HARTMAN TO QUIT ‘MORNING’ SHOW

Actor-turned-morning-wake-up man David Hartman said “Goodby, America,” Wednesday.

ABC-TV announced that the 51-year-old Hartman will quit in February as host of the network’s popular “Good Morningma America” program.

The network named no replacement to succeed Hartman, widely credited with helping to change the face of morning television, especially all three network morning programs’ switch from hard news reporting to lighter features and interviews.

“After 11 years it’s time to move on,” Hartman said in a telephone interview. He said he’d planned to leave since August and that discussions since then have centered on “not whether, but when and how” he’d end his hosting duties.

Hartman and ABC settled on a gradually diminishing role for him, beginning immediately, he said, when he will take off on Friday mornings.

Hartman’s move had been widely speculated within the entertainment industry--especially as NBC-TV’s rival “Today” show has overtaken ABC’s program as the nation’s No. 1 morning program and as ABC has undergone across-the-board cost, salary and staff cutbacks since its January acquisition by Capital Cities Communications Inc.

Money, Hartman said, “was never an issue in any way, shape or form.”

Prior to ABC’s Wednesday announcement, some reports had Hartman quitting and others had him being fired.

Hartman, who made a reported $2 million a year as principal host of “Good Morning America,” has been on the show since its premiere on Nov. 23, 1975, and, for years, has exercised considerable influence over production of the program.

“I’ve always had approval over regular principals,” Hartman said, “but that’s the only editorial control I’ve ever had.”

Under the new arrangement, he will continue making special appearances on “Good Morning America” and will produce some prime-time specials.

ABC said that Hartman will concentrate on covering “major stories and substantive issues” and that his production company, Rodman-Downs Ltd. Inc., will produce prime-time programs on “important issues.” Last season, Hartman produced a prime-time special on traffic and commuting.

“My goal, my interest was always in trying to present information in an interesting enough way that people would want to watch it,” Hartman said.

“David Hartman has changed the face of morning television,” said Philip R. Beuth, vice president of early morning television for ABC, in ABC’s announcement.

Hartman became a morning fixture for millions of Americans after a relatively brief career as a prime-time leading man.

He played the role of Dr. Paul Hunter in the 1969-73 NBC series “The New Doctors,” one of four recurring segments of “The Bold Ones.”

After that, Hartman had the title role in “Lucas Tanner,” an NBC series about a Midwestern high school teacher, that lasted one season.

Hartman then made the unusual jump from prime-time actor to morning TV personality on ABC’s new “Good Morning America” program.

Hartman’s style fit the new show’s combination of light features, news inserts, interviews and living-room-style set. It quickly derailed NBC’s long-dominant “Today” show and turned Hartman into a national celebrity.

“We will miss (Hartman) and so will millions of Americans who look to him and ‘GMA’ every day for assurance that all was well with their world and their lives. His contributions have been enormous,” Beuth said.

Hartman is the third featured personality to leave ABC’s morning program in recent weeks. Commentator Erma Bombeck and weatherman Dave Murray have left the show. Co-host Joan Lunden has one year remaining on her contract.