Fri Jul 04 12:20:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**’ABC World News Tonight’ Bids Emotional Farewell to Longtime Stage Manager Michelle Mayer**
**NEW YORK, NY –** In a rare and heartfelt moment, “ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir paused Tuesday’s broadcast to pay tribute to Michelle Mayer, a stage manager who has been a mainstay at ABC News for over 30 years. The segment, which featured appearances from former anchors Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson, was a tearful send-off to Mayer as she embarks on a new chapter in Coleman, Kentucky.
Muir, visibly emotional, described Mayer as “the one person who is here every night,” cueing anchors and offering guidance behind the scenes. He highlighted her career, starting as a prompter operator for Peter Jennings in the mid-1990s, and her unwavering presence alongside anchors like Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer.
Sawyer chimed in, emphasizing Mayer’s role as a “coach behind the camera,” offering direction and keeping the broadcast on track. Gibson also shared kind words, acknowledging Mayer as “her anchor.”
Muir acknowledged that he was “in denial” about Mayer’s departure and said, “I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you.” Muir even noted that he was wearing a full suit, a haircut, and his watch only for Mayer, as these were things that she always reminded him to do while on set.
The broadcast concluded with a final shot of Mayer, in her familiar spot, cueing Muir off the air for the last time. The segment served as a touching reminder of the vital, often unseen, contributions of those who work behind the scenes in television news.
First Piper 