Seconds before her name was called yesterday morning — on live television before an audience of millions — Tamara Taggart knew she was heading to New York City to co-host Live! With Regis and Kelly.
The popular B.C. CTV weathercaster was up at 5:30 a.m. with her husband and her young son to watch an Eastern feed of Live! to see if she would be chosen to host the show for a day opposite Regis Philbin.
When they announced the third female winner, Taggart said she knew there were only two people left, herself and a woman named Wang.
“Everybody started screaming and yelling,” Taggart said. “My husband was like, ‘Yay!’ and I was like, ‘I’m next!’”
The night before, however, Taggart was beset by a re-occurring nightmare in which the show’s producers phoned her to tell her she was a “loser” and that they were not going to call her name.
On Monday, Taggart was shortlisted as one of 20 finalists from thousands of applications from personalities at local ABC and CTV affiliates for the show’s From Local to Live! contest. Fan voting determined the winners.
She said appearing on Live! will rank at the top of her career accomplishments.
“If I can relax and be myself I think it will be great. If I’m a nervous wreck, I don’t know.”
Taggart leaves for New York City Aug. 19 and her show airs on Friday, Aug. 21.
“Right now, I’m worried about what the hell I’m going to wear.”
