TV Hosts Who Quit Live on Air

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In 2014, Charlo Greene, a reporter for KTVA News in Anchorage, Alaska, made headlines during a live broadcast. While covering a story about the Alaska Cannabis Club, she unexpectedly revealed she was the club’s owner. She then famously used a swear word, announced her resignation, and explained she would dedicate herself to legalizing marijuana. Greene immediately walked off set, leaving her co-anchor stunned. The incident quickly went viral and became a defining moment in her cannabis activism.

Piers Morgan

In March 2021, Piers Morgan abruptly left the set of ‘Good Morning Britain’ during a live discussion about Meghan Markle. He walked off after being challenged by weather presenter Alex Beresford about his comments regarding the Duchess of Sussex. While he briefly came back to finish the segment, he ultimately resigned from the show that same day. This followed a surge in viewer complaints to Ofcom, the broadcasting regulator, and brought an end to his five years with the morning news program.

Shepard Smith

In October 2019, Shepard Smith surprised viewers of ‘Shepard Smith Reporting’ by announcing his departure at the end of his show. He’d been with the network since it began in 1996 and was respected for delivering news based on facts. Smith explained he’d asked to leave his contract, and his request was granted. He spent his last few minutes thanking his coworkers and viewers before leaving. Many considered his departure a major change for the network’s approach to journalism.

Joe Scarborough

Joe Scarborough left his show, ‘Scarborough Country,’ in 2001, before becoming the host of ‘Morning Joe.’ He announced his decision live on air, explaining he wanted to dedicate more time to his family. Before entering media, Scarborough had been a U.S. Congressman. Leaving a successful cable news show was unusual at the time, but he later returned to the network to start his current morning program.

Meghan McCain

In July 2021, Meghan McCain announced she was leaving ‘The View’ during a live broadcast. She explained that the difficulty of balancing life in Washington D.C. with the show’s New York City filming location was a key reason for her departure. McCain thanked the show’s crew and her co-hosts for the opportunity, and after four years of lively discussions and strong viewership, she left at the end of the season to concentrate on personal endeavors and her family.

Ann Curry

Ann Curry’s leaving ‘Today’ in 2012 was a memorable event in morning television. She announced her resignation live on air, visibly upset, and confirmed she wouldn’t continue as co-anchor. This followed months of rumors about disagreements with the show’s team. Curry shared her affection for the audience and expressed her disappointment at leaving after just one year. Her departure caused a period of change for the program as they searched for someone new to fill her role.

Regis Philbin

In January 2011, beloved television host Regis Philbin announced his retirement from ‘Live with Regis and Kelly.’ He had been hosting the morning show for over 28 years in its various forms and held a Guinness World Record for the most hours on camera. Philbin shared that he felt ready to start a new phase of his life. His last show included a special tribute celebrating his long and successful career.

Michael Strahan

In April 2016, Michael Strahan revealed he was leaving ‘Live with Kelly and Michael’ to become a full-time host on ‘Good Morning America.’ The announcement, made on live television, apparently came as a surprise to his co-host, Kelly Ripa, who then missed several shows, generating a lot of media attention. During the announcement, Strahan thanked viewers and highlighted his good working relationship with Ripa. He officially joined ‘Good Morning America’ later that year.

Kathie Lee Gifford

In December 2018, Kathie Lee Gifford said goodbye to her role on the fourth hour of ‘Today’ during a live show. She and Hoda Kotb had co-hosted the segment for eleven years and become popular with viewers. Gifford explained she wanted to focus on new creative endeavors like making movies and music. She continued working on the show for several months to help with the change, and her departure was marked by special tributes to her long career in the entertainment industry.

Meredith Vieira

In May 2011, Meredith Vieira announced she was leaving ‘Today’ after five years as a co-anchor. She told viewers live on air that she wanted to focus more on her family. Vieira had previously taken over from Katie Couric and played a key role in keeping the show the most-watched morning program. She said leaving was a tough decision, but important for her personal life. She continued working with the network, later hosting her own talk show and several special events.

Katie Couric

In April 2006, Katie Couric surprised many by announcing live on ‘Today’ that she was leaving the show after 15 years. She was taking on a new role as the anchor of the ‘CBS Evening News,’ becoming the first woman to solo-anchor a major network’s evening news broadcast. Couric spoke fondly of her time on ‘Today,’ remembering the important stories she’d covered and the connections she’d made with viewers. Her decision was widely seen as a major event in television news.

Chris Wallace

In December 2021, Chris Wallace unexpectedly announced his resignation at the end of his last episode of ‘Fox News Sunday’ after hosting for 18 years. He explained he wanted to pursue new opportunities and explore different ways to do journalism. Soon after, he announced he was joining a new streaming service. His departure meant the network lost a well-known interviewer who was respected for being fair and unbiased.

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2026-01-20 03:45