Live With Regis on the Fourth!

While most New Yorkers head west, toward the Hudson or take to their rooftops to watch the annual Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks display, around the U.S., millions of people tune in to watch the show, America’s biggest, on television. This year the biggest fireworks display will be hosted by one of America’s biggest personalities. Regis Philbin, the consummate host, will be spending the Fourth with America, broadcasting live from a prime spot on the river.

If you weren’t America’s Fourth of July host, where would you be watching fireworks? Would you be working the grill or doing something else?

You know it’s hard to say. We have a place up in Connecticut, and I would probably be up there. I do a little grilling. I’m in the pool a little bit — all the things that people do.

What makes this fireworks show the one that America tunes in to year after year?

You know, I’ve seen a lot of fireworks in Disney World, when I used to do the show down there and everywhere, but the fireworks that people see here in New York City, on one of its rivers, are really, really spectacular. A July night in New York City, what’s a better way to spend the Fourth?

Do you have a favorite Fourth of July memory?

I’ll never forget when I moved into my first apartment up in the air. As a matter of fact, it was July the Fourth, back in 1996 or something, and Joy and I heard these explosions and were wondering what it was. We looked out the window and there it was — the fireworks display. At that time it was over the East River.

So you moved in that day with no idea that this sort of spectacular display would be waiting for you come evening? That’s a pretty great housewarming gift.

I had no idea. We lived on the second floor of an apartment on the East Side, and naturally I think I could hear the explosions. But when you get up, up into the 51st floor, it changes a lot. You not only hear it, you see it going off outside your window.

You’re famous for your rapport with your co-stars, and on Four th of July you’ll be flying solo, with special guests of course, but no co-star — is it harder to host alone?

When you host by yourself you know where you’re going in your interview. When you share it with a co-host, you may be thinking in one direction and the co-host may be thinking in another. And so sometimes it can get a little cumbersome there. But if you’re alone, at least you know what you want to bring up.

You’re legendary for your gif t of gab — have you ever inter viewed someone that even you couldn’t get to open up and chat?

Well, every now and then it happens. I hate to name any names. Sometimes people are not even awake when they do the early morning show, and sometimes they have been asked, probably, the same question over and over again, if they’re bringing out a new movie or what have you. By and large people try very hard to satisfy the interviewer and give them a good show. God bless ’em for coming out and being a part of it — I appreciate it.

Many of us used to start our mornings with you on “Live! With Regis and Kelly,” and now that you’re no longer on the show, NY1’S Pat Kiernan has made it clear that he’d like to be Kelly’s next co-star. Around the country there may be other favorites for the spot, but New Yorkers seem to be pulling for Pat. What do you think?

I like Pat. I think he does a good job there. Years ago, I began holding up the papers, The News, The Post, or whoever was making headlines that would be worth talking about, and I notice that Pat does that very well on his show. I have seen him once or twice pinch-hitting for me. I think he’s a good broadcaster and one of the gang that they should choose from.

The fireworks, as you know, are choreographed to music, and this year’s lineup is particularly great, partially because Macy’s reached out and had America vote for their favorite patriotic tunes on Facebook and then used those results to build a song list. Do you have a favorite Fourth of July-appropriate tune?

I go to Yankees Stadium and at the seventh inning you hear Kate Smith belt out “God Bless America,” which is always so well done, and it moves a lot people out there at the stadium. I love that most of these patriotic songs are well written and they mean a lot to people. It’s always great to hear, you can’t hear them too much in this country — we have a lot to be thankful for.

Do you have any Independence Day greetings for New Yorkers and Americans?

Happy birthday to everyone here and to our country, and I’m happy to be sharing it with everyone who turns out for it, or happens to see it from across the river, and in every town that they’re in as well. I’m sure it’s going to be a terrific night.