How ‘Live! With Kelly and Michael’s Happy Talk Became So Toxic So Fast
OK, now, everyone can calm down. Kelly Ripa is back at work, she’s made her speech, she’s made nice to ABC and Michael Strahan, and everyone—including them—can go back to giving us happy talk with our fourth cup of morning coffee.
Ripa made a speech Tuesday morning, almost a week after walking off Live! With Kelly and Michael following the news that Strahan was moving full-time to Good Morning America in September May, according to People. Apparently, ABC made a wee bit of a miscalculation telling Ripa and Live! executive producer Michael Gelman about the move mere minutes before the news went live across the interwebs.
Days of speculation ensued: Will Ripa come back? Do the two of them really dislike each other? Is ABC going to cancel Live for a third hour of GMA? Even Tiger Woods’ reputation didn’t take such a fast tumble down into the muck.
How did such a harmless morning show create such drama?
ABC didn’t show Live!, or Ripa, the respect they deserved.
As Ripa pointed out in her speech, she hasn’t just hosted Live for 15 years, but she’s been with them since she started on All My Children in 1990. “After 26 years with this company, I earned the right” to take some time off after the news, she said. The incident “started a much bigger conversation about communication, consideration and, most importantly, respect in the workplace.”
There was no reason, aside from fear of a leak, to not inform Ripa and Gelman a few days in advance; this felt like the executives saying to themselves, “Oh, she’ll buck up,” just like she did when Regis Philbin sprung his departure on her four years ago. Fool me once, etc. etc. This time, though, Ripa took a stand.
RELATED: Kelly Ripa Receives Apologies from Disney and ABC
Disney may be making a mistake moving Strahan off Live.
It’s not like the move was Stray’s idea; this came all the way from the top. Disney CEO Bob Iger wanted to boost the sagging ratings of his money-printing morning show, and he felt this was the best way to do it. “It’s a team. It’s ABC. It’s a group. It’s a family,” Strahan said during a talk at the 92nd St. Y on Monday, according to the Daily News. “I don’t look at it as if I’m leaving one show in a lurch. I look at it as if I’m needed in this part of the family for now. And that’s what it is.”
Yes, GMA makes about three times the money that Live! makes. Andy Cohen, though had a point on his satellite radio show when he said that you don’t “leave the greatest job in TV to be one of five people,” according to Page Six. “He was co-hosting Live! With Kelly and Michael. Your name is in the freaking title!”
Granted, Cohen is a Ripa buddy and on the shortlist of people to replace Strahan. But there’s a reason why Philbin did the show for almost 30 years and Ripa has been on for 15; the show gets shaped to your personality and you get to interact with the audience on a much more intimate level than on a morning news program like GMA, where most people watch in 15-to-30-minute bites while they get the kids ready for school or they get ready for work. Strahan might get lost in the shuffle, which is the opposite of what Disney intended with the move.
RELATED: Michael Strahan Exits Live! for Good Morning America
People love to see the dark underbelly of seemingly happy shows.
Even though we’ve seen examples of the cold business side of morning TV for decades, from Jane Pauley getting axed from Today for being “too old” to Ann Curry sobbing her way through her unceremonious departure from the same show two decades later to Rosie O’Donnell arguing her way off The View twice, we’re still shocked when we hear our morning BFFs don’t get along. So as soon as news of Ripa’s walk-off hit the press, stories of tension between her and Strahan started bubbling to the surface, and readers ate it up with both hands.
Why? Because, as comforting and convincing as it seemed that Kelly and Michael were truly friends on camera, hearing that they may have not been when the red light turned off, hearing dirt about a show and stars that have spent so much energy crafting certain images is even better. It makes us feel better about buying into the act, because we all know that people at work never get along that well, and we should have known better.
So Ripa is back, she’ll sit next to Strahan for the next few months weeks, then there’ll be another carousel of guest hosts until Gelman and ABC settle on someone else. This mini-scandal will fade. We won’t look at Live! quite the same way as we used to, but maybe that’s not a bad thing. Happy talk is helpful when you’re half-asleep, but reality is always more interesting.
Conversation72 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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C
Respectfully Ms. Ripa needs to get grounded. Her attempts to be like the rest of us everyday women comes no where near true life. Many of us work two full time jobs, don't even know what time is to put on makeup, take a vacation (don't have funds just trying to get by) and certainly when things present at work most working people men & women certainly can't just decide to walk away because we get offended. When I have viewed this program it has never been because I want to see Ms. Ripa or Mr. Strahan but what the program was going to view that day. Ms. Ripa you were blessed to be given such a job but your behavior reflects that of a temper tantrum and your expectations that others around you owe you something. Reality check everyone is replaceable. That's life. If you had to work in a job with long hours like many of the viewers you would realize this. I wish Mr. Strahan well on his next venture and it is hoped that Ms. Ripa would just move on. Remember do on to others as you would have them do unto you.
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I both agree and disagree. Kelly is very blessed more so than us "everyday" women....but that is EXACTLY what gives her the POWER to speak up--without the FEAR that us everyday folks have to contend with....
which is WHY I applaud her actions for standing up for herself--because hopefully in the long-run us everydayers will benefit. People deserve respect in the workplace. Period.6
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O
Serious question: do you think having random words in ALL CAPS is somehow emphasizing a point that you're trying to make? All it does is make your comment look like it was written by a teenager.
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Thank you for your valuable contribution to this discussion, Jorge.
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Kelly is lying and forgot when she quit "All My Children" playing diva that time also. You don't try to destroy someone else to make a point of you being a DIVA! Regis carried that show and she had Michael to carry the show the rest of the years. Kelly is in for a downfall that will be her own destruction and she can not handle the forces of the public disliking her. We all know it is jealousy! She wants totally monopoly and now she got it. But she lost something with many viewer like me. We know when you are sincere and we know when are are scripted to be a phony. Kelly grammar is not perfect enough to write that script. Unfortunately, the prompter can't give you emotion. She is heartless and narcissistic.
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R
What does that have to do with the conversation?
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C
I agree with Kelly. She deserved a heads up.
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G
why? ABC is Michael employer not Kelly. If I get a promotion or leaving my company I owe my co-workers no explanation its my career move just as its Michael Kelly does not need to know or approve anything.
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G
Do you even know what you're talking about? ABC took her sidekick away without telling her.
If you showed up to work and no coworkers there and no one told you a thing and it was published nationally you'd be fine?
Then, you are a doormat and that's what is sad.1
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O
Common courtesy. Which is highly lacking in the world today. ABC just proved it by not using any.
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Kelly name is on the production credits. She had a heads up - she just could not accept Michael promotion to full-time. It's called jealousy and narcissistic. She even said, "Michael has 28-jobs." Well maybe now he will only need three, Kelly.
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G
I agree Mimi. Had it been the average Joe/Josephine, we would have been let go for acting so infantile.
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G
Wow Mendez we all missed that one. Hmm! This make her behavior even more infantile.
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G
Yes, I could have been more respectful and I apologize but we still disagree. That's ok. I'll try to be better.
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O
Can't stand Ripa , Strahan saved that show, After Regis left and it was just her it was a sinking ship, Strahan kept it afloat, she can't carry an hour long show , count the number of times she checks herself out in the monitor in just one show ! She was so peeved when she found out Strahan was going to GMA part time she went ballastic that's why they waited to tell her , good luck to the next "co-host "
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Strahan has really bad teeth. And w/ all that $$$$, you would think he'd have his goofy looking teeth fixed. Or is he too busy buying Cadillacs and "wemen" Put a bright, front end, grill work on his pie hole!!
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C
Was that really necessary? Why do people like to tear down others? They made a good team. I can't speculate on what happened, but I can see her point. She brought him to the show when his career was down. I would have told her.
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R
Have a little issue with race, buddy?
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G
What's wrong with you? We have inherited traits our forparents had and passed on. It makes us, us. Imagine if the world had only Elm trees and roses. God made a variety of different shapes, colors, people, animals, foliage, etc. This world would be dull if everything looked and/or acted the same. A confindant person's strength comes from within, not by changing themselves to appease others. And, since no one knows what really happened on LIVE, I'll accept Kelly's statement. It'll be fun to see who'll gets the new job opening.
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O
He just has a space , doesn't mean his teeth are bad , and just my opinion but I think he's cute, he has that boyish charm
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C
Can't wait to see the show fold once Michael leaves. What exactly is Ripa's talent? Certainly not being a talk show host. The show will take a dive, and Michael will flourish on the morning show Good for him, he's got a great personality and carries the show.
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If she is so awful, why has she been on the show for 15 years--and moreover, why did you still watch her--can be just because of Michael.
Why do people have to be so MEAN?2
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G
I agree - Ripa's hissy fit made this all about her, instead of good news for Michael. She could have just spoken her concerns to the execs who didn't give her a heads up, but instead she stomped off like a child. Wonder if anyone else will be willing to work with her after this.
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I watched that show just because of Michael and after awhile I had to stop watching altogether because all I was seeing is Kelly Ripa cutting off Michael when he was speaking and turning every comment into something all about her. She turned every topic, every comment into something about her. It was disgusting. She has the delusion that it's all about her, some sort of princess, and my heart goes out to the next guy who has to put up with her.
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O
if U love him so much, tell him to get some dental work. He's not exactly a rocket scientist!
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G
Ripa's talent is talking about herself.
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G
um...but is Kelly? and was Regis...I don't think anyone has to be a 'rocket " scientist for that job. and your stereotyping about cadillacs and such was just plain dumb.
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I liked her on "All my children", Live, not as much even when she was with Regis. When I watched her and Michael, your post is so true and that was the reason I stopped watching them both. I do not think she's a bad person, but she has complex that is really selfish!
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P
They need to axe LIVE. Kelly Rippa is nothing but a Diva and Michael should be glad he is leaving. Without Michael the show would have folded when Regis left since Kelly doesn't have the pull to hold her own. Michael, thank your lucky stars you only have a few more weeks and good luck to you as I know you will do well on GMA.
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I can not believe you said that !!Kelly is quick witted,funny,smart,beautiful.has a wonderful personality. I never watched Live til she came to the show,and I love how she can make a bad morning turn good.I think she is a little ball of fire that knows what she is worth and goes for it..As far as Micheal,I am happy for him,but there is no way he "MADE" the show....
Hang in there Kelly.There are a lot of people who love you,and I know I would NOT watch if you were not on..Love you2
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R
It was all about the LACK of RESPECT - which she deserved!
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I agree...Kelly is awesome.
I think all of these haters are just jealous of her.1
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G
So........Why didn't she communicate this to ABC like a grown woman instead of acting like a two year old?
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O
Thank you Hard to Comprehend! Ask Oprah back for an hour and move all the other shows around until September 2016. Pay Ripa out and say good-bye!
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R
You have it all wrong. Kelly was foolish and her DIVA act is not about respect. We don't hate her or Disney. We feel sorry for her and that some psychiatrist has not placed her under medication for her acute case of "About Me!"
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I thought Kelly got a lot funnier after Regis left. She's quick witted and I think she had to hold back with Regis. The combination of Kelly with Michael was a great move IMO. He'll be missed.
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get out of my head. It was never about her standing for a cause. She had a temper tantrum and is now playing it off as a cause. She needs to go and take that "public address", I mean, "Kelly unrest acting like I am standing for a cause", behind and get somewhere. Anywhere but on T.V... with her all about me ......
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P
Think Kelly just received a wake-up call on how many, many employees are treated by their employers when it comes to a lack of respect. Time for all the Hollywood, TV, sports, news, music celebrities to realize the average job who keeps them in a job is treated this way most of the time.
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Great point! As a corporate slave for the last 35 years, I am glad when women stand up for themselves. We are all tired of being disrespected, but men have disrespected women for decades and have gotten away with it--and continue to do so. We should all stop taking it and perhaps someday it will end!
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C
True that! Women have always got the short end...but, as GP says, welcome to the real world. Its a rare employer that treats a worker bee with any respect, and in a NY minute will show anyone the door. Ratings = sales, and they just increased revenue and sales by causing this car wreck. Don't be naïve to think Disney/ABC didn't carefully think this through. They don't pay execs a $1/2M entry level to not crunch the numbers
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O
I find the worse bosses in the corporate world are women to women. Kelly was the boss to Michael not Gelman. Kelly ran Gelman; however, she apparently runs ABC and Disney. The slave actually is Michael. He forget the house slave is dumped just like the field slave.
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G
Ripa is the top dog on the show and she will not be overdone beat upstaged or anything that doesn't garner 'drama diva' status.
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In a regular job, another person leaving his job without telling his co-workers would not be a big deal (unless that person has a a major position). Well, for “Live,” it is a BIG deal — simply because Michael is a co-host of a TV show with his name on the title and a show that focuses on their chemistry. You would think Kelly and producer Gelman would be the 1st to be told of the move. There must be reasons why they were not told ahead of the announcement (at least a couple of days before). Who knows? Personally, if Michael isn’t happy in his role as co-host and doing bubble gum celebrity interviews, he should leave. But, I don’t think moving to GMA is a good move. He will get lost with all their talents in the long run.
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Both, Kelly and Michael bring smiles to faces everyday. They're human, with the same everyday issues we all deal with, yet are capable of pushing aside personal feelings to make us smile. Give credit where credit is due.
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Many, many people have disappeared from "Daytime TV" over many, many decades. Few are remembered. J Fred Muggs may have a higher Q Score than Ms. Ripa. What is important here is that the Industry is breaking down and apart and that is as it should be. Personalities in the industry are the active rents in the fraying fabric of the tents -- be they in New York or Hollywood or Burbank. America hardly needs people in an industry such as "Daytime Television" when it desperately needs women and men to drive UPS and FedEx trucks, work on civil, public and private infrasture, teach, nurse, and do all the jobs that we real live, everyday, regular average Americans do. Even the "Evening News" has disappeared from the importance scale of American life. The most that anyone needs in the morning or mid-morning is a weather report. America does not need three and four hour psychiatric sessions about how we should be living our lives. We should be out in the working world living them and not being told how to live them by people who's only contribution is taking up our electricity usage for an hour every morning. The likes of Ripa and all her ilk, peers, colleagues, et. al. need to be shut down and shut off. If "these people" are so attached to their coffee mugs, let them find employment in diners and cafes, Let them put in 8 or more hours a day on their feet instead of sitting on their asses.
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I think there is a lot going on here. Kelly is coming off like a child in her reaction to the issue rather then respond. I think the point she was trying to make was respect in the work place. I think that the working people of this country understand the need for more respect towards the companies work force. Regardless, both Kelly and ABC are behaving childish. I think that she should have been told earlier, however her comments on LIVE Tuesday seemed empty, no substance in her words, that all they were, words! I think in the long run this is going to back fire on Kelly. The working class people of this country would most definitely not be able to leave work like she did. Also with the type of power and the contract she is under, I am sure protects both parties under these types of situations. Look at it this way, this is entertainment, RIGHT so is this not entertaining??
Best of luck to Michael.1
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G
Kelly Ripa....Bye girl, bye! I will wait until they announce on Entertainment Tonight or some other show that you are gone before I watch this show again.
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B
ShaRonda - Love your replay. I just unfriend, "Live" Disney Channel and Kelly pages on Facebook. They can cancel Live tomorrow and I would not watch. I feel sorry for Rachael Ray and The View because people are so angry I talk too- they changed and are watching other channels. I understand. I watch 95 Weather Channel from 5-2 today. I hated Regis and never watched until Michael came on. Michael and his mother made it more real and personable.
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O
I love Kelly and I have never been much of a fan of Michael, so I am not sorry to see him go. I used to be a die hard GMA fan, but in recent years I have moved over to CBS so I won't have to see much of Michael anymore. Good luck Kelly, and thanks for making Live so much fun to watch!
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O
Thank you - so glad to see a post from someone else that sees it as I do.....
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G
why Kelly thinks Michael has to clear his career moves with her? she does not pay his salary. He owes her no explanation! I have switch jobs a number of times and there are times my co-workers did not know I was leaving until the last day my employer was given proper notice and rightfully so but I owe my co-workers nothing.
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B
All Kelly does is watch herself on the TV monitor. She's so self-absorbed and believes the show is all about her and no one else. I watched only because of Michael. She can't stand the competition. I won't be watching once he leaves but I also believe Disney has made a serious mistake moving him to Good Morning America. He won't be nearly as visible and he made Kelly and Michael so enjoyable to watch.
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If ABC is so worried about their GMA ratings, why don't they tone things down a bit! I stopped watching because there is always background noise/music playing and I sometimes don't hear everything the commentators are saying! Plus, I feel like they are very biased politically and feel that a morning show should be about both sides, certainly not just one. Just sayin'......
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G
I think you all are missing the picture here. She is in love with him!
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C
Oh Geez Louise……who the h*ll does she think she is? Get over it and move on you skinny little Prima Donna.
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P
Too needy. Too precious.
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G
The show was never the same after Regis left. If Regis had just had a series of guest co-hosts with whom to chat each morning, it would have been a vast improvement from two very arrogant hosts, Kelly and Michael. Maybe it's time for something new but not a third hour of "GMA". If I watch morning news, "CBS Morning" and "The Today Show" are much better.
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G
I honestly believe that Kelly is SOOO HIGH strung and SPOILED, that it flows out intot he media and TV land! Just sayin..........
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B
Dear American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Disney Production Company and Gelman I wish to serve notice that my television will not be on the Channel 7 for a while-shame on you. When production memos go out - look at the credits for each show-Kelly Ripa Consuelo is on that list. It is horrendous that you allow Mrs. Kelly Consuelo and her legal team to carry out such outrageous stay off! Not since I watch "ROOTs" for the first time have I been so appalled at such wicked conduct as Kelly Ripa-Consuelo. Mrs. Consuelo you left "All My Children", Regis left "Live." Gelman to allow Kelly to make Michael the escape-goat is not going to work with your morning audience / or later audience. Trust me Michael Straham deserves better than to work for you group of people. All he does is as Kelly said, "Michael works 28 jobs." Well Kelly when your ratings drop over the next two weeks, people unfriendly your Facebook page, Twitters are non-favorable even after all your talking about Michael's graduation and going away to college then not even then are your ratings moving backup. You pre-filmed that segment because her hair was less textured later. Where was Michael. There is a price Gelman you are going to pay for the back-stabbing to Michael Straham. Remember no weapon that is said is going to prosper against Michael Straham because he did nothing wrong. Oh Foolish Generation that will not listen to sound doctrine of truth. A liar will never prevail. You will not prevail to destroy this man career. Mr. Cooper please stay away from Mrs. Consuelo - stay far away! She is now like "Black ink spot on a White Sheet."
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O
Your grammar and spelling are horrendous. This whole post is full of hate and makes no sense at all. You seem jealous of her. And quite interested in making it about you....it takes a diva to accuse another diva.
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R
If Kelly deserved any respect which is questionable-she lost it with her unprofessional exhibition of making this all about her "slight". What ever happened to a gracious congratulations as in" I am happy for you and wish you much success?" Instead it became all about poor little Kelly as she seems to think the world revolves around her. Daily she reiterates where she went , what restaurant , theatre, event. This is in addition to her wonderful children and their agendas and her frequent reference to how tiny she is. I do not hear other TV hosts pouring out a wealth of unnecessary and egocentric information. Kelly comes across as arrogant and selfish.
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R
I watched the show off and on when Regis played Batman to Kelly's Robin. There didn't seem to be a lot of chemistry between her an the Strayhan fellow. Kelly doesn't make a good Batman.
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O
This little diva's move the other day just reminded me why I can not stand her! I quit watching after Regis left, she turned my stomach then, but I liked him. Get a grip little miss me give me mine. Your heads a bit tooooo big for your body. You could have handled this quite differently and don't think that any of us normal people would have gotten away with such shenanigans. Just goes to show that celebrities think they are so privileged and some are just whiners that throw tantrums. But there is nothing like airing your dirty laundry huh }!{
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O
I can' agree more. Strahan comes more sincerely and less full of himself. I can only imagine what it would be like to be married to Kelly. High maintenance is an understate. Kind of like Donald Trump. Now that's a scary story.
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G
Kelly does not even use Mark's name. You see there is still going to be consequences with Mark correcting her grammar on National Television. Do you notice that this Michael things started right after that! Mark you are next. It good Mark are always out-of-town!
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O
Seriously, who really gives a rat's azz!! GET A LIFE!!
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O
I haven't paid enough attention to understand the circumstances behind this brouhaha, but could the real problem be that Ms Ripa is upset they didn't select her for GMA over the more junior Mr Strahan?
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G
Just wait until Robin Roberts gets ahold of Michael ,He will be better with Kelly ,Michael was not anything but a ex football player.
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C
Kelly and Michael are great together and watched whole show almost everyday while getting day started. GMA bored me to tears and would end up turning on music instead. Too much news. Depressing. Only one on that show worth watching is Lara Spencer. The rest are flat, dull, or too sappy. Strahan won't help that group, and the way Disney did Live I won't ever turn on GMA again. Best of luck to Kelly. Her show will thrive.
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O
At least buy the Bubble head and never a Blonde" Ya think?
some Boobs then Brains, matters little the Order on this
can you just say pancakes?
Big Michael is a up and comer
Kelly is just sad" lol
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P
I've been watching Live for a long time and I have always thought Michael and Kelly have great chemistry together and they really make you laugh. Whatever their relationship is like off the show--who cares. They are funny together and shouldn't be broken up.
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G
I agree with you Mrs. or Mr. Humble she need to Thank God that she does have job like that where you can come back whenever you decide too. Cause like you said if I would have done that somebody with out a doubt would have been smiling the next day at 9:00 a.m. on T.V. I think he wants to move on cause Kelly was getting a little too close with Michael and he's happy with his girlfriend wife whatever and she can't rub on those big hands no more. So suck it up, stop using that fake smile like your not still mad, and go on about your business, and be happy for him, I hope he does really well.
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