So Long, Regis Philbin

Today is Regis Philbin's last show on "Live With Regis And Kelly," and the television stalwart is retiring as a world record-holder.

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Philbin, 80, has worked in front of the TV cameras for nearly 17,000 hours--and that's a Guinness World Record. And for the past 26 years, he's been most famous for hosting the "Live" morning show, first with Kathie Lee Gifford and then with Kelly Ripa. (Philbin's wife Joy was a frequent fill-in cohost, and became known as a personality in her own right. She and Philbin have four children.)

Just like Oprah Winfrey's final broadcast, the show's guest list is top secret, but it's likely that Gifford, as well as Philbin's buddy Jerry Seinfeld, will be making an appearance. Philbin got the honor of a 20/20 special this week: "The Morning Maestro with Katie Couric."

"I feel bittersweet about it," Philbin told Seinfeld, talking about his departure. "But I'm kind of relieved. It's got to come sometime. It's not scary, because God knows we've made enough money to keep us going."

That's a low-key way of putting it: the Bronx-born Philbin has reportedly been earning $18 million to $20 million a year. And despite Philbin's efforts to take the high road when it comes to his retirement, he ended the relationship with ABC because the company's executives wanted to cut his pay. (It's not known if Kelly Ripa was more flexible in her own contract negotiations, but in any case she's just signed a new five-year contract.)

Whatever the reason, Philbin's retirement is going to leave millions of fans feeling a bit bereft when they tune in to "Live" next week and see Seinfeld as the temporary co-host. There's been no official announcement about who's stepping into Philbin's shoes, but Seinfeld appears to be a front-runner, as is Ryan Seacrest. Actor Neil Patrick Harris will also be filling in as co-host.

It may be, though, that Philbin's style is irreplaceable. The assured, smooth-talking, comforting image he projects echoes the style of old-school entertainers like Jack Paar, Merv Griffin and Johnny Carson. Today, talk-show styles are much more abrasive. But no matter who Philbin interviewed - Paul Newman, Tony Bennett or Big Bird - his guests basked in his comfortable style. Even the sardonic David Letterman said this week on "Live" that Philbin spreads "mirth, joy and happiness."

To do that, Philbin sometimes goes to outrageous lengths. Over the years, Philbin has dressed as Kid Rock, Uncle Sam and reality-show king Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino. He's gotten into drag as Kelly (and she put on a suit to ape him.) And for a Christmas-themed show, he arrived in flannel pajamas to open his presents.

"Maybe I don't sing or dance or tell jokes very well," he told a reporter recently. "But I know how to sit here and talk to the audience."

This weekend, just two days after his final "Live" show, Philbin will be talking to another audience, appearing in Atlanta as part of his promotional work for his memoir, "How I Got This Way."

It's a tough schedule, but as with everything else in his professional life, Philbin makes it seem effortless. Recently, Jerry Seinfeld told David Letterman that he didn't think it would be too difficult to host "Live."

Letterman, perhaps defending his friend but also telling the truth, said, "When Regis does it, it doesn't seem that hard because he's the gold standard."

No argument there.

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