Larry King Remembers Regis Philbin, Reveals They Were Pitched Their Own ‘Odd Couple’ Show

The TV world is mourning Regis Philbin, who died this weekend at 88. “Extra's” Billy Bush remembered the icon with his good friend Larry King today.

Larry shared his feelings for Regis, calling him “the kindest, happiest… funniest person I know. I know no one who disliked him. No one.”

Regis was a regular guest on “Larry King Tonight,” and Larry recalled, “We spent so much time together on and off the air.”

Larry shared, “He took me to Notre Dame… One weekend I went out as his guest. We walked the stadium… He loved Notre Dame so much. He said, 'Notre Dame feels like heaven.' He's going to be buried there.”

Reminiscing, King continued, “He was as good a guest as he was a host. We would sing songs back and forth together. Such fun to be with him. He was self-deprecating. Whenever he came on my show, he'd say, 'Altoona, hello,' making fun of my radio show.”

In fact, Robert Smigel, an actor, writer, director, and producer best known for his work on “Saturday Night Live” and as the voice of Triumph the Insult Dog, once pitched a show co-starring the friends.

King explained, “Robert Smigel, he came to meet Regis and I in New York, with an idea — it didn't come off — in which Regis and I would live together at our ages, 80 and 82, in a version of 'The Odd Couple.'”

Larry continued, “He lived a wonderful 88 years. I'm 86 years old — I'll take another two. He had a wonderful wife, great daughters, he loved the city of New York, but nothing compared to his love of Notre Dame. There is no prouder place he would rather be than to spend eternity at Notre Dame.”