Regis Philbin leaves daily TV grind

MANILA, Philippines - Regis Philbin couldn’t leave without a joke.

Signing off from morning television after more than 28 years, he brought to a close his final hour hosting Live! With Regis and Kelly by telling viewers, “I’ll always remember spending these mornings with all of you.”

Then, as the studio audience’s ovation subsided after the program’s fade-out, he voiced a kidding postscript to that crowd in attendance.

“I just thought of something I SHOULD have said,” he quipped, “I really want to stay!”

No such luck.

Philbin, 80, has logged more than 16,000 hours on television in a career that dates back to the ’50s, and was making good on his decision to leave the daily TV grind, an announcement he delivered on his show last January.

And Friday’s tribute — concluding weeks of Philbin farewell mania — was good for instant TV history, both on- and off-the-air.

The show had opened with cameras following Philbin’s walk from his dressing room to the stage, knocking on Kelly Ripa’s door along the way.

“I love you,” she said softly as they stepped before the cameras.

Then, Philbin barked out the question his fans have been asking for months.

“Where’s Regis going?” he erupted with a shrug. “Regis don’t know. Stop asking me!”

During the hour, past guests such as Justin Timberlake and Anne Hathaway offered brief filmed tributes.