Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos took home the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series Host in 2024, but they weren’t on their best behavior this week. The LIVE hosts got into an unexpectedly tense exchange with a guest when trying to compliment the celebrity. Keep reading for more on the surprising interaction.
LIVE Guest Calls Out Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos In Tense On-Air Exchange
Kelly Ripa celebrated 25 years as a talk show host in February. She replaced beloved host Kathie Lee Gifford on LIVE in 2001. The show became LIVE with Kelly when Regis Philbin retired in 2011. After several co-hosts, her real-life husband, Mark Consuelos, replaced Ryan Seacrest in 2023. There is a lot of media experience between the two of them. But they still managed to mess up an interview, causing a guest to call them out.
Famed comedian Howie Mandel was a guest on LIVE with Kelly and Mark this week. He recently turned 70, which the hosts happily pointed out. Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos tried to compliment Howie Mandel for looking great at 70. However, he quickly shut them down, leading to an unexpected tense moment.
Things immediately went off the rails when Kelly Ripa started to say that it didn’t “make sense” that Howie Mandel was 70. He cut her off and said, “What do you mean it doesn’t make any sense? That I look great?” When Kelly Ripa tried to clarify that wasn’t what she meant, he said that he “didn’t like” people saying he looks great for 70.
Mark Consuelos tried to calm the situation down, but Howie Mandel wasn’t having it. “No. no. It’s like saying you’re smart for a stupid person,” he said. The comedian enjoyed giving them a hard time, but he got serious for a minute. He said that he saw himself in the mirror walking out and thought he looked gorgeous.
The tense moment passed. Howe Mandel went on to open up about his workout routine that keeps him in shape at 70. He revealed that frequent LIVE guest co-host, Jerry O’Connell, got him hooked on swimming. But not traditional swimming. The actor got Howie Mandel ropes to tie to the edge of the pool and paddles for his hands. The resistance training helps Howie Mandel build muscle, but he joked that he received strange looks at the pool.
Howie Mandel Reveals What Keeps America’s Got Talent ‘Fresh’ After 20 Seasons
The next season of America’s Got Talent doesn’t premiere until June 2. However, the LIVE hosts asked Howie Mandel how he keeps the show fresh after 20 seasons. The 2026 season will be Season 21 for the talent competition.
But Howie Mandel didn’t take credit. Instead, he said the various acts competing on the show keep it fresh. Season 21 of America’s Got Talent premieres on June 2 with auditions. The live shows will air later this summer. Were Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos wrong for saying Howie Mandel looks good for 70? Share your reaction in the comments.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
