A CLASSIC 1989 TELEVISION APPEARANCE
There was something special about watching Don Rickles appear on a live daytime talk show.
Rickles never needed a complicated setup.
Give him a host, a microphone, and a few minutes of conversation, and he could turn almost anything into comedy.
His 1989 appearance on Live with Regis & Kathie Lee captures exactly that old-school television atmosphere.
The nationally syndicated version of the program had launched in September 1988, making this appearance part of the show's early years.
DON RICKLES MEETS REGIS PHILBIN
Rickles and Regis Philbin had a friendship that went far beyond a normal celebrity-and-host relationship.
Regis was a longtime admirer of Rickles and was known for enjoying his unpredictable style of comedy.
Years later, the Los Angeles Times described Regis as someone who “worships Rickles” and reported that Philbin had even followed Rickles with a camera crew for a comedy segment that was later shown on Live! With Regis & Kathie Lee.
That connection helps explain why their conversations often felt relaxed and playful.
KATHIE LEE GRIFFORD JOINS THE CONVERSATION
Kathie Lee Gifford was also an important part of the...
