Celebrity Mound

Regis Philbin announced his retirement from Live with Regis and Kelly last week, after hosting the morning talk show for more than a quarter-century.

While the veteran TV star said he was retiring because he felt it was time, it turns out there may be much more to the story.

According to reports, Regis is actually retiring because ABC executives were planning on cutting his salary after his current contract expired.

Regis would supposedly have been receiving the cut in pay because the show is not performing as well as it has in the past and because he takes a lot of time off, leaving co-host Kelly Ripa to host the show with guest hosts.

The 79-year-old allegedly fired his agent Jim Griffin as he felt he did not work hard enough to make sure he kept his $18-$20 million salary intact.

Meanwhile speculation is rife that Ryan Seacrest is in talks to replace him.

According to Extra sources, Ryan’s contract with American Idol will be up for the first time in years.

And since ABC was able to get Ryan to host Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, it’s very likely they could hire him as Regis’ replacement.

‘Regis is one of the guys I looked up to all my career,’ Ryan said recently. ‘I think he’s fantastic.’

Regis said: ‘I don’t want to alarm anybody,’ he began, then declared, ‘This will be my last year on the show.

‘It’s been a long time. It’s been 28 years,’ he continued, ‘and it was the biggest thrill of my life to come back to New York, where I grew up as a kid watching TV in the early days, you know, never even dreaming that I would one day have the ability, or whatever it takes, to get in front of the camera and talk to it.

‘There is a time that everything must come to an end for certain people on camera – especially certain old people!
‘It’s been an enormous thrill.’

“American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest polished his brand and picked up a little walking-around money Wednesday, signing a three-year, $60 million deal to continue on the radio with Clear Channel.

The deal, which replaces his expiring $35 million agreement, keeps him as the morning man for Clear Channel’s dominant top-40 station KIIS in Los Angeles and also will keep him on WHTZ (100.3 FM) in New York, where an edited version of his LA show is heard 10 a.m.-1 p.m. daily.

While the deal revolves around the radio show, Seacrest will also help create new on-air and digital “content” for the company and will be involved in the launch of a new projected record label.

This immediately raised speculation that some performers from “Idol” could end up at the new label.

Seacrest also will continue hosting the weekly syndicated radio countdown “American Top 40.”

Seacrest’s daily show is a classic top-40 production, a fast-paced mixture of hit music and pop culture tidbits. Seacrest’s “Idol” ties have often given him an inside track to performers and interviews.

His personal style is pleasant, upbeat and inoffensive, a combination that has given him longevity not always enjoyed by more distinctive personalities.

His lucrative multimedia success has led the business to compare him with Dick Clark, one of the first rock ‘n’ roll radio personalities to become involved in multiple aspects of the music business.

While dining at Abe & Arthur’s with Rob Thomas, Seacrest sent over a $1,000 bottle of Dom Perignon to John Legend’s table with a candle wishing him a happy birthday.

Legend then invited him to join his celebra tion downstairs at club SL, where the “American Idol” host’s generosity continued — he sent over another bottle of Dom Perignon to Ludacris’ table. And at the end of the night, Seacrest left a $5,000 tip. Others at Legend’s birthday bash included Zach Braff, Lindsay Lohan, Kid Cudi, Estelle and Ryan Leslie.

Police in Southern California say a man has been arrested for assaulting a security guard who tried to stop him from getting into a car with “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest.

Orange police Sgt. Dan Adams said Thursday that Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr. tried to enter Seacrest’s vehicle on Tuesday as Seacrest left a charity appearance at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Adams says security guards tried to stop Uzomah and a scuffle broke out. He says Uzomah is accused of choking one of the guards, who nearly became unconscious.

Adams says Seacrest pulled away and was not involved.

Adams says Uzomah was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to cause great bodily injury. He’s expected to be arraigned Friday.