By Madhuri Dey
Dec. 19, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Charles Gibson bid goodbye to his role as the anchor for the ABC show “World News” on Friday. He had announced his decision to retire in the September of this year. He would be replaced by Diane Sawyer, who was earlier the co-host of the show “Good Morning America” that airs in the same network. Diane Sawyer will be commencing her stint as the anchor of “World News” from Monday.

The final episode that the anchor hosted was replete with emotion, though not as much as Diane Sawyer’s farewell on Good Morning America. In his characteristic taciturn and matter of fact manner, Charles Gibson, known and loved by his peers and the audience as Charlie Gibson, concluded his show with some kind words for his peers and the viewers. Not one to succumb to any of the softer emotions, he was characteristically forthright, full of the businesslike attitude that exuded during his shows. He felt that it is definitely hard for him to bid goodbye, of his own volition, to the job that he felt is the best in the world. Injecting some humor in his farewell speech, he mentioned that he had always been taught to leave while he is still wanted.

As part of the final show of his career, Charlie Gibson named two people whom he had come across in the course of his career. Every week, he had ritualistically singled out one person as the person of the week. The two people who had impressed him the most in his lifetime are Bob Barron and Kate ter Horst.