All Talked Out: Montel Williams Ends 17-Year Daytime Talk Show

Talk Show host Montel Williams has announced that he'll bid farewell to his high-rated daytime talk show at the end of this season.

The 51-year-old's self-titled talk show has been on air for 17 years, but when production wraps this spring, it will be for the final time.

In a statement released by CBS Television Distribution, Williams expressed his gratitude for lasting on television for almost two decades.

"I can't say thank you enough to those who've welcomed me into their homes for the past seventeen years. It has been both an honor and a joy," said the TV talker.

Williams, a former Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, has traveled the world because of the 'Montel Williams Show.'

Montel Williams interviews a show guest

"[I] talked with over 30,000 guests and over a half million studio audience members," he said.

While there won't be any new episodes of the show airing, CBS Television Distribution disclosed plans to provide a series of best-of episodes for fall 2008 that will consist of a full-year of programming highlighting "the most exciting episodes from the last 17 years."

"We have been honored to have Montel as a part of our family for the past 17 years, and we're very excited that Montel will live on through these 'Best of' episodes," John Nagasaki, president and COO of CBS Television Distribution, said in the release.

Since debuting in 1991, the Emmy-winning talk show host was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and launched his Montel Williams MS Foundation to raise awareness for the disease.

Prior announcing on Jan. 30 that his talk show would end, Williams had been on a whirlwind publicity tour over the last several weeks promoting his latest book, 'Living Well: 21 Days to Transform Your Life, Supercharge Your Health, and Feel Spectacular,' which was co-written with William Doyle.