"LIVE WITH KELLY AND MICHAEL" GEARS UP FOR THE SEASON WITH A MONTH OF HOLIDAY-INSPIRED FESTIVITIES

Holiday Merriment Includes "LIVE's" "Holiday Gift Guide," "Holidays in New York Week" and "Holiday Hits Week"

Special Guest Matt Damon Headlines "LIVE's Christmas Eve Special"

NEW YORK, NY -- November 28, 2012 - As the 2012 holiday season kicks into gear, top morning talk show "LIVE with Kelly and Michael" is helping viewers get into the spirit with festive programming throughout the coming month.

This week, November 26-30, hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan have kicked off the festivities with "LIVE's" "Holiday Gift Guide," a week-long series dedicated to great gift ideas for women and men, tech gadgets, hostess gifts, and the year's hottest toys for the kids.

There's no place like New York City during the holidays, and beginning on December 3, Ripa and Strahan will showcase the best of "LIVE's" hometown during "LIVE's Holidays in New York Week." The week will include Strahan's Broadway debut, in the stage adaptation of the Christmas favorite "Elf"; Kelly's behind-the-scenes look at the New York City Ballet production of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker; and a special Santa medley from the New York cast of the Broadway hit "Jersey Boys."

Throughout the month a wide range of musical talents will ring in the season on "LIVE," beginning with ROD STEWART, who will be followed by mezzo-soprano and "Dancing with the Stars" alumna KATHERINE JENKINS. Plus, "LIVE's Holiday Hits Week" begins on December 10, and will include performances by RICHARD MARX, LIFEHOUSE, COLBIE CAILLAT, ASHANTI, and "America's Got Talent's" JACKIE EVANCHO.

In addition, kids will be thrilled to see a special performance by the cast of "Disney on Ice: Rockin' Ever After," and "LIVE's" month of celebration wraps up on Christmas Eve, December 24, when the hosts present "LIVE's Christmas Eve Special." The "LIVE" set will be transformed into a colorful winter wonderland for an hour of holiday cheer, including a visit from Academy Award(R) winner MATT DAMON. And the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus, makes an appearance before his busy night begins.

Emmy Award-winning talk show "LIVE with Kelly and Michael" is distributed in national syndication by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Produced by WABC-TV in New York and executive produced by Michael Gelman, "LIVE" airs in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Visit "LIVE" on the web at LIVEKellyandMichael.com, on Facebook, or follow "LIVE" on Twitter, @KellyandMichael.