TV

Jumping ship from 'Live' was an easy call for Michael Strahan ... he wanted to work where his co-host wasn't tormenting him.

Sources connected with the production tell us, Michael had his fill of Kelly Ripa long before the 'GMA' opportunity surfaced. Sources say Kelly couldn't stand the fact that he stole some of her shine. Strahan became an instant star and got lots of attention, and we're told she hated it.

One source says it got to a point where she was "bullying" him, although on camera you couldn't tell. But another source says the notion Kelly was bullying Michael is "a joke."

The 'GMA' job gives Strahan more money, a group of co-hosts he likes and who like him, and the right to continue his sports stuff. He also wants to grow beyond interviewing celebrities.

As we reported, after Strahan broke the news to Kelly he texted her Tuesday, trying to create an atmosphere where they could co-exist for the duration of his time on 'Live.' We're told she did not respond until Saturday, and it was "short and superficial."

Kelly Ripa left her swanky Upper East Side townhouse as she ends her boycott of her show ... and her expression tells it all.

There's an air of dread looming over her 'Live' show as she prepares to sit next to co-host Michael Strahan. The 2 haven't gotten along for several years, and the last week has only made things worse.

As we reported, Michael reached out to Kelly by text ... hours after he told her he was leaving for 'GMA.' She didn't respond until Saturday, and only superficially.

BTW ... this time she's clutching "The Rainbow Comes and Goes" by Anderson Cooper ... pretty clearly telegraphing he's a front-runner to replace Michael.

Makes for good TV.

Michael Strahan just made the biggest mistake of his career by choosing 'GMA' over "Live! with Kelly and Michael" ... at least according to Andy Cohen.

Andy took a stand for his BFF, Kelly Ripa, during his SiriusXM show Monday morning ... calling out Strahan for taking the 'GMA' gig. The way Andy sees it, it's a numbers game and Strahan's taking a big risk leaving his established spot on 'Live.'

He said, "What happens if the ['GMA'] ratings don't go up? What is going to happen to this sweet man? By then she will have a new co-host."

Andy's already said he doesn't have time to take the job with Kelly -- if it were offered to him -- but he does have another good friend in mind for the job.

Pablo Escobar still terrifies the people of Medellin -- 23 years after his death -- to the point "Narcos" producers had to scramble to find a roof to recreate his famous death scene.

Our sources in Medellin (yep, got those too) tell us production for the Netflix hit wanted to film Escobar's fatal shootout with cops on the actual roof where he was killed in 1993.

The crew tracked down the guy currently renting the house and asked permission, but we're told he basically said, "No way, José" out of respect for the community and owners of the house.

Although we're told it's still taboo in Medellin to mock Escobar's memory -- due to his deep ties there -- one brave soul eventually struck a deal with producers, and allowed them to mock up his roof for the critical kill shot.

It's unclear when the death episode will air. Oh yeah, spoiler alert: Escobar dies.

Jack Gleeson -- aka King Joffrey from "Game of Thrones" -- resurfaced far beyond The Wall, at a cosplay conference in Abu Dhabi, acting like a shell of his former 'GoT' character.

No heads on spikes here ... just some good old fashioned Madonna-like "Vogue" and robot dance moves while Jack cut loose backstage with hot gamer chick Naomi Kyle.

Kelly Ripa will be back Tuesday on 'Live' ... TMZ has learned ... this after her people jawboned it with Disney over the fate of her show and the tenure of her co-host.

Our ABC sources say Kelly's people made it clear she would come back if they could get assurance the show wasn't getting the ax. As we reported, ABC honchos are noodling whether to add a third hour of 'GMA,' which would displace 'Live.'

From what we can gather, the brass gave Kelly enough assurance to end her boycott. Based on what we know, even Disney doesn't know if they'll expand 'GMA.' A lot depends on morning show ratings and the performance of 'Live' over the next year.

Even if 'GMA' moves to 9 ... ABC could save 'Live' by moving it to 10 or 11 AM.

Our ABC sources say Kelly made it clear she'd be a happy camper if Michael Strahan leaves before his scheduled September departure. Our sources say both Kelly and Michael are extremely uncomfortable about sitting together under the circumstances, and they'd both like to stop the bleeding STAT.

As we reported, the 2 have not gotten along for 2 years ... various sources say they don't like each other.

Kelly Ripa is alienating lots of people on 'Live,' because they believe she's jeopardizing their jobs by refusing to work.

Production sources tell us, some members of the crew believe ABC execs are weighing the benefits of either killing the show or moving it to a later hour so they can add a third hour of 'GMA.'

These crew members are grousing, the longer Kelly stays out, the more damage it will do to 'Live' and the greater the chance that they'll be replaced by 'GMA.' If 'Live' goes away, so do they.

That said, we're told the crew generally likes Kelly, but many of them think what they call "her tantrum" is hurting the show.

Charlie Murphy is reflecting on his most famous basketball opponent ... opening up about how Prince didn't just change music -- he changed the world.

Of course, Charlie's "Chappelle's Show" sketch about his pick-up game with Prince is legendary ... but Murphy says it shouldn't have been a shock that His Purpleness was such an incredible athlete.

"If you seen his last show, how could you not watch his show and go, 'That dude is an athlete!'"

Prince clearly made an impact on Murphy -- and he joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show on FS1 to tell us what the singer meant to him. It's pretty good stuff.

Ray Romano thought Doris Roberts was awesome in many ways ... that's what he told our photog Thursday as he left The Redbury in Hollywood.

Ray was clearly joking about the kissing thing, but maybe not the other qualities that made Doris special.

Regis Philbin still has Kelly Ripa's back ... he says his old co-host got the shaft in the whole Michael Strahan deal.

Regis spoke to photogs in NYC and made it clear Kelly should've gotten a heads up about Disney's plan to move Strahan from 'Live' to 'GMA.' It's an interesting perspective ... since Philbin famously told Kelly about HIS departure at the last minute.

Kelly Ripa may be saber-rattling -- boycotting the show and even threatening to leave -- but sources connected with the production don't believe she's going anywhere, because of her paycheck and her spending habits.

As we reported, Kelly has been beside herself with anger after getting blindsided by ABC's announcement that Michael Strahan is leaving 'Live' for 'GMA.' If she's not back in the chair Thursday, she won't be back until Tuesday at the earliest.

Our sources say ABC brass isn't worried that Ripa will bail on the show. We're told she makes just shy of $15 million a year, and her lifestyle eats up most of it. Kelly and hubby Mark bought a big townhouse on the Upper East Side of NYC a year ago, and they have a mansion in The Hamptons.

As one source put it, "She makes a lot of money, but she spends a lot of money, and so does he."

Andy Cohen says he's way too busy to take Michael Strahan's seat on 'Live,' but he knows who's perfect for the job.

Kelly Ripa is up for an epic fight with ABC ... at least that's what we're reading into what she's reading.

Kelly and hubby Mark Consuelos left their Upper East Side townhouse Thursday, as she clutched a copy of Malcolm Gladwell's book, 'David and Goliath.' The book -- which btw is outstanding -- is a primer on how underdogs took on the powerful and emerged victorious.

Kelly was a no-show for the second day on 'Live,' and she and Mark are going on vacation ... reportedly to Turks and Caicos.

The earliest she'll be back on the show is Tuesday, but don't count on it. She does not want to be near Michael Strahan.

Donald Trump is a progressive on transgender issues ... saying the trans community is welcome to use any bathroom in his slew of buildings.

Donald was on "Today" when Matt posed the question ... if Caitlyn walked into the Trump Tower, what bathroom could she use?

Oprah Winfrey could not contain her excitement over the announcement that Harriet Tubman will grace the front of the $20 bill.

Oprah led a chant Wednesday, telling our photog Harriet was her #1 choice. She also reveals her second choice ... see if you recognize the name -- she was a huge figure in the abolitionist and women's rights movements.

Kelly Ripa has suitors lining up, because we've learned just about every agent in Hollywood and New York has gotten calls from male clients saying they'd be a perfect replacement for Michael Strahan.

We're told some of the names are hilariously ill-suited for the job ... lots of local news anchors/reporters and sports types. The agents are dutifully following up ... our ABC sources say network brass was flooded with calls Wednesday pitching their clients.

We're told there has been "absolutely no movement" to find Strahan's replacement, largely because everyone on the staff of 'Live' was kept in the dark until Tuesday's announcement. We're told there are no front-runners and the tryouts could lead execs to someone who hasn't been tested before.

Our sources say ABC will give Kelly sign-off rights on her co-host.