Mark Consuelos is opening up about his first full year alongside his wife Kelly Ripa on the daytime talk show Live With Kelly and Mark.
Consuelos, 53, replaced Ryan Seacrest, who hosted the show with Ripa, 50, since 2017, and announced in February 2023 that he was leaving the show.
The first episode of Live With Kelly and Mark aired April 17, 2023, with Deadline revealing that Live With Kelly and Mark is just one of two daytime talk shows to improve on its average total viewership from one year earlier.
Consuelous also spoke with the outlet, revealing, ‘I have to say it’s probably the fastest year of my life.’
Ripa also recalled that she was ‘staunchly against’ making her husband the permanent co-host, even though he had already guest-hosted over 100 times.
Mark Consuelos is opening up about his first full year alongside his wife Kelly Ripa on the daytime talk show Live With Kelly and Mark.
Consuelos, 53, replaced Ryan Seacrest, who hosted the show with Ripa, 50, since 2017, and announced in February 2023 that he was leaving the show
‘I just felt like we’re not that interesting, and we’re not a very controversial couple. We don’t really get up to much. I always liken us to watching paint dry,’ she said.
Ripa admitted her earlier assessment was wrong, and thinks there might be something relatable about the couple that is attracting more viewers.
‘I do think that there is something very possibly relatable about our relationship,’ Ripa admitted.
‘We have disagreements like a normal couple, and we’re not afraid to let them unfold on the air and in front of America, and I think people find a lot of themselves in that,’ she said.
Executive producer Michael Gelman agreed, adding, ‘“Together Kelly and Mark deliver that rare authenticity that viewers crave.’
‘This past year has been so much fun for the entire Live family – with a lot of laughs both on and off camera. It’s been fantastic watching their real-life dynamic thrive on the show,’ he added.
The numbers show what they’re doing is working, with the current season that runs from September through March, up 3% in total viewers.
Live With Kelly and Mark is also the most-watched daytime talk show within the women’s 18-49 and 24-54 demographics.
‘I just felt like we’re not that interesting, and we’re not a very controversial couple. We don’t really get up to much. I always liken us to watching paint dry,’ she said
Ripa admitted her earlier assessment was wrong, and thinks there might be something relatable about the couple that is attracting more viewers
‘I do think that there is something very possibly relatable about our relationship,’ Ripa admitted
The numbers show what they’re doing is working, with the current season that runs from September through March, up 3% in total viewers
‘It has been a phenomenal year at Live with Kelly and Mark together as co-hosts,” Debra OConnell, President News Group and Networks, Disney Entertainment Television said in a statement.
‘We could not be more thrilled with how Mark has seamlessly joined the show family as permanent co-host,’ she added
‘His undeniable charisma and his and Kelly’s natural chemistry are evident as they deliver the laughs and smiles to our viewers each morning. We are incredibly proud of how Live has continued to evolve and that the audience is responding so enthusiastically,’ the statement concluded.
One of the new segments that was added when Consuelos took over was called Stump Mark, where guests from the audience try to ask him questions they think he won’t know the answer to.
Consuelos revealed that while he and Ripa were on a recent vacation, a woman approached him and successfully stumped him.
‘This lady stopped me on the hike. She goes, ‘I want to stump you. I can stump you.’ We stopped and she gave me two statements, one true, one false. She really did stump me,’ he said, as Ripa admitted he still owes her a prize.
