Good Morning America viewers were left surprised this week when longtime co-anchor George Stephanopoulos was noticeably absent from the anchor desk — and replaced by an unexpected face: ESPN sportscaster Joe Buck.
Buck joined Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan on Wednesday’s broadcast, joking about his unfamiliar new role by saying, “I’ll try not to drive the ratings into the ground.”
While daytime hosts often take short breaks, they’re usually subbed out by familiar stand-ins from within the ABC network. Buck’s presence, however, stood out, as he’s not typically associated with morning news programming. “I don’t know how you do this every day,” Buck remarked on-air, referencing the show’s early call times.
The network has not officially commented on Stephanopoulos’ absence, but sources indicate he is likely on a short vacation, possibly spending time with his wife, Ali Wentworth.
Still, fans weren’t thrilled. “Where is George?” one person asked on X (formerly Twitter). Another criticized the decision: “Joe Buck replacing George even for one minute is unbelievable… You’ve dropped to a new low.” Some worried it was a permanent switch, with one viewer writing, “Please tell me Joe Buck is not permanently on GMA.”
Despite the speculation, there is no indication that Stephanopoulos’ absence is anything but temporary.
Earlier this month, George and Ali shared a personal family update on GMA’s Instagram, introducing a new Labrador puppy named Fig. The joyful news followed the heartbreaking loss of their dog Cooper in May, just after their daughter Elliott graduated from Brown University.
George and Ali, married since 2001, are proud parents of two daughters — Elliott, now a Brown graduate, and Harper, currently studying at Vanderbilt University.
Good Morning America airs weekdays from 7–9 a.m. ET on ABC. Regular anchors include George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan, Ginger Zee, and Lara Spencer.
