Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos recently celebrated Howie Mandel‘s 70th birthday, a move that surprisingly sparked an awkward banter about age and compliments.
Mandel said that praise tied to milestones often feels backhanded, while the couple reassured him he looked great for his age.
Kelly Ripa previously reflected on her decades-long career, while seemingly hinting at her plans to step away from her popular TV show.
Howie Mandel Snaps At Kelly Ripa On ‘Live With Kelly And Mark’
On Monday’s episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark,” Ripa and her husband, Consuelos, congratulated Howie Mandel on reaching his 70th birthday.
However, Mandel wasn’t exactly thrilled after Ripa said it “doesn’t make any sense” that he is that age, leaving the comedian puzzled. “What do you mean, ‘it doesn’t make any sense?’” he asked.
Consuelos then tried to clarify his wife’s remark, explaining that it was because Mandel looked great, but the “America’s Got Talent” judge wasn’t convinced.
“No, no, no,” Mandel said, per Page Six. “I don’t like that because that’s a caveat, ’cause you tell someone you’re 70, and they go, ‘you look great…’”
Ripa quickly reassured him that they weren’t comparing him to others his age; they simply thought he didn’t seem 70 at all.
Mandel, however, persisted, pointing out that it felt like a backhanded compliment, comparing it to saying someone is smart “for a stupid person.”
The audience laughed as he emphasized that he didn’t feel like he looked particularly good, regardless of what anyone said.
Consuelos made one last attempt to reassure him, insisting that he genuinely looked good. Mandel eventually lightened the mood, jokingly calling himself “gorgeous” and revealing the “ridiculous” workout routine that keeps him in shape.
Kelly Ripa Hints At Stepping Away From ‘Live With Kelly And Mark’
Meanwhile, after more than 25 years on air, Ripa is hinting that her time on “Live with Kelly and Mark” may not last forever.
In a recent interview with Decider, the 55-year-old reflected on her long-running role and suggested she could step away sooner rather than later.
“Contrary to what everyone around here thinks, I don’t intend on working for the rest of my life,” she said. “But I think we’ll all make that decision when the time comes.”
The Actress Doesn’t Want The Show To End With Her And Mark Consuelos
Ripa noted that when the time comes for her to leave “Live,” she will ensure the show finds the right co-host to take her place, gradually introducing new talent to the audience so the show continues to thrive.
“I think it’s important. I love this show too much to see it sort of ever end with us,” Ripa said, per the Daily Mail.
Ripa called the show “so special” and described it as a franchise capable of lasting as long as linear television exists, pointing to its history with Regis Philbin, Kathie Lee Gifford, and others.
“There are too many talented people out there that really deserve the opportunity to find their own audience and grow the audience the way they see fit,” she stated.
Kelly Ripa On Why She Loved The Show And Its Enduring Appeal
Ripa also shared why the job appealed to her from the start. Beyond loving the show’s humor and irreverence, the schedule allowed her to raise her three children, Michael, 28, Lola, 24, and Joaquin, 22, without uprooting them or moving around for work.
She stated, “Working here has been unique to me in myriad ways because I’ve been able to work full-time professionally, and yet also raise a family, which is very different from most entertainers in this business.”
The talk show host explained that, unlike many entertainers who have to move frequently for roles, she was able to keep her family in the same town, sending her kids to the same schools throughout their lives.
Ripa added: “I knew the show was special from watching it, but the work schedule was what really appealed to me initially.”
When asked what has helped their show endure over the years, Ripa said it’s because they “cover the issues that people have in their own homes.”
“We’re very irreverent. We cover the news, but we cover the absurdity of the news. We cover the absurd,” Ripa explained. “Our job when we come on the air, we are fully cognizant that the viewers at home have had five hours of news programming. So we try to bring them a lighter, less anxiety-inducing side of what the headlines have to offer.”
The TV Couple Reflects On Their Pre-Social Media Proposal
On a more personal note, Ripa and Consuelos reflected on why they feel fortunate their engagement happened before the social media era.
During a recent episode of “LIVE,” the couple reminisced about their unconventional proposal.
“People don’t just propose anymore. They propose for social media,” Ripa said. Consuelos recalled their own moment, prompting the actress to add, “Well, I mean, was it a proposal? It was more of an idea. You were like, ‘We have the day off from work tomorrow. Should we get married tomorrow?”
Consuelos smiled and noted, “And you said, ‘Ask me when you’re serious.’ And I said, ‘I’m dead serious.’”
Ripa admitted she’s grateful Instagram and similar platforms weren’t part of the equation back then, calling the trend of social-media-driven proposals “so annoying.”
