Kelly Ripa mysteriously absent from ‘Live’ show, Anderson Cooper fills in beside Mark Consuelos
Anderson Cooper filled in for Kelly Ripa when she was mysteriously absent from Thursday’s taping of “Live with Kelly and Mark.”
The former soap star, 52, has missed three episodes over the past two weeks which has not been addressed on the show.
However, a source close to Ripa told Page Six she had a “scheduled day off” which is “totally normal during the summer.”
“Filling in for Kelly today is Anderson Cooper,” Ripa’s husband and co-host Mark Consuelos told the live studio audience, before noting he and the CNN anchor “go way back.”
“You’re killing it,” Anderson, 56, said of the “Riverdale” alum’s new co-hosting gig.
“You’re doing such a great job.”
The pair sat down at the news desk and launched into segments about puppies, mushrooms and an interview with chef Michael Symon.
At one point, Consuelos brought out a borderline-NSFW photo of two very phallic-looking mushrooms.
“Kelly was taking a walk yesterday and she sent this to us today — just for you and me on the show today,” he told Cooper.
“She was thinking of us. New York City mushrooms.”
The political commentator joked that the fungus in Ripa’s snap looked like “downtown mushrooms,” to which Consuelos chimed in, “I was thinking a little more Bushwick.”
The “All My Children” alum was previously absent from “Live” on July 20 when Maria Menounos filled in for her at the news desk.
Menounos also filled in the following day, at which time Consuelos briefly mentioned that his wife was “out on assignment.”
Reps for ABC and Ripa did not immediately return our request for comment.
The “How I Met Your Father” actor replaced Ripa’s longtime former co-host, Ryan Seacrest, in April.
The “American Idol” star, 48, announced he would be leaving “Live With Kelly and Ryan” in February, which multiple sources accredited to his busy schedule.
Just a few months later, Ripa gave him an emotional send-off complete with a heartrending speech.
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“This has, without question, been the fastest six years of my life, and although you and I have been friends for decades and decades, I feel like I’ve gained through this process a younger brother, oldest son,” Ripa said through tears.
Seacrest also raved about the blond beauty, telling People at the time, “She’s family to me. There’s no one better in the business and it’s going to be strange not seeing her every day.”
Ripa began her 23-year stint on the show with Regis Philbin. When he retired, she auditioned nearly 60 potential male co-hosts — including Josh Groban, Seth Meyers, Neil Patrick Harris, Alec Baldwin and NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan — on air for months before settling on Michael Strahan.
The former NFL star was later replaced by Seacrest.
“Live with Kelly and Mark” airs weekdays at 9 a.m. ET on ABC.
