ENTERTAINMENTWhere Is Mark Consuelos? Why Kelly Ripa Is Co-Hosting 'Live' With Guests This Week Amid Husband's Absence
Mark Consuelos became a permanent co-host on 'Live' in April 2023.
July 30 2025, Published 3:56 p.m. ET
Mark Consuelos was missing from his morning talk show again as Kelly Ripa was forced to host alongside a special guest for the second day in row.
Ripa was joined by fellow ABC broadcaster David Muir for the Wednesday, July 30, episode of Live With Kelly and Mark — just one day after the Hope & Faith actress co-hosted the daytime talk show with actor Jerry O'Connell.
Consuelos teamed up with his wife as a regular on Live in April 2023, when he replaced Ryan Seacrest's longtime spot in the coveted role.
Why Is Mark Consuelos Missing From 'Live?'
Mark Consuelos has been absent from 'Live' while 'working on a show in L.A.,' per his wife.
Since Tuesday, July 29, however, Consuelos has been MIA from Live's studio due to a scheduling conflict with a separate work project.
Ripa explained the Riverdale actor's whereabouts toward the beginning of the episode while revealing issues Consuelos dealt with ahead of his flight to California the day before.
"He left here at noon to catch his flight. We said our goodbyes. He’s working on a show out in L.A," the blonde beauty detailed, noting why Consuelos wasn't in New York City to record the couple's daytime talk show. "So he called me at around 3:30 or 4’o clock. I thought the flight was taking off. And he said, 'We’ve been sitting on the tarmac for a while. I don’t know what’s going on.' They came back [and said] they had an engine problem."
Kelly Ripa Joined by Guest Co-Host David Muir
Kelly Ripa was joined by guest co-host David Muir for the Wednesday, July 30, episode of 'Live.'
Ripa mentioned how it was "better to find out there’s an engine problem on the ground" but said Consuelos' travel day got worse after the airline "rebooked him on another flight, plane had a body problem, which is strange."
"There was apparently like a dent in the body of the plane, and they were trying to bang it out," Ripa shared, admitting she's typically not a "squeamish flyer" but that the problem sounded alarming.
Consuelos was then "booked on another flight" that was "supposed to take off at 7:30."
"And at 9:30, he finally called me and said, ‘We’re getting ready to take off.’ So I don’t know if he arrived, I hope he did," she joked.
- Kelly Ripa Didn't Snub Robin Roberts' Wedding to Avoid Former Co-Host Michael Strahan: Source
- Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan's Anticipated Reunion at New Studio Making ABC Staffers Nervous 10 Years After Bitter Feud: 'These Two Do Not Speak'
- 'Something's Up,' Says Source After Ryan Seacrest Leaves Kelly Solo On 'Live'
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
Jerry O'Connell Covers for Mark Consuelos on 'Live'
Jerry O'Connell took over for Mark Consuelos during the Tuesday, July 29, episode of 'Live.'
Ripa's comment about saying "goodbye" to her husband caused O'Connell to ask whether the spouses leaving one another is still "emotional at this point" in there 29-year marriage.
"He was more emotional about leaving Lena," she quipped of the duo's dog. "The leaving Lena, and the texting me 'How’s Lena?,’ and the ‘Is Lena ok?' and 'Does Lena miss me?' You know, so there was a lot of reassurances with Mark that yes, Lena does miss you. And yes, I put your shirt in her crate so she doesn’t forget you for five days."
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos joked about saying 'goodbye' to their spouses.
O'Connell said he had a similarly unaffectionate departure from his wife, Rebecca Romijn, whom he's been married to since 2007.
"I was like, 'Alright, I’m leaving to go see Kelly! Bye, honey!’ My wife was like, 'Ok, go,'" he comedically recalled. "'I’m leaving! It’s for real this time! I love you.' And then I hold one hand [to form a heart], and then I wait for my wife to do the other one, and she was like, 'Ok, bye. Go, go, go.'"
