Action News' Matt O'Donnell takes trip to Good Morning America ahead of 50th anniversary

NEW YORK (WPVI) -- Good Morning America is counting down to its 50th anniversary on November 3.

Every morning, Action News passes the torch to the team in New York.

So, 6abc's Matt O'Donnell took a road trip to see things from their side.

The GMA team is settling in and enjoying its new, state-of-the-art studios at 7 Hudson Square in Manhattan.

O'Donnell arrived there early one morning because we're all about early in Philadelphia. The Good Morning America team is, too.

"I'm familiar with the early morning wakeup call," said GMA Weekend anchor Whit Johnson. "You never get used to it, but you get familiar with the pain when that alarm clock goes off."

GMA debuted on ABC on November 3, 1975, with hosts David Hartman and Nancy Dussault. It has seen a stable cast of hosts over these five decades, including broadcasting legends like Joan Lunden, Charlie Gibson, Diane Sawyer and the current team of our favorites: Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos and Michael Strahan.

They gave Action News a quick window to join them on set during a commercial break, and honestly, it felt just the way it does on Action News Mornings -- friends and colleagues hanging out, feeding off each other's energy, getting their viewers ready for the day ahead.

O'Donnell told Roberts how much we appreciate her authenticity and genuineness when 6abc joins her live to preview the day's GMA rundown.

"How do you listen so well to us?" O'Donnell asked.

"Because it's so entertaining what I'm hearing from you all," Roberts responded. "I mean that! I love dipping in early. But I find that when you listen you might learning something new."

And Strahan, being the New York Giant hall of famer that he is, couldn't help but notice O'Donnell was wearing his favorite pair of Eagles socks.

Strahan said he loved playing in Philadelphia as much as he loves speaking to Philadelphia every morning.

"On the personal side of broadcasting now, I love Philadelphia. From a playing respect, it was the meanest place to ever go. It was my favorite place to play because I love getting screamed at, yelled at, having things thrown at me," Strahan said.

Action News shares multiple bonds with the entire GMA family.

GMA Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee has joined us for the 6abc Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Philadelphia Flower Show.

"There is no GMA without Philadelphia. It's just the truth. And it's not just because we all know you do very well to help us out, but I hear from people in Philadelphia as much as anywhere else in the country and a lot of times more," Zee said.

And GMA's Sam Champion is already looking forward to returning for our parade coverage this year.

"So Philly was always a retreat for me, I always used to escape the city and stay in that Olde, downtown Philadelphia. It's still that for me," Champion said.

There was one more thing O'Donnell needed to do before he said goodbye and headed back down the New Jersey Turnpike.

"One, two, three -- Good Morning America!" the group said in unison.