Since its premiere in 1983, Live has undergone a handful of big changes over the decades – and it has recently experienced several changes in a short amount of time. Recently, Mark Consuelos has started hosting opposite Kelly Ripa. Additionally, Live has taken to recording several episodes in advance, a move viewers have noticed and are not happy about.
Ripa and Consuelos have been a real-life couple since their 1996 marriage. They’re the proud parents of three children and now they’re co-hosts, in a gig Ripa has held since 2001, outlasting Regis Philbin, Michael Strahan, and Ryan Seacrest. Some new trends in the series have received criticism from fans online. Here’s what people are saying.
Live is recording episodes in advance
Consuelos just started his tenure as co-host opposite Ripa on Monday, April 17. Soon into this new routine, though, Live started airing pre-recorded episodes and has reportedly filmed months in advance. Pre-recordings allegedly go as far as two months in advance, with the scheduled June 19 episode composed on April 26, followed by the June 26 episode put together on April 27.
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“The opening monologue for the pre-recorded episodes is very general,” an alleged insider told The Sun, “like, discussing relationships and Mark and Kelly’s marriage and life with the kids.” Keeping things vague and not addressing time-sensitive issues would allow for flexibility.
Now, there is a difference, since one is a game show and another is a talk show, but programs like Jeopardy! are known for taping as far as three months in advance, but Live fans have voiced their grievances with this approach to the topical program.
Fans react to this approach
Eagle-eyed fans spotted other signs indicating that Live episodes were pre-recorded in advance. “All the ‘previously recorded’ starts!” one viewer said on Twitter. “Where they don’t say it’s not Live.” Another added, “So, Live with Kelly and Mark isn’t really ‘live’ huh…Life must be good to only have to work 3 days a week!” The source related to Live said to The Sun that “The hosts have other obligations, so it’s normal for the show to pre-tape.”
However, one user countered, some of this procedure is common even among other shows, since it airs almost every day a week.
When Live does air, pre-recorded or otherwise, viewers are still experiencing some growing pains as they adjust to a new face. For example, one fan who watched on TV implored the live audience to not react so strongly, especially with booing against Consuelos. Others have been turned off by the PDA while different fans still celebrated getting to see the famous All My Children power couple on their screens again.
It seems Live with Kelly and Mark is faced with the same issue as many programs, where there will be no pleasing everyone, and they will have loyal fans and disappointed detractors for the same things.
