Kelly Ripa recently celebrated 25 years of hosting LIVE on ABC. She worked with a lot of people over the last two decades. Some she didn’t get along with. The former soap star was reportedly blindsided when Michael Strahan left the show for a role at GMA. But she’s still great friends with some of them. Kelly Ripa shared fun details about reuniting with a beloved former co-worker. Keep reading to learn all about it.
Kelly Ripa Reunites With Beloved Former LIVE Co-Worker
Kelly Ripa was ABC’s surprise pick to replace Kathie Lee Gifford when she left LIVE with Regis and Kathie Lee. At the time, she was mainly known for her role as Hayley on All My Children. But Kelly quickly transitioned from soap star to talk show host and never looked back.
Michael Strahan took over when Regis Philbin retired. He left after four years and was replaced by Ryan Seacrest. Kelly Ripa currently hosts the show with her husband, Mark Consuelos. On Wednesday’s episode of LIVE with Kelly and Mark, the hosts told the audience about their dinner with a beloved former co-worker the night before.
They had dinner with Art Moore, an executive who delighted LIVE viewers with occasional appearances over the years. He retired in 2024 after working on the talk show for 36 years. “We did something fun last night. We saw our beloved Art Moore last night for dinner,” Kelly Ripa said.
Mark Consuelos revealed a shocking change in their former co-worker since retirement. “He told us now he wakes up early. … He’s a night owl, but he wakes up at 6,” he said, before turning to the camera to address Art Moore directly. “Hey, Art! How you doing, Art?”
Kelly Ripa assured viewers that her former co-worker, 77, looked “great” but is very much missed. “We miss him still here every day. We love you, Art. It was great to see him last night.”
Reunion Made Her Rethink Retirement
Art Moore made a surprise appearance on LIVE earlier this year to celebrate Kelly Ripa’s milestone anniversary. She said on Wednesday’s show that having dinner with her old friend made her rethink retirement. She’s only 55, but has already considered retirement.
Kelly Ripa sought advice from Oprah Winfrey about retirement. The LIVE host said she wasn’t ready yet after talking to Oprah, but her dinner with Art gave her second thoughts.
“He is phenomenal. He makes a strong argument for retirement,” she told viewers on Wednesday. According to PEOPLE magazine, Mark Consuelos joked in 2024 that working with him led to Art Moore’s retirement. It could be the reason why Kelly Ripa retires someday.
It sounds like the LIVE hosts had a great night reminiscing with their beloved former co-worker. Share your thoughts 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
