The Reasons For Kathie Lee Leaving "Live" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-16-2007, 08:37 AM

KATHIE Lee Gifford yesterday revealed for the first time that she quit her famous morning TV job with Regis Philbin in 2000 to be with her dying father.

"My daddy was dying, and I was not comfortable making it public," Gifford says. "I had a very personal reason for not going through yet one more painful experience in a public way."

Gifford says her father, Aaron Leon Epstein, was suffering from a progressive brain disease similar to Alzheimer's called Lewy Body Dementia (LBD).

Epstein, 78, died in 2002, two years after Gifford left the show.

Kathie Lee - who next month will return to "Live With Regis & Kelly" as a guest for the first time since she left seven years ago - says she's waited all this time to reveal the real reason behind her departure because the experience of losing her father has been so painful.

"I knew it was going to be a horrendous family experience. I just had to have that time with him without cameras in my face and without having to explain things," she said. "I wanted my daddy to be able to die with the dignity in which he had lived his life."

She said yesterday that she understood the decision by the show's producer, Michael Gelman, to keep her off "Live" until now.

Kelly Ripa needed time to establish herself as Regis Philbin's new sidekick, Gifford said. "I was so closely associated with the show and so closely branded with it that it was extremely wise for them to distance themselves from me in order to give Kelly a chance to make an impact - which she's done beautifully," Gifford says.

Since 2000, there has reportedly been a rift between Gifford and Gelman - but he denies it.

Gifford says simply she left the show after experiencing an epiphany while guest-hosting David Letterman's "Late Show" when he was recovering from open-heart surgery.

"It was an extraordinary experience," she says. "It was like an electrical current went through me, and I had never felt so alive, and it all happened at the same time that my father was dying - so I made a personal decision to leave."

Gifford, who remains close with Philbin, says she has only regretted leaving "Live" once - in the days after Sept. 11.

"It really was the first time in 30 years that I did not have a platform to be part of the healing process," she says.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08162007...don_kaplan.htm

ThomasE · 08-28-2007, 10:34 PM

It will be good to see her back. I wonder if the audience would accept her back over Kelly Ripa?

Ireneparalegal · 08-28-2007, 11:56 PM

Kudos to Kathie Lee. I believe it was a good decision for herself and her family and it also gave Kelly the opportunity to expand herself as a host. Kathie Lee did good by allowing Kelly to shine as the new host and not interfere in any way.

Mikado · 08-29-2007, 01:00 AM

And all this time I thought she left cause Regis forbade her to mention "Cody", 60 times a show!

JulieSomoski · 09-07-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

And all this time I thought she left cause Regis forbade her to mention "Cody", 60 times a show!

Good one

08-16-2007, 08:37 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	The Reasons For Kathie Lee Leaving "Live" KATHIE Lee Gifford yesterday revealed for the first time that she quit her famous morning TV job with Regis Philbin in 2000 to be with her dying father. "My daddy was dying, and I was not comfortable making it public," Gifford says. "I had a very personal reason for not going through yet one more painful experience in a public way." Gifford says her father, Aaron Leon Epstein, was suffering from a progressive brain disease similar to Alzheimer's called Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). Epstein, 78, died in 2002, two years after Gifford left the show. Kathie Lee - who next month will return to "Live With Regis & Kelly" as a guest for the first time since she left seven years ago - says she's waited all this time to reveal the real reason behind her departure because the experience of losing her father has been so painful. "I knew it was going to be a horrendous family experience. I just had to have that time with him without cameras in my face and without having to explain things," she said. "I wanted my daddy to be able to die with the dignity in which he had lived his life." She said yesterday that she understood the decision by the show's producer, Michael Gelman, to keep her off "Live" until now. Kelly Ripa needed time to establish herself as Regis Philbin's new sidekick, Gifford said. "I was so closely associated with the show and so closely branded with it that it was extremely wise for them to distance themselves from me in order to give Kelly a chance to make an impact - which she's done beautifully," Gifford says. Since 2000, there has reportedly been a rift between Gifford and Gelman - but he denies it. Gifford says simply she left the show after experiencing an epiphany while guest-hosting David Letterman's "Late Show" when he was recovering from open-heart surgery. "It was an extraordinary experience," she says. "It was like an electrical current went through me, and I had never felt so alive, and it all happened at the same time that my father was dying - so I made a personal decision to leave." Gifford, who remains close with Philbin, says she has only regretted leaving "Live" once - in the days after Sept. 11. "It really was the first time in 30 years that I did not have a platform to be part of the healing process," she says. http://www.nypost.com/seven/08162007...don_kaplan.htm
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08-28-2007, 10:34 PM	#2
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	It will be good to see her back. I wonder if the audience would accept her back over Kelly Ripa?
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08-28-2007, 11:56 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Kudos to Kathie Lee. I believe it was a good decision for herself and her family and it also gave Kelly the opportunity to expand herself as a host. Kathie Lee did good by allowing Kelly to shine as the new host and not interfere in any way.
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08-29-2007, 01:00 AM	#4
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	And all this time I thought she left cause Regis forbade her to mention "Cody", 60 times a show!