Michael Strahan to join 'GMA' as full-time co-anchor

Gary Levin

USA TODAY

Michael Strahan will move from Kelly Ripa's couch to full-time co-anchor of ABC's 'Good Morning America' earlier than expected, leaving 'Live' on May 13.

Michael Strahan will have to get up even earlier each morning.

ABC announced Tuesday the gap-toothed former NFL player will join Good Morning America full time in September after serving as a twice-a-week "special correspondent" since 2014. He'll give up his stint as Kelly Ripa's co-host on sibling Disney's syndicated Live with Kelly and Michael, which follows GMA in many markets, after replacing Regis Philbin in 2012.

ABC News chief James Goldston called Strahan a "tireless and versatile broadcaster with an incredible ability to connect with people" in a statement announcing the news.

And Strahan called his Live! stint "transformative" and said "my departure will be bittersweet." Strahan, 44, is expected to continue working as an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday.

A search for Ripa's new co-host will begin in September with on-air tryouts, similar to those that led to Strahan's selection.

GMA has led the morning-news race over NBC's Today, averaging 5 million viewers this season to NBC's 4.7 million, though NBC has regained ground with a first-place finish among the core audience of adults ages to 25 to 54. Live with Kelly and Michael is averaging 4.1 million viewers this season, down 3%, ranking second among all syndicated talk shows behind Dr. Phil.