‘Millionaire,’ Not Philbin, Takes Emmy

Maybe it isn’t a perfect year for Regis Philbin after all: He was shut out of the Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday for his talk show and as host of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

Bob Barker of “The Price Is Right” and Tom Bergeron of “Hollywood Squares” were the surprise winners of the best game show host award.

“Don’t feel bad, Regis,” Bergeron said. “[Disney chief Michael] Eisner’s buying you the Statue of Liberty.”

“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” won the Daytime Emmy for best game show. Even though it has transformed prime-time television since its debut nine months ago, it was shunted off to the Daytime Emmy awards when the prime-time awards show declared it had no category it could compete in.

The decision annoyed ABC, producer Michael Davies and Philbin. But Davies, wearing red plaid pants, ignored the controversy in accepting the award.

“Regis Philbin, you are a god,” Davies said.

Rosie O’Donnell won her fourth straight Emmy as best talk show host. She’s won the award every year she was nominated. Longtime winner Oprah Winfrey no longer competes in the category.

“The Rosie O’Donnell Show” also won its third award as best talk show.

“Wow,” O’Donnell deadpanned, minus the tears she displayed while winning in the past. “I feel sort of like the spoiled kid who gets this too many times.”

Anthony Geary, Luke Spencer on “General Hospital,” won as best actor in a daytime drama for the second year in a row. It was his third win overall.

Veteran actress Susan Flannery, who plays Stephanie Forrester in “The Bold & the Beautiful,” was honored as best actress.

“General Hospital” was named best soap opera for the seventh time, the most ever in this category.

The late Shari Lewis won the award for best performer in a children’s series. Her daughter accepted the award with her mother’s puppet, Lamb Chop.

“Sesame Street” won the award for best preschool children’s series for the sixth straight time, the only show to win since the category was established.

Shemar Moore of “The Young and the Restless,” who won his first Emmy as best supporting actor, brought a cell phone to the stage to make a call.

“Mom, I won this damn thing,” he said when she finally answered. Sarah Brown of “General Hospital” won the best supporting actress award, letting out a scream in delight.

The 27th annual Daytime Emmy Awards were given out during a ceremony at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, televised on ABC.

It was Philbin’s last chance to win a best talk show Emmy as Kathie Lee Gifford’s partner. Gifford announced that she is quitting their talk show this summer. No replacement has been named.