Longtime ‘Live!’ Executive Producer Praises Kelly Ripa’s Reign on Daytime TV: ‘She Feels Like She’s Your Friend’

has gotten off to a rocky start — but one of Ripa’s celeb pals apparently put out a message for her. On Tuesday, in his Instagram stories, Andy Cohen posted a cryptic encouraging message reading, “Keep your head up!” over an image of Snoopy.  Cohen, 54, is a longtime friend of Ripa, 52, and Consuelos, 52. On Monday, Ripa’s husband had his debut on “Kelly and Mark” (formerly “Kelly and Ryan,” before Consuelos replaced Ryan Seacrest). Seacrest announced in February that he would be stepping down after almost six years on the talk show.

one fan fumed on Twitter.“So you guys will talk about your marriage and life at home all morning,” another moaned. “Maybe you two need a reality show.”A third chimed in, stating: “Kelly Ripa is an a–hole playing her husband snoring. I’m so done with this show.”“It can’t be more obvious that Kelly and Mark don’t do their homework to talk about more current events.

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' relationship book. The pair co-hosted their first episode of, and the handsome new host says he was excited by the opportunity.The real-life husband and wife — who now co-host the popular daytime talk show following the recent departure of Ripa's former co-host Ryan Seacrest — spoke with ET's Rachel Smith on Monday following their debut.«I was very excited to see so many close friends and family and have an audience today, which is, really, live,» Consuelos shared.

Home sweet talk show! Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa felt at ease during their first Live With Kelly and Mark show on Monday, April 17.

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, together at last.

tapped to replace Ryan Seacrest, 48, who exited the program after seven seasons. “Live With Kelly and Ryan” has been rebranded as “Live With Kelly and Mark,” with millions tuning in Monday morning to see how the real-life lovebirds would go while sharing the screen.Consuelos has frequently filled in as Ripa’s male co-host over the years, but one Twitter user claimed he appeared jittery during his official debut.“Mark, lighten up please,” they declared. “You seem so nervous.

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are officially partners on-air! The couple made their official debut asco-hosts on on Monday morning, immediately following Ryan Seacrest's departure from the daytime talk show after six seasons on Friday.Consuelos has co-hosted alongside his wife countless times over the years, but this new move makes his spot permanent. «Joining me today, and permanently, until one of us dies is Mark Consuelos!» Ripa joked at the start of the broadcast.«Wow, that was a nice reception,» Mark said, acknowledging the audience's standing ovation. Turning attention to his wife, he added, «I just want to say thank you for trusting me to be your co-pilot.»In his debut episode, the duo welcomed TLC singer Rozonda «Chilli» Thomas, and author and psychic Char Margolis as their guests.

No backing out! Mark Consuelos made his official debut as wife Kelly Ripa‘s cohost on Monday, April 17 — with a few special guests in the audience.

The start of something new. Kelly Ripa joked that retiring from Live is always on her mind as husband Mark Consuelos prepares to step in as cohost.

Ryan Seacrest out! The 48-year-old media personality bid farewell to on Friday, April 14 after nearly six years. Kelly Ripa's husband, Mark Consuelos, will take over as co-host beginning Monday, April, 17.For more than two decades, Ripa's ensconced herself behind the desk at — from auditioning for four months and ultimately becoming Regis Philbin's permanent co-host, to later joining forces with the likes of Michael Strahan and Seacrest.Following Philbin's departure in November 2011, there was a revolving door of guest co-hosts — from Jerry Seinfeld, Neil Patrick Harris and Michael Bublé to Seth Meyers, Mary J.

Ryan Seacrest has officially signed off from “Live”.

Ryan Seacrest is saying goodbye to Live with Kelly and Ryan.

Ryan Seacrest has officially signed off from . The 48-year-old TV personality completed his final broadcast on Friday, April 14, after six years of co-hosting with Kelly Ripa. The show will move forward on Monday with Ripa's husband, Mark Consuelos, by her side and will be rebranded as .From the moment Seacrest and Ripa stepped on the stage for Friday's broadcast — which was pre-taped on Thursday — it was clear that both were holding back tears. «Kelly just turned the corner and said, 'Am I gonna cry?' And I said, 'Maybe, because I am,'» Seacrest began, wiping his eyes.«This is a disaster.

UPDATE, with videos: In a teary, pre-taped episode of ABC’s Live With Kelly And Ryan, Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa capped off Seacrest’s final episode with emotional pledges of forever love and mutual appreciation.

Saying goodbye. Ryan Seacrest got emotional while cohosting his final episode of Live With Kelly and Ryan on Friday, April 14.

Ripa told USA Today on Thursday, just after Seacrest’s big finale was taped, that his goodbye was “very, extraordinarily emotional” and the two of them would probably cry — though they vowed not to.“Like, ‘No, you’re gonna cry.’ ‘No, I’m not gonna cry. You’re gonna cry,” Ripa said. “And then we were like, ‘Nobody’s going to cry. Because if we start crying, then our parents will cry, and your sister will cry. We’re going to keep it together. We’re going to keep it professional.’”But they couldn’t even hold it together off-stage before the taping.“We were backstage waiting for Déjà (Vu Parker) to make the final announcement, and I looked at him, and we just locked eyes,” Ripa shared. “And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! This sucks!’ And then we both started crying, and I was like, ‘No! No! We are not crying before we get out there.

Kelly Ripa revealed to ET's Rachel Smith what she said to Ryan Seacrest right before they stepped out to film his last show on . And while it wasn't anything elegant — her words! — it succinctly described exactly how she felt in the moment.ET was with Ripa and Seacrest at ABC Studios in New York City as they filmed his last show, which aired Friday, and it was undoubtedly an emotional day, especially for Seacrest, who called  home for nearly six years.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.” Mark Consuelos doesn’t mind hand-me-downs from Ryan Seacrest. Consuelos tells me he’s inheriting Seacrest’s dressing room when “Live With Kelly and Ryan” becomes “Live With Kelly and Mark” on April 17. “I’m no dummy,” Consuelos says on this week’s episode of the “Just for Variety” podcast. “Ryan is very fancy — he’s got fancy stuff.” At the same time it was announced in February that Seacrest was leaving “Live,” it was revealed that Consuelos will replace him as his wife Kelly Ripa’s co-host on the syndicated daytime talk show. “The first conversations started with like, ‘That is the worst idea ever,’”

Kelly Ripa promises there will be no funny business when her husband, Mark Consuelos, becomes her “Live” co-host.

Before Mark Consuelos joins wife Kelly Ripa as a full-time Live cohost, they’ve learned a few lessons from Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’ messy affair scandal.