“GMA3” Hosts Depart Amid Scandal-Related Changes
The recent departure of Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan from “GMA3” has sparked conversations about the show’s future. The program, an extension of “Good Morning America,” has had to deal with significant changes, including ties to controversies surrounding extramarital affairs, just before another major restructuring.
With the exit of Pilgrim and Morgan, questions have arisen about whether “GMA3” might be canceled. A newsletter from Status Media has hinted at this uncertainty. However, sources within ABC News have indicated that the show is not on the chopping block just yet.
“The show is not closing down,” an ABC News source remarked.
As for the leadership, Simone Swin, executive producer of “Good Morning America,” took charge of “GMA3” last year. There are signs that ABC aims to align the show more closely with “Good Morning America” as it tries to enhance “GMA3’s” growth. Recently, a range of ABC News personalities have been set to host the program, including familiar faces like Sam Champion and Lindsey Davis, with a rotating schedule.
The implications of a past cheating scandal involving TJ Holmes and Amy Robach still linger. Their relationship, which unfolded while both were married to others, drew widespread media attention and led to their exit from ABC after they took a break from the show for a couple of months. This drama drew significant tabloid attention and made headlines once again.
The fallout from that scandal has affected viewership. In 2022, “GMA3” had an average of 1.6 million viewers, but that figure dropped to 1.4 million as curiosity about the drama waned. This drop represented a 13% decline, with a notable loss in the critical 25-54 age demographic, which saw a decrease of 24%.
While “GMA3” has faced challenges, it continues to compete against other programs like CBS’s “The Talk” and NBC’s offerings. Yet, it struggles against various Fox News morning shows, often finishing behind them.
ABC originally envisioned expanding “Good Morning America” into a three-hour block, but ratings for Kelly Ripa’s “Live” often overshadow that time slot. Over the years, “GMA3” has undergone various transformations—starting as “Pandemic: What You Need to Know,” the format was eventually simplified to just “GMA3.”
In a recent communication, ABC News executive Almin Karamehmedovic addressed the departures by noting the significant contributions of Pilgrim, who has been with ABC News for over a decade, and that she is preparing for new opportunities. Morgan’s next steps remain unclear, but he has also decided to move on.
