Regis Plans April 26 Return to Talk Show

Host Regis Philbin shares a laugh with co-host Kelly Ripa during a broadcast of "Live with Regis and Kelly" on Feb. 5, 2001, in New York. Philbin, in a telephone call to the show Monday, April 16, 2007, said he plans to return to his syndicated talk show April 26, about six weeks after having triple bypass heart surgery.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (Kathy Willens - AP)

NEW YORK -- Regis Philbin says he'll return to his syndicated daytime talk show April 26, about six weeks after having triple heart bypass surgery.

Philbin called "Live With Regis and Kelly" on Monday to say he'd been "through the wars" in his recovery but was building up strength by walking and lifting light weights.

He joked that when he returns to the show, he won't be the "fun-loving Reej" that he was before because his entire personality had changed.

The last time Philbin, 75, called the show, he complained about not having sex for 3 1/2 months. Co-host Kelly Ripa asked Monday if that had improved. Philbin joked that it was up to "five times a week."

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The Walt Disney Co.'s Buena Vista Television distributes "Live With Regis and Kelly."

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