Michael Strahan is poised to join the team at Good Morning America.
ABC sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter that Strahan will be a new addition to GMA. Although it's unclear exactly when he'll start, he'll appear on the show's 7 a.m. hour before heading to the Live! with Kelly and Michael studio. An announcement is expected later this week.
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Talks have been ongoing with Strahan and executives at ABC News for months. And sources stress that he will not replace any of the current GMA anchors; he's expected to appear often, though not five days a week.
The addition of Strahan balances out GMA's very recent gender imbalance created by the abrupt departure of news anchor Josh Elliott. Sam Champion, the show's weather anchor, left last December for the weather channel. This week, George Stephanopoulos has been the sole male anchor among four female co-anchors.
Elliott informed ABC News executives on Sunday night that he would depart for a deal at NBC Sports. NBC Sports is expected to make Elliott's addition to the sports division official Wednesday during a conference call with NBC Sports chairman Mark Lazarus.
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Strahan, a former New York Giants defensive end who continues to work as an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, was something of a surprise pick to replace Regis Philbin alongside Kelly Ripa on the long-running, highly-rated ABC program. But he has proved capable in the daytime arena and appealing to the core female demographic that make up the bulk of morning television viewers.
ABC declined to comment. CNN first reported the news.
