From wire reports
NEW YORK -- Diane Sawyer exited ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday with an emotional moment that recalled the biggest story of her time on the show: meeting the children born after their fathers were killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
It was a sobering interlude during a nostalgic two hours of video clips, celebrity goodbyes and tearful hugs. The morning news show devoted almost its entire broadcast to a salute to Sawyer, who is replacing her retiring former partner, Charles Gibson, as "World News" anchor.
The reunion of 9/11 children recalled how "Good Morning America" brought them together as babies on the first anniversary of the attack. The twin girls that Sawyer held in both arms that day, now 8, walked on the set carrying roses.
"Thank you and bless you," Sawyer said.
Sawyer will be replaced by ABC's chief Washington correspondent, George Stephanopoulos, on Monday. He was all business during his first appearance on the set Friday, contributing to a story about five Americans with alleged terrorist links who were detained in Pakistan. Then Sawyer showed him the ropes, promising to clean out the on-set drawer she had stuffed with hand sanitizer, brushes and the like.
In a slightly awkward moment, Stephanopoulos was congratulated by Chris Cuomo, the newsreader who was also considered for the anchor job. It was Cuomo's last morning, too. He is to become "20/20" co-anchor and will be replaced on "Good Morning America" by Juju Chang.
'The View' sorry for 'hooker' joke
NEW YORK -- The daytime talk show "The View" is apologizing for calling one of Tiger Woods' alleged girlfriends a "hooker."
In a statement Friday, the show said Joy Behar's remark about Rachel Uchitel (YOO-kih-tehl) was a joke. But the show apologized for any hurt feelings or misimpressions.
Uchitel's lawyer, Gloria Allred, had demanded the apology.
She said her client was upset by what she characterized as the "highly offensive" remark on Thursday's show.
Allred asked for an on-air retraction, but hasn't gotten it. Friday's episode of the talk show was taped before the apology was issued.
