Art Moore, 'Live! With Kelly and Mark' Exec, to Retire from ABC After 53 Years

Moore made the announcement on Wednesday's Live! but co-host Kelly Ripa wasn't ready to accept it.

"I'm convinced that, over the next several months, that I'll be able to talk Art out of retirement because I'm nothing if not relentless," Ripa told a beaming Moore amid studio audience applause.

"Art is the reason, I say it all the time and I mean it, he is the reason I am here and have stayed here for all these years," Ripa added on air during an emotional tribute to the long-time ABC exec. Moore will stay on as vp of programming at WABC-TV and the executive in charge of production at Live! With Kelly and Mark until the fall and the launch of the talk show's 37th season.

Moore first joined the ABC family in 1966 with WKBW-TV in Buffalo, NY, which was then part of the then Capital Cities/ABC group. "Today is actually my anniversary of joining the company," an emotional Moore said during Wednesday's episode in front of hosts Ripa and Mark Consuelos.

Debra OConnell, president, news group and networks at ABC, in a statement paid tribute to Moore: "His creativity, ability to handle any production challenge and keen sense of what the audience wants is unparalleled in daytime television, and can only be rivaled by his huge heart, the guiding hand he lends to any colleague at any time, and the sheer joy he brings to the job.  Words don't adequately express how much he is appreciated and will be missed - not just across the company but with viewers who have come to love him as much as all of us." 

Moore has been a producer with Live! With Kelly and Mark since 1983 when it first launched as The Morning Show and went on to be hosted by Regis Philbin, Kathie Lee Gifford, Michael Strahan and Ryan Seacrest, among others.

Marilu Galvez, president and general manager of WABC-TV, in an internal memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter underlined how Moore had shaped not only Live! With Kelly and Mark, but much of WABC-TV non-news programming over the years. "Art has been with "Live…" almost since its inception 36 years ago, making an indelible mark on not just the show but the daytime television landscape overall and winning the hearts of viewers nationwide along the way."

Moore has made many on-camera appearances on Live! With Kelly and Mark, including regularly participating in the show's annual Halloween episodes, to become a favorite of fans.

Marilu Galvez's memo to staff follows:

Team,

I have some bittersweet news to share - our beloved Art Moore is announcing his plans to retire this September. To say that Art is a much-loved member of the WABC family is just barely scratching the surface of his impact on my leadership team, the station and the industry overall.  Art has been part of our ABC family for a remarkable 53 years, beginning at WKBW-TV in Buffalo when ABC was known as Capital Cities/ABC.  He then worked as the director of programming at WPVI in Philadelphia for many years before joining WABC in 1989. 

As our head of programming, he has had a role in countless series and specials that have helped shape WABC's identity and our enduring relationship with viewers.  He is a multi-Emmy award winner and has been in charge of production for some of the most successful and prolific series in syndication history, including "Road to Gold," an Academy Award preview show that ran for 20 years, and, of course most notably, the #1 entertainment talk show on television, "Live with Kelly and Mark."  In fact, Art has been with "Live…" almost since its inception 36 years ago, making an indelible mark on not just the show but the daytime television landscape overall and winning the hearts of viewers nationwide along the way.  Kelly and Mark are sharing with viewers right now, and I know they'll have much more to say about Art over the coming months.  

On a personal note, Art has been a friend, a mentor, and now, a trusted and much valued colleague whose insights on my leadership team I greatly appreciate.  Debra, Chad and I will miss him greatly and very much look forward to giving him the sendoff celebration he deserves.  In the meantime, please join me in thanking Art and wishing him the best on a well-earned retirement. 

Marilu