Michael Strahan may soon be joining the cast of Good Morning America according to unnamed sources with knowledge of ABC’s plans for the flagship morning show.
Strahan currently co-hosts the network’s Live with Kelly and Michael, which runs right after GMA.
On Wednesday, Strahan assured Live viewers that he wouldn’t be leaving cohost Kelly Rippa’s side anytime soon: “I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here on Live, okay?”
He did, however, confirm he’s been talking with network executives about joining GMA, adding that “I don’t think I could do an everyday thing.”
Strahan, who played for the New York Giants from 1993-2007, would appear during the first hour of GMA, an arrangement that would afford him plenty of time to make it to the Live studio. GMA airs from 7:00 am and Live at 9:00 am.
GMA is currently coanchored by Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos. Amy Robach is news anchor, Lara Spencer is lifestyle anchor, and Ginger Zee is weather forecaster.
The addition of Strahan to the GMA cast would balance out the male-female ratio.
Josh Elliott left his role as news anchor for NBC Sports just last week and Sam Champion left for The Weather Channel in December after seven years as GMA’s weather anchor.
In a staff memo regarding Robach’s succession of Elliott as news anchor, ABC News president Ben Sherwood wrote “In the days ahead, there will be more good news on the show, so stay tuned.”
The network announced on March 24 that Sherwood would replace Anne Sweeney as Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks and President, Disney/ABC Television Group effective February 2015.
On now: @realbdw on pulling out of @DancingABC last night #GMADancing pic.twitter.com/U5oaNXwp5M
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 1, 2014
In the press release, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger cited Sherwood’s success with GMA:
“Ben is one of those unique executives who combine rich creative experience with great business acumen. He’s also focused, strategic, and competitive, as evidenced by the success of GMA, the Yahoo deal that delivered ABC News online dominance, and his vision behind our new cable and digital joint venture, Fusion. These reasons, and many others, make Ben the ideal candidate to oversee the future of the Disney/ABC Television Group.”
As of the end of March, industry sources ranked GMA as the number one morning news program for the second straight year in both total viewers and adult viewers age 25-54.
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