In the cutthroat world of morning talk shows, one shines through to the top of the ratings pyramid. The hosts have sharply defined personalities, and you either love them or hate them. Apparently the majority of viewers love them because "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" is a number one talk show. I am among the majority, because I love this show. Every weekday morning from 9 to 10, I am drawn to the television set to watch this captivating talk show. During the school year I tape it and watch when I get home. What makes this show so appealing is the relationship between the two hosts, Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford. They fight like cats and dogs, yet their sibling-like affection for each other is blatantly obvious. Another element that makes "Live" so interesting is the fact that it is, indeed, live. A live show allows us to see that even TV stars make mistakes which allows us to relate with Regis and Kathie Lee as fellow human beings.

My favorite part of the show is the first 17 minutes fondly called "Host Chat," when Regis and Kathie Lee share their experiences of the previous night, peruse the daily newspapers, and talk about whatever happens to be on their minds. This 17 minutes is unscripted, unrehearsed, and live which provides very interesting conversations and situations, and much laughter for hosts and viewers alike. After "Host Chat," Regis and Kathie Lee interview guests ranging from Fabio (a romance novel cover model) to Barbara Bush and Norman Schwarzkopf. The hosts are P.C. (politically correct), actually they try to be neutral and avoid political discussions. Regis and Kathie Lee also try to avoid "Hollywood confrontations."As they say, "We just want everyone to be happy," a corny philosophy, but it works. The show is "nice," and in a world that isn't always, it feels good to have a "nice" place to go. Being a regular viewer of "Live" makes me feel like a member of an exclusive, caring family. n