I saw Live with Michael and Kelly yesterday and while I haven’t watched this show enough to have a frame of reference it looked like things were back to normal. They came out holding hands, they were joking around about eyelash extensions and butt padding and they seemed to have a great rapport. At times Kelly looked uncomfortable but you had to be looking for it. If it wasn’t for all the stories you wouldn’t know that they were having issues and that Michael is leaving in just two weeks. They never brought it up. He’s leaving early though, whether that was due to Kelly throwing a fit or just an executive decision it’s hard to tell. Kelly’s issue seems to be more with the ABC executives who kept her out of the loop than with Michael, who was just following orders not to tell her. Kelly is said to still be playing hardball at ABC after staying away for five days. Us is reporting that she’s threatened to quit if she doesn’t get one of her friends, either Anderson Cooper or Andy Cohen, to cohost.
A source exclusively reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly that Kelly Ripa “is talking about leaving” Live with Kelly and Michael after Michael Strahan announced his exit from the show for a permanent gig at Good Morning America. (Strahan was originally supposed to make the move in September, but the show announced this week that his last day on air will be May 13.)
Although Ripa, 45, returned to the show after a four-episode hiatus Tuesday, April 26, the source says she still feels “blindsided” that producers and Strahan, 44, broke the news to her just moments before the April 19 public announcement: “She considers it a sign of disrespect.”
Now, the 15-year Live vet will wait to see who producers seat beside her to help weigh her options for the future. They’re considering actor Jerry O’Connell, says the source, but Ripa “hopes Anderson Cooper or Andy Cohen gets the job.”
Unfortunately, it’s not likely that one of Ripa’s pals will come aboard, due to their prior commitments (the CNN journalist is covering the election and the Watch What Happens Live host is under contract with Bravo), so the show may not go on for Ripa. Says the source, “Unless one of them can come on, she doesn’t really want to do it.”
This is likely a negotiation tactic to make sure that Kelly has a say this time, because if she really means this it’s short-sighted for a couple of reason. One, just because she’s good friends with someone (she has known both Cooper and Cohen for years) does not mean they’re the best choice for a co-host. Working with a friend can bring up all sorts of problems you wouldn’t have with someone you only know in a professional capacity. And two, both of those guys are super busy with their own shows as US points out. This sounds like Kelly is just trying to get her way, but keep in mind that it could also be a planted story meant to make her look like a diva. We know the network is not above that, think of how TMZ got the news that Kelly’s finances are overextended.
People reports that both Cooper and Cohen will come on as guest hosts following Strahan’s exit and that additional hosts will include Josh Groban and Seth Meyers. It’s unknown when a permanent host will be chosen and a source tells People “They’re prepared to keep cycling people through even if its not resolved by the fall.”
E! Online has a think piece about this while debacle. (I really like their editorials lately, they seem to be going in a new direction.) They have quotes from a media expert who says that the way this has played out so far “it looks like Kelly won” against the network. Their source also gives ABC credit for letting Kelly say her piece at the beginning of her return show and not trying to censor or pre-tape her remarks. Also, Bellamy Young of “Scandal” was a guest on Tuesday’s show and she said that although there was tension backstage it all felt completely professional during her interview.
Kathy Lee Gifford, who was replaced by Kelly on Live 15 years ago after she put in 15 years with Regis, has some advice for Kelly which sounds like delicious shade. She said “Be totally professional. I would keep anything that is going on between you private. It’s nobody’s business but yours. But always, always be professional at your job. That’s what you’re hired to do.” You know Kathy does not consider it professional to take a bunch of days off work and then insist that a friend be hired to work with you.
Photos credit: WENN.com and screenshots from ABC
Goodbye, don’t let the door hit you!
Agreed.
She only has one year left on her contract.
I think this story was definitely planted by Kelly’s people. If they don’t hire Anderson and the ratings aren’t great with the next host, the show will be cancelled.
Kelly has burned bridges with this crap.
Come on — it’s demeaning to refer to AC and AC just “her friends” — they’re both very popular TV hosts, they’re gay and likeable, they’re famous and attractive, they have long track records in TV.
They’d both certainly bring a hipness that MS didn’t. I might even watch the show if either came on.
The bosses aren’t hip enough to get that, of course, so expect the worse.
Why would Anderson Cooper or Andy Cohen want this gig? This isn’t Cohen’s thing at all. Cooper – I guess I can see that a bit more, but what a waste if he is supposed to sit and talk about butts and makeup. Kelly seems like an ungrateful little twit who needs to remember where she would be without Regis Philbin.
I doubt Cooper would go back to this. He started out hosting the Mole on ABC many years ago. It took him years to climb out of that. Why would he go back?
Oh please…20 million a year? For what??
I hope Anderson..who is a serious journalist…does NOT take this job. It’s meaningless and would seriously jeopardize his integrity and credibility. Please Anderson don’t do it.
It’s a nothing show. Anyone can do it.
A self-absorbed monster has been created. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is trying to get her husband as co-host. My vote – revamp the show and get two new co-hosts.
That’s a super risky move that would cost the network big time. Kelly is already established and has fans. Even if they brought in two awesome people that have chemistry, it would essentially be a brand new show and would need to regain the traction it loses when Kelly leaves. I think she’s right to choose the new co-host within reason, (her choices are WELL within reason — AC, Andy Cohen and NPH would be GREAT). It took a very awkward year of on-air interviews for them to find Michael. I don’t blame her for not wanting to go through that BS again, especially after what ABC just did to her.
People Mag seems to be her go-to source for leaks, not US Mag. So I don’t believe this came from Kelly at all.
I think actually Jerry O’Connell would be great because he has two little girls and has a lot of cute parenting stories, and so can be more relatable for the stay-at-home moms, who make up a big majority of the viewers, I would imagine. Plus, he is funny.
Rebecca, his wife, was really pushing him. She also brought up he was a true New Yorker and this show still has that NYC feel, just broadcast everywhere. I kind of agree that a New Yorker would be great.
I don’t know if this particular story is true, but Kelly recently gave US an exclusive photo of her anniversary vacation with Mark so she does definitely leak things to US.
I could see Jerry O’Connell as a co-host, for sure…this seems a little beneath Anderson Cooper, frankly, and I actually like Andy Cohen but don’t see this as the right fit/audience for him. I don’t know, if Kelly is really pushing for the two of them, it doesn’t seem like she’s thinking about the success of the show as much as what she personally wants.
Well, Andy loves to gossip and loves celebrity and so would be an interested interviewer, not phoning that part in. And like Regis Philbin, who every morning had a new story about where he was out and about the night before, Andy is the same way. He lives and breathes NYC and loves the town and is always going and doing. So in that sense, he would do a good job, and he has a fun-loving charm that comes across on screen. He adores his rescue dog, so would have cute stories, and loves his parents, who come up in stories also.
He might be overloaded with the things he’s going on his plate already, though.
Everything I’ve seen Jerry O’Connel in recently, he’s looked AWFUL. In the Veronica Mars movie, even my husband was like “WHAT HAPPENED?!”. He’s looking like a caricature of himself lately.
I wasn’t even thinking of Jerry O’Connell, but YES that would be perfect.
The thing with co-hosting, as mentioned above, is that you may not want to co-host with someone who is already a good friend. I think it would be tricky to do that and still create a welcoming feeling for the audience. You can’t really have in-jokes or “Remember the time when….” (as amusing and interesting as those stories may be!) because the audience would feel left out.
Ratings drama or exit strategy here. See what revolving auditions for The View have done for it? The whole ABC morning line-up is old, old, old.
I give this show a year before it’s replaced with something younger and more culturally and socially diverse and Kelly is left to bash it out on The Real Housewives of New York for some relevancy.
Anderson Cooper? As if, you spoilt little twit. How insulting to Anderson Cooper. Ugh, quit then. Who cares?
Right? As if. It just shows how out of touch her sense of her place in entertainment is.
Yeah I can’t see that happening AT ALL.
And if it did, imagine the meltdown she’ll have when she realized she wouldn’t be top dog?
I’ve been saying for years that this woman was obnoxious and fake…and everything as of late is just continuing to validate that.
You got a raw deal. Move on with it like an adult. I’m not giving her extra lee-way because we both have a uterus.
And everyone who said ‘oh who can’t take off a few days of sick time?’ – well guess what? The American Company I work for rolled out this lovely ‘point system’ that everyone was placed on. If you were sick on a Monday or Friday (regardless if you had sick time available or not) you earned yourself 2 points. If you were sick any other day of the week, it was 1. If you left more than 2 hours early for the day – 0.5 point. Those points stick around for 3 months from the date earned. If you hit 3 points you’d get a meeting with a warning. If you were sick again or had to leave for uncontrollable circumstances – you got an attendance plan. And could be fired. So if you were sick starting on Friday, and all weekend through to Monday, you were slapped on an attendance plan.
God Erinn, that sounds terrible! Even with a doctor’s note? I bet that made for some unhappy employees.
OMG that sounds horrible Erinn! Here in Canada I would be speaking with a labour attorney because in our province such a plan would most likely be breaking employment law. Not sure where you are, but it sounds like it.
And yes, major companies do shady stuff all the time. My Fortune 50 employer (Canadian arm of US company) tried to tell me after I got chronically ill that I couldn’t go back to work on a modified schedule and different duties. I should stay on sick leave until I could resume all duties. Guess what, that was absolutely against specific rules of our employment law. But I had to lawyer up and send “I shall sue” letters before they miraculously provided full accommodation in accordance to my doctor’s recommendation, which they had originally dismissed.
In fairness to your employer it may be for managers to document workers lack of attendance, because it may have been a problem in the past. While this system seems a bit much and not a great work environment, I have more of a problem with companies that don’t tell employees exactly what they want and arbitrarily let them go. Yes there are many companies who do this. Unless you have a contract, which Kelly does which makes her different to begin with, or have a union contract and you live in most of the states in the US, you are an employee at will and technically you could be let go at any time. Glass half full at least your company is letting you know the rules, still kind of stinks though.
How is that legal? If you have sick leave, you’re entitled to use it, so long as you’re actually sick. I get requesting a doctor’s note, but threatening termination because you happen to be ill 2 days in a row? What if you have strep and are out for a week? Erinn, that sounds miserable.
Vauvert – I’m IN Canada, haha. I work for a branch of a large American web company.
Dr’s notes usually could get you out it, luckily. I ended up on a plan once in my last department here, while dealing with horrible horrible migraines as well as a bout with kidney stones. It was worth it, in that case, because the alternative would have been to go sit in the outpatients department at the hospital for up to 10 hours (I waited 11 hours before being admitted and administered morphine for a super painful bladder infection once) waiting for a piece of paper because my family Dr. didn’t have openings. And every time you asked one of the Dr’s for the note they’d roll their eyes and say how ridiculous our employer was.
The thing that was absolute shit was that not all the departments followed it the same way. They claimed that every department followed it – but they didn’t. Actually – my current department doesn’t count points. The boss refuses to count anything unless you’re obviously abusing the system. He said both he and our director would have been fired by now if he tracked everything.
It’s a miserable, unrealistic plan. I could see if they rolled it out to employees that were causing issues, but to roll it out for everyone causes a lot of problems. And a LOT of people coming into work hacking away and spreading germs.
Canada here as well. I work for an actual Crown corporation. We have similar attendance management programs for unionized employees. It’s legal alright.
@The Original G, for unionized employees only?? Nice.
@Erinn, my older cousin used to work for a company that had a point system like that. When she got pregnant, they didn’t want to pay for her medical/maternity leave so they started giving her points like crazy, hoping they could fire her before she had the baby. She was literally within a half-point of getting canned when her incredibly sympathetic doctor ordered her to go on bedrest for the last few weeks of her pregnancy, so she very narrowly avoided being unemployed with no insurance. The company was spitting mad about it, but there was nothing they could do. But yeah, point systems are bull.
France here. I read your comment and thought “how horrible”. Then I thought again and more and realised than I would never ever even think of taking a sick leave without a doctor note. It is just not done here. Of course, a sick leave are still paid so…
Totally. Anderson Cooper is a serious journalist he may have fun from time to time on LIve but I can’t see him abandoning his higher brow job to discuss light morning show subjects.
I misread “brow job” as “blow job” LOL.
AC had his own daytime talk show so lets not act like he is above this material. Even his CNN has a fluffy segments. AC is no Walter Kronkite. Obviously the scheduling is impossible especially given that its an election year. But if it were workable, I bet he would seriously consider it.
There it is. With the White Oprah gambit and all of the ‘look, we’re besties’ hosting he does, he’s really straining to maintain the ‘serious newsman’ mantle.
Actually Anderson auditioned the last time Kelly was looking for a host and started his own talk show when Michael was chosen, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
Hahahahahah
Who would turn down millions in the world doing nothing.
No one in their right mind
Let’s see what could happen: Kelly does not get her way and quits. Does she have other work options? I can’t see her carrying a talk show on her own like Ellen or Oprah. She used to work on All my Children ,but I can’t see her going back to a soap( besides there are few left anyway)Also threats of quitting when you don’t get your own way do not go over well to potential or future employers. The only thing I could see happening is that Kelly ends up on one of the Real Housewives shows, since she is such good friends with Andy Cohen.
Kelly does live in NYC and has a home in the Hamptons. Is it possible there is a “Real Housewives of The Hamptons” in the works? Hmmmm
I was thinking the same. Her time is about up, since she is famous for being cute and has no other talent.
She was on the comedy Faith and Hope for a few years, so she may have more options than you think. Plus I always thought the gossip about her spending too much was bogus. How would anyone really know that, she may have a stash and be willing to do something else. She is a scrappy soap actor kid from Philly, I bet she has money saved. The reality is her Hollywood time is probably about up anyway as most women in Hollywood have a pretty short shelf life, unless you are one of the extraordinarily talented ones. I think she is good and has talent, but not that good.
I know people are hating on her for how she handled all this but I think she has more options than going straight to the “housewife” cesspool. I don’t think she’s as untalented as other people seem to think. She chose the talk show route but I think she could still act. Just my humble opinion.
+1, esmom.
she may threaten to quit but she won’t give that up for anything
Exactly, this is just getting more attention than she’s had in years. Ditto for the show. Can it all go away please?
Am I the only one thinking the network is doing this on purpose. I don’t know the whole timing of the release around her planned vacation but not directly before it , and some of the releases about her all seem to be to gather attention. It seems to have worked ratings spiked 62% higher for her comeback show. Now Michael is leaving in a few weeks during sweeps for a big goodbye party. The network doesn’t care and is happy, I doubt it will go away anytime soon now.
I imagine that is part of the assurances the network made to her, she has input also, but that was the way with Regis on his new cohost, and it was also the way with Michael. Kelly championed Michael. It never occurred to me that Kelly wouldn’t have major input, as you have to have chemistry. I doubt she is allowed to be the sole person to make that decision and doubt she would ever make those demands. She knows the business. You do answer to the network who is putting on the show. Gelman has input also. But I don’t think they would ever force her to be with their choice if it didn’t work for her. The picking of a new co-host is kind of a group decision, where all parties must agree.
She loves the show and wants to stay, and I don’t believe all of a sudden she’s turned into some tantrum-throwing co-host like is now trying to be portrayed. She understands, though, that the choice of a co-host is a crucial decision to its continued success.
I agree, I think she should have a say, but not the only say. It’s logical she would want to be able to veto someone she didn’t get along with, and the network and producers should want good chemistry and a good working environment.
Beyond that, this sounds like a story that’s grown beyond the truth.
As a woman around Kelly’s age who has spent 20 years in a completely different type of career, I say good for her. I have experienced sexism, overtly and subtly my entire professional life. I have been shut out of conversations that I should have been involved in and when I have objected have been dismissed and insulted. I think she did what she had to do to get her voice heard. It makes me uncomfortable to see (what I assume are) other women calling her a diva or “ungrateful.” To me those are code words that we only use for women. Yes, she makes tons and tons of money, but that doesn’t mean she should shut up and take whatever treatment comes her way.
I so agree and couldn’t have said it any better.
Maria, I absolutely know that women do experience sexism, subtle or overt, daily. But I think that in this case she is – and has been in the wrong. I believe that her recent actions will only hurt her in the end because, IMO, she has behaved in an immature and unprofessional manner. And that has nothing to do with her exaggerated salary (the wages one make are not the issue here) or the fact that she is, essentially, a perky blonde with no journalistic background being chatty on a morning show (after all, the network could hire a journo if they wanted.)
No one suggests that she shouldn’t have a voice in the selection of her co- host. She previously championed Michael. Regis championed her. I think it is pretty obvious that the co-host selection is a joint process, as it should be. Normally people don’t get to choose their co-workers, but this type of job requires a certain amount of chemistry between the colleagues, and everyone involved seems aware of that.
But the rest of the situation sounds like it was a mess that she created. An employer and a co-worker do not owe you (or me, or Kelly) a “place at the negotiations table” when that negotiation does not concern your job or your salary. Sorry. The network and Michael were involved in a discussion regarding his career. That is his business and no one else’s. As for her perceived “I was disrespected, they only gave me months of notice”, please. In the corporate world we usually get two weeks, one month if we are lucky when a co-worker leaves. And making your displeasure so public is not the way to garner respect at work. It only reinforces the negative stereotype of a woman unable to control her emotions (which are unclear to me anyway) who runs off taking a very public sick day to “gather her thoughts”. It also emphasized how disconnected she is from the reality of most working women, because those of us without a public voice do not have the luxury of running to the media with our tales of woe. We have to find a way to work through our issues professionally.
Then, to top it all off, it sounds like she actually doesn’t even like Michael so his leaving should be, if anything, a positive change. So now he is leaving earlier than announced, and it is anyone’s guess whether that was his choice or a direct result of the public squabble.
What exactly did she get out of this? From the outside I would say nothing, and she has made it harder on herself for the future, with this or any other network. It is one thing to demand your due, and another to make a fuss over something that wasn’t your business to begin with.
Definitely something to think about – and I thank you for responding. All good points. It does kind of strike me that, as women, we can’t win. We try to stick up for ourselves and we’re seen as “emotional” or “shrill.” We try to keep it together and be strong and we’re seen as “aggressive.” I don’t know. I do know that it brings up a lot of “stuff” (for me at least) about what it’s like for women in business, which is always a helpful conversation to have. It will be interesting to see whether her actions will help or hurt her career.
Agree vauvert. Exactly.
This.
Maria T – I agree with you this is about how women handle their workplace negotiations as well.
Vauvert – how was she unprofessional and immature? My husband is in his early 40’s (so mature), and is a President and Business Development Officer of 2 small/medium size companies. The company recently had to restructure and make significant decisions about personnel roles. He was in a position where his agreed upon plan was going to change (and was told after the fact). He took 2 days off work to meet with his lawyers, our accountant, and the company lawyers. He didn’t tell everyone that was what he was doing, but how he spent his days were nobody’s business. He went back, armed with information, engaged in negotiations and has resolved some of the issues. Not immature, not unprofessional and also not publicly broadcasted. I don’t think Kelly owes anyone in the public an explanation for how her time was spent on those 2 days, but I imagine she was consulting her legal representation.
I totally agree with you! I am so sick of hearing how unprofessional she was for taking TWO days. This was obviously not just Michael leaving as she was worried about the show itself being cancelled. Why wouldn’t they do that to her as well? Also, when did she EVER say that she wanted to be at the negotiating table with Michael????? I got that she was upset that she was informed basically an hour before the rest of the world. I seriously doubt that she cares he is leaving, it is just the way it was handled. I am also unsure how you can attribute leaks like this to either side. What benefit does she get leaking this info? Some of you must have many sources in the entertainment industry. Oh and apparently people can compare their job to a talk show host job where your name is the show. I am sure they are just alike, right….
Kelly makes what $10-$15M? For bring a ‘personality’? Be careful what you wish for, not many opportunities out there in this category. And as someone who can attest to having issues with corporate and management , be aware of the blind side. Let’s just say I am working no more and it’s not my choice.
$20 million was reported yesterday
The show has run its course. First with Kathie Lee, now with Kelly. I’m betting on a three hour GMA.
We can only hope. I don’t dislike Kelly but I find the show and really, pretty much all the other other morning network stuff, extremely tedious.
It’s all terrible. Thank god for podcasts and NPR.
I don’t like morning programs at all. The false cheer makes me grumpy.
Kelly has been a cast iron professional all these years, and all she got was disrespect in a manner that was completely and easily avoidable. She’s by far the best thing that ever happened to that show, probably doesn’t need career advice from Kathie Lee Gifford.
My favorite part was the career advice from someone who gets sloshed on the air in the morning!
Yeah sorry I don’t buy this at all. I think she came out winning this and ABC looks so bad right now- disrespecting Kelly (AND AGAIN SHE HAD NO RIGHT IN MICHAEL’S CAREER CHOICES BUT SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS HAPPENING AND BEEN WORKING ON A PLAN FOR LIVE SO DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT MICHEAL BECAUSE NON FACTOR) the entire Castle mess and the list goes on.
ABC looks bad so they are trying to make Kelly look like a diva or irresponsible- they leaked a story about her finances, now demanding one of two co-hosts she knows can’t do it please this is bull to try and make her not look as bad. I mean the above article even described her as throwing a fit- name the last time a man got mad at work that was used? Rumor has it Nathan Fillion demanded his female costar gone to stay and was so horrible to her she’d go home crying but this site and it’s posters didn’t call him a divo or say he throw a fit.
I heard he called her out for HER behavior toward the crew and staff. Everything I have ever seen about Fillion has been positive
If this is true; then buh-bye! Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out! While I’m sure Kelly Ripa wont have a problem finding other people who’ll want her to work for them; good luck getting a starting salary of $15 Million bucks a year super genius! Isn’t GMA considering adding a 3rd hour? “Live with Spoiled Brat and her whipping boy” could get canceled!
I guess I don’t get the hatred for Kelly. She is 1/2 of the face of the program and she MAKES the money for ABC. If people didn’t like her, they wouldn’t tune in and then the program wouldn’t make money and it’d be cancelled. For her to be treated as low level employee and only told on a need to know basis seems kind of harsh. She makes good money because the bosses like her and want her to stay as the face of the program- because she makes them money. I think the higher ups forgot that and treated her as either a “pretty face” or a “talking head”. Kelly didn’t get where she did by accident.
Anderson cooper said he hates celeb interviews so I can’t see him signing on full time. Plus hes gonna be busy with the election coming up. Andy Cohen would be interesting but hes too gossipy for morning tv. Jerry is a good fit imo
Does she think she’ll be able to get another job that pays $15 mill a year where you only have to work half a day? Please.
Exactly, what a clueless person with such a lack of a clear understanding of their worth. She’s truly talentless. There’s nothing she does that isn’t replaceable. Her behaviour is alienating. I guess the blinds are true. She really is insufferable behind the scenes.
I guess she found out what the rest of us already knew – You Aren’t A Special Snowflake. I cannot imagine how high maintenance and center of attention this one must be. I imagine at a 12 year old birthday party she has to be the center of attention. Her parents should be questioned about why they raised her to be so self-centered and in love with herself
Enough with her. I watched like 5 mins of the show one day, and she completely annoyed the heck out of me. Personally, if she left, I don’t think it would matter much! Remember, everybody is replaceable!
Kelly may quit if they don’t hire one of her friends? Music to the network’s ears. Bye.