According to Sports Business Daily, Fox is apparently in talks with Regis Philbin to host a show on Fox Sports One. The show would apparently resemble a sports-themed version of The View, with Philbin taking the Barbara Walters role on a panel of several other commentators. So in other words… it's the Sports Reporters, hosted by Regis???

The best word I can use to describe this potential marriage would be "interesting." ABC didn't renew Philbin's contract in 2011, and the long-time host of Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee (and later, Kelly) has kept a relatively low profile since. He's 81-years old, 82 by the time FSOne launches, and doesn't have any experience hosting a sports show. While Philbin would give FSOne a recognizable name at launch, this sounds like an idea that has little chance at success. I'm not sure how exactly the show would stand out from ESPN's litany of debate/panel shows, except for the host. It almost seems to me that Fox is trying to follow in ESPN's footsteps, except this time they're trying to acquire buzz and trends with an aging celebrity.

On the bright side, at least they're not bringing back Tom Arnold. Yet…

[Sports Business Daily]

About Joe Lucia

I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.

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