Jim Murphy To Produce "Anderson"

.



February 23, 2011, 7:19 pm
‘Good Morning America’ Producer Hops to ‘Anderson’

By Brian Stelter

Jim Murphy, the top producer of “Good Morning America,” is leaving ABC to take charge of “Anderson,” the forthcoming daytime talk show to be hosted by Anderson Cooper.

Mr. Murphy will be an executive producer of “Anderson,” which is set to start in September.

Ben Sherwood, the new president of ABC News, said in an internal memorandum on Wednesday night that he would name a replacement for Mr. Murphy in a matter of days. Mr. Sherwood led “GMA” until 2006, when Mr. Murphy was brought in as the program’s senior executive producer.

Tom Cibrowski, the executive producer of “GMA,” will remain in that position, Mr. Sherwood said Wednesday. “GMA” is the No. 2 morning show on television, behind NBC’s “Today” show.

Replacing Mr. Murphy will be the first big test for Mr. Sherwood, who was named president of the news division last December. “We are all in Jim’s debt for his hard work and many contributions to ABC News. And we wish him the very best,” Mr. Sherwood wrote in the memo.

Mr. Murphy will officially exit “GMA” in mid-March. That gives him time to prepare “Anderson,” which is being distributed to local stations by Warner Brothers. The new talk show, hosted by Mr. Cooper, who will retain his nightly newscast on CNN, is being positioned as a replacement for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in some markets.

Mr. Murphy said in a statement about his new position: “My five years at ABC News gave me the opportunity to work with some of the most talented broadcasters and executives of our time. I look forward to the challenge of bringing a fresh and positive approach to daytime television led by the passion and expertise of Anderson Cooper. What he has achieved in his career is extraordinary for his years. There will be a new daily appointment for America and his talents.”