Michael Strahan may be counting down the days until he exits Live With Kelly & Michael.
The retired NFL star and ABC personality joined the talk show as Kelly Ripa‘s co-host in 2012 and is slated to leave on May 13 to join Good Morning America full-time. The network had told Ripa about the shakeup earlier this month, not long before informing the public, and E! News has learned she was “livid” about being kept in the dark.
Ripa went on a four-weekday absence from Live! and since her return, there has been visible tension and awkwardness between her and Strahan. E! News had learned the pair’s relationship was tense long before the recent drama.
When asked how he was feeling about things winding down at Live!, Strahan told People magazine Tuesday, “Great. Looking forward to it.”
Strahan’s exit from Live! will come months ahead of schedule. A show spokesperson had announced his earlier departure date the day Ripa returned from her absence, saying that “after meeting with the producers of both Live and Good Morning America, and after speaking with Kelly and Michael, we have decided on a plan that best advantages both shows for the future.”
Strahan’s earlier departure date, the spokesperson added, gives the show the chance to “immediately begin the on-air search for a new co-host.”
When he was chosen to join Live!, he was one of several celebrities who had guest-hosted the series before. It is expected such stars will fill in this time as well and that one of them will be chosen as Ripa’s new co-host.
ABC announced recently Jimmy Kimmel, host of the network’s late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, will be the first celebrity to assume guest co-hosting duties after Strahan leaves.
Ripa acknowledged Strahan’s departure this week during Tuesday morning’s episode, which drew some booing from the audience. She said May 13 would mark a special farewell episode for him.
“We’ll remember. We’ll reminisce. We’re going to look back at the fun times we’ve had together—wait till you see all the stuff that we’ve done, you’re not going to believe it,” she told him. “So join us for Michael’s Flashback Friday Farewell on Friday the 13th.”
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