

Fans were surprised when ABC decided to cancel GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke despite consistent ratings. Many rumors spread about the possible reason behind the abrupt shutdown, with former Nickelodeon actress Keke Palmer’s activism touted as the grounds for the decision. However, Palmer dismissed this notion, noting that the changes during the pandemic led to the demise of the popular show.
Despite being on air for only two seasons, its hosts Michael Strahan, Palmer, and Sara Hines, gained immense popularity. This was evident last month when Palmer posted a clip on her Instagram from her interview with Strahan at the Apollo Theater in New York, in November. The heartwarming reunion drew responses from fans, who wished for the show to be back. They were once again clamoring for its return after Strahan showed up on ABC.
On Wednesday, Michael Strahan, who had been pretty busy with his other TV gigs, returned to ABC to host GMA. It was supposed to be just another normal day on the show with co-anchors Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos. However, Roberts suddenly popped up with a surprise for Strahan, saying, “Ke-ke! Your girl, Keke Palmer’s gonna be here!”
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Well, hearing that brought a huge smile to Strahan’s face as he giggled, “I can’t wait.” So, in the next episode, Keke did appear, as Roberts had already teased the former Giants’ defensive end. And boy, what a reunion it was! Former co-stars greeted each other, with Michael sarcastically saying, “What’s up, redhead?” And Keke jokingly replied, “My guy.” Then, without wasting any time, to impress the viewers with their long-awaited reunion.
Keke and Strahan took part in a “marching place challenge” involving small squares on the GMA set surrounded by blue tape. They had to wear blindfolds while trying not to step outside of those squares. And the two even jokingly mentioned their disadvantages. Michael thought it would be harder for him with his huge feet, while Keke had to do it on her heels. The two even engaged in playful banter.
During the challenge, Palmer told Strahan, “I know I’m perfect. You on the other hand, I’m not so sure.” But after 45 seconds of marching, the two slowly removed their blindfold and discovered that both were a foot outside those squares. “That’s insane,” Keke added as Strahan replied, “At least we’re in sync!
Strahan also blamed Palmer for him marching outside the squares adding, “I think you messed me up, ’cause your voice had me following you.” Good Morning America also took a sly dig at them writing, “If this was a smack talking challenge you guys would’ve NAILED it… the marching though, not so much,” in the caption.
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For GMA fans though, the sight of seeing Strahan and Palmer together on TV was enough to ask the network to put the band together. After running for two seasons, Strahan, Sara & Keke was suspended by ABC on March 17, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the United States.
It was temporarily replaced by Pandemic: What You Need to Know and the original show was slated to return after the pandemic. However, even as the pandemic subsided, we never got to see the original trio on the show again as the show was canceled in July. Keke Palmer revealed the reason behind the network’s move during an appearance Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in August 2020.
“Here’s the thing, when the pandemic hit, that’s what became all on our minds, was the pandemic, corona — understanding COVID. So I kind of knew that if our show did come back, it would have to be much, much, much later, because our show was really about an audience,” she said.
Palmer and Co. had built the show on their banter, fun interactions with the live audience and engaging conversations. With the pandemic, all those elements were difficult to replicate. The viewers at home wanted a more grounded form of content.
“We do a little bit of news, but it’s entertainment news. It’s really about fun, conversations, and lightheartedness. It’s a different time now, so some of the conversation has changed, and I think that kind of just pushed SSK out,” she added. There have been no reports on whether ABC plans to bring the show back in any capacity, but there is certainly a clamour for it.
ABC has one special request from Good Morning America viewers
Keke’s reappearance on the show couldn’t stop long-time GMA viewers from getting emotional on Instagram. When the show shared the clips of Strahan and Keke’s get-together, they weren’t going to miss the chance to call out ABC.
One of them wrote how the former co-stars still had the chemistry going, “They still got the chemistry! Give Keke, Michael and Sara another show GMA!” Now, just for those who aren’t familiar with Sara Haines. She was also one of the co-hosts before the pandemic changed everything.
With the sudden cancellation of GMA in 2020 all three of them moved on to their separate endeavors. But Strahan remained as one of its co-anchors when GMA again rebooted due to popular demand. However, Hines had already become the regular co-host of The View, while Keke Palmer continued to juggle her growing movie and TV career. Even this time, she came on the show to promote her new upcoming movie, “One of Them Days.”
But watching Keke Palmer come back to the show, one she was once the heartbeat of, fans tagged ABC and Disney studios to request a separate show for Michael Strahan and Palmer, “I think we need a Michael & Keke show! Am I the only one? Mornings w/Michael & Keke.”
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There was another who praised the presence of Palmer as a co-host, “I hope she goes back to cohosting with him! She is a phenomenal host and journalist! The way she conducts her podcast is everything! @keke is literally like a ball of sunshine.”
While many of them threw requests on the door of ABC, there was a fan who was pretty upset with their decision to cancel GMA back in the day, “They messed up when they canceled Strahan, Keke, and Sara.”
Palmer joined the segment as the third co-host in August 2019 after appearing multiple times on the show, including during Haines’ maternity leave. When the show was canceled, rumors spread that Palmer’s activism and her support of the Black Lives Matter movement were the contributing factors. However, Palmer addressed this in an Instagram post, dismissing the notion.
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“I have seen this going around and at first I ignored but in this climate I realized this is a dangerous message to send to our generation and the generation coming up. If anything my speaking out showed the corporations I work with how important my voice is and anyone that has a POV,” she wrote in the post.
Now, watching the fans’ outpouring reaction to Keke’s guest appearance on the show, it is clear that fans would love nothing more than to see the gang reunited on ABC. If the network does go that route again, it is going to have yet another hit on its hands.
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