Robin Roberts thought she was getting champagne to toast her Hollywood Walk of Fame star — and discovered live on air that she was drinking apple juice. The Good Morning America co-anchor’s priceless reaction came the morning after she and co-anchor George Stephanopoulos were honoured with side-by-side stars on Hollywood Boulevard, and it has become the most-shared moment of their celebration week.
TV Shows Ace reported on 8 November that Roberts and Stephanopoulos returned to the GMA studio the day after the ceremony to find a surprise waiting for them: fellow anchors Michael Strahan and Ginger Zee appeared carrying star plaques of their own. A cake was brought out, along with what appeared to be champagne, and the group clinked glasses together before Roberts took a sip. Turning to the audience, she explained: “Oh, this is apple juice,” leaving the studio in laughter.
A double star, a day earlier
The joke landed because the honour itself was so substantial. According to the Hollywood Walk of Fame’s official site, Roberts and Stephanopoulos received the 2,862nd and 2,863rd stars on the Walk of Fame on Thursday 5 November at 11:30am PT, at 6920 Hollywood Boulevard near the El Capitan Theatre, in the Television category. The ceremony closed out ABC’s year-long celebration of Good Morning America’s 50th anniversary, the outlet reported.
TV Insider reported on 6 November that Michael J. Fox made a rare public appearance to induct his friend Stephanopoulos, taking to the stage to deliver a speech in his honour. Roberts was introduced by actress Niecy Nash-Betts, and Strahan — who received his own star in 2023 — served as emcee. Both honorees were joined by their families, and the pair’s stars sit side by side, next to Strahan’s.
Nearly two decades at the same desk
Roberts and Stephanopoulos have co-anchored Good Morning America together since 2009, making them the longest-running anchor duo in morning television, according to the Walk of Fame. Roberts joined the programme in 1995 and became a full-time co-anchor in 2005, TV Shows Ace noted.
The studio surprise was also shared on Good Morning America’s own Instagram page, with the caption “We brought the Hollywood Walk of Fame to our studio to celebrate Robin and George’s new stars!”, according to TV Shows Ace. Strahan opened the segment by telling his colleagues “You’re bringing the neighborhood up,” to which Roberts replied: “You must of taken your meds this morning, you’re being nice.” It was, by every account, a morning the GMA family will remember — apple juice and all. Note: this draft covers only the new studio-surprise development; the Walk of Fame ceremony itself was already covered on this site on 5 November (see internal link above).
