“I'm a lot happier now,” says Mrs. Gifford, promoting her new E! Entertainment movie at the Television Critics Association winter press tour.

        Leaving the daytime talk show “was obviously the best thing for both of us,” she says.

        She doesn't miss getting up before dawn for a daily TV show, and says she never intended to stay as Regis Philbin's syndicated talk show co-host for 15 years.

        “I was an actress and singer long before I sat on that stool next to Regis. I never really dreamed that I'd be there that long,” says Mrs. Gifford, 47.

        She figured she would be Mr. Philbin's sidekick in New York for two years or so, then return to California and resume her career as a singer and actor. When she left Live with Regis after 15 years, she says people should have asked: Why did you stay so long?

        “I stayed because we were having a great time. And after a while, I wasn't having a great time, and I wasn't doing what I wanted to do.

        “By the time I realized that I was missing (show business) opportunities, the show had become such a success, and it is very easy to become a prisoner of success.

        “I finally realized last year, you know, if I'm not happy, am I really successful?” she says. “If you're not happy doing what you're doing, then to me, you're not successful.”

        “I thought I'd have moments where I'd miss (the show), but I haven't yet. There may come the day — but I've been so busy doing what I love doing, and having so much fun.”

No more talk shows

        After releasing her Heart of a Woman compact disc, Mrs. Gifford starred in Spinning Out of Control, a March 18 movie about a vain, aging TV star for E! Howie Mandel plays her manager in the film written by Mark Solomon (Newhart, Grace Under Fire).

        Next up could be one of three movie scripts or a situation comedy series called Jingle and Belz written for her by Mr. Solomon.

        She has turned down offers to host her own talk show, do a radio show, or return to Broadway. She savors new challenges. “I don't want to repeat myself,” she says.

        A talk show is not “anything I'd ever be interested in doing ever again. Been there, done that. Glad I had a chance to do it, and really glad not to have to do it any more,” she says.

        Contrary to tabloid reports, Mrs. Gifford remains close to her former co-star. She's talked “a bunch of times” with Mr. Philbin, and went to dinner with him Jan. 13.

        “Sorry, it doesn't make good copy, but we really have (a good relationship). We never had an argument in 15 years. He was the best professional partnership I could have ever had,” she says.

Just a little tiff

        Mrs. Gifford made headlines last summer when Live with Regis wouldn't let her back on the show to promote her CD, because she had gone on NBC's Today show first. Did Reege invite her back as a guest over dinner?

        “You know what? It didn't come up,” she says. “To me, it's a non-issue. I was there for 15 years, and it's over. And my friendship with Regis goes on, and that's the important thing. It's just a talk show, you know? I'm glad it's doing well for Regis' sake. And whoever gets the (co-host) role, I'm happy for her.”

        She would gladly return to Live with Regis to promote Spinning Out of Control or her next project, “if they want me to,” she says.

        Since she just quit the weekday TV grind, why does she want the rigorous routine of a weekly prime-time series?

        “That's a different kind of grind. It's a really creative grind, and I like a good creative grind a lot,” she says.

New and original

        For two years, she and Mr. Solomon have been trying to sell Jingle and Belz about a radio jingle singer with a 14-year-old daughter. CBS and other networks have turned it down because Mrs. Gifford refused to make changes in the concept.

        “The networks tell you that they want something new and original and unique. And when you bring them something new and original and unique, they say, "But we really need this to be much more like Friends or Two Girls and a Pizza.' And I'm not interested in anything (for TV) if it can't be unusual,” she says.

        “I don't have to work anymore for a living, but I need to work creatively. It's a nice place to be,” she says.

        “I want to do great work now with people I really love working with — or else I don't want to work.”

        Who wouldn't be happy in that situation?

        E-mail: jkiesewetter@enquirer.com.

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