Regis Philbin to undergo hip surgery

NEW YORK, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. television personality Regis Philbin says he is scheduled to have hip-replacement surgery and will not be working on "Live with Regis & Kelly" next month.

The New York Post said the 78-year-old entertainer made the announcement Monday in Las Vegas where he and co-host Kelly Ripa are taping their New York-based chat show this week. Philbin said he plans to have the operation Tuesday and will then take off several weeks from work to recuperate.

"I'm allowed to announce I'm going into hip surgery. I'm going to have my hip replaced. I've been limping around here. It's really painful," he said Monday. "We're going to get that done on that Tuesday, and I'll be back next year."

The Post said guest hosts, such as Howie Mandel, Michael Buble, Anderson Cooper and Christian Slater, are expected to fill in for Philbin.