Michael Strahan Quits ‘Live‘ For ‘Good Morning America’: Who Will Be Kelly Ripa’s New Co-Host?
Michael Strahan is leaving Live after four years on the job. The former New York Giants defensive end and Fox NFL analyst will exit the morning chat fest Live! With Kelly and Michael this summer to move over to Good Morning America, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Strahan has appeared on GMA as a correspondent twice a week since 2014, and he will begin his full-time duties on the ABC morning news show in September alongside Robin Roberts, Lara Spencer, Ginger Zee, George Stephanopoulos, and the rest of the GMA cast.
ABC News President James Goldston described Strahan as “a stellar addition” to the GMA broadcast, praising him as “a tireless and versatile broadcaster with an incredible ability to connect with people.” Goldston also gave Michael Strahan props for his skills as an interviewer and for his “warmth and quick wit.”
In his own statement about the surprising move, Michael Strahan called his move to the early morning show “bittersweet.”
“My time with Live with Kelly and Michael has been transformative, and my departure will be bittersweet. Kelly has been an unbelievable partner, and I am so thankful to her and the entire team. I am extremely grateful for the amazing support I’ve received from all of the fans.”
Michael Strahan was chosen as Kelly Ripa’s Live co-host after an exhaustive 10-month audition process following longtime host Regis Philbin’s retirement in 2011. Philbin headed the show for 28 years, most notably with longtime co-host Kathie Lee Gifford.
ON THIS DAY in 2000, @KathieLGifford made her final appearance as co-host of Live with Regis & Kathie Lee. pic.twitter.com/FrEpUtBuFK
— Stan Melton (@BrownBagDC) July 28, 2015
But after Strahan was cast as Regis’ replacement, his chemistry with Ripa resulted in a ratings spike for the morning chatfest, so it will definitely be hard to fill his shoes. With Strahan out, Live will begin the audition process for his chair once again this fall, but it probably won’t be a quick pick. Fans surely recall the show’s 2011 auditions, which featured a rotating lineup of guest hosts for months. Strahan was the front-runner after co-hosting with Ripa more than a dozen times before he landed the job.
In addition to Strahan, singer Josh Groban had great chemistry with Ripa during the auditions. The singer even told Vanity Fair that hosting with Kelly was more fun than a lot of other things he has done in the past.
“[Kelly] makes it so easy, and we’ve just had a really wonderful friendship and a great chemistry, so it’s been a lot of fun to wake up early for,” Groban said at the time.
Ditto for Nick Lachey, who went so far as to serenade Ripa in the hopes of getting the co-hosting gig. Lachey pleaded his case to the tune of Barry Manilow’s “Mandy,” which ultimately had a smitten Ripa ordering producers to get him the contract.
Of course, some fans have long wanted Kelly’s husband, Mark Conseuelos, to take on the role. While Mark has served as a guest co-host multiple times (just as Regis’ wife, Joy, did many times back in the day), his wife is not having it. Ripa previously told Vanity Fair her marriage would never survive a joint daily hosting gig.
But before Michael Strahan was named for the job, Kelly did dish on her dream co-host.
“I would have to say…if it could be anyone in the universe [it] would be Anderson Cooper,” the Live host said in 2011.
Of course, Michael Strahan fans are bummed he’s leaving Live, but at least they’ll be able to see him on Good Morning America every day now. In the meantime, Live needs to start rounding up some guest hosts. So, is Regis still available?
Take a look at the video below to see Michael Strahan in action on Live — literally.
[Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images]
