It’s a new day! Live with Kelly and Michael changed to Live with Kelly on Monday, May 16, following Michael Strahan’s exit.
The former NFL player, 44, said his goodbyes when he filmed the daytime talk show for the final time last Friday. This fall, he will be joining Good Morning America full-time.
“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,” Strahan said during the broadcast on May 13. “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.”
Strahan’s departure news didn’t go over as smoothly. As previously reported, Kelly Ripa, 45, felt blindsided and took a sick day after finding out. She addressed the audience in a lengthy monologue when she returned on April 26.
“What transpired though over the course of a few days has been extraordinary in the sense that it started a much greater conversation about communication and consideration and, most importantly, respect in the workplace,” she said at the time. “And since we’re being honest, I don’t consider this just a workplace. This is my second home. This is a place that I’ve devoted myself to not just because of you, our loyal viewers, but because of all of the producers and the crew who work on this show. We have an incredible team.”
Despite the drama, it was back to work for Ripa on Monday. Her first guest cohost? Jimmy Kimmel. The late-night TV personality wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room.
“Where’s Michael?” he asked.
Ripa replied: “Oh that’s right, you don’t read newspapers.”
Kimmel then spoke to EP Michael Gelman. “Will you ever talk to Michael Strahan again? Will he be back on the show as a guest?” he asked. Gelman said “yes” and “maybe.”
Watch the video above!
