“Live with Kelly and Mark” has officially wrapped production at its longtime Upper West Side Manhattan studio, ending a remarkable 37-year run at the location that has housed the beloved morning show through multiple iterations and hosting partnerships. Kelly Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos hosted their final episode from the historic space on April 1 before relocating to Disney’s corporate headquarters in Hudson Square.
The move marks a significant milestone for the couple and the show, which has operated from the same location since its days as “The Morning Show” with Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford. Ripa, who joined as co-host in 2001, has spent over two decades broadcasting from the studio—nearly half of the show’s lifespan at the location.
“Our kids grew up here,” Consuelos told E! Online in a recent interview. “They’d come visit mom here a lot—they were always backstage, even when they were babies.” The couple’s three children—Michael, 27, Lola, 23, and Joaquin, 22—virtually grew up within the studio’s walls before heading off to school.
A Studio Filled with Personal History
Beyond being a workplace, the studio holds profound personal significance for the couple. It was on that very stage where Consuelos and Ripa rekindled their relationship after a brief breakup during their “All My Children” days, leading to their 1996 elopement to Las Vegas.
“We had to be here,” Consuelos explained about the mandatory work event that reunited them. “We both tried to get out of it, but we both ended up being here on this stage.” The encounter proved life-changing as he realized, “This is the worst decision of my life. I have to be with her forever.”
Ripa echoed the sentiment, adding, “Isn’t that wild? So we owe a lot to this place. And it’s going to be hard to replicate.” The studio not only launched their on-screen partnership but solidified their off-screen relationship that has now spanned nearly three decades.
Kelly Ripa Reveals How Many Haircuts She Regrets as She and Mark Consuelos Bid Farewell to 'Live' Studio (Exclusive) https://t.co/jfeSFs4hbt
— People (@people) April 2, 2025
Centralization of Disney Productions
The relocation is part of a broader Disney strategy to consolidate its New York-based television productions. The Hudson Square location already hosts “The View” and “The Tamron Hall Show,” with “Good Morning America” scheduled to join by year’s end. This centralization offers production efficiencies while providing updated facilities for the long-running program.
During their final broadcast from the Upper West Side location, Ripa noted at the start of the show: “Welcome to our final show in the building,” before playfully scolding executive producer Michael Gelman for discarding one of her favorite props. The episode featured special segments, including a video message from their daughter Lola.
Not a Sign of Retirement
Despite the significant move, fans concerned about potential retirement plans can rest easy. While Ripa has previously discussed eventually stepping away from the show, both hosts have confirmed they have no immediate plans to leave “Live.” According to Hello Magazine, Consuelos addressed the topic in a 2024 interview.
“I don’t think it’s gonna be anytime soon. I know she’s having a good time, I’m having a really, really good time,” he said. “When she does decide to walk away, no one’s earned it more than her. She’s been working her butt off since she was like 12 or 13 years old… But she’s having a blast now.”
Ripa herself has maintained that while retirement interests her, she’s content with her current situation: “I do talk about retirement with great interest, but right now I’m very happy, especially working with Mark.”
As “Live with Kelly and Mark” transitions to its new home, the couple carries with them decades of memories from a space that shaped not only their professional lives but their personal journey as well. For loyal viewers who have joined them each morning for coffee and conversation, the show promises to maintain its familiar warmth and chemistry—just from a different ZIP code.
