Gene Shalit, a film critic who has appeared on the Today show since 1970, announced on Wednesday that he will leave the show on Thursday, according to NBC.
“Gene is not just a Today show treasure but a television legend and an American icon,“ the show’s executive producer Jim Bell said in a statement. ”We salute him for his unprecedented 40-year run on a single television program, a feat unlikely to ever be matched.”
Although he made appearances starting in 1970, Shalit did not become a regular on the show until 1973.
The 85-year-old critic released a statement via his publicist that said, “It’s enough already,” according to E! Online.
NBC said they will be airing a retrospective program on Thursday.
“Gene is not just a Today show treasure but a television legend and an American icon,“ the show’s executive producer Jim Bell said in a statement. ”We salute him for his unprecedented 40-year run on a single television program, a feat unlikely to ever be matched.”
Although he made appearances starting in 1970, Shalit did not become a regular on the show until 1973.
The 85-year-old critic released a statement via his publicist that said, “It’s enough already,” according to E! Online.
NBC said they will be airing a retrospective program on Thursday.
