Why Kelly Ripa is back on Live episodes this week despite extended absence amid surgery recovery
Ripa is back on “Live” after oral surgery… kind of.
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- Kelly Ripa is back on Live… sort of.
- Mark Consuelos announced earlier this summer that his wife and cohost would miss several episodes of Live due to painful gum surgery.
- Ripa appeared back on the air in a series of pre-taped episodes, after Entertainment Weekly exclusively reported that she would take an extended absence from the talk show.
Amid recovery from painful gum surgery, daytime TV icon Kelly Ripa is back on Live With Kelly and Mark… sort of.
Though Ripa’s husband and cohost Mark Consuelos revealed in July that Ripa would miss several episodes as she recovered from a gum graft procedure, the 55-year-old star returned to the program Monday, albeit in slightly different fashion.
As the show has done for the last few years, end-of-summer installments that air between seasons of the hit talk series are comprised primarily of pre-recorded footage — including opening host chat segments.
Ripa appeared on Monday’s edition alongside Consuelos, though text indicating that the episode was “previously recorded,” despite technically including all-new footage, flashed on the screen as the couple made their way to the desk.
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Entertainment Weekly was previously first to report that Ripa would take an extended absence from Live as she recovered, with multiple guest cohosts set to fill in for her.
On her first day out, Jonas Brothers musician Kevin Jonas took her chair next to Consuelos, while others who stepped in included Sarah Chalke, Mila Kunis, Pamela Adlon, Scott Foley, Michelle Buteau, and Carrie Coon.
Consuelos initially announced Ripa’s temporary departure from Live in July, telling the audience that Ripa was “not allowed to talk” as she recovered from the procedure.
He said on a later episode that “she’s feeling better” and “she’s saying certain things,” despite doctors advising that she not speak during the recovery process.
Part of Ripa’s recuperation, according to Consuelos, included “a list of things that you’re not allowed to do,” with talking being No. 1 on the ranking.
“She has to eat soft food, can’t suck out of a straw, you can’t examine it, which means pulling down the lip. Last night, she was like, ‘Can you look!?’” Consuelos said.
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Consuelos told the studio audience that he’s sure the pain is unbearable, as he said his wife “famously doesn’t feel pain” — enough so that she often doesn’t ask for numbing medication when going in for dental procedures.
“But this one hurts” his wife, he said, “So, I know it’s bad.”
EW has reached out to representatives for Ripa at Live for more information on her potential return date, as Live is expected to return for a new season later this year.
Live With Kelly and Mark airs weekdays in syndication. Check local listings for showtimes in your area.
