It wasn’t the most gracefully handled job transition, but this morning Michael Strahan did his best to say farewell as co-host of Live with Kelly and Michael before joining Good Morning America full-time, saying this time, Friday the 13th was a lucky day.
“Thirteen is a lucky number. I am happy. I am not 6 feet under. I am 6’5″ above the ground!” Strahan said.
“And we want to remind the audience that there is a run on discounted merchandise at the kiosk. For these collectors items,” co-host Kelly Ripa joked, holding a “Live with Kelly and Michael” coffee mug.
ABC announced in April Strahan would join GMA, where he has been a contributor since 2014. That announcement, which came shortly after Ripa and the crew of Live learned of Strahan’s exit, led to tension on the set, a few days away from the show for Ripa, and finally an apology by ABC.
Strahan said the final show was “bittersweet,” and said “of course you get nervous and I’ve done this for four years so this is a moment that I didn’t anticipate being here at this point, but it’s here and we’re going to enjoy it … I’m not dying! I’m still in the family! And I’m still available to come back if I’m ever called to co-host, so I’m not going anywhere. I’m not gone.”