Regis To Leave “Live With Regis and Kelly”

Say it isn't so.

Regis Philbin  is walking away from his morning tv talk show. Regis told the audience today that this will be his last season on  Live! with Regis and Kelly.

"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," Philbin, who will turn 80 in August, said on the program Tuesday morning.     People Magazine

He added jokingly: "Everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people."

Regis hosted a local New York City version of the  program in 1983 with Cyndy Garvey.   Kathie Lee Gifford replaced Garvey in 1985, and the show, renamed Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, went national in 1988.

Kathie Lee went by-by in 2000, and the show became Live with Regis for a season. It was renamed in 2001, when current co-host Kelly Ripa joined full-time.

"I think I can only speak for America, and all of us here, when I say it has been a pleasure and a privilege and a dream come true [working with you]," Ripa told Philbin on Tuesday. "And I wish I could do something to change your mind."         People Magazine

I had the chance to meet Regis and Kathie Lee in 1993 when the show was broadcast at Cobo Hall in Detroit.  Kathie Lee was very nice and helpful and Regis...was just Regis.