Printed from the Review
City girl schmoozes with Regis
Talk show host raves of Falls visit and meeting Claudia Santini-Visca
Posted By COREY LAROCQUE
Regis Philbin started the week off telling the world about meeting Claudia Santini-Visca, but the Niagara Falls girl was making it through another Monday morning in Grade 5.
“I didn’t know anything. I was surprised when I heard about it,” Claudia said Monday after hearing she was featured prominently when Philbin told his TV audience about his weekend visit to Niagara Falls.
Ten-year-old Claudia spent Friday night schmoozing with Philbin, the popular host of the ‘Live With Regis and Kelly’ talk show before his performance at the Niagara Fallsview Casino.
“It was fun and exciting. He sounds and looks the exact same as he does on his show,” Claudia said Monday during her lunch break at Mary Ward elementary school.
Mayor Ted Salci arranged for Claudia to meet with Philbin, who has brought his variety show to the casino four times since 2005.
“It was a lot of fun. I knew that Claudia loves Regis,” said Salci, who knows her father Tony Visca through the Rotary Club.
The social call turned into good exposure for the city as Philbin and his co-host Kelly Ripa heaped praises on Niagara Falls for about four minutes on the Monday edition of their talk show. Ripa called Niagara Falls “off the charts fun,” especially for families.
Claudia got about 90 seconds of fame – an eternity in TV time – as Philbin showed off a hand-made cardboard greeting card she gave him Friday. The card was heart-shaped and the cover said Regis is 2007′s “real” Sexiest Man Alive.
It was a reference to a running joke Philbin makes on his show, griping about how People Magazine passed him over for the title in favour of actor Matt Damon.
“At the bottom, we wrote ‘Damon who?’” Claudia said.
“I wanted to go see him because he’s so funny. I always wanted to meet him.”
Claudia said she has been a fan for years and tried to meet him when he was in town two years ago. She’s a regular fan of the show. It’s on while she’s at school, but her grandmother Frances Santini tapes, it so Claudia can watch it after her homework is done.
On the back of the card, she wrote a note to Michael Gelman, producer of the ‘Live With Regis and Kelly’ show. She tried to sell herself as a replacement for Ripa.
“If Kelly ever needed a replacement, I’d love to be a co-host,” Claudia said Monday.
She’s interested in a broadcasting, which came as a bit of a shock to her father, who was under the impression Claudia wanted to be a dentist.
“I want to do that when I grow up. I like to talk a lot. It would be good for me,” Claudia said.
After meeting Philbin in a lounge at the casino’s hotel, Claudia had to go home. She’s not old enough to see a performance at the Avalon ballroom. The casino’s policy restricts seating at its shows to people who are older than 19 years – old enough to gamble.
Over the years, Philbin has become a “good friend of Niagara,” said Salci.
The mayor gave him the key to the city in 2005. Salci and his wife Sharon had dinner with Philbin and his wife, Joy. That’s when the mayor laid the groundwork to bring the popular TV show to Niagara Falls for a two-day stay in 2006.
When the Salcis attend Philbin’s casino show, Philbin often hams it up, cracking jokes about having the mayor in the audience.
Niagara Falls often gets good publicity following one of his visits. It’s the kind of advertising the city can’t buy, Salci said.
“He’s very genuine and compassionate. We’re very fortunate to have him on Niagara’s side,” Salci said.
The TV exposure was a “nice bonus” from the two-day engagement, Niagara Casinos spokesman Greg Medulun said. It was the fourth time Philbin and his wife brought their variety show to the Avalon ballroom since 2005.
“We have built an excellent rapport with Regis. He’s a great guy to work with. Our customers love him,” Medulun said.
When he visits, Philbin sometimes eats at the casino’s 17 Noir restaurant and mingles with customers, Medulun said.
He is “easy to work with” and is a popular draw for the casino, Medulun said.
“He genuinely loves meeting people.”
clarocque@nfreview.com
Article ID# 784217
© 2007 , Osprey Media. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Niagara Falls Review acticles reprinted with permission by the authority of Joe Wallace, City Editor of the Niagara Falls Review.
No related posts.
