Gibson Says Goodbye To 'Good Morning'

After Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts delivered his morning coffee and glazed doughnut, Charles Gibson celebrated his final day on "Good Morning America" Wednesday after nearly 19 years as host.

He's working later now on ABC's evening news.

It was the second farewell in a month to a morning television star who's leaving to become an evening news anchor. Earlier, Katie Couric exited NBC's "Today" show and she will start at the CBS Evening News in September.

There were no film clips of embarrassing hairstyles for the button-down Gibson, 63, just gray strands invading his black hair. Co-hosts Sawyer and Roberts showed up outside of Gibson's apartment with his driver to surprise him on his last day. During the morning news meeting, he was serenaded by a choral group from his alma mater at Princeton University.

"Thank you to all who watch every day, because you're the most important people involved," Gibson said.

He started at "Good Morning America" in 1987, paired first with Joan Lunden. Gibson left the show in 1998 but was back with Sawyer less than nine months later after ratings went into a free-fall. Gibson spent most of his years — including every week of his second tenure — in second place in the ratings to "Today."

Gibson was named "World News Tonight" anchor last month, replacing the ill-fated pair of Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff, and ABC has already been touting his experience in the role.

He opened Wednesday's show with an exclusive interview with Chuck Weller, the Nevada family court judge who was shot by a sniper.

Otherwise, he said show producers had kept from him the rundown of the morning's show in order to surprise him.

"We've loved your laughter, how you've been able to make us laugh. It has served you well," Roberts said.

"Is this a segue?" Gibson replied.

Indeed it was, to film clips showing Gibson shagging fly balls in a baseball uniform, singing off-key, attacking Sawyer with a water pistol, bungee jumping and dancing with Whoopi Goldberg — complete with a dip.

"Those were good times, good times," he said.