'Good Morning America': George Stephanopoulos signs contract extension
'Good Morning America' network ABC has signed Stephanopoulos to a contract extension. 'Good Morning America' also recently promoted Lara Spencer to co-host.
'Good Morning America' network ABC recently signed George Stephanopoulos to a contract extension.
AP Images for the Hollywood Reporter
ABC News has signed George Stephanopoulos to a contract extension, the last member of its "Good Morning America" team to agree to a new deal.
ABC News said Thursday that Stephanopoulos will remain as Robin Roberts' chief partner on the top-rated morning show, and will continue as host on the Sunday morning show "This Week." Terms were not disclosed.
Roberts also recently signed a contract extension. "Good Morning America" has not been entirely successful in keeping together the team that toppled NBC's "Today" show: Sam Champion left for a job at The Weather Channel and Josh Elliott is now at NBC Sports. In recent months, the show replaced Champion with Ginger Zee and Elliott with Amy Robach and added Michael Strahan as a contributor.
ABC also recently promoted Lara Spencer to co-host status on "Good Morning America." Spencer, the lifestyle anchor since returning to the show in 2011, now has billing parity with Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos.
She was the show's national correspondent from 1999 to 2004. Then, for seven years, she was a host of "The Insider."
Meanwhile, Roberts will be honored by Southeastern Louisiana University with an honorary doctorate at its spring commencement on May 17.
The school's governing body, the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, approved awarding Roberts with the degree last year. The ceremony is set for 10 a.m. at the University Center, where about 1,200 students will receive bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
"Robin has been a tremendous treasure for Southeastern, and we are proud to confer upon her this honorary doctoral degree," said university President John L. Crain. "Her personal and professional achievements have made her a true role model. She is one of the university's foremost advocates and ambassadors."
Roberts is a 1983 communications graduate and former basketball star at Southeastern. After graduating, she entered the broadcasting field and eventually joined ESPN, hosting "SportsCenter" and contributing regularly to "NFL Primetime." She joined "Good Morning America" in 2005.
She is also the author of several books, including "From the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By" and "My Story, My Song: Mother-Daughter Reflections on Life and Faith," which was co-written with her late mother, Lucimarian Roberts, and Missy Bucanan.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, Roberts underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat pre-leukemia in 2011. Southeastern students started a program to educate the public and recruit potential donors for patients with leukemia and other blood diseases called "Swabbin' 4 Robin" and recruited a record number of potential donors for the nonprofit organization Be the Match.