With Kelly;Live With Kelly and Michael;Live!
And how does Mark joining factor into that?
KELLY RIPA:[Laughs] It’s so funny.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos.ABC Entertainment
Every time you get a new cohost, it’s like a little jolt of energy.
But to be clear, I am always thinking about retiring [laughs].
It is my favorite topic of discussion.
Kelly Ripa with her husband, Mark Consuelos, guest-hosting on ‘Live With Kelly and Ryan’.ABC Entertainment
MARK CONSUELOS:Gerrad, it’s called Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
A daily morning live talk show is nothing without its consistency and continuity.
And Mark provides that, not just for our audience, but for me, for our producers.
And so if anybody could make me stay, it is definitely Mark.
But make no mistake, I do see a vision of the show without me.
I am a fan ofLivesince before I got there.
So it’s a real thought process I always have.
So for now that is the plan?
Do you have a plan, or are you just following your gut?
I know Mark is exceptionally talented.
I know he is so well suited for this format.
I know he loves it because he’s done it so many times.
But that’s not to say we’re going to be there forever.
CONSUELOS:I think it’s the love for the show and for the staff.
RIPA:It’s constantly on my mind.
It’s about the show in totality, not about me on the show.
It’s about the show.
Having said that, you’re eight years away from breaking a record.
Maury Povich had his show for 31 seasons.
You don’t want to take a stab at beat that?
RIPA:[Laughs] I do not.
CONSUELOS:[Laughs] Some records are not meant to be broken.
RIPA:And I hold Maury in too high of regard to even attempt that record.
Well said, well said.
[Laughs]
I respect that.
CONSUELOS:We were like, “Wait, that seems like areallybad idea.”
CONSUELOS:They’re all pros.
Kelly started her career a few years before me, right out of high school, essentially.
I came in after college and we met onAll My Childrenand worked together for seven years.
Our storylines were together.
We were love interests.
We got married in real life.
We got married on the show.
We had kids in real life.
We had kids on the show.
[Laughs] We had commutes.
We’ve done it in the hardest way possible.
I know the schedule atLiveit’s a really great one.
It’s conducive to a life after the show, as far as the afternoons.
Or we get to go visit a kid somewhere if they have something going on.
So, all the pros stacked up against the cons.
But at our age [laughs]… we mull everything over now.
“What do you want for lunch?”
RIPA:[Laughs] All we do is ruminate over what-ifs.
Mark, because you have guest-hosted before, it’s not unfamiliar for either of you.
But has it sunk in yet that this is the new daily norm for the two of you?
I just went in and was present and did my homework as fast as I could.
The only difference I see now is that I’ll have a little more time to prepare.
But yes, I have gone into it like, “Oh my gosh, this is real now.
And when that’s done, do the next one.”
That’s always worked in the past, so why have a go at screw it up?
Also, my partner’s arguably the best in the business at this format.
I know she’s not going to let me screw up too bad.
RIPA:That’s just the way we rehearsed that sentence.
[Laughs] I really do trust Mark completely.
I know all of our producers and camera people and the props guys.
It’s like, daddy’s coming home.
You know what I mean?
It’s a very familial environment.
I just know Mark and I are capable of feeding off each other’s energy.
We don’t see eye to eye on a lot, which makes our marriage interesting.
And I think that’s compelling television.
Mark, I hopeyour office isn’t a closet I say this cheekily.
RIPA:You know what?
Do you want it?"
Mark was like, “Yes, sir!”
CONSUELOS:“Yes, I do.”
Live With Kelly and Markpremieres Monday, April 17, and airs weekdays in syndication.
Check your local listings for the time and connection.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
