NEW YORK — With nostalgia running high and a touch of bittersweet humor, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos said goodbye to the iconic Upper West Side studio that had been home to Live for nearly four decades. On a sunny Tuesday morning, the couple filmed their final episode at the 7 Lincoln Square studio, marking the end of an era for the beloved daytime talk show.
A Morning of Memories
The farewell episode opened with a mix of excitement and sentimentality. Kelly, dressed in a sleek pastel suit, greeted the studio audience with her trademark smile but couldn’t hide the emotion in her voice.
“Welcome to our final show in the building,” she announced, pausing for a moment as the audience erupted into applause.
Mark, her co-host and husband, added: “We’ve had so many memories in these walls. Today is about honoring the people and the stories that made this place so special.”
Throughout the hour-long broadcast, the pair revisited some of the most memorable moments in the studio’s history. From surprise celebrity guests to viral dance challenges and on-air mishaps, a highlight reel played on the monitors as both hosts watched with misty eyes.
“Our Kids Grew Up Here”
Although Mark officially joined Kelly as her co-host in 2023, the Consuelos family’s connection to the studio stretches back decades. Kelly became part of the show in 2001, and as a young working mother, she often brought her three children — Michael, Lola, and Joaquin — to the set.
“Our kids grew up here,” Mark said during the broadcast. “They were backstage doing homework, watching rehearsals, or sometimes even joining us on camera for the holiday shows. This place really was a second home.”
Kelly recalled the early years, when the show’s flexible environment allowed her to balance parenting with a demanding television schedule.
“I was able to be a full-time mom and a full-time working woman because of this building,” she said. “I could bring my babies with me every day until they started school. Not many parents in TV get to say that.”
Her words drew a standing ovation from the audience and applause from the crew that has worked alongside her for years.
A Place That Sparked a Love Story
The farewell was not just about the show’s legacy but also about the personal history it held for Kelly and Mark as a couple. The studio played a surprising role in rekindling their romance in the mid-1990s.
“We actually got back together right here, on this stage,” Mark revealed. “We were broken up at the time, but fate brought us both here as surprise guests on an episode. Standing next to her again, I realized I didn’t want to be apart anymore. A few days later, I asked her to marry me.”
Kelly laughed at the story, adding: “We owe a lot to this place. It gave us our careers, our family moments, and even our second chance at love.”
Crew as Family
Behind the cameras, the studio has long been filled with familiar faces who became more than coworkers. Kelly spoke warmly about the producers, stagehands, and camera operators who supported her through career highs and personal challenges.
“Some of the producers here helped raise my kids,” she said. “They weren’t just colleagues; they became part of our family.”
Mark echoed the sentiment, thanking the staff for their dedication: “The friendships we’ve built here will last well beyond these walls.”
The crew members were visibly emotional as the hosts walked around the set one last time, hugging stage managers and exchanging inside jokes with longtime colleagues.
Moving to a New Home
While saying goodbye was difficult, the farewell also marked the beginning of a new chapter. The show is relocating to a state-of-the-art facility downtown at Disney’s Hudson Square campus, inside the newly completed Robert A. Iger Building.
The new studio promises modern production technology, spacious sets, and fresh opportunities for creativity. Until the permanent set is unveiled later in the month, Live will temporarily broadcast from an open space near the building’s cafeteria — a move that has already sparked playful banter between Kelly and Mark.
“We’ll just be a few steps away from the snacks,” Kelly joked, earning laughter from the audience.
The End of a Historic Era
The Lincoln Square studio has been home to the show since its early days in the 1980s. Over the decades, the program evolved through several iterations — from Live with Regis and Kathie Lee to Live with Regis and Kelly, then Live with Kelly and Ryan, and finally Live with Kelly and Mark.
Despite the changes in co-hosts and format, the studio remained a constant backdrop for unscripted laughter, heartfelt interviews, and countless holiday specials. For longtime viewers, the farewell carried the weight of nostalgia, marking the end of an iconic chapter in daytime television.
“It’s not just a building,” Kelly said near the end of the show. “It’s where we shared our lives with you.”
Behind the Curtain: Emotions Run High
The final moments of the broadcast were some of the most touching. Kelly took a moment to thank executive producer Michael Gelman, who has guided the show for decades, calling him “the heartbeat of Live.”
Mark then turned to the camera and shared his own heartfelt message: “This studio gave us memories that we’ll carry forever. To everyone who’s been part of this journey — thank you for letting us share our mornings with you.”
As the credits rolled, the audience stood in applause. Crew members wiped away tears as the cameras panned across the set — capturing the iconic brick walls, the stage where countless guests had sat, and the seats where fans from across the country had cheered for 37 years.
Looking Ahead
Though leaving Lincoln Square was bittersweet, both Kelly and Mark expressed excitement about the future. The new studio will offer them the chance to explore fresh segments, interactive technology, and a modernized look for the show’s next chapter.
“Every end is a beginning,” Kelly said. “We’ll take the love from this place with us as we start something new.”
Viewers across the country shared messages of support and nostalgia on social media, posting photos of their favorite moments and thanking the couple for years of laughter and warmth.
A Lasting Legacy
As Live prepares to launch its next era downtown, the history made at Lincoln Square remains woven into the show’s DNA. It was the place where Kelly evolved from a guest co-host into a household name, where Mark stepped into his role as her co-host and partner in front of millions, and where a generation of fans found daily comfort in the familiar faces on their screens.
The farewell episode served as a reminder that television magic isn’t just about cameras and lights — it’s about the people who share their lives with audiences day after day.
