Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos consider their Live co-stars family, and stay in touch with them long after they leave the show.
Kelly in particular – who has been co-hosting the ABC show since February 2001 – was visibly emotional when veteran news executive Art Moore retired in 2024 after 53 years with ABC and 36 years with Live – so was delighted to reunite with him this week.
The star shared a joyful update on Art’s post-Live life, and it sounds like he’s doing very well. On Live’s July 15 show, Kelly told viewers: “We saw our beloved Art Moore last night for dinner. He is phenomenal. He makes a strong argument for retirement.”
She added that Art looked “20 years younger” and that he was “so funny”. “He told us now he wakes up early. … He’s a night owl, but he wakes up at 6,” Mark added, before turning to the camera: “Hey, Art! How you doing, Art?”
A picture from the dinner then appeared on the screen, as Kelly joked: “What’s so funny is that I realized we’re all wearing blazers. Because we knew we were all having dinner with Art, everybody put on a smart blazer, so we could be elegant.”
She added: “We had so much fun. We miss him still here every day. We love you, Art. It was great to see him last night.”
Art left the show on Friday 20 2024. At the time, Kelly addressed the audience, telling them: “It’s a day for celebration, a day for joy, and personally for us on the studio floor, a devastating day. It is a day we are celebrating Art Moore’s retirement.”
© Roy RochlinThe show had a special episode dedicated to Art, which included montages featuring his funniest moments on the show, along with a heartfelt speech from Kelly at the very end of the show.
She raised a glass of sparkling cider to her beloved colleague, and said: “I don’t know where to begin but I will say, this is not us saying goodbye to you. We will never say goodbye to you, as you know.
© Getty Images“You have been the singular most important person to every single person here. As evidenced by the amount of people that you work with each and every day who love, honor and cherish you and everything you have given to us. You are a giver and we honor you and shower you with our gratitude and love, eternally.”
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