Kelly Ripa bailed on Wednesday’s Live with Kelly and Michael after news that her co-host, Michael Strahan was leaving the program to take a full time position at another ABC show, Good Morning America. It turns out she had planned to take Friday and Monday off to take a “previously scheduled vacation.”
According to a show spokesperson, FOX Sports personality and Dancing with the Stars co-host Erin Andrews will step in for Kelly on Thursday and Friday, while Pretty Little Liars actress Shay Mitchell is set to co-host Monday’s edition.
There is no word on when Kelly will return to her co-hosting duties.
According to several reports, Kelly and the rest of the Live staff were “blindsided,” only learning of Michael’s impending departure minutes before ABC made the official announcement. SNL alum Ana Gasteyer stepped in for the absent Kelly at the last minute.
“I’m leaving this show,” Michael announced to the Live audience Wednesday. “I’m going over to GMA full time, which is going to happen in September.” He reminded producers that although he’d be working for GMA, he would always be available to guest host. But don’t hold your breath. Apparently he and Kelly had not been getting along for some time. And by all accounts she’s furious with him for not confiding the news.
Michael didn’t thank Kelly during his initial remarks. Maybe he thought better of not mentioning her or had completely forgotten. In any case, he ended the show by saying, “I really want to thank, of course, Kelly Ripa. Kelly welcomed me here, and I’ve learned so much from her. She’s just been an amazing influence on me and this has truly changed my life to be here with her.”
Will Kelly return to Live on Tuesday? Stay tuned for the continuing saga, guaranteed to provide the popcorn worthy gossip all summer long.
