Kelly Ripa Says She'll Return to 'Live' on Tuesday: 'Thank You for Giving Me Time to Process This New Information' | lovebscott.com

Kelly Ripa Says She’ll Return to ‘Live’ on Tuesday: ‘Thank You for Giving Me Time to Process This New Information’

LIVE WITH KELLY AND MICHAEL - NEW YORK, NY – September 4, 2012 – Months of rumor and speculation ended this morning as Kelly Ripa proudly introduced legendary NFL star sports broadcaster Michael Strahan as her new co-host during the inaugural broadcast of the newly-rechristened syndicated talk show, LIVE! with Kelly and Michael," distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. (Disney-ABC/ {DAVE RUSSELL)

Kelly Ripa will return to ‘Live With Kelly and Michael’ on Tuesday,  according to an email she sent to the ‘Live’ staff.

She abruptly went on hiatus after ABC announced this week that her co-host, Michael Strahan, would soon be leaving the show join ‘Good Morning America.’

via Variety:

“I wanted to thank you all for giving me the time to process this new information,” Ripa told the “Live” staff in an email. “Your kindness, support, and love has overwhelmed me. We are a family and I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday morning.”

Ripa stole the spotlight from Strahan last Wednesday when, the morning after ABC announced that he would leave “Live” for “GMA” this summer, she failed to show up for work. It was not until several hours later that an ABC spokesperson attempted to explain Ripa’s absence, saying she was on a “prearranged vacation” and would also be out Thursday, Friday and Monday.

Sources told Variety that Ripa was surprised and angry to find out about Strahan’s departure after last Tuesday’s show, just ahead of the official announcement. Strahan received a call from “Live” Tuesday evening telling him that Ripa would not be at work the next day. The disappearing act sparked tabloid headlines and speculation on everything from the relationship between Ripa and Strahan to the judgment of ABC top brass, including Disney-ABC Television Group chief Ben Sherwood.

While Ripa maintained media silence throughout her absence, Strahan took to “GMA” on Thursday to singe her praises. “If it weren’t for her, if it weren’t for [‘Live’ executive producer] Michael Gelman and the staff there that really boosted me up and made me look a lot better than I really am, I never would have had a chance to be here,” Strahan said.

That same day Ripa made her first public appearance since Tuesday’s episode of “Live,” photographed leaving her New York apartment holding a copy of the Malcolm Gladwell book “David and Goliath.”

It’ll be interesting to see how she handles her return on the air.

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