Michael Strahan has finished his last day as co-host of ‘Live!’ alongside Kelly Ripa, in an episode packed with memories, montages and farewell messages.
On Friday (May 13th), the former NFL pro completed his last episode filming ‘Live! with Kelly and Michael’, the show on which he’s served since 2012 and is leaving for fellow ABC show ‘Good Morning America’.
The 44 year old presenter and 45 year Ripa came out on-stage together holding hands, to massive applause from the audience. “We did it. We made it out here at least!” the departing host greeted the crowd.
Michael Strahan and Kelly Ripa in 2015’s Halloween edition of ‘Live!’
“Guys, hi! Don’t take this as a bad sign. It’s Friday the 13th! But you said 13 is a lucky number,” Ripa said, speaking to Strahan. “Thirteen is a lucky number. I am happy. I am not 6 feet under. I am 6’5″ above the ground!” Strahan replied.
“It is your final day on the show. We all came today to celebrate you,” Ripa continued. “And we want to remind the audience that there is a run on discounted merchandise at the kiosk. For these collectors’ items!” she said, holding up their branded ‘Live! with Kelly and Michael’ mugs.
More: Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan accused of ‘faking’ their on-air chemistry
In a story that made headlines last month, Ripa was reportedly so upset at Stahan’s decision to leave the show that she didn’t appear again for an entire week, before returning having straightened things out with her co-host and the production team.
Later in the show, Strahan spoke of his “bittersweet” feelings of leaving the show where he made his name in the entertainment industry, having retired from his football career with the New York Giants in 2008.
“Of course you get nervous and I’ve done this for four years so this is a moment that I didn’t anticipate being here at this point, but it’s here and we’re going to enjoy it,” he said. “I’m not dying! I’m still in the family! And I’m still available to come back if I’m ever called to co-host so I’m not going anywhere. I’m not gone.”
He starts his new role with ‘Good Morning America’ in September, having been credited with significantly boosting ‘Live!’s ratings since joining four years ago.
“I don’t like a big thing to do about it,” Strahan finished his brief monologue. “I think that we come out here every day and we do our host chat and we make people laugh, I think that’s what we need to do right now, forget all the other formalities and get on with the show.”
More: Kelly Ripa returns to ‘Live!’ alongside Michael Strahan after a week’s absence
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