Philbin Gets New Show – Going Back To His Roots With Talk Show On Fox Sports 1

Regis Philbin has announced his plans to come out of retirement and host a new sports talk show.

Philbin will lead a daily talk show called "Rush Hour" on a new ESPN rival station, Fox Sports 1.

Fox Sports 1 will launch in August with the goal of ultimately overtaking ESPN as the dominant sports cable channel. Fox is hoping to do this with Philbin's help.

They are looking at the veteran talk show host to help them draw in a crowd but many have questioned the sports channel's motives in hiring the 81-year-old host.

Programming on the new station will include a variety of talk shows and reality TV mixed with Major League Baseball games, UFC fights, NFL games, NASCAR, soccer, and college basketball.

But just where exactly does octogenarian Philbin fit in?

The target audience for most sports programming is men aged 18-34, not exactly the same crowd that watched "Live! With Regis and Kelly," Philbin's previous talk show.

The talk show host, however, is excited about the new project. "We're going to have some fun in addition to the sports," he said. Philbin also added, "I have always been a sports fan. I love sports. I really do."

And of course, he does have experience in the field, going all the way back to his roots when he first started reporting.

"I never anticipated going back to sports," Philbin told Fox News. "The very first job I did was in San Diego, California, doing a little sports for the news."

He added that during his days on "Live," he would often discuss sports. His co-hosts, Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa, however, were not impressed by the sports talk.

"The women I worked with went, 'oh not again,'" he said. "But I couldn't help, but talk about it because I really loved it. So anyway this is right down my alley."

"Rush Hour" will reportedly include a panel of people and will likely include celebrity guests as well.

Philbin said August 19 his new show will premiere on Fox Sports 1.