Why ‘GMA’ Star Robin Roberts Doesn’t Want to Be a Talk Show Host
Robin Roberts is a fan favorite on Good Morning America and viewers have wondered if she’ll ever take on her own talk show. The legendary news anchor has no intention of heading a sit-down program and explained why she’s content at the news desk.
Robin Roberts has no interest in being ‘the story’
Robert has welcomed viewers to Good Morning America for over 20 years. Openly revealing aspects of her own life in the past two decades including her two bouts with cancer, Roberts is inspired by helping people share their personal trials and triumphs.
“I always wanted to be able to help others share their story,” Roberts told People. “But I never wanted to become the story. I never thought at all about the ‘celebrity’ aspect of it.”
The GMA anchor noted how a former news icon had acquired fame but was still considered a journalist. Roberts pointed out the shift where now many on-air reporters and news personalities are making headlines of their own.
“Even as much as we loved Walter Cronkite, I didn’t think of him as a celebrity,” Roberts remarked. “He was huge. I mean, who didn’t love Uncle Walter? And then it just, at some point, it became that way with journalists. The way we we’re seen somehow changed.”
Talk show hosting is ‘not for me’, says Robin Roberts
With several news personalities including Meredith Vieira, Katie Couric, and Anderson Cooper previously venturing into the talk show sector, some consider Roberts as ideal to take on the post. The GMA star has no interest in the job.
“I don’t want to be a talk show host,” Roberts said. “‘On the next Robin…’ It doesn’t have the same oomph as ‘on the next Oprah. That’s so 20th-century, doing a sit-down talk show. The people who have done it have been marvelous, but it’s not for me.”
While Roberts holds many talk show hosts in high regard, she prefers to share the spotlight rather than be the center of it.
“Trust me, I bless those who do talk shows,” she raved. “I miss Ellen [DeGeneres’ show] already! I think it’s a real gift to be able to do something like that, and I feel like in some ways, we have a little bit of that on Good Morning America. But it’s not The Robin Roberts Show. It’s not The George Stephanopoulos Show. It’s not The Michael Strahan Show.”
Robin Roberts thrives on ‘passion’ and ‘purpose’
Roberts resonates with viewers due to her authenticity and willingness to openly discuss her own life. Hoping to make an impact in the lives of others, Roberts relishes the opportunity to tell people’s stories as a way of connection and healing.
“My job has taught me to have passion and purpose,” the GMA journalist explained. “And to be able to marry the two. When you can understand that your passion does have purpose, some things can happen. I mean, I didn’t plan any of what’s happened in my life. But now I have a platform and I am able to elicit some powerful stuff from people about how they feel. And then help others.”
