ABC

ABC brass did NOT threaten to take "Good Morning America" anchor George Stephanopoulos off the air if he didn't apologize for taking a dig at President Biden's political future ... TMZ has learned.

Our network sources tell us George's ABC bosses never once threatened he would be stripped of airtime for telling a man on an NYC sidewalk he didn't think Biden could serve another term.

There is a report out claiming ABC threatened to bench the 'GMA' anchor if he didn't apologize for the Biden remark. Our network sources tell us George's conversations with network honchos never reached the point of threats about airtime.

6:28 PM PT -- George Stephanopoulos tells TMZ in a statement from his rep, "Earlier today, I responded to a question from a passerby. I shouldn't have." An ABC spokesperson tells TMZ, "George expressed his own point of view and not the position of ABC News."

George Stephanopoulos just made a stunning comment on the streets of New York ... telling a pedestrian he doesn't think President Joe Biden can serve another term.

The 'GMA' anchor was out and about Tuesday afternoon on 5th Avenue, wearing workout clothes, when the pedestrian approached him and asked, "Do you think Biden should step down? You've talked to him more than anybody else has lately." George's response -- "I DON'T THINK HE CAN SERVE 4 MORE YEARS."

Amy Robach's tapping into the feminine side of herself ... saying she's always had "boss-lady" energy -- but now, she's finally with the right person to explore womanhood in full.

The fired 'GMA3' anchor opened up about this on the "Amy & T.J." podcast she hosts with T.J. Holmes ... telling him and matchmaker Thalia Ouimet she's used to projecting an intensity -- before asking Holmes how she came off to him when they worked at ABC together.

After cracking some jokes about how he always feels the need to save Amy, T.J. admits he wishes people knew just how sweet AR was ... 'cause he says it's a side of herself she doesn't let other people see.

Jill Biden is promising some semblance of decorum for the first 2024 Presidential debate ... teasing how the moderators will put a stop to any rambling with the hit of a switch.

The First Lady stopped by "The View" Wednesday morning, where FLOTUS promised the audience -- and a concerned Sara Haines -- that Pres. Joe Biden and Donald Trump's mics will be turned off during the forthcoming debate to prevent the candidates from talking over one another.

She says this was a key point in the debate agreement, as she noted ... "They've built that in where they're gonna turn off those mics so that somebody can't ramble, or scream at somebody. Not that my husband would be the one doing that."

DeMarco Morgan is apparently turning a new leaf on the bike trail -- and by that, we mean he's changed up his bike short colors ... and you can see a lot less bulge this time!

ICYMI ... the new 'GMA3' anchor -- who replaced T.J. Holmes after his exit over his Amy Robach affair -- sent the Internet into a tizzy by posting pics of himself in bike shorts ... where there his package was seriously noticeable.

At the time, we were told ABC staffers were rattled over the photos ... and it looks like DeMarco has taken note, as he's debuted some new workout pics -- which are far safer for work, at least in terms of what you can (or can't see).

TGIF TMZ fans ... now, start your final workday off right with the best clips TMZ has to offer.

On "TMZ Live," Charles and Charlie talk Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian getting boycotted on Instagram by pro-Palestine protesters.

DeMarco Morgan -- the 'GMA3' anchor who replaced T.J. Holmes -- has his newsroom in a tizzy over some pics he posted showing himself in bike shorts ... 'cause it left an impression.

The ABC daytime cohost -- who was tapped to fill in for T.J. after his affair with co-anchor Amy Robach -- posted pics late last month in tight biker clothing that left little to the imagination ... and which definitely drew focus below the belt.

While many online cracked jokes at the racy pics or made comments about DM's package, which was clearly on display underneath, sources at ABC say much of the org's rank and file is not amused -- in fact, we're told there are a lot of staffers there who are kinda irked.

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist calling it quits on their 3-month marriage won't stop the show from going on -- that show being "Celebrity Family Feud," which they recorded before their divorce.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us ABC has no plans to adjust this season's lineup of "Celebrity Family Feud" ... even though the "Golden Bachelor" couple split just one week after they'd shot their episode of the popular game show.

We're told an official air date for the now-separated couple's episode will be announced by ABC at a later date ... but one thing's for sure, it could be a bit awkward to look back at their happier times together when it does air.

ESPN is distancing itself from Aaron Rodgers' recent comments about Jimmy Kimmel ... chalking his controversial appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" up to a bad attempt at comedy.

The New York Jets quarterback sparked an intense feud with the ABC late-night host earlier this week ... when he suggested Kimmel could be among the famous names on Jeffrey Epstein's client list.

Kimmel was furious with Rodgers ... firing back by claiming the comments could put his family in danger -- and threatening to take legal action if he continued to bark up that tree.

Mike Foss -- ESPN's senior vice president of digital and studio production -- addressed the whole issue in an interview with Front Office Sports on Friday ... and he said the comments never should have came out of Rodgers' mouth.

"Pat announced today that he’s planning on Aaron joining the show Tuesday," Foss told the outlet. "Aaron made a dumb and factually inaccurate joke about Jimmy Kimmel."

"The show will continue to evolve. It wouldn’t surprise me if Aaron’s role evolves with it."

Based on the latter part of that statement, it certainly sounds like the network won't step in and prevent Rodgers from going back on the show ... but on Friday's show, Pat accused ESPN exec Norby Williamson of sabotaging his program amid the drama.

Of course, the beef between Rodgers and Kimmel is complicated -- McAfee and the TV personality are both in the Disney family and wildly popular in their respective fields.

Jonathan Majors is ready to talk after his high-profile guilty verdict ... and he's going with ABC News for his first sit-down interview since his trial ... TMZ has learned.

The embattled actor -- who was convicted on assault and harassment charges last month in his Manhattan criminal trial -- will break his silence with ABC News Live 'Prime' anchor Linsey Davis.

The network tells us their exclusive interview with Jonathan will premiere Monday on 'Good Morning America' ... and the extended interview will stream on ABC News Live‘s “Prime with Linsey Davis” Monday at 7:00 p.m. EST.

It will be interesting to see what Jonathan has to say here ... he's been mum since a jury found him guilty of assaulting and harassing his ex, Grace Jabbari.

We've seen Jonathan alone in New York City and with girlfriend Meagan Good another time landing in Los Angeles since the guilty verdict came down.

It's interesting Jonathan is going with ABC here ... ABC is a division of Disney, which dropped JM from his big movie role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Jonathan Majors está listo para hablar después de su veredicto de culpabilidad y decidió hacerlo con ABC News para una primera entrevista frente a frente desde su juicio.

El actor, que fue condenado por cargos de agresión y acoso el mes pasado en Manhattan, hablará con ABC News Live 'Prime' y su presentador Linsey Davis.

La cadena nos dice que la entrevista exclusiva con Jonathan se emitirá el lunes en "Good Morning America" y la entrevista ampliada se emitirá en "Prime with Linsey Davis" de ABC News Live el lunes por la noche a las 19:00 EST.

Será interesante ver lo que Jonathan tiene que decir ... El actor ha estado mudo desde que un jurado lo declaró culpable de agredir y acosar a su ex, Grace Jabbari.

Desde que se conoció el veredicto, hemos visto a Jonathan solo en la ciudad de Nueva York y en otra oportunidad con su novia Meagan Good en Los Angeles.

Es interesante que Jonathan haya decidido ir con ABC.... ABC es parte de Disney, quien lo despidió de su gran papel en la película del universo cinematográfico Marvel.

Brittney Griner's story is getting the Mickey Mouse treatment -- the WNBA superstar just inked a deal with Disney, ESPN and ABC for multiple upcoming projects ... including a documentary about her Russian drug case.

"The last two years have been the most harrowing, transformative and illuminating period of my life, and I am grateful to be in a place now to share my story with the world," Griner said in a statement on Thursday.

"I’m proud to partner with ESPN and Disney to share this very personal story because of its incredible potential to inspire hope around the world and their proven ability to do just that."

The partnership also includes the development of a scripted limited series on Griner's life, which is said to already be "in the works."

Griner was arrested at a Russian airport in February 2022 for cannabis possession. She was sentenced to nine years in prison ... before the U.S. government made a deal to get her back in Dec. 2022 that involved Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Since Griner's release, the center signed a one-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury -- averaging 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game last season -- and has become an advocate for Americans who have been detained in another country.

"Brittney is an exceptional athlete whose hardship and resilience are nothing short of extraordinary," ESPN president Burke Magnus said. "We are thrilled to be working with her to tell the nuances of her story and feel confident that this documentary will captivate audiences everywhere."

The documentary will feature previously unreleased footage, records and letters from Griner's time in prison.

El actor canadiense Jean-Luc Bilodeau tenía 22 años cuando empezó a interpretar a Ben Wheeler, el soltero de Nueva York que se queda atónito cuando su ex deja a su bebé en la puerta de su casa, en la serie de ABC "Baby Daddy" en 2012.

Junto a Bilodeau en la comedia estaban Chelsea Kane como Riley, la amiga inteligente de Ben, Derek Theler como Danny, el hermano mayor de Ben y jugador profesional de hockey, y Melissa Peterman como Bonnie, la madre de Ben y Danny que adora su vino.

La estrella de "Mean Girls" Lacey Chabert también participó en la serie e interpretó a la Dra. Amy Shaw.

Canadian actor Jean-Luc Bilodeau was 22 years old when he first started playing Ben Wheeler -- the New York City bachelor who is stunned when his ex leaves his baby at his doorstep -- on the ABC show "Baby Daddy" back in 2012.

Joining Bilodeau on the sitcom included Chelsea Kane as Ben's close on-and-off girlfriend and intelligent friend, Riley, Derek Theler as Ben's older brother and professional hockey player, Danny and Melissa Peterman as Ben and Danny's mother who loves her wine, Bonnie.

"Mean Girls" star Lacey Chabert was also on the show and played Dr. Amy Shaw.

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes have been out in public together a lot since getting the boot from their morning anchor jobs -- but never quite like this ... and boy, do they look happy.

The former 'GMA3' hosts -- who left ABC after word of the relationship got out last year -- stepped out in front of cameras Friday night for iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball 2023 ... where they were front and center and smiling ear to ear as they posed for pics and the press.

Not only did they embrace on the carpet ... but they also smooched -- so, like we said, they ain't hiding the fact they're together any longer, even though it was well-established.

Even before they got there, T.J. was advertising the fact they were in town and rolling as a pair -- posting a pic to his Instagram Story, showing Amy in a car as she fired off a selfie.

Of course, their attendance for the iHeart event was no coincidence ... they have a new podcast they're launching next week -- called 'Amy & T.J.' -- and they're pushing people to iHeart Radio to catch it.

It's their first joint venture since they unceremoniously exited ABC ... at least as far as media's concerned.

Fact is, they've been tied at the hip since their ousting -- and have vacationed all over the place as a couple. The only difference now is ... we'll be seeing them talking shop again, as opposed to just cuddling and making out.

The takeaway though is that they're united and going strong ... so it wasn't just a fling.