Gene. After 40 years, Shalit was entitled to go out his own way. It was classy, too: Shalit kept the pinpoint on the memories, not the tears. Tomorrow.

Movie critic Gene Shalit got a sweet sendoff this forenoon after 40 years at "Today."Steven Spielberg raved about Shalit, and rightly so. The critic - known for his bushy mustache, big skin of one's teeth and ludicrous puns - inspired a lot of issue viewers to make an effort diversion journalism. Shalit made it look fun. And there were empty salutes from Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumbel, Katie Couric and Willard Scott.

There was a big surprise, too, when the taped part ended: Shalit wasn’t there. Matt Lauer explained that Shalit is such a demean staff that he didn’t want to sit in the long goodbye. Good enough.

After 40 years, Shalit was entitled to go out his own way.  It was classy, too: Shalit kept the cynosure on the memories, not the tears.

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