Regis Philbin retiring from 'Live! With Regis and Kelly' [Updated]

On Tuesday morning, Regis Philbin announced that he will be retiring from his talk show "Live! With Regis and Kelly." He broke the news at the beginning of the show, noting that the franchise would continue without him. "This will be my last year on this show," he told viewers. "It's been a long time; it's been 28 years since I've been here. And it was the biggest thrill of my life.

"There is a time that everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people," he joked.

[Updated, 9:16 am: Philbin said he will step down around the end of the summer or fall, but he didn't specify a departure date.]

[Updated, 8:07 am: The news marks the end of more than 40 years in television for Philbin. He got his big break as a page for "The Tonight Show" and later played Joey Bishop's sidekick on "The Joey Bishop Show." Over the years, he has won three Emmys, and he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the Daytime Emmy Awards in 2008.

He has been hosting “Live!” since it began as a local morning show in New York in 1983. Kathie Lee Gifford joined him in 1985, and the show went national as “Live With Regis & Kathie Lee” three years later. Current co-host Kelly Ripa replaced Gifford in 2001.

On Tuesday, Ripa looked emotional about Philbin's retirement. "I think I can only speak for America and all of us here when I say that it has been a pleasure and a privilege and a dream come true, and I wish I could do something to make you change your mind," she said.

Disney-ABC Domestic Television said in a statement that it will appoint a new co-host for Ripa, who will celebrate 10 years with the show next month.]

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-- Melissa Maerz

Photo: Regis Philbin. Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press

Comments

[Dancing Scorpion]

Philbin was always an ambitious self-obsessed public man. Lots of people in the business won't be unhappy to see him leave the scene. Much of his early audience disappeared years ago when his program with Kathie Lee, something of an ambitious self-obsessed person herself, turned tedious and formulaic. It wasn't always that way. Anyway, there's always been an untold backstory to this guy. And perhaps now someone can get into it as Regis fades from the scene at the ripe old age of 80; and takes along the two dimensional Kelly Rippa, a boorish hick from Jersey with him. I hope she saved her money...

[yell4yell]

I am a Brit and whenever I am in the US I always enjoy watching Live with Regis...first when I lived in NY then when I was in LA. The show with Regis is a Joy. He is as we say in the UK...OLD SCHOOL!! A rare talent groomed many years ago when a mixture of raw talent,charisma,hutspur and hard work were needed to make it in the business. Unlike today when a big mouth,few clothes,zero personality and a good PR are all it takes to dominate out tv screens. I wish we could have watched your show on UK TV Regis! The Brits would have loved you.You have guts to walk away. I hope you can now En'JOY'your new life.Thank You for showing this Brit a glimpse of a talent nurtured and honed in 'the good old days'of real showbiz! Not the 'Hype Biz' of today. Your a Star! You will be much missed by myself and millions of Americans of all ages. I think you should be Knighted a peer of the US Realm...for your services to US Culture. So Arise Sir Regis Philbin

[Annmarie Carter]

I got up each morning just to make sure i watched Regis and Kelly, when he
said he was calling it quits in the spring or maybe fall i just cryed. The two
of them made the show. Anytime Kelly had another person on to cohost with
her i just watched for a bit and changed the channel. I wish Regis the best
but don't think i can watch it now at all like i once did. I loved it too when
Angie Dickenson was on, the best actors are just about all gone now and i
miss them alot. LOVE YA REGIS AND WILL MISS YA TONS.

[Get Planted]

Regis does an excellent job presenting important information to an American audience that generally has no clue and no concern about real issues that face us.

[Chris Taus]

I really don't see the show making it without Regis...cause Kelly is just plain annoying...I don't care who they get to co-host with her...REGIS keeps the show going!!!!

[Tiffany]

Can you believe the t.v. icon is retiring? After 28 years, he will truly be missed. For his age he still remains a classy man! Enjoy retirment Regis!