[Editor's Note: There is no part of my life that I can remember Regis Philbin not being on TV in the mornings. I used to watch his show in my Grandmother's kitchen on Long Island while she made baked apples and taught me about saving the other half of a banana. Reege, you're part of so many memories for millions of Americans and we'll miss you. Also Mashable has a great rundown of the mornings best #FarewellRegis tweets HERE. --Morgan]
After 28 years of morning coffee and chit-chat, Regis Philbin signed off from his final episode of Live! on Friday. Philbin, who fulfilled his promise not to weep during the proceedings, holds the record for most hours ever logged on American television — 17,000.
Regis and Kelly: November 18th, 2011 - Courtesy of Zuma Press
Co-host Kelly Ripa offered an emotional tribute, while her predecessor Kathie Lee Gifford,Philbin's final guest on Thursday, was in the audience alongside Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, Donald Trump, and Tony Danza. An equally starry roster of celebrities stopped by to pay tribute to the Emmy-winning personality.