WRAL departing trafficologist Mark Roberts' Top 5 Goodbyes in Pop Culture History

(5) Chef leaves 'South Park'

Young children should never watch this show, and it's not for most adults either. But I think the writers were really creative in the way they said goodbye to Chef. The voice of Chef, Isaac Hayes, quit in a huff over a storyline. Instead of just making him disappear, the writers weaved an elaborate tale that ended up with Chef joining a strange club and basically going off the deep end.

(4) The Ramones' farewell tour

After setting the tone for the punk rock movement in the early '70s, and after all those years of rapid-fire song sets, the boys did one last swing around the U.S. I hit that show at the old Ritz in Raleigh in 1996 with TV-5 colleague Brian Pittman. I've never seen a band perspire that much. The "Adios Amigos" gig moved me.

(3) Phil Hartman leaves "Saturday Night Live"

Hartman was one of the best players ever on SNL. He was great with voices, impersonations and physical comedy. At the close of his last show, he sat on stage with Chris Farley and consoled his fellow cast member. It was a great touch and a great way to duck out.

(2) Johnny Carson leaves the "Tonight Show"

Carson was the true master of the late night talk show. Instead of doing a prime time special, he said he wanted to go out the way he came in, "rather quietly and in the same time slot." Among his final thoughts were: "I wish I could rewind the tape and do it all over again. ... Oh, and by the way, GE named me employee of the month."

(1) Charlie Gaddy leaves Channel 5

When I arrived at WRAL News, they assigned me the desk right next to Charlie's. I knew he was an institution. He was also one of the most down-to-earth, caring people I've ever met. He taught my wife Tresa and me the waltz for our wedding, and he is to this day a dear friend. His goodbye after all the ramp-up and hype was so simple. With seconds left in his last newscast, he looked into the camera and said: "I'd just like to thank you all, behind that glass." After the post-show party, Charlie came back into the newsroom, belted out a tune on his trumpet and headed home with his wife, Nancy.