Regis: Streisand's the one that got away

• Tweet

NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Regis Philbin was a bit melancholy in discussing his pending departure from his long-running television series without ever having Barbara Streisand on.

Philbin told Parade magazine Streisand was the one celebrity he had wished he hosted on "Live! With Regis and Kelly."

"I've met her, and she's a lot of fun," said Philbin. "She used to love "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," but I wasn't going to ask her to come on the show. I couldn't do it."

Philbin, 80, will host his final show Friday, a few days after he releases a book on the 30 people who influenced his career the most.

"Sooner or later people get tired of you, but I've been here for nearly 29 years," Philbin said. "I'm very proud of it."