Mark Consuelos defended his first episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark” after he and wife Kelly Ripa got mixed reviews from viewers.
“This show today truly felt like home,” the actor told Us Weekly Monday. “I always feel at home with Kelly, but [working] together this morning just felt so right.”
Consuelos added that he and Ripa have “always” felt at “ease” when they are together, and he feels “lucky we get to do that daily” as co-hosts.
“I can’t wait to see where we can go from here,” he gushed.
Ripa, 52, also praised her husband’s debut, telling the magazine that Consuelos, also 52, did “amazing” and “better than [she] ever thought” possible.
“He’s a natural, and I have a good feeling this is going to be great for a while,” she added.
The couple received both criticism and applause from fans Monday, with some going so far as to accuse them of putting on “fake banter” during the launch of their morning talk show following Ryan Seacrest’s exit last Friday.
“Bruuuutal! Last time i watch. I can go to the mall and watch teenagers kiss LESS!!! THE BEGINNING OF THE END,” one viewer tweeted.
“I am so happy to see Mark & Kelly this morning….But Kelly could PLEASE LET HIM TALK….!!! OMG…! Let him start and finish a story his way…It’s the only way it’s going work,” another person wrote, referring to Ripa frequently interrupting Consuelos.
“Loving Live with Kelly and Mark, theyre so good together. #KellyAndMark,” one fan chimed in.
Consuelos replaced Seacrest, 48, on the morning talk show after the “American Idol” host announced in February that he would be stepping down from co-hosting after nearly six years.
Ripa and Seacrest had an emotional final show together.
“This has, without question, been the fastest six years of my life, and although you and I have been friends for decades and decades, I feel like I’ve gained through this process a younger brother / oldest son,” she told him.
Pvnew exclusively reported that ABC had been trying to get Consuelos to join the show since last summer when Seacrest began talking about leaving.
Ripa and Consuelos tied the knot in May 1996 and share three children: Michael, 25, Lola, 21, and Joaquin, 20.
“Live with Kelly and Mark” airs weekdays at 9 a.m. ET.
