It was an Irish goodbye.
ABC News has officially left its old digs on the Upper West Side and Times Square — and marked the occasion with some rowdy celebrations appropriate for the Crossroads of the World.
On Friday, the network’s flagship show “Good Morning America” taped its final show at Times Square Studios, the set its called home for the past 26 years, making it the last ABC program to make the move to their shiny new studio downtown.
The show’s favorite neighborhood Irish pub, O’Donoghue’s, opened two hours early, at 9 a.m., so the “GMA” crew including Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulus and Michael Strahan, could toast their last day. We hear the trio spearheaded the hoorah and that they all celebrated with a well-balanced diet of nachos, wings, and booze.
“There were lots of cheers-ing, glasses clinking, and a couple of shots,” a source told Page Six. We hear the show’s leader, senior executive producer Simone Swink, stood on a chair to toast her team.
The “GMA” anchors all gave speeches with Stephanopoulus leading the charge. “I’m going to miss Times Square. It has been a tremendous neighborhood for all of us the last 20-something years,” he said.
Roberts followed with an optimistic view of their move, telling everyone, “Just think about all the exciting new memories that we’re going to make together.”
Strahan added, “We couldn’t replace any of you, so, we’re happy that you’re going with us. And you’re bringing the spirit of everything that we have here, downtown.”
The bash also turned into a retirement party for head stagehand and prop master, Gary Minor, who announced his retirement after 37 years at the show. “There were definitely tears saying goodbye to Gary,” a source said.
And even though the move from Times Square is bittersweert, the “GMA” gang is looking forward to putting Hudson Square on the map. We hear they have plans to film all over the neighborhood and throughout their new building to lure viewers in.
Superstar Alicia Keys and her Broadway show “Hells Kitchen” were the last “GMA” guests to appear in the studio.
Diane Sawyer will christen the new space when she brings her exclusive interview with Eric Dane to their new couch on Monday. Marcus Samuelsson, Anthony Ramos, Caroline Rhea and Keke Palmer are also slated as guests next week.
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