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Kelly Ripa’s pal Andy Cohen weighs in on Michael Strahan leaving ‘Live’ for ‘Good Morning America’
In case you’ve been following the controversy, Kelly Ripa returned to Live With Kelly & Michael this morning and said: ‘Our long national nightmare is over.’
I thought she handled it all beautifully and seems justified in being upset that ABC chose to inform her that she’d be losing her co-host, Michael Strahan, to Good Morning America only a short time – like hours – the change was made public.
She didn’t take kindly to being left out of the loop of a show she’s co-hosted for 15 years – the first 10 with Regis Philbin.
While Kelly said today she’s happy for Strahan and his new gig as one of GMA’s new co-hosts ( see video below), Ripa’s pal Andy Cohen let loose on his Sirius radio show yesterday and basically said he thinks Strahan is crazy to leave such a plum gig.
‘You know, when I look at this whole situation, it’s worth nothing, the two of them, Kelly and Michael, they had such great chemistry. And I’m just looking at this and it just seems like a premature end to a great relationship that ended way too prematurely.
“The thing that no one is talking about is, to me, is that the job of co-hosting Live! is the greatest job in TV … You keep that job. You don’t go anywhere. So I can’t get over that he left Live! where he was co-hosting Live! With Kelly and Michael. Your name is in the freakin’ title! You can spend your life here! You can spend 15 years here and make serious bank, by the way.
‘He left and went to GMA. He is now one of five people sitting at that crowded anchor desk. It’s like 18 co-anchors and here’s my thing: What happens if the ratings don’t go up? What happens if there’s not a pickup? Then what’s going to happen to that sweet man? Honestly! Because by then she’ll have a new co-host. I don’t know. I just don’t see how you leave the greatest team in TV to be one of five people.’
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Larry says:
Kelly Ripa needs to be fired for leaving her job and having Michael Strahan to co host while she “needed time to re-group” in the Hamptons after the media announced that Michael was going to GMA. No one knows why the ABC execs wanted Michael Strahan solely for GMA and not her but Kelly really behaved unprofessional by leaving her job when the news was announced. She acted like a baby that didn’t get what she wanted…”Oh I wasn’t the first one told poor me”. Grow up Kelly.
K. Martinez says:
“In case you’ve been following the controversy” How can you not be following the controversy? It’s been plastered all over the media.
@Larry, She didn’t leave her job. She was on a “pre-planned” vacation and took a couple of extra days off. ABC should’ve given her a heads up well before the public was informed. And what does her going to the Hamptons have to do with it? Just because she’s rich doesn’t mean she’s immune to disappointment and hurt. Also in the corporate world it’s not unusual for employees to be given time off after being given bad news by their employers. My company gave me a couple of days off just after I was informed my job was ending in a few months. They wanted me to have time off to clear my head and comeback committed to finishing the job. Kelly’s absence is being made to big a deal of, but it sells in the media.
Jim says:
Kelly made her point and I applaud her for the way she handled it. Michael should have kept both gigs. He has a boatload of great gigs, for goodness sake! He should have come to Kelly FIRST, you need to keep your friends—especially on live TV.
Larry says:
People know good and well Michael doesn’t have the power to move from one ABC show to another but that he is being forced too by ABC. ABC execs told Michael to keep his move a secret TMZ said. I personally think Michael was fired from Kelly and Michael and the media is just calling it a move but the way Kelly behave like it was ALL about her was just childish and made me completely disinterested in ever watching the show. DO any of you seriously believe Michael just walked away from his multi million dollar contract from Kelly & Michael??? That sounds so ridiculous of course he didn’t, he was forced out and yet Kelly is the one playing the victim when Michael is the one that got the boot SMH.