Salary slugfests

Now that I've peddled a rumor about Vanna White, I might as well pass on some gossip about Regis Philbin. Seems that he's leaving his morning show in a salary dispute, according to the New York Post.

Not to impugn the Post (perish the thought) but I have my doubts. Regis certainly does not leave money on the table. I remember him grumbling to his buddy David Letterman that ABC was getting a little stingy with him back in the Millionaire salad days. ABC quickly coughed up some more coin for Regis' hosting duties.

But Regis genuinely seems tired of his morning show and the daily grind. So it may not really be a money problem.

Salary disputes involving game show hosts are hardly unknown. The most famous may have been Chuck Woolery's spat with Merv Griffin over that little show with the big wheel. Griffin finally said good-bye to Woolery and hello to Sajak. You know the rest of that story.

Producers can even have work problems among themselves. Bob Stewart left Mark Goodson's employ despite Goodson's protest that he had made Stewart "his prince." Stewart's reply has become game show legend: "Mark, I want to be a king." Pyramid subsequently made Stewart look pretty regal.