Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are redefining the concept of the “golden years.” The married duo is taking on the roles of “The Golden Bachelor” in this year’s annual Halloween edition of Live with Kelly and Mark, and PEOPLE has an exclusive sneak peek.
In a pre-recorded skit set to air on Tuesday’s show, the 53-year-old Ripa and the 52-year-old Consuelos envision a mashup of ABC’s latest iteration of The Bachelor with one of its enduring spinoffs, Bachelor in Paradise. The result? “The Golden Bachelor in Paradise,” where the mature Ripa and Consuelos embark on a quest for love on a tropical island.
Behind-the-scenes images, captured by the Live team, reveal the gray-haired pair donned in their best tropical attire, sharing a tender moment in one segment where Ripa affectionately licks her husband’s cheek while he cradles an oversized glass of wine. Photographs also show Ripa and Consuelos linking arms between takes.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos (Credits: PEOPLE)
Additionally, the backstage footage showcases the remarkable hair and makeup transformation orchestrated by Live’s skilled glam team, consisting of Kristofer Buckle for makeup and Ryan Trygstad for hair.
This marks Consuelos’ inaugural participation in Live’s annual Halloween show since stepping in as co-host, replacing Ryan Seacrest earlier in the year. Each year, the show adopts a unique theme, and this time it draws inspiration from Taylor Swift’s chart-topping Eras Tour. The episode description promises “the biggest Halloween celebration on television” that will swiftly journey through various pop culture eras.
The episode will boast a staggering 50 elaborate costumes and will feature celebrity cameos to add to the fun. Last year’s show saw Ripa and Seacrest don costumes from Top Gun: Maverick, Stranger Things, House of the Dragon, and The Bear, among others.
Live’s annual audience Halloween costume contest will return, offering viewers at home and those in the studio audience a chance to compete for a share of $10,000 in prize money.
Furthermore, from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET on both Live’s Instagram and TikTok, Steve Patterson will provide an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse of the studio audience and their remarkable costumes.
A costume highlight close to Ripa and Consuelos’ hearts is “Scandoval.” The couple became fans of Vanderpump Rules during the much-discussed fallout between Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix. Their daughter, Lola, even cautioned Consuelos about his choice of words when discussing it on air.
“Lola texted me when we were talking about the Scandoval episode, and she said, ‘You better watch yourself,’ ” Consuelos recalled during a June episode, referring to the advice he received from his 21-year-old daughter. “‘You better watch which side you’re taking because it could be very bad for you.'”
Lola’s warning came after Consuelos sided with Tom Schwartz, a friend caught in the middle of the former couple’s conflict. “I was in a camp all by myself,” Consuelos asserted on Live earlier that month. “Because there are two sides, and then there’s Schwartz — and I’m on Schwartz’s side.”
The debate between the two continued, with Consuelos steadfastly supporting Schwartz, whom he believed was adhering to “guy code.” In contrast, Ripa emphasized their deep involvement in the matter, saying, “I’m in the camp of collecting data like a social experiment. I secretly recorded my children having this debate and then sent it to Andy Cohen, and he was like, ‘This is special!'”
