Regis who?

Who needs Regis Philbin when you’ve got pals like Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera? Venerable TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford is FINALLY coming back to the airwaves in a big way. The announcement was made this morning (3/31/08) that she’ll be part of NBC’s Today Show team beginning Monday, April 8, 2008.

Gifford has a Tampa connection ... she’s co-written two of the tunes in the TBPAC production of Hats! The Musical and has been in town on a couple of occasions in support of the project. She was here on opening night and “got her red hat on” with the Florida West Coast Queen’s Council of the Red Hat Society at the party in TBPAC’s Maestro’s Restaurant.

There’s even more great news! TBPAC and Gifford are in discussions to do more projects together. Gifford and her writing partner, David Friedman, have some great projects in the pipeline for audiences of all ages ... with any luck Gifford will find TBPAC fertile ground for her artistic side…while, of course, entertaining folks at Rockefeller Center with her trademark wit!

- Paul B.

Rockettes on NBC Saturday night

Check out the Radio City Christmas Spectacular TV special this Saturday, Dec. 1, at 8 p.m. on NBC. Here are the details:

"This December NBC brings more holiday cheer into viewers homes with 'The Radio City Christmas Spectacular' special - For the first time ever, NBC will televise the 75th celebration of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" in a one-hour exclusive special from the great stages at Radio City Music Hall. Hosted by Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira ("Today"), the show will feature brand new glamorous costumes, state-of-the-art special effects and new eye-popping numbers performed by the world-famous Radio City Rockettes, as well as traditional favorites including the famed "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers." This year's brand new and re-imagined production will be executive produced by legendary and veteran news producer Don Hewitt."

And for those of you who haven't gotten your Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets for the Tampa engagement... what are you waiting for?

Young Frankenstein on the Today Show

Did you miss Broadway's new Mel Brooks musical "Young Frankenstein" yesterday morning on the Today Show? No worries, you can recover from your candy hang-over and check out the clips from the lively new musical comedy. It looks like an outstanding cast including Megan Mullally of Will and Grace fame and Sutton Foster who most recently starred on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone.

Frankie Valli on The Today Show

Follow this link to check out a clip of Frankie Valli's appearance on The Today Show from this morning. You'll need to wait out a commercial first, but it's there.

Don't forget, JERSEY BOYS - the red-hot musical based on the rise of Frankie Valli and the Four Season - goes on sale to the public on Oct. 14. This is the EXCLUSIVE Florida engagement of this four-time Tony Award winner.