you worked with her, kelly ripka. and why would strahan walkway from a reported $10 million a year gig? this show. and to go over to gma full time. >> the controversy kicked off earlier this week when it was announced that strahan was leaving. then on wednesday, kelly ripka abruptly called off the show, and anna was a last-minute guest host. >> i was reading stuff, and it sounded like i died. >> michael kicked off "live" on wednesday by thanking viewers, but did not mention kelly rip a ca once. we learned the emission was put off during a commercial and then he circled back. >> kelly, i thank you. i love you. and everyone else here at "live." and i'm not going to try on tv. >> audience members tell us there was no official explanation about kelly's absence. >> i was thinking she was emotional. >> people were a little disappointed she wasn't there. >> we thought she might be heartbroken, you know. >> she probably was so depressed >> here are michael strahan and erin andrews. >> erin andrews filled kelly's seat on "live

kelly left for work. >> what first thing you're doing say to michael? >> remember last week when she was snapped for a c of a book? today it seemed as if she was sending another signal. ripka carried a copy of anderson the cnn anchor is a super close friend and front runn replace michael strahan. around 8:05 kelly's black suv arrived at the studio. >> wants to get back to business. >> cnn's says kelly's bosses scrambled to make it happen. >> executives said they had a plan, said they thought they were doing the right thin but they know they misfired badly here. they took responsibility and apologizedkelly, which is partly what's got her back to work. >> apologies have been made. and the best thing to come out of all of this, you guys, is that our parent compa -passured me that "live" is a priority. [ applause ] >> t first guest "scandal" talked tt jenny mccarthy off the show. >> they were tense. bless their hearts. there was tension. >> the big question now, all the tv executives are asking, is kellyyripka going to stay after her contract expires? abc is going to have to put a lot more money on the table to to stay put. >> and with all the fallout, well, michael's last day