Hey there, fans of daytime television! Kelly Ripa is back in the spotlight, gracing the set of Live With Kelly and Mark on Monday, July 31. This marks her return after stepping away for a few episodes to focus on other ventures. Let’s dive into what’s been going on behind the scenes and how her absence—and return—has impacted the show.
Kelly Rejoins Mark for a Dynamic Comeback
At 52 years old, Kelly Ripa isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. She reunited with her husband and cohost, Mark Consuelos, also 52, to interview the hilarious comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. Last week, Mark stepped up admirably, hosting alongside guest cohosts while Kelly took a breather to focus on her other projects, like promoting her game show, Generation Gap.
While Kelly was away, Mark proved he could hold his own, especially when he welcomed Anderson Cooper as a guest cohost during the July 27 episode. The chemistry between these two was electric, leaving fans buzzing about their hilarious banter and lighthearted segments. One viewer shared their excitement on Instagram, writing, “Anderson was so funny today; he made my morning!”
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Kelly’s Heartfelt Appreciation for Anderson Cooper
Kelly herself couldn’t help but gush over Anderson Cooper’s performance. She shared clips from the episode on her Instagram Stories, sprinkling them with heart emojis to express her admiration. Fans echoed her sentiments, with one commenting, “I love how authentic Anderson is on camera! Makes him adorable.” It’s clear that Anderson’s charm and wit resonated with the audience, making his guest appearance unforgettable.
Behind the Scenes of Kelly's Absence
Before her return, Kelly had been absent from the show on multiple occasions over the past few weeks. For example, on July 20 and 21, Maria Menounos stepped in as a temporary replacement at the news desk. While Kelly hasn’t explicitly stated the reasons for her absences, it’s no secret that she’s been busy promoting her new game show, Generation Gap.
Interestingly, rumors have surfaced that Kelly and Mark will be taking a break from filming Live With Kelly and Mark for the remainder of the summer. Don’t worry, though—pre-recorded episodes will continue airing in their usual time slot. This annual summer hiatus is standard practice for the show. Last season, Kelly and her previous cohost, Ryan Seacrest, also took a break before returning for a fresh season in September.
Mark's Journey as Co-Host
Ryan Seacrest’s departure marked the beginning of a new chapter for Live, with Mark Consuelos stepping into the role of official cohost starting on April 17. Fans have embraced this dynamic duo, and so far, things seem to be working out beautifully. Kelly has mentioned that she and Mark don’t plan their conversations ahead of time. Instead, they rely on spontaneous discussions based on their experiences outside of the show. “We won’t go home and discuss, ‘Oh, what should we talk about tomorrow?’ Because that’s not how we do things here,” Kelly explained.
