Regis Philbin to moderate Letterman panel to celebrate groundbreaking of National Comedy Center, Lucille Ball Comedy Festival

The people behind the scenes of David Letterman’s late-night TV reign will be reined in by Regis Philbin later this month to kick off the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival and celebrate the groundbreaking of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, N.Y.

Philbin, the most frequent Letterman guest with 150 appearances on Late Night and Late Show, will moderate “David Letterman – Behind The Scenes Of Late Night’s Longest Running Broadcaster” on July 30 with panelists:

• Barbara Gaines (Executive Producer/Associate Producer Late Show/Late Night)
• Jerry Foley (Director/Supervising Producer/Technical Director Late Show/Late Night)
• Steve O’Donnell (Head Writer/Writer Late Night/Late Show)
• Steve Young (Head Monologue Writer/Writer Late Show/Late Night)
• Biff Henderson (Stage Manager Late Show/Late Night)

“This event embodies the spirit of the National Comedy Center, and we’re thrilled to host Regis Philbin and these major influencers of comedy,” said Executive Director, Journey Gunderson.

The weekend’s celebration includes a groundbreaking Aug. 1 of the National Comedy Center, expected to open by Fall 2016 as an expansion of the Lucille Ball Desi Arnez Museum as the first national attraction dedicated to the art of American comedy. The $40 million attraction includes $1.5 million in state funding.

This year’s Lucille Ball Comedy Festival also will include performances by Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa Rivers, Nick Offerman, Kelly Carlin, the family of Harold Ramis, the critically-acclaimed kids comedy troupe Story Pirates, showcases including Joe Machi, Andy Hendrickson, Michelle Wolf, Michael Palascak, Jon Rineman, Paul Morrissey, and more than 40 events in four days.