The NY Observer’s Felix Gillette takes a look at George Stephanopoulos’ start as a “Good Morning America” anchor for ABC and the changes required to make a transition to the modern morning show. Stephanopoulos and others admit that he doesn’t normally quite “open up” in the way that some morning hosts do, but Stephanopoulos says he’s taken some tips from his wife, actress Ali Wentworth, who’s experienced in Improv, to help adjust.
So far, his bosses seem pleased. ABC News president David Westin says, “I think he’s doing remarkably well,” and EP Jim Murphy commended his range and said, “It’s going spectacular.”
Ratings-wise, the new “GMA” team has yet to gain ground on the morning show leader, NBC’s “Today,” but ABC execs are hopeful going forward:
“I’m hopeful that if you talk to me in six months or a year that the audience will have responded,” said Mr. Westin. “This is way early going. But the way I look at it, we are in better shape than I would have predicted at this point.”