The old adage goes, you never want to replace the legend, you want to replace the person that replaced the legend.

Longtime WPVI (Philly) Anchor Jim Gardner is getting set to retire this month after owning the Philly airwaves for decades.

The ABC O&O has already decided who will replace the legendary Anchor.

No surprise, it will take two people to fill Gardner’s job.

Rick Williams has already started doing the 11 PM newscast in Gardner’s spot.

When he does sign off, WPVI announced that Brian Taff will handle the 6 PM newscast.

“During my time at Action News, Jim Gardner has become much more than a mentor to me — he’s been a dear friend, a trusted confidant, and a guide for which I’m unendingly grateful,” Taff said in a statement. “He will never be replaced on Action News at 6, but it’s the professional honor of a lifetime to be asked to succeed him. It is an important distinction.”

It makes no difference how good both of these guys are, you will still have viewers saying, “they are not as good as Jim Gardner.”

And that is why you don’t want to replace a legend.