Regis Philbin Returns To Television: Broadcaster To Host 'Crowd Goes W!ld' Talk Show On Fox Sports 1

Regis Philbin is heading back to television. The veteran broadcaster has announced his return to the small screen with the launch of a new sports talk show, “Crowd Goes W!ld.” The program will debut Aug. 19 on the new sports network Fox Sports 1, which launches Aug. 17.

Philbin, 81, will be joined by former NFL defensive lineman Trevor Pryce, Wall Street Journal sports columnist Jason Gay, ex-tennis pro Michael Kosta, former Sky Sports anchor Georgie Thompson and social media correspondent Katie Nolan.

According to the Associated Press, the format of the hourlong show will include commentary from Philbin, and an interview with an athlete or another figure in entertainment.

Producers are hoping the new show will stand apart from other sports shows currently on the air. “There are sports news shows, debate shows and shows that present a single point of view, but 'Crowd Goes W!ld' is aiming for a fresh approach,” executive producer Michael Davies said.

“We’ve got a nice little panel of people together, a lot of friends,” Philbin told the New York Post. “And if a celebrity like George Clooney comes to town with a movie, we’ll play clips from his movie -- but we’ll also talk to George, who grew up in Cincinnati, about his sports roots, like if he’s still a big Reds fan."

Philbin is a well-known sports aficionado. While co-hosting “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee” and “Live with Regis and Kelly,” Philbin said he would frequently try to discuss sports, to little avail. "I could talk about what I'd seen last night at Yankee Stadium or something like that, and Kathie Lee's eyes would start to get scared," Philbin said at a news conference in Manhattan, according to the Associated Press. "Talk about something else, a football game that was so hot this Sunday, and Kelly would just not care at all. And (executive producer Michael) Gelman would say, 'What are you talking about?'"

Davies is hopeful that the show’s mixture of sports, entertainment and humor will resonate with viewers when they tune in on Aug. 19. "We're not a sports news show; we're a sports entertainment show," he said. "The standard for us: We're not trying to set the agenda of what America are talking about on a daily basis. We're frankly trying to be funny a lot of the time."

The show will mark Philbin's first permanent hosting gig since departing "Live with Regis and Kelly" in November 2011.

“Crowd Goes W!ld” will air live weekdays from 5 to 6 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.