It's round number 1,999 of Morning Show Musical Chairs. Good Morning America is saying goodbye to co-anchor Josh Elliot, who is joining NBC Sports, ABC announced in a Sunday, March 30 memo. Replacing Elliot, age, as co-anchor alongside Lara Spencer, Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, is Amy Robach.
In an unusually frank memo, ABC News president Ben Sherwood revealed that negotiations with Elliot simply broke down. "We worked hard to close a significant gap between our generous offer and his expectations," Elliot writes. "Josh felt he deserved a different deal and so he chose a new path."
Added Sherwood of Robach, who shared her breast cancer with viewers last year: "We always knew Amy was special and we have all been especially inspired to watch her battle breast cancer with grace and determination . . .Indeed, she thrilled us with two weeks of memorable dispatches from Sochi anchoring our Olympic coverage … all between chemo treatments."
"Amy will be a fierce, formidable full-time addition to our GMA team."
Lara Spencer, meanwhile, reportedly signed a multi-year contract with the top-rated show — which famously overtook The Today Show in ratings in 2012 — just a few days ago. Longtime meteorologist Sam Champion left the series late last year for a Weather Channel gig.
Tell Us: Will you miss Josh?