It's the end of an era for Regis Philbin.
On Friday, the legendary TV personality will wrap his 23-year run on LIVE! With Regis and Kelly, marking the end of his mornings alongside cohost Kelly Ripa.
"I wish I could bottle him up and rub him off on the next host," Ripa, 41, told reporters at a Thursday press conference at ABC Studios in New York City. While Jerry Seinfeld will kick off a string of guest cohosts starting on Monday, the network has not yet announced Philbin's permanent successor.
Philbin's advice for his replacement: A simple "Be patient!"
Once the 80-year-old signs off the air, he'll still be busy promoting his latest book, How I Got This Way, but looks forward to developing a new morning routine.
"Some mornings I just [didn't] feel like [filming]!" he said Thursday. "I'd rather sleep in longer."
Though he won't help Ripa wake up viewers on Monday, Philbin says he'll still tune in to the morning broadcast.
"I'm going to be with my friends at a book [event]," Philbin said of his Monday plans. "I'll probably watch the show from my hotel room. It's a good thing [I'll be promoting my book], because it will take my mind off how I'm going to feel Monday morning when i don't walk down the hall with Kelly."
Philbin says that he's made peace with his LIVE! exit, but struggles to convince his wife of 41 years, Joy, it's a good idea.
Says Philbin: "She hasn't liked [my leaving] from the minute she heard it. She enjoys her privacy at home!"
