Live With Kelly and Mark got a little shake-up on Thursday, July 20, when Kelly Ripa wasn’t in her usual spot. Her husband, Mark Consuelos, stepped up and took the reins alongside a surprise co-host. Let’s just say the show went on in style.

Mark Consuelos and Maria Menounos Team Up

Mark, looking as cool as ever at 52, was joined by Maria Menounos to keep the show rolling while Kelly was out. Together, they interviewed some big names, including Robert Herjavec and Oscar De La Hoya. When Oscar, 50, walked onto the stage, he gave Maria, 45, a big round of applause. Maria’s story is pretty incredible—she recently welcomed her first child, Athena, via surrogate with her husband, Keven Undergaro.

Maria's Journey to Motherhood

It wasn’t an easy road for Maria to become a mom. Her decade-long journey to parenthood was filled with challenges, including a battle with stage 2 pancreatic cancer. But through it all, she’s come out stronger and more grateful than ever. Just a few months before Athena arrived, Maria had surgery to fight the cancer, and she’s using her experience to inspire others.

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“I look back on the surgery earlier this year and am so grateful for the strength God blessed me with to get through it,” Maria shared on Instagram, alongside a candid photo showing her scars. “And of course, all the beautiful humans he sent to help me too! Now I see the scars that I sunscreen up carefully to protect, and I smile.”

Kelly Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos attend the Oscars — David Fisher/Shutterstock

Gifts and Gratitude

Maria clearly felt right at home in her new role, and the fans couldn’t get enough of it. She even shared a sweet moment from backstage on her Instagram Stories. Kelly and Mark had left a thoughtful baby gift for Maria in her dressing room—a basket full of pink clothes and a heartfelt note for little Athena.

“Athena, get ready for some cute outfits,” Maria gushed while showing off the gift to her followers. The gesture was a perfect way to celebrate Maria’s new chapter as a mom.

Mark’s Wild Ice Bath Adventure

Just a day before Maria joined the show, Kelly and Mark pulled off one of the most memorable segments in the show’s history. On Wednesday, July 19, Mark stripped down to his shorts and took an ice bath live on TV. And he wasn’t alone—producer Michael Gelman joined him for the chilly plunge.

“This was fun to watch,” one viewer commented on a clip of the segment on Instagram. While Mark admitted to feeling a little “tingling” in certain areas during the dip, he actually enjoyed the experience so much that he wanted to try it again at home.

“I want to get one of these,” Mark said, referring to the ice bath. “I’ll use the tub that we have and fill it with ice.”

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Celebrating with Hot Dogs

Both Mark and Michael stayed in the ice baths for six minutes, much to the delight of the cheering audience. To celebrate their icy achievement, Kelly presented them with a plate of hot dogs in honor of National Hot Dog Day. It was a hilarious and heartwarming moment that had the crowd laughing.

“It’s cocktail weenie day,” Kelly joked to the crowd during the broadcast. Talk about a fun way to wrap up the segment!