Good Morning America

[MorningNews 1711]

WABC-TV is running a back to school segment for the local morning news which really shows off the versatility of GMA’s(?) set. The screens make it look like a physical classroom with really intimate lighting as well. It’s going to be impressive to see what they do with the technology these virtual sets and floors provide. 
 

I’ll try to grab a screen grab.

[nathannah 2792]

So what are we thinking about the new theme and intro so far?

Edited September 8, 2025 by nathannah

[MorningNews 1711]

Just saw it. I like it and much more than when they just play the same rotation of pop songs related to whatever the last story is in the teaser. 

[MorningNews 1711]

They did something interesting today by having Will Reeve read the news headlines at 7:30am instead of Robin, George and Michael.

[MorningNews 1711]

Which of GMA or Today started this trend of Joe Buck and Mike Tirico guest hosting? I didn’t get to catch Tirico but Joe Buck was fun to see this morning.

[24994J 5888]

4 minutes ago, MorningNews said:

Which of GMA or Today started this trend of Joe Buck and Mike Tirico guest hosting? I didn’t get to catch Tirico but Joe Buck was fun to see this morning.

 

Tirico was heavily promoted, he did it for a few days/a week, and hasn't done it since, feeling more akin to when Jay Leno or BriWi appeared, years ago. Buck, on the other hand, is arguably "in the rotation," having filled in at least a half dozen times now, for 1 or 2 days at a time. That continues GMA's history of marquee sportscasters filling in, like Jim McKay and Frank Gifford were regular fill-ins in the pre-ABC News days.

 

Side note, but kind of related, but Linsey Davis pulled double-duty on Thanksgiving, doing both GMA and World News. Rebecca and Whit rounded out the trio, with General Hospital star and frequent GMA contributor Cameron Mathison doing Pop News and being the 4th person on the couch. Instead of making Davis blow her whole day (or Whit, in other holiday examples) I think Cameron could've totally done a one-off anchor fill-in for a lighter holiday show. Buck, Strahan, Robin, and many other once-guest hosts before prove that you don't need full news chops to do the job.

[GodfreyGR 812]

17 minutes ago, 24994J said:

Side note, but kind of related, but Linsey Davis pulled double-duty on Thanksgiving, doing both GMA and World News. Rebecca and Whit rounded out the trio, with General Hospital star and frequent GMA contributor Cameron Mathison doing Pop News and being the 4th person on the couch. Instead of making Davis blow her whole day (or Whit, in other holiday examples) I think Cameron could've totally done a one-off anchor fill-in for a lighter holiday show. Buck, Strahan, Robin, and many other once-guest hosts before prove that you don't need full news chops to do the job.

Very well could have been Linsey's doing... No big plans on for Thanksgiving but want the extra time off at Christmas, or somewhere else in the year? I'd make that deal. Point is, this might have been part of a game of Tetris to get everyone the time off they wanted most.

[GraphicsMan 345]

Janai Norman out at ABC News. I know it economics but are they starting to enact more cuts are they in for a hard time.

 

https://nypost.com/2026/04/02/media/good-morning-america-weekend-co-anchor-janai-norman-is-out-report/

[MorningNews 1711]

Janai seems to confirm via her Instagram post last night that she won’t be returning to air for a farewell. That’s despite reports that she’d be on this weekend.

 

Doesn't sound like that particular decision was her choice.

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWr608kj1Bt/?igsh=MTE2czFlczc3aWlhNA==

[WeatherandTraffic 63]

20 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

Janai Norman out at ABC News. I know it economics but are they starting to enact more cuts are they in for a hard time.

 

https://nypost.com/2026/04/02/media/good-morning-america-weekend-co-anchor-janai-norman-is-out-report/

This team is way better than the weekday team, with the exception Ginger of course. If it were budget cuts. cut Sam as you don't need him. I might be biased, but Sam is highly overrated and full of himself and I have a hard time watching him do a serious story. 

[MorningNews 1711]

I tend to agree. George and Ginger remain the bright spots of the weekday show for me. I love Robin too but they need new blood. It feels like a real shame to lose talent like Janai.

 

I’d be very happy to see Sam, Lara and Michael make prompt exits. 

[TVNewsLover 861]

2 hours ago, WeatherandTraffic said:

This team is way better than the weekday team, with the exception Ginger of course. If it were budget cuts. cut Sam as you don't need him. I might be biased, but Sam is highly overrated and full of himself and I have a hard time watching him do a serious story. 

Agree Sam needs to go. I feel like he is wasting a spot at WABC too. They could really use a fifth full time meteorologist. He tries to be the third anchor on the 10am (on the days he’s on) but does a horrible job of it. 

[nathannah 2792]

The little cuts in quality have been noticed; removal of their voiceover artist, but still having the anchors do it, a lot more 'viral' content that has no place on any newscast ('close calls' where school bus cameras and airport tantrums are somehow news), more filler from Deals & Steals/Secret Savings, and they really don't know how to use the video wall for celebrity interviews. For some reason they can't just leave it alone, so on Monday when Olivia Munn was on, she was in front of a distracting 'waterfall' that had her name in barely legible print.

And I agree about Sam; he needs to be on weather only and just adds nothing outside a seat on the couch. Plus the Bob Iger Memorial Retirement pieces the last couple weeks have just been a brutal watch.

[TheNewsTV 342]

I've noticed that during the week, generally when someone from the main trio is off, they're no longer being replaced. From Monday to Thursday, only Robin and George were at the desk. Could this be a test for the show to be anchored by a duo?

 

(On Friday, it's a trio, I believe because the weekend team takes over.)

[MorningNews 1711]

4 hours ago, TheNewsTV said:

I've noticed that during the week, generally when someone from the main trio is off, they're no longer being replaced. From Monday to Thursday, only Robin and George were at the desk. Could this be a test for the show to be anchored by a duo?

 

(On Friday, it's a trio, I believe because the weekend team takes over.)

Similarly, the week before when George was on vacation it was Robin and Michael with no third anchor. Sam, Ginger and Lara playing a bigger role in the second hour.

 

They’ve been in second place since November so I imagine they might start getting creative to try and spark some momentum.

[obxwatcher 23]

On 4/5/2026 at 2:53 PM, MorningNews said:

Similarly, the week before when George was on vacation it was Robin and Michael with no third anchor. Sam, Ginger and Lara playing a bigger role in the second hour.

 

They’ve been in second place since November so I imagine they might start getting creative to try and spark some momentum.

That’s it! Back to Times Square! 

[GraphicsMan 345]

On 4/4/2026 at 12:38 PM, MorningNews said:

I tend to agree. George and Ginger remain the bright spots of the weekday show for me. I love Robin too but they need new blood. It feels like a real shame to lose talent like Janai.

 

I’d be very happy to see Sam, Lara and Michael make prompt exits. 

There outrage in the black media world over Janai’s departure, really because she got no send off or a chance to say goodbye.

[MorningNews 1711]

3 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

There outrage in the black media world over Janai’s departure, really because she got no send off or a chance to say goodbye.

Yeah I’ve seen some of it. It’s really a shame but perhaps we’ll learn more soon. Sounds like layoffs are coming to Disney.

[MediaZone4K 2661]

1 hour ago, MorningNews said:

Yeah I’ve seen some of it. It’s really a shame but perhaps we’ll learn more soon. Sounds like layoffs are coming to Disney.

The media world is pretty cutthroat and nasty. If you have to lay someone off after  years business is business. The least you could do is allow them a proper goodbye.

 

I'm sure she's not gonna go rogue and start cursing out ABC on the air on her last day, for fear of being blacklisted from getting another job.

[nathannah 2792]

1 minute ago, MediaZone4K said:

I'm sure she's not gonna go rogue and start cursing out ABC on the air on her last day, for fear of being blacklisted from getting another job.

And this was on top of Oh Baby being removed by Litton from the Weekend Adventure schedule a week before, for Home for Good, a home renovation show for LEOs hosted by a white guy. Just checked and that's even more egregious, even if Oh Baby was long in repeats.

[Muppetman03 46]

On 4/5/2026 at 9:57 AM, TheNewsTV said:

I've noticed that during the week, generally when someone from the main trio is off, they're no longer being replaced. From Monday to Thursday, only Robin and George were at the desk. Could this be a test for the show to be anchored by a duo?

 

(On Friday, it's a trio, I believe because the weekend team takes over.)

Back to 2005 where if either Diane, Charles, or Robin was off they would just have the two anchors

[MorningNews 1711]

This is the hollowed out Times Square Studios as of today. I don’t believe there’s been an announcement on future plans quite yet and up until a week ago the remnants of GMA’s old studio were still in place. 
 

Sad sight to see.

[HanSolo 467]

In the lyrics of Semisonic, every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.  
 

What makes Times Square fascinating in part is how spaces keep getting used and reused.