With the anticipated announcement that George Stephanopoulos will be officially tapped to replace Diane Sawyer at Good Morning America as she jumps ship to ABC’s evening newscast next week, word came today that Chris Cuomo, another contender for the role and a longtime GMA cast member, will leave the show. He’ll be replaced as news anchor by ABC correspondent Juju Chang, who, along with Sam Champion, will fill out the program’s traditional foursome behind Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts. ABC is hoping to keep Cuomo on their roster, potentially by offering him a gig co-hosting 20/20, but nonetheless this has got to feel like a slap in the face. Why ABC didn’t just buy Anderson Cooper away from CNN — where his numbers are ever-flagging — we’ll never know. He has just as high name recognition as Stephanopoulos (if not higher) across the board and is comfortable with the lighter, goofier coverage common on morning television. Plus, it’d be much easier to get fitness buffs Cuomo and Champion to get along with someone they can use as a spotter at the gym.
Juju Chang to replace Chris Cuomo on ‘GMA’; Cuomo offered ‘20/20’ [LAT]
Chang replacing Cuomo on ‘GMA’ [NYP]
