Michael Strahan Exits ‘Live!’ for ‘Good Morning America’
Kelly Ripa will be searching for her TV “other half” again. In a story first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Strahan announced that he would be leaving Live! With Kelly and Michael for a full-time job on Good Morning America.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Strahan said “I look forward to continuing to work with the incredible team at GMA. It is an exciting opportunity to be able to bring unique stories and voices to the audience.”
RELATED: Michael Strahan’s Game Plan for Hosting the After Oscar Show
Strahan began appearing Good Morning America twice a week in 2014, and he will begin there full-time in September of this year. Co-hosting Live! for the past four years, Strahan used the platform as an extension of his brand. He began working as a sports analyst for Fox after retiring from the NFL, but Live! allowed Strahan to prove his viability as a daytime personality.
Following the announcement, ABC News head James Goldston sent out a memo to ABC News staffers in which he praised Strahan’s “incredible ability to connect with people, from veterans to American pop culture icons and newsmakers.”
RELATED: Michael Strahan Brings More Tricks Than Treats on black-ish (VIDEO)
Strahan certainly brought this quality to Live! when he joined the show following Regis Philbin’s departure, and he proved to be a match for Kelly Ripa’s energetic presence. His departure will mean that Live! will begin auditioning new co-hosts for Ripa, who has been with the show since 2001.
Meanwhile, Strahan looks to continue invading our televisions on Good Morning America, which overtook Today in 2012 to become America’s most watched morning program. He’s just giving viewers another reason to tune in.
We’d imagine Neil Patrick Harris has Michael Gelman’s number on speed dial at this point, so why don’t they just talk so we don’t have to have another year of rotating guest hosts?
Live! with Kelly and Michael, Weekdays, 9/8c, check local listings.
Good Morning America, Weekdays, 7/6c, ABC.
