Kelly Ripa made her highly anticipated return to Live! with Kelly and Mark following a live show hiatus since July. The host appeared on the season 39 premiere episode on September 8 after a series of pre-recorded episodes throughout the summer.
"It is the first day of our 39th season!" Kelly said, after gracing the studio in-hand with her husband, Mark Consuelos. "This will be my 26th season. And, guys, more importantly, it is Mark's fourth season."
Mark shared that his fourth season marked the end of his "presidential term," and the couple joked that they've had to "relearn how to wear shoes" after their time off. "I’m lazier than ever before," Kelly said of her summer break. "We got to see all three of our kids for four days, together, it was amazing. Not a single fight erupted!"
© ABCKelly Ripa's surgery and time off Live!
During the July 27 episode of the show, Mark revealed that his wife would be absent from Live! for a brief period. "Kelly had a little bit — well, it's not a little — she had a gum graft surgery," he shared.
© Getty ImagesThe operation helps reduce teeth sensitivity as well as gum recession by surgically removing healthy gum tissue and placing it on exposed tooth roots. Mark explained: "Her dentist said five years ago, 'You can do it in about five years,' and she joked, 'I didn't think I'd still be on the air in five years!'"
© Getty ImagesHe shared that Kelly is "doing well" and "doing great," and she needs to continue following doctor's orders when it comes to her recovery.
Stars such as Kevin Jonas, Mila Kunis, Pamela Adlon, and Scott Foley filled in for Kelly during her first week off. The following week featured a series of guest hosts, including Sarah Chalke, Jenna Dewan, Michelle Buteau, Carrie Coon, and Déjà Vu.
© Getty ImagesKelly opened up about the surgery during an episode of her Let's Talk Off Camera podcast. She explained that she wouldn’t be "allowed to talk for 10 days" because "they take the skin off of the roof of your mouth and they put it [over your gums]" during the procedure.
"I’m an over-brusher. I brush my teeth too much. It’s a good bad habit. So, they’ve got to re-gum my gums!" she added. "Before you praise me, I was supposed to do it five years ago. But, now, just so you know, the doctor was like, 'Now, you don’t have the luxury of time!'"
Live! with Kelly and Mark also faced its annual summer hiatus, with the show airing pre-recorded episodes through Labor Day. Viewers saw a mix of newly filmed conversations between the hosts, segments recorded before the break, and past celebrity interviews.
