Overview

• George Stephanopoulos and his security guard, Richie, were trapped for over an hour between the second and third floors of a freight elevator at ABC’s new 7 Hudson Square building on July 29.
• FDNY firefighters cut a hole in the elevator ceiling and lowered a ladder to rescue them, allowing the anchor to reach Good Morning America an hour late.
• During the wait, Stephanopoulos remained composed, using the downtime to answer emails and read The New York Times.
• Later in the day, the anchor delivered breakfast to FDNY Engine 24, Ladder 5, Battalion 2, underlining his appreciation.
• The mishap highlights operational challenges during GMA’s June relocation from Times Square to the Robert A. Iger Building but did not disrupt the show’s live broadcast.