The day I first dreamed about over two years ago has finally came true.

This morning on Live with Regis and Kelly, Regis Philbin said this would be his “last year on this show.”

Philbin, who is just two years shy of hitting his 30-year anniversary on the program, gave no specific reason for deciding to retire now.

“It's been a long time," he explained. "It's been 28 years since I’ve been here and it was the biggest thrill of my life to come back to New York, where I grew up as a kid watching TV in the early days, you know -- never even dreaming that I would one day have the ability, or whatever it takes, to get in front of the camera and talk to it.”

Regis’ last date has not yet been announced -- nor have any potential replacements been named. Frequent fill-ins for Philbin have included Neil Patrick Harris, Anderson Cooper and Jeff Probst. (All are welcome in my book.)

BTW – in case you needed an 11th reason why I think the 79-year-old’s departure has been overdue, I leave you with this exchange from Tuesday’s show.

Kelly Ripa (talking about Starbucks’ new Trenta-sized cups): “I order a triple-shot, grande skim latte.

Regis: “Is that right. A triple shot of what?”

Gelman (off camera): “Espresso. It’s usually two, but she orders a triple. They add an extra.”

Regis: “Expresso. That espresso’s powerful stuff.”