It’s Friday the 13th, at last. After four years of cohosting Live With Kelly and Michael, outgoing star Michael Strahan‘s final day has arrived. Us Weekly follows along with all of the antics, which Strahan’s longtime cohost, Kelly Ripa, previewed earlier this month.
On the eve of his exit, Strahan told Us Weekly at an event in NYC that he would miss “so many things” about the show. Off screen, the two have maintained a frosty relationship since Strahan shocked everyone (including Ripa) last month when he announced he was departing Live to join Good Morning America full-time come September.
Keep up with Us below as we provide live updates from Friday’s episode.
9:01 a.m. ET: Kelly and Michael Enter the Room
Strahan and Ripa walked out holding hands triumphantly.
“We did it,” Strahan said. “We made it out here, at least.”
“Guys, guys, don’t take this as a bad sign,” Ripa told the audience as she cozied up to Strahan in their chairs. “It’s Friday the 13th. … It’s your final day on the show.”
“I am happy. I am not 6 feet under,” Strahan replied. “Six feet, five inches above the ground. So I’m happy. It’s another day.”
9:02 a.m.: Kelly Mentions Discounted Merchandise
“We came to celebrate with you. And we want to remind the audience that there is discounted merchandise at the kiosk for these collector’s items,” Ripa joked. Executive producer Michael Gelman then joined the conversation and made an uplifting note about the supposed mercy. “We doubled the price,” Gelman said.
Strahan then got sentimental. “This is a moment that I didn’t anticipate being here, at least at this point. But it’s here. And we’re going to enjoy it,” the former NFL player 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 cohost. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not gone. So, there we go.”
9:03 a.m. ET: Kelly Says Michael Can Fill in for Her
Ripa then joked that her outgoing cohost can return when she goes on vacation. “You could fill in for me. I start vacation in a couple of weeks,” the mom of three quipped. “So I’ll let you know.”
“I don’t know about that,” Strahan replied. “Do they say too soon? Yes.”
9:11 a.m.: Michael’s “Flashback Friday Farewell”
Ripa eventually transitioned into a segment that looked back at Strahan’s finest moments on the program.
“And as part of ‘Michael’s flashback Friday farewell,’ this is your flashback here now. Here we go,” she shared. “Stories, dancing, eating, playing, games, trending topics and surprises are just some of the things that make up the part of the show we call this, ‘Host chat.’ These are the first 20 minutes of the show. Sometimes 13, sometimes 27. We get to sit here and talk about the day’s events and what’s new in our lives and it’s become a signature of our show. And as a matter of fact, a lot of shows, by the way. It really has. So now, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable ‘Host chat’ moments we have had together.”
9:23 a.m.: Matt Bomer Thanks Michael, Calls Kelly ‘the Best in the Business’
Ripa’s close pal Bomer sat down to chat with the cohosts on Friday, and he kicked off the interview by thanking Strahan for his contributions. “I’ve got to get a little sappy to start this off, and thank Michael helping the great unrequited love of my show, Kelly Ripa, host this show so well,” the Nice Guys actor said to the cohosts. “It’s been a pleasure doing this show for four years. Whether you’re here looking all dapper or in a gold lamé thong on Magic Mike. You always conduct yourself with great intelligence and generosity and I wish you the best.” (Strahan appeared alongside Bomer in 2015’s Magic Mike XXL.)
Bomer then gave a shout-out to Ripa. “My girl is the best in the business. And I’m so excited to see how the show goes,” Bomer said. “And it’s all good.”
“Thank you,” Ripa replied. “You’re so sweet. Oh, my God, you’re the best. When Matt Bomer shines his ray of light on you, don’t you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot?”
9:45 a.m.: A Look Back at Michael’s Finest Moments
“On September 4, 2012, this man right here, bolted into the studio. You remember? Yeah. And a new chapter of the Live story began,” Ripa reminisced. “During the past few years, we’ve had a lot of fun. We’ve mad made a lot of memories and we’ve even learned a thing or two about Michael Strahan. Michael, this is your life.”
A montage then played of Strahan’s most memorable moments, highlighting his willingness to try anything on camera once. The flashback recounted Strahan dressing up in a costume from Broadway’s Kinky Boots, participating in a Tough Mudder competition live on air and meeting his own life-size wax figure on the show.
The segment concluded by replaying part of Strahan’s first day as the official cohost of Live. “A lot has happened. A lot has happened,” he said with a smile after watching the piece.
9:56 a.m.: Kelly Gifts Michael With a Photo Book of Memories
“Look at all we did together,” Ripa told Strahan as she began to flip through the photo album. “I mean, we did everything together. … I just want to say on behalf of myself and all of us, we couldn’t be prouder of you.”
“You have given us so much joy in the mornings, from your smile to your sense of humor to your horrible French accent,” she continued with a laugh. “We really are so, so proud of you. We’ve achieved so much together. And I look forward to watching you every morning and seeing what else you achieved over at Good Morning America.”
9:57 a.m.: Michael Says Goodbye
After Ripa shared her sweet sentiments with Strahan, he concluded the show by expressing his gratitude for his cohost as well as Live‘s loyal viewers.
“I just want to say — and I just want to — it’s very bittersweet for me. I want to say thank you to everybody. I mean, it’s amazing. You come here and you guys have let me into your homes the last four years every day and I didn’t know what to expect coming from sports to daytime television,” he emotionally recalled. “And you guys opened up your hearts to me and you opened up your homes to me and it’s been so overwhelming with the response that we’ve had over the last four years that you guys have loved this show. And it means the world that you give us an hour of your day and what you don’t realize, we get more from that hour than we really do. We sit in front of a live audience who I always say during our commercial breaks, they are the third cohost of the show.”
“The energy that they bring really makes this show work. And it is not about myself. It’s not about you. It’s about everybody here,” the former NFL star added. “We have incredible staff here. We have from the producers to the staff to the crew. They make sure we’re always prepared that we can come out here and put on a great show for you guys.”
