Mediaite founder and ABC News legal analysts Dan Abrams and HLN’s Nancy Grace went head-to-head this morning on Good Morning America, debating the Bob Ward murder trial taking place in Orlando. In a 911 call, Ward admitted to shooting his wife, but later backtracked, saying she killed herself while he tried to take the gun [...]

Just a few months ago, reports surfaced that Today Show host Matt Lauer had had enough early morning TV work, and would be departing the show when his current contract came to an end. While NBC denied the report, rumors have persisted that not only is Lauer serious about leaving, but that NBC executives are reasonably (and quite seriously) considering possible replacements. Mediaite has learned that the top choice of certain key Comcast and NBC execs is American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.

In her first television interview, the hotel maid who accused former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of trying to sexually assault her has spoken to Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts. In the exclusive, Nafissatou Diallo recounts what she says happened in the hotel room at the center of the scandal, and tells Roberts she wants justice. “I want him to go to jail.” The interview, which aired first on GMA this morning, will continue on ABC World News and Nightline.

As the noose begins to tighten around the defense in the trial of Casey Anthony, the hour in which her attorneys must decide whether to put her on the stand or not inches ever closer. On today’s Good Morning America, Nancy Grace and Dan Abrams addressed rumors of how Anthony’s defense was tinted by the April Whalen story and what the defense has to consider in deciding to put Anthony on the stand.

As the plot of the convoluted Casey Anthony trial thickens, Dr. Spitz, an expert witness, took the stand to explain his doubts that the duct tape found on the child was placed there late and evidence as to the child’s autopsy was questionable. Yet upon cross-examination, many of his theories themselves were found faulty, and [...]

In an exclusive interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, President Obama said he’s confident Weiner–who announced his resignation Thursday–will “refocus” and ultimately “bounce back.” The president said he wished Rep. Weiner “and his lovely wife well. Obviously this had been a tough incident for them.”

The saga with International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and his sexual assault charges continues as first he was denied bail and now his defense team begins crafting their arguments. ABC News legal analyst (and Mediaite founder) Dan Abrams appeared on GMA to share some information regarding what the defense strategy might be.

It may not have been what Chris Brown had in mind, but it appears the disgraced star has finally found an ally in the celebrity world: Rosie O’Donnell, who on her radio show this week accused his detractors (and ABC host Robin Roberts) of racism for maligning his window-breaking behavior more than, she argues, the equivalent by white stars. A name notably absent from O’Donnell’s analysis? Rihanna.

The fallout from singer Chris Brown‘s violent outburst after an interview on GMA continues. First Robin Roberts explained what happened and even invited Brown to appear on the show again “because we’d love to have another chat with him.” Now it’s Brown’s turn to speak out about his behavior.

Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts took time Wednesday morning to talk about Chris Brown, the R&B star who seemed somewhat less than thrilled with his interview with Roberts Tuesday. “I was shocked like everybody else,” she said.

Appearing on GMA–he hoped–to talk about his new CD and to perform Yeah 3X, Roberts asked about Brown’s legal problems stemming from the beating he delivered to his ex-girlfriend Rihanna.

Chris Brown, who’s best know for beating up ex-girlfriend Rihanna but also raps, was a guest on Good Morning America today. He was fine talking about one of those topics, but not so much the other. According to the New York Post, the repeated questions from GMA co-host Robin Roberts about the star’s legal troubles sent him into a rage, leaving a window at GMA‘s Times Square studios smashed as Brown made his exit.

Well, Mediaite founder Dan Abrams has begun his tenure at Good Morning America today and it seemed, at first, like they were giving him a wonderful welcome. They said how glad they were to have him on the team and they even let him have a segment to talk up his new book Man Down. However, then Sharyn Alfonsi made him test out the claim in his book that women can withstand pain better by getting his legs waxed! Book promotion or morning show hazing? You be the judge!

It was a busy morning on Good Morning America as not only did controversial lightning rods Lady Gaga and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann stop by, but ABC‘s own Christiane Amanpour snuck in to discuss the increasing unrest across the Middle East. As violence is erupting in the Bahrain, Amanpour also surveyed the status of protests in some other countries in the region.

Singing superstar Lady Gaga appeared on Good Morning America this morning to promote AIDS awareness and did not disappoint with her shocking outfit. Wearing some provocative clothes is one way to get people talking about the singer’s work with the MAC Viva Glam Campaign and it also livens up what otherwise might have been a forgettable morning conversation.

In an interview this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America, Sarah Palin came out swinging, calling President Obama‘s tax cut deal with Republicans not compromise, but a sign he’s a “flip-flopper.”

As for a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll that show the former Alaska Governor trailing President Obama badly in a head-to-head 2012 matchup–fully 22 points behind-she says it’s way too early to give it much thought:

Tomorrow morning on Good Morning America, Co-Anchor Robin Roberts airs her visit to Alaska where she spent a day-in-the-life of Sarah Palin and interviewed Palin about her new book and current political issues. As Palin embraces mainstream media outlets, is the benefit of exposure to new audiences worth the tradeoff of losing credibility when she rails against the “lamestream” media for unfair coverage?

n Friday night, four networks simultaneously hosted the second “Stand Up 2 Cancer” live telethon to raise money and awareness of a ravaging, indiscriminate disease. For the second time, a small city’s worth of celebrities from film, TV, music — plus all the producers and technicians necessary to cut between them efficiently so as to cram them all into an hour — joined with survivors, advocates and health care professionals to raise awarness about all the ways in which cancer can strike, and urge viewers to contribute whatever they could to the ongoing, common search for a cure. It was a follow-up to 2008, when they raised $100million. Patrick Swayze was at that one. In 2010, one cast member short and millions upon millions lost to the disease in that interim, they did it again. Boom! Wrist slap from Hank Stuever of the Washington Post. Apparently it was too contrived. Perhaps he didn’t know he was watching a TELETHON.

George Stephanopoulos made his first appearance with his wife today since he took over on Good Morning America.

Ali Wentworth, who stars in the movie It’s Complicated, was interviewed by Robin Roberts, but her new co-host was there listening in while Wentworth revealed some personal secrets never before heard while Stephanopoulos was on This Week.

Bill O’Reilly stopped by Good Morning America again on a special occasion for the show – the beginning of Diane Sawyer‘s final week.

The Fox News host graded Pres. Obama in several areas…and graded Sawyer and GMA as well.

Obama-mania meets Bollywood spectacle as the Washington press corps is going a little starstruck over Obama’s first State Dinner with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Washington Post and Politico are devoting special sections on their websites to the event and CNN is already on the story. Several outlets are planning live video coverage of the dinner and receiving line.

As Mediaite reported last week, George Stephanopoulos came out of the blocks a strong contender for the Good Morning America anchor slot opened up when Diane Sawyer left to host World News. But lately, Chris Cuomo is giving him a run for his money. Over at AOL, Cuomo appears to be the favorite for the job among readers.