Kelly Ripa: Regis Came Through Surgery ‘With Flying Colors’

Regis Philbin underwent successful heart surgery on Wednesday and is now recovering at a New York City hospital, according to WABC in New York.

The word from Kelly Ripa is that her “big man” Regis Philbin has come through his heart bypass surgery “with flying colors.”

Ripa announced on “Live With Regis and Kelly” that Philbin had the operation yesterday morning and is already “up, joking around with the nurses” and “harassing people.”

Ripa says one of Philbin’s doctors says he has “the heart of a 19-year-old.”

And Ripa had this message for Philbin: “Nursy-poo is coming with her sponge.” Ripa had promised Philbin a sponge bath.

Regis, 75, made the announcement earlier this week on “Live With Regis & Kelly” that he would be having surgery.

“I’ve been feeling chest pains, shortness of breath and all those little symptoms that you hear about,” he explained.

Doctors recommended the surgery after a number of tests, much to the dismay of the lively host.

“Darn it, I don’t want to do it,” he said. “Nobody wants to do it, I guess. And I had a second opinion, I did all those things, and so they’re all in agreement that it should be the bypass. And so that’s what I’m gonna do.”

While a bevy of guest hosts are lined up to replace Regis on the popular morning show until he’s ready to come back, co-host Kelly Ripa said she has some special duties to get her pal back to health.

“My primary job will be, like it or not, get your pills ready?and your sponge-bath nurse,” she joked.

“Why don’t you give me a quick dip before I go?” Regis grinned.

to send in your well wishes to Regis for a speedy recovery!

Copyright © 2024 by Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

This material may not be republished, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.