What Might've Been: The Joey Bishop (talk) Show (1967)

In the spring of 1967, ABC decided to mount their first challenge to then-late night overlord Johnny Carson.

Actor-comedian Joey Bishop, who had gained some experience as a talk show host filling in for Carson on The Tonight Show, was brought in, and lasted a little more than 2 1/2 years (April 1967-December 1969), his tenure ending right after Christmas 1969. With the notable exception of Frank Sinatra, most of Bishop's "Rat Pack" comrades were frequent guests. Johnny Mann was the bandleader who, with his Johnny Mann Singers, had climbed the charts with their version of "Up, Up, & Away". Future daytime legend Regis Philbin was Bishop's announcer-sidekick.

As ratings slid at the end of 1969, ABC cancelled the show, replacing Bishop with Dick Cavett.

In this clip, Mann seems a little out of place with Joey & Regis sporting Nehru jackets.....



In memory of Philbin, 88, who has passed away. To do Regis' daytime talk show would've been too obvious.

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