and I got up the courage to tell him that he was my favorite comedian. Even though he's not a comic, he talks about showbiz in a certain way and understands that there's a presentation to it.

I hope to do the 'Letterman' show, 'Leno,' all that.

I think I've kind of carved out a sweet spot for myself by combining science and comedy.

I like stand-up. I've done it since I was a teenager, so it's kind of my first job and first kind of creative way to express myself.

I've been obsessed with David Letterman forever, and I'd love to be the drag version of David Letterman.