Regis Philbin had a long history with the Walt Disney Company as a regular host of Disney’s Christmas Parade. His approach to hosted moments, crowdwork, and pre-taped segments was truly one-of-a-kind. One of my favorite Regis moments is this 1993 preview for the upcoming “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror” attraction.
![](https://www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Host-500x375.jpeg)
In a pre-taped segment, Regis goes into a test lab for future projects, looking at a model of the new ride and going into a mocked up version of the attraction.
![](https://www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Future-Projects-500x375.jpeg)
![](https://www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Spooky-500x375.jpeg)
He transforms into black and white and keeps his cool until he gets to the top and the freefall begins.
![](https://www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Elevator-2-500x375.jpeg)
![](https://www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BW-2-500x375.jpeg)
Regis doesn’t miss a chance, mid-freefall, to look at the camera and deliver his catchphrase, “I’m out of control!”
![](https://www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Spin-500x375.jpeg)
![](https://www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Squashed-500x375.jpeg)
He comes out of it squashed, in a marvel of modern video toaster technology.
![](https://www.timidfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Card-500x375.jpeg)
The whole thing is just so corny and hokey and Regis is the only person who could pull it off, by going at it at a hundred miles an hour, leaning all the way in, and not allowing a moment of dead air throughout. A singular talent, in a class of his own. Rest in peace.
-ds