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Regis Philbin on Michael Strahan's exit: ABC did go behind Kelly Ripa's back
Published April 28, 2016
Regis Philbin has had enough of daytime TV — including the current drama surrounding his former stomping grounds at ABC’s “Live.”
Since Michael Strahan’s surprise announcement this week that he’d be leaving “Live With Michael and Kelly” to join”Good Morning America” full-time, word has come that longtime host Kelly Ripa was just as blindsided as the TV audience.
“[ABC went behind her back] to a certain degree,” Philbin said in a video interview posted by TMZ. “I can’t tell because I’m not there, but they’re going to be alright. They’re going to be fine.”
But the 84-year-old TV vet is keeping his distance from the ABC drama while defending his former co-host.
“I haven’t talked to anybody – [executive producer Michael] Gelman – I don’t want to know,” Philbin explained. “I know what it is. They should have told her in the beginning.”
As for who will replace Strahan, Philbin says, “She’s got a bunch of people that she likes.” “Whoever it is God Bless them,” he continued. “Regis has had enough! Twenty-eight years [at ‘Live’], 25 more in Hollywood before I came here. I’m done!”
Ripa, 45, was a no-show for the ABC talk show in the days following Strahan’s exit news, with a network source telling Page Six, “The plan was for there to be more time between telling Kelly and the announcement. But the story leaked, the timeline got crunched.”
Regardless of how Strahan’s departure was handled by ABC execs, Philbin wishes the 44-year-old former NFL pro all the best in his forthcoming gig.
“[Michael] is great. He was great with the Giants, he was great on our show, he’s doing a lot of stuff,” said Philbin. “They’re going to use him down there [at ‘GMA’] because they’re in second place [in the ratings] right now.”
A rep for Philbin did not immediately respond to request for comment.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/regis-philbin-on-michael-strahans-exit-abc-did-go-behind-kelly-ripas-back