<P> 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 Regis run . On January 19, 2016, the show was renewed through at least the 2019--2020 season . </P> <P> On April 19, 2016, it was announced that Strahan would leave Live to join Good Morning America full - time . 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 that Ripa's sudden absence was a "pre-scheduled vacation". </P> <P> 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 . 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 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section, except for one footnote, does not cite any sources . Please help improve this section, except for one footnote, by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (November 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When is live with kelly and ryan taped