ABC

ABC does not yet have eyes on potential replacements for T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, despite speculation the 'GMA3' anchors are on the way out ... TMZ has learned.

Sources at the network tell us the main focus for honchos is still completing a full investigation into whether or not T.J. and Amy's relationship violated company protocols. They're also looking into additional reports of affairs Holmes might have had while employed at 'GMA' -- including one with an intern -- and any potential issues there.

While some reports have speculated DeMarco Morgan -- who has been at the 'GMA 3' desk during T.J. and Amy's leave -- has already been tapped to fill Holmes' spot permanently, our network sources say that just isn't the case, and he isn't currently being "tested" to take over the position.

The same is true for Rhiannon Ally, Gio Benitez and Stephanie Ramos -- who have all covered the show's anchor desk in Amy and T.J.'s absence.

We're told if and when ABC looks to fill spots, it'll be after the investigation has totally wrapped and Amy and T.J.'s fates are decided.

TMZ broke the story ... both T.J. and Amy have lawyered up in recent weeks -- Amy with Andrew Brettler and Holmes with Eric George -- to possibly take legal action against ABC.

We're told if the anchors are shown the door, their attorneys are ready to file suit, and raise the issue of race -- asking the network, "Has ABC ever used the morals or conduct clause to fire or discipline 2 consenting adults at equal levels when both were white?"

Of course, we've seen T.J. and Amy out and about living their lives as a couple since getting pulled off the air ... spending the holidays together and even hanging out the day before he filed to divorce his estranged wife.

ABC could be staring down the barrel of a lawsuit if it fires or pushes T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach out of their anchor jobs ... because we're told the 2 have lawyered up big time and if it comes to litigation ... race might be an issue.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... ABC has not clued in T.J. or Amy as to why they were taken off the air a month ago ... after their romantic relationship surfaced. We're told they're confused and frustrated why the ABC News brass at first told people internally there would be no disciplinary action, and then the company did an about-face.

Our sources say Amy has hired Andrew Brettler, one of the best civil lawyers in Hollywood, and T.J. has lawyered up with Eric George, a legal force who has handled numerous celebrity cases.

We're told Brettler and George want answers, which they are not getting so far. Our sources say if ABC keeps T.J. and Amy off the air or fires them, the lawyers are ready to file suit, and one of the issues involves race.

We're told the lawyers will pose this question to ABC ... "Has ABC ever used the morals or conduct clause to fire or discipline 2 consenting adults at equal levels when both were white?" The sources go on to say it would be telling if this is the first time ABC invoked the morals clause under these circumstances ... with a Black and a White anchor.

The sources go on to say the damages could be enormous if their reputations and careers are ruined as a result of discipline by the network.

One source says the only thing T.J. and Amy can think of regarding what ABC thinks they did wrong was not informing them of the relationship in a timely fashion. To that, the sources say ... "Are you supposed to inform your boss when you catch feelings?"

We reached out to ABC ... so far, no word back.

Ryan Seacrest will be sober as a bat when the clock strikes midnight later this evening -- a rule he's imposing on himself amid CNN's widely-reported alcohol ban for their NYE hosts.

We ran into the 'AI' alum Saturday on the streets of NYC -- this as he was getting ready to go through the marathon that is his annual gig with ABC ... namely, emceeing "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" and helping Disney ring in 2023, which he's done for a while now.

Of course ... we had to ask the guy about his drinking regimen for the night, especially after he publicly sided with CNN brass this week about limiting the network's on-air boozing.

In light of that, Ryan tells us he won't be imbibing heavily while working. In fact, he says he's gonna save the good stuff 'til well after 12:00 AM, presumably when he's off camera. It's interesting he says that ... it would seem Ryan firmly believes in keeping things professional.

It's a bit ambiguous whether that's a shot at Anderson Cooper/Andy Cohen and the rest of the CNN team -- who have a rep for downing shots during their broadcast -- but when we asked RS if there was any shade ... he suggested it was all love for everyone in his position.

While Ryan will be steering clear of booze through most of tonight, all eyes will be on CNN to see if they follow the orders they've been given ... or if they cut loose like years past.

Barbara Walters -- one of the biggest and most recognizable news anchors in the world -- has died.

We're told she died at her home, surrounded by loved ones. Barbara had been in declining health for several years.

The legendary ABC broadcaster passed away Friday in New York City. Barbara had receded from public view the past several years, opting to live a private life. She hadn't been seen out and about since at least 2016.

Barbara's 60-plus-year career was in part catapulted by her coverage of President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963. She came on-air to report on the story alongside anchor Hugh Downs, giving a man-on-the-street perspective from New York City.

Of course, she went on to become one of the longest-serving journalists in the game -- first working for NBC's "Today" show as a writer and researcher, and working her way up in the network through the '60s and early '70s, eventually becoming their first female cohost.

In 1976, Barbara jumped over to ABC ... landing a job on their "Evening News" program. She was the first woman to anchor a network news show, but her cohost was not having it and it made success almost impossible. Not long after, she became a fixture and regular contributor and the eventual host of the network's "20/20" newsmagazine program and appeared on the show for decades.

Some of her biggest interviews were featured on "20/20," as well as other shows, which included notable face-to-face convos with folks like Katharine Hepburn, Fidel Castro, Monica Lewinsky, Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Oprah, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, China's ex-secretary of the Communist Party, Jiang Zemin, Vladimir Putin, John Wayne, Mike Tyson, Barbra Streisand, Lucille Ball, Muhammad Ali, Fred Astaire, Henry Kissinger, Ringo Starr, Walter Cronkite, Willie Nelson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christopher Reeve, Hugo Chavez, Tom Cruise, Anna Wintour, Justin Bieber, Syrian Prez Bashar al-Assad and every single American President. The list goes on and on and on.

If you can think of a famous person, Barbara probably interviewed them, plain and simple.

Her achievements go well beyond just that though -- Walters also co-created and cohosted ABC's popular daytime talk show, "The View," which became one of her main focuses professionally after semi-retiring from hosting "20/20" in 2004. She stayed on "The View" through mid-May 2014, and continued to make guest appearances after her official send-off.

Barbara's final on-air interview was with Donald Trump for ABC News in 2015. Her last public appearance was reportedly in 2016 -- she hadn't been seen much since then. The last time we got her on camera was in 2014 when she graciously signed autographs.

She'd been married four times and had dated some very high-profile people, including notorious McCarthy-era attorney Roy Cohn, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, U.S. Senator John Warner, Senator Edward Brooke, Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Neil Butler.

She had one daughter with Lee Guber, Jacqueline Dena Guber.

Barbara was a staple in pop culture too -- often portrayed on 'SNL' by several different cast members over the years. She also once spoofed herself by appearing on 'Weekend Update.'

She was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in '07. Barbara has won countless Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards over the course of her career, as well as many other lifetime achievement accolades.

Barbara's publicist, Cindi Berger, tells TMZ ... "She lived her life with no regrets. She was a trailblazer not only for female journalists but for all women."

Barbara Walters was 93.

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' relationship is getting VERY serious on the heels of T.J. filing for divorce from his wife ... and TMZ has the evidence to prove it.

The lovebirds recently flew down to Miami from NYC for a romantic getaway and were caught locking lips with their hands all over each other.

Check out these photos snapped Wednesday, showing the GMA3 cohosts in the throes of passion under the hot Florida sun.

The couple later had some food and drinks at a seaside restaurant, where they were clearly enjoying each other's company, but were less affectionate. They also spent Christmas together in the cooler climate of Atlanta, but we're sure they kept one another warm.

As we reported ... the couple's affair leaked out in late November while both were still married, but separated from their spouses. ABC execs, who produce GMA 3, were blindsided by the news and removed the two from their cohosting duties, pending an internal investigation into whether they broke any company rules.

There's a snowball's chance in hell ABC has Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes anchoring 'GMA3' again before the New Year.

Network sources tell TMZ ... ABC's internal review of their romantic relationship, coupled with Amy and T.J.'s previously scheduled time off for the holidays make an on-air return in 2022 next to impossible.

As you know ... Amy and T.J. haven't been on camera since a Dec. 2 broadcast ... because the network yanked them off the air while investigating their romance.

TMZ broke the story ... Amy and T.J. will remain off the air pending ABC's internal review, which we're told is ongoing.

Our sources say Amy and T.J. are not having direct conversations with network brass about the review ... instead, we're told the anchors are having their legal teams handle any communication with ABC.

However, our sources say Amy and T.J. are willing to talk personally with network execs if called upon ... though, for now, they're sitting back and urging the network to conduct the review so everything is aboveboard.

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes aren't going to show their faces on camera for the foreseeable future -- because ABC wants to make sure it's able to do a full review of their relationship before bringing 'em back ... TMZ has learned.

Kim Godwin, the president of ABC News, fired off an email to staffers updating everyone on the status of Amy and T.J.'s return to the anchor's desk.

The email, obtained by TMZ, reads, "I want to take a moment to address the on-going matter involving GMA3 anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach. I understand that the continuing coverage can be distracting from the incredibly important work our team does here at ABC News."

She adds, "Amy and T.J. will remain off-air pending the completion of an internal review, and there will be a rotation of anchors at GMA3 for the time being. It is my hope that we will continue to focus our energy on what we do best, and I want all of you to know how immensely proud I am of your hard work and professionalism."

We'd already broken a story about ABC's probe -- remember, we reported ABC brass wanted to get into the nitty-gritty to see if any company policies had been broken during their romance ... something that Godwin had gotten ahead of by saying this was all kosher.

ABC is pulling the plug on Christmas with the Backstreet Boys ... a late decision that comes immediately on the heels of Nick Carter being accused of sexual battery.

The band's special, "A Very Backstreet Holiday," was set to air on ABC next week, and featured all 5 singers -- Nick, Brian, Howie, AJ and Kevin -- but the network has canceled the airing ... TMZ has confirmed.

The special was shot last month in L.A., and, at this stage, would be complete and ready to air. ABC isn't offering any explanation for the last-minute cancelation, but with the announcement coming less than 24 hours after the lawsuit against Carter ... it's pretty clear.

TMZ broke the story ... Shannon Ruth sued the singer Thursday for sexual battery, saying she was 17 back in 2001 when was allegedly invited on his tour bus and given alcohol.

According to legal docs, Ruth -- who's autistic with cerebral palsy -- was then sexually assaulted by Carter ... and when she threatened to tell people about what he did, he allegedly called her a "r******* little bitch" who no one would believe. She says she contracted HPV after the incident and is now seeking damages.

Nick's attorney, Michael Holtz, told us the entire claim "is not only legally meritless but also entirely untrue" ... saying Ruth has been manipulated into making false allegations about Nick.

There's growing suspicion T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach are pumping the brakes on their relationship while ABC investigates their romance ... but we're told the couple's going full steam ahead.

The 'GMA3' anchors have not been spotted together publicly since one week ago today when they signed off for the weekend, causing some to believe they've split.

Sources connected to both Amy and T.J. tell us they're still "very much together," but have chosen to keep a low profile to not bring any more attention to the situation than what's already happened.

Obviously, photos of them as a couple would only generate more buzz and conversation about the relationship -- exactly what ABC execs said they didn't want -- so, for now, they're staying out of the public eye until things get sorted out with ABC.

Amy was out solo on Wednesday walking her dog ... and before that, she was seen shopping last weekend, at a T.J. Maxx, no less.

Meanwhile, T.J. Holmes has remained totally out of sight since getting benched from the 'GMA3' desk.

TMZ broke the story, ABC's human resources and legal departments are digging deeper into all aspects of the couple's relationship to ensure there were no violations of company policies or their individual contracts.

Gayle King is weighing in on the T.J. Holmes/Amy Robach drama, calling the whole situation a "sloppy mess" -- but insists she's not gloating about her morning TV competition's crisis.

The "CBS Mornings" cohost dropped her 2 cents Thursday night on 'Watch What Happens Live' ... after Andy Cohen teed it up by asking what she thinks about "all hell breaking loose" at 'GMA.'

Gayle said, "I look at the situation and I say it's very interesting what's happening over there. It's just gotten very messy and very sloppy."

She gave ABC and 'GMA' execs props for their initial stance of letting 2 consenting adults remain on the air, but then added ... "The more you read, it's just very messy."

Gayle stopped short of accusing Amy and T.J. of cheating on their spouses -- an allegation they've denied -- but she did say, "I think, to me, it's just a sad situation because you've got kids involved, you've got families involved, and I keep thinking about that."

TMZ broke the story ... T.J. and Amy are still a couple one week after getting benched ... as ABC takes a deep dive into their romance, and whether they violated company policies.

ABC is diving deeper into Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' relationship to make sure the 'GMA3' co-anchors haven't violated any company policies during their whirlwind romance.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... ABC's human resources and legal departments are working together to look into all aspects of the high-profile co-workers hooking up. The goal is to determine if Amy and T.J. did anything to breach their contracts -- such as using company resources, like vehicles or drivers, to meet romantically ... or pressuring staffers to keep the relationship on the DL.

We're told some people at the network were upset about ABC News' President Kim Godwin's comments on Monday morning's editorial call -- when she said the couple did not violate company policies -- because the network hadn't yet taken a closer look.

Our sources say the review started to heat up internally last Friday when news broke of an alleged affair T.J. had with a former 'GMA' producer years ago.

We're told Godwin worked through the weekend with other executives before deciding to pull Amy and T.J. from the anchor's desk.

As we reported, Amy and T.J. were taken off the air Monday after Godwin called the situation an "internal and external distraction."

That part is clearly true, but again, other execs feel she went too far in telling the team there were no company policy violations -- we're told it was just too soon to know.

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' benching from the 'GMA3' anchor's desk has nothing to do with an alleged workplace affair he had several years ago with another producer ... TMZ has learned.

Amy and T.J. were noticeably absent Monday morning -- less than a week after news of their romance was made public. Network sources told us Thursday the two would not face disciplinary action for their relationship, as it was both consensual and they held similar titles on the show.

However, DailyMail published a story Friday alleging Holmes had an affair years ago with 'GMA' producer Natasha Singh, and many felt it was part of the reason he and Amy got yanked this week.

We've spoken with several sources connected to ABC who maintain the alleged affair with Singh had nothing to do with Amy and T.J.'s absence Monday -- adding no ABC rules were violated.

The sources echoed what we reported -- ABC News President Kim Godwin said on an editorial call Monday ... the decision to pull Amy and T.J. was to calm the "internal and external distraction" their relationship has caused.

'GMA' hosts T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach may have stunned the public and gained a whole lot of unwanted attention when their relationship was revealed to the masses ... but they've got no plans to slow down on their romance.

Sources close to the couple tell us ... while both T.J. and Amy, as well as their estranged spouses, are less than thrilled about the heightened scrutiny, they know it's only temporary. For that reason, we're told, T.J. and Amy remain committed to growing their relationship.

Our sources also say the pair's coworkers at 'GMA3' have remained unchanged in their day-to-day interactions with the anchors ... so there's not an issue there either.

Funny enough, Amy's parents are in NYC visiting this weekend -- a trip that was booked before the story of their relationship became public -- so we're told there's a good chance they'll hang with T.J.

Both Amy and T.J. have deleted their social media accounts, but our sources say it's not because they're ashamed of their relationship ... it's more to blunt the online harassment and nasty comments from trolls.

T.J. and Amy have, mostly, remained silent ... but T.J. joked Friday about wanting to extend the week, while Amy said he was speaking for himself ... sounds like she's more than ready for the weekend.

T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, coanchors of 'GMA3,' will not be disciplined over their romantic relationship ... TMZ has learned.

Network sources tell TMZ ... Amy and T.J. did nothing to warrant punishment. They are 2 consenting adults on equal levels in the company and have a right to date who they want. One network source adds ... the fact they were on the air Thursday -- the day after DailyMail broke the story -- should telegraph to everyone, neither will suffer any consequences.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Amy actually went to ABC execs several YEARS ago to dispel rumors she and T.J. were a thing. She knew the building was abuzz with talk they had hooked up, but Amy assured her bosses they were just friends -- though best friends.

As for the timeline, we're told both T.J. and Amy separated from their spouses in August, just weeks apart from each other, and "shortly thereafter" began a romantic relationship.

We're told Amy and T.J. planned to make their relationship public in several weeks, because Amy's divorce from Andrew Shue will become final in around 2 weeks. They were blindsided by the DailyMail photos that were published Wednesday.

Until the DailyMail story broke Wednesday, they had told no one about their relationship, including execs at ABC.

Our sources say both Amy and T.J. will be on the air Friday, but we're told there are no plans for them to talk about their relationship.

Ellen Pompeo is officially bidding farewell to "Grey's Anatomy" ... the series lead just said goodbye after reports of her leaving the long-running drama.

Ellen made the announcement Thursday on social media, saying she's "eternally grateful and humbled by the love and support," she's received the last 19 seasons playing Meredith Grey on the ABC show.

In her goodbye post, Ellen naturally thanked the fans and said they are the ones who made her run on 'Grey's' so fun and iconic.

As fans of the show already know, a teaser for the upcoming "Grey's Anatomy" midseason premier shows Ellen's character saying her goodbyes to her fellow doctors as she moves away from Seattle and heads to Boston. There were also earlier reports of Ellen scaling back her role to only 8 episodes on the current season 19, and she's so far appeared in 7 episodes.

Ellen's appeared in over 400 episodes during a long run on the series, and while there were recent rumors she might reunite with former 'Grey's' costar Patrick Dempsey on a new show, Patrick shot the reports down.

Matthew Perry revealed the depth of his addiction in an interview Friday night, and it was shocking.

Perry, who told Diane Sawyer during the run of "Friends" he would sometimes pop 55 Vicodin pills a day, said in real life he traded out friends for drug dealers who helped fuel his habit.

Matthew said he would sometimes go to realtor open houses, beeline it for the bathroom and rummage through medicine cabinets looking for pills. He felt safe, because, as he said, "I think they thought, 'Well, there's no way that Chandler came in and stole from us.'"

You may recall ... during the "Friends" reunion show earlier this year, Perry seemed to slur his words and seemed out of it.  Matthew said he had just had major dental surgery ... one of many surgeries that had some connection to his drug use.