David Letterman, the longest serving late night talk show host, announced he's retiring from CBS' "The Late Show" next year.
Letterman, 66, who first joined the after-dinner television block in 1982 on "Late Night," is simply ready for retirement.
"We don't have the timing of this precisely down," he said, according to CNN, "but sometime in the near distant future, 2015, for the love of God, Paul and I will be wrapping things up and taking a hike."
Needless to say, celebrities of the late night and comedic world were saddened.
"David @Letterman is the best there is and ever was," ABC's Jimmy Kimmel tweeted Thursday.
"It's been 31 incredible years," said Ellen DeGeneres. "Television won't be the same without you, Dave."
Even President Barack Obama chimed in.
"There are more than 10 reasons #DavidLetterman will be missed," Obama posted to his Twitter account, accompanied by a photo of the pair.
Letterman is currently competing with CBS' "Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Fallon and NBC's "Tonight Show."
With all this competition, it poses interesting pickings for Letterman's spot.
Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Stewart have proven they can hold their own. Even female jokesters Chelsea Handler, who recently announced she's leaving "Chelsea Lately," Ellen DeGeneres and Amy Poehler's names have been thrown around.
"I love Letterman but I am really excited about what this could mean for the diversification of late night," Lena Dunham tweeted.
Despite talk already of who will replace him, Letterman is grateful for all his years on television.
"I just want to reiterate my thanks for the support from the network, all of the people who have worked here, all of the people in the theater, all the people on the staff, everybody at home, thank you very much," Letterman said, according to E! News.
