Kelly Ripa’s Book ‘Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories’ Breaks Down Her Marriage to Mark Consuelos, Issues With Former Cohost Regis Philbin and More

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Kelly Ripa's Book 'Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories' Breaks Down Her Marriage to Mark Consuelos, Issues With Former Cohost Regis Philbin and More

A candid approach. Kelly Ripa did not hold back about her personal or professional life in her new book, Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories. Before the memoir hit shelves on Tuesday, September 27, the actress opened up about the challenges of joining a live talk show. “I want people to understand that joining Live, from my perspective, was a terrifying venture. It was entering into a work environment that I did not understand," she told Haute Living that same month. "I think had I gone in there now, I would have been fully equipped to handle it, but back then, I was not equipped in any sense of the word. And therefore, I did not protect myself the way I probably should have." The former soap star continued: "It was a different time, back then. It was a tabloid, journalistic, free-for-all, and there were systems in place there for a long time at the talk show that were not necessarily there to protect me.” [jwplayer Rk6QwaPk-zhNYySv2] According to Ripa, her relationship with former cohost Regis Philbin had its ups and downs over the years. After working together for almost a decade, the comedian decided to leave Live in 2011. At the time, the former soap star recalled the pressure to take over on her own. "The reality is that I would have traded places with him in a second. I was scared to death, and suddenly responsible for keeping our very popular show on the air, all by myself," she wrote in her memoir. "In the years following his departure, Regis was invited back on the show many times, but always declined. So it was a genuine thrill and surprise when he finally relented and agreed to be on our annual Halloween show." The pair were seemingly not able to work out their differences ahead of the Connecticut native's death in 2020. In her book, Ripa reflected on the memory she chooses to carry of Philbin. "It's easy in a job like ours to lose sight of the things that are important. And sometimes I do. But the reality is I had a lot of fun over the years at my day job," she shared. "I got to sit next to one of the greatest storytellers of all time. The few occasions I socialized with Regis outside the office, over the decade we worked together, I truly enjoyed. He was an even better storyteller in person. I think he would have said the same." Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories is available now. Scroll through for the biggest revelations:

Credit: Gregory Pace/BEI/Shutterstock

Kelly Ripa's Book 'Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories' Breaks Down Her Marriage to Mark Consuelos, Issues With Former Cohost Regis Philbin and More

A candid approach. Kelly Ripa did not hold back about her personal or professional life in her new book, Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories. Before the memoir hit shelves on Tuesday, September 27, the actress opened up about the challenges of joining a live talk show. “I want people to understand that joining Live, from my perspective, was a terrifying venture. It was entering into a work environment that I did not understand," she told Haute Living that same month. "I think had I gone in there now, I would have been fully equipped to handle it, but back then, I was not equipped in any sense of the word. And therefore, I did not protect myself the way I probably should have." The former soap star continued: "It was a different time, back then. It was a tabloid, journalistic, free-for-all, and there were systems in place there for a long time at the talk show that were not necessarily there to protect me.” [jwplayer Rk6QwaPk-zhNYySv2] According to Ripa, her relationship with former cohost Regis Philbin had its ups and downs over the years. After working together for almost a decade, the comedian decided to leave Live in 2011. At the time, the former soap star recalled the pressure to take over on her own. "The reality is that I would have traded places with him in a second. I was scared to death, and suddenly responsible for keeping our very popular show on the air, all by myself," she wrote in her memoir. "In the years following his departure, Regis was invited back on the show many times, but always declined. So it was a genuine thrill and surprise when he finally relented and agreed to be on our annual Halloween show." The pair were seemingly not able to work out their differences ahead of the Connecticut native's death in 2020. In her book, Ripa reflected on the memory she chooses to carry of Philbin. "It's easy in a job like ours to lose sight of the things that are important. And sometimes I do. But the reality is I had a lot of fun over the years at my day job," she shared. "I got to sit next to one of the greatest storytellers of all time. The few occasions I socialized with Regis outside the office, over the decade we worked together, I truly enjoyed. He was an even better storyteller in person. I think he would have said the same." Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories is available now. Scroll through for the biggest revelations:

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Secrets to Her Successful Marriage

"Mostly, I believe we have stayed married this long because we have mastered the dark art of compromise ... but like compromise, we had also mastered the darker art of obstinance," Ripa explained in the memoir about being married to her husband, Mark Consuelos, since 1996.

The All My Children alum, who shares kids Lola, Michael and Joaquin with the actor, noted her interest in couples therapy, which Consuelos attempted twice before refusing to return.  

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Her Mental Health Journey

In Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories, the New Jersey native recalled breaking down her depression to a therapist.

"I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. I almost always wake up crying at the thought of having to go to work. I feel like I'm in physical pain. My hair hurts. I have no energy at all," she detailed. "I'm very easily distracted. when I'm playing with my kids, I feel like I've forgotten to do something at work, and when I'm at work, I feel like I've forgotten to do something for my kids. I cry in the shower. I cry myself to sleep. I cry backstage. I sometimes want to cry in the middle of the show. Sometimes I feel like I can't breathe."

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Her 1st Time Cohosting With Regis

While addressing her time with Philbin, Ripa revealed there was "no eye contact" between the duo during their first cohosting gig. The TV presenter found herself confused by the "rules" that seemingly influenced her working relationship with the late game show host.

In her book, Ripa also broke down the negotiation process when she joined the daytime talk show. "My name had to be smaller than Regis's name on the Live! title card and branding. A game of inches, which speaks for itself. But on that we agreed. Seniority, after all," she wrote, adding that seniority quickly became an "elusive" term never used in reference to her experience.

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Where Kelly Stood With Regis

Although viewers thought Ripa and Philbin were best friends, the Riverdale guest star explained that it was a "basic misconception." For Ripa, her relationship with her cohost was professional and mostly kept to their onscreen moments.

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Taking Over Host Duties

Ripa opened up about the blame she felt directed at her following Philbin's departure from their show. "His exit wasn't about me. He had his reasons for leaving the show. Nobody gets that more than I do. I just wish I hadn't become the target," she admitted.

The dancer revealed she wasn't happy to be left out of the "huge show-changing decision" adding, "It wasn't easy, and it wasn't fair. Maybe me being in that chair in the first place wasn't fair to Regis, and me staying and enduring the fallout certainly wasn't fair to me."

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Her History With Plastic Surgery

According to Ripa, a 2014 consultation for a breast augmentation took a turn when her doctor said she didn't have enough fat on her body to make the surgery possible.

The Hope & Faith alum also recalled her interest in Botox starting "innocently" enough, writing, "Frankly if I didn't work on camera, I'm not sure I would even own a hairbrush much less get Botox." Ripa detailed a deep laser procedure to get rid of melasma, getting Botox injections under her armpits because of chronic sweating and more.