I think I can speak for many people when I say that I grew up at least casually watching film critic Gene Shalit reviewing the latest releases on The Today Show. He’s just one of those guys that has been around so long that everyone knows about him (and, really, who could forget that face?). The mustachioed critic joined the NBC program as a contributor in 1970 and took over the permanent critic position in 1973. Aside from his unusual looks, Shalit has become famous for his pun-laden reviews, which delight some and infuriate others. But whether you like his brand of mainstream criticism or not, you have to admit that he’s given us some memorable moments.

His final day will be this Thursday and The Today Show will commemorate the event with a retrospective of his work over the years. Shalit has said that he now plans on pursuing other activities “including publishing, radio, and commercials”, so we haven’t completely seen the last of him. Are you going to miss Gene Shalit’s reviews? Who do you think would make a good replacement?