Regis Philbin, that is. The talk-show hostess has signed a new contract that will keep "Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee" on the air until September 1998. Somewhere in America, Roseanne is kicking her cat over losing that prime talk-show slot.
Contract specifics were not disclosed, but it's believed she did not demand a huge raise from her current salary, estimated at between — cough — $3 million and $5 million annually, the New York Post reported Thursday.
Instead of a raise, Gifford is expected to be given more time off, presumably to keep a short leash on her sportscaster-husband, Frank Gifford, who was allegedly captured on film recently groping a blonde in a hotel room.
MAYBE IF THEY ALL HAD TATTOOS … : In a poll, eight out of 10 Americans could identify Tiger Woods or Dennis Rodman.
Not even one in 10 could identify Ralph Reed or Louis Freeh, showing once again that we Americans have our priorities straight, dang it.
If you're saying to yourself, as we are, "Who the heck are those last two guys?" wait just a second — we'll get to that.
The poll was conducted last week by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, a group presumably focused on excessive hand-wringing over the decline of Western civilization.
Eighty-two percent knew golfing phenom Woods and 80 percent could identify the Chicago Bulls' Rodman. Only 9 percent knew Reed, executive director of the Christian Coalition, and 8 percent knew FBI director Freeh. Frankly, we find it amazing that even that many people could identify a politician not at the center of a sex scandal.
Other recognition quotients:
*Ellen DeGeneres, actress who came out as a lesbian on prime-time television, 62 percent.
*Alan Greenspan, as chairman of the Federal Reserve said to be the second most powerful person in government, 40 percent.
*Kenneth Starr, independent counsel investigating President Clinton, 20 percent.
*Garry Kasparov, Russian chess champion recently beaten by a computer, 18 percent.
*Trent Lott, Senate majority leader, 15 percent.
*Webster Hubbell, potential key witness in Starr's investigation, 15 percent.
*Tony Blair, the new British prime minister, 15 percent.
MR. MOM? Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson's bride and mom of the baby currently known as Prince Michael Jackson Jr., doesn't mind living away from her husband and their 3-month-old son. After all, the pop superstar changes diapers, feeds and even naps with the lad.
New moms, take note:
"I don't need to be there," Rowe said in an interview that aired Wednesday on KNBC-TV. "I would have nothing to do."
"He knows that I need to work and I need to have my own self," she said. "Because he is so big and he is so Michael. I don't need to live with him 24 hours a day."
She said both she and Jackson would like to have another child, though she was not sure when. We hear hell will be freezing over soon
"Well," she said, laughing, "it depends on our schedules." And perhaps a bit of liquor?
MAYBE THEY SHOULD ASK KRAMER TO FIRE HER: There's trouble on Broadway, where Raquel Welch is having some hissy fits over taking over for Julie Andrews next month in "Victor/Victoria."
Welch has reportedly been having screaming matches with director Blake Edwards over how the show should be done; her costumes, specially customized to deal with her voluptuous figure, aren't ready yet; and, oops, she hasn't memorized the script.
Andrews, who was supposed to leave the show June 3, has extended her stay until June 8, and now there's talk she'll stay on until June 15 or whenever Welch is finally ready to play a woman playing a man playing a woman.
NOW THAT'S COLD: How does Pamela Anderson keep Tommy Lee in line? She's said to have a copy of her divorce petition taped to their refrigerator.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I cry a lot. My emotions are very close to my surface. I don't want to hold anything in so it festers and turns into a pus — a pustule of emotion that explodes into a festering cesspool of depression."
- Nicolas Cage, in Premiere.
Concert scheduled: By Garth Brooks in his hometown of Tulsa, Okla. After five years without a concert there, Brooks' first Tulsa concert will come July 18 at Drillers Stadium, promoter Glenn Smith said Wednesday. The singer is willing to add as many as three more performances if the first one sells out.
Engaged: John McLaughlin, 70, ringmaster of TV's "The McLaughlin Report," to Cristina Vidal, 36. They'll marry June 22 at D.C.'s Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Preggers: Elisabeth Shue, female star of the movie "Leaving Las Vegas," who's expecting a Christmastime bundle.
Busted: Rick Danko, original and still member of the Band, has been detained in Japan for two weeks on suspicion of possessing heroin. Danko was taken into custody when he went to the airport to pick up a package that Japanese officials say contained heroin. He went through drug rehab a few years ago.
Apology awarded: To Roger Moore by a London court, which ruled that a tab falsely reported that the one-time James Bond movie star was battling with his ex, Luisa, over terms of their divorce. The Daily Mail was also directed to pay Moore's legal costs.
Birthdays: Bandleader Artie Shaw (87), actress Betty Garrett (78), pianist Alicia de Larrocha (74), singer Rosemary Clooney (69), actress Barbara Barrie (66), actress Joan Collins (64), actor Charles Kimbrough (60), R&B singer General Johnson of Chairmen of the Board (54), actress Lauren Chapin (52), boxer Marvin Hagler (45), actor-comedian Drew Carey (39), country singer Shelley West (39), rock musician Phil Selway of Radiohead (30), singer Lorenzo (25), singer Maxwell (24), singer Jewel (23).