Kelly Ripa Welcomes Co-Host Mark Consuelos After Ryan Seacrest's Exit

Kelly Ripa said goodbye to Ryan Seacrest, and welcomed Mark Consuelos.

Kelly Ripa is streaming a live video of herself welcoming her husband Mark Consuelos, to his new daytime chair.

In case you missed a morning's cup of tea: Ryan Seacrest, Kelly's current talk show co-host, announced on Feb. 16 that he was leaving Live with Kelly and Ryan after six seasons—and his replacement was confirmed to be someone the actress already knew: her husband, Mark.

Shortly after Kelly and Ryan revealed the news of the American Idol emcee's departure, she joked about her husband's new "phase" after 26 years of marriage.

"OK NOW we're empty nesters," Kelly captioned a Feb. 16 Instagram photo of herself, Mark and Ryan.

"When your friends become work mates become family. Congratulations @ryanseacrest on surviving six winters in NYC! I'm proud of you and am forever in your corner. And @instasuelos welcome home, or to the contractual obligation phase of our relationship."

Why is Ryan Seacrest leaving the live show?

Ryan stated there couldn't be a better fit for Kelly's new co-host than Mark.

"It's been a memorable ride," he said, "and now I'm excited to pass the baton to Kelly's ‘real' husband, Mark."

The Riverdale alum had his remarks about his new job.

"Congrats on your next chapter @ryanseacrest," he wrote in a Feb. 16 Instagram post.

"I love you like a brother. I know I have some big shoes to fill … well actually they're only a size 9, but you know what I mean. @kellyripa my ride or die. This is going to be amazing! I can't believe after all these years of listening to you talk for free, I found a way to get paid for it."

Even though the entertainment mogul is leaving the show, he has promised to return as a fill-in in the future.

“What I plan to do is once American Idol starts from Los Angeles later this spring, I’ll head out to the West Coast and host that show,” Ryan said.

Before he departed from the long-running talk show, the Georgia native missed a few episodes of Live With Kelly and Ryan. Kelly was joined on stage on January 30 by a special guest cohost, her husband, Mark Consuelos.

The Riverdale actor has filled in for Ryan on several occasions when he was on vacation or had other work obligations. Mark revealed in an Instagram Story that he was called to do the show at the "last minute."

Ryan returned to the show the next day and did not explain his absence. The following month, the TV veteran missed yet another taping of the show, with Mark filling in at the news desk with his wife. When Ryan is unavailable, the show's DJ, Deja Vu Parker, has previously stepped into cohost.