Editing Live with Kelly and Mark (section)

===2012–2016: ''Live with Kelly and Michael''===
On the September 4, 2012, episode, Michael Strahan made his 16th appearance on the show and was introduced as Ripa's permanent co-host. The former [[New York Giants]] [[defensive end]] had begun his TV career on ''[[Fox NFL Sunday]]'', a job he said he would keep even though it shoots in Los Angeles. The Ripa-Strahan chemistry proved to be successful. ''Live With Kelly & Michael'' had been the No. 2 syndicated talk show averaging a 2.8 national rating over Strahan's entire tenure while ''Live With Regis & Kelly'' averaged a 2.6. ''Live With Kelly & Michael'' brought in 268,000 more audience members daily, on average, than the show attracted during the end of the Philbin run.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2016 |title=Michael Strahan Lifted TV Ratings for 'Live' With Kelly Ripa |url=http://www.thewrap.com/michael-strahan-kelly-ripa-live-with-tv-ratings-abc-gma-regis-philbin/ |access-date=May 11, 2016 |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428171525/http://www.thewrap.com/michael-strahan-kelly-ripa-live-with-tv-ratings-abc-gma-regis-philbin/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 19, 2016, the show was renewed through at least the 2019–2020 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=January 19, 2016 |title=ABC Stations Renew 'Live with Kelly and Michael,' 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/live-with-kelly-and-michael-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-abc-renew-1201682557/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206121014/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/live-with-kelly-and-michael-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-abc-renew-1201682557/ |archive-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref>

On April 19, 2016, it was announced that Strahan would leave ''Live'' to join ''[[Good Morning America]]'' full-time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=April 19, 2016 |title=Michael Strahan Quits 'Live' To Join ABC's 'Good Morning America' |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/michael-strahan-quits-live-to-join-abcs-good-morning-america-1201756502/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420203944/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/michael-strahan-quits-live-to-join-abcs-good-morning-america-1201756502/ |archive-date=April 20, 2016}}</ref> The decision was revealed to the program's production staff just after that day's broadcast of ''Live'', and officially announced on the program by Strahan the following day. Ripa, however, was absent from that day's episode, and ABC announced later in the day that ''Live'' would have guest co-hosts through April 25, 2016. Although speculated to have been a reaction to Strahan's abrupt exit, an ABC staff member stated to ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' that Ripa's sudden absence was a "pre-scheduled vacation".<ref name="variety-noripa">{{Cite web |title=Inside Kelly Ripa's Awkward Absence From 'Live' |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/inside-kelly-ripas-absence-from-live-1201757835/ |access-date=April 21, 2016 |website=Variety |date=April 20, 2016 |archive-date=April 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421050226/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/inside-kelly-ripas-absence-from-live-1201757835/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ripa returned on April 26, 2016, using the opening of the episode to address the reception to Strahan's exit, and ABC's continued commitment to ''Live'' as a series. She said she was annoyed that ABC had not given her advance notice of negotiations to move Strahan to ''GMA''.<ref name="time-powerfulchord">{{Cite magazine |title=Kelly Ripa Strikes a Powerful Chord in Her Return to Live! |url=https://time.com/4307588/kelly-ripa-return-live-with-kelly-and-michael/ |access-date=April 26, 2016 |magazine=Time |date=April 26, 2016 |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428002053/http://time.com/4307588/kelly-ripa-return-live-with-kelly-and-michael/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Strahan's final episode on ''Live'' occurred on May 13, 2016, and featured several flashback moments from the four years that he co-hosted the show.