After 30 years of marriage and three years of co-hosting Live, it's amazing that Ripa and Consuelos can still surprise one another, especially considering they spend just about every hour of every day together. There is something particularly endearing about the way each of them listens intently as the other speaks—grinning in anticipation of the answer that may be coming and laughing uproariously at what the other one says. It's their special blend of sweet and spicy chemistry, along with an irreverent and authentic honesty, that has kept the show so popular with fans and made ‘Live’ America's top entertainment talk show.
Ripa has hosted the award-winning morning show for more than two decades and earned seven Daytime Emmy Awards during that time. Consuelos became her regular co-host in April of 2023, after years of filling in as a guest host. As co-hosts, they won the 2024 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host.
They are bringing the show to Clearwater Beach and it is a homecoming of sorts for Consuelos, who moved with his family to Brandon in the mid-80s, attended high school in Valrico and graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa. During that time, the St. Pete-Clearwater area was his local stomping grounds.
He met Ripa when the pair played onscreen love interests on All My Children. It was during this time they fell in love and Consuelos brought her to the area for the first time. She vividly recalls her impressions of the area..
When asked what he loves about the region, Consuelos describes the energy that he thinks embodies not only the area but some of the other celebrities that grew up here.
The couple has a long-running joke about a particular sunscreen she wears and his association with it. Ripa claims, "Every time I put it on, he's like, 'You smell like my ex-girlfriend.' And I go, 'Which one?' And he goes, 'All of them.'" He denies making the ex-girlfriend comparison: "That's not what I say. I say you smell like Clearwater Beach. There's this smell as soon as you hit Clearwater Beach—it's not sunblock, it's suntan oil." But he did playfully echo her "All of them" claim. We revisited the topic with some hilarious results that had them roaring with laughter.
When it comes to their past beach getaways, there have been several viral moments that caused a stir. Ripa was anxious to set the record straight about how she is the one who puts the me in their social media exploits.
The mood turned very serious when we posed the question of how the ultra-competitive pair would win if pitted against some other famous couples on the fictional reality show. Once again, the couple cracked themselves up with their plans to take out a certain Queen and her music mogul husband.
And while they have thrived in the industry, the couple shares that they actually tried to discourage their children, Michael, Lola and Joaquin, from entering the entertainment industry.
Due to an overwhelming response, all tickets to attend the show tapings have been assigned to those who signed up back in October. However, fans without tickets can still attend and watch from the public beach. You can also watch on WTVT (FOX 13) at 10am on weekdays.
Visit livewithkellyandmark.com to learn more.
