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Kelly Ripa Is on ‘Live’ Today But It Isn’t Live...and We’re Confused

Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest have almost completed their first week of filming Live with Kelly and Ryan for 2021. However, today’s episode was rather unique, considering it was the first time this year that we’ve seen the morning show air a pre-recorded episode.

That’s right—while both the 50-year-old TV personality and her 45-year-old co-host were present for Thursday’s episode, it was revealed in a behind-the-scenes clip that the episode was filmed “earlier in the week.”

In the video, which was shared by producers on the Live Instagram page, we see Ripa (looking chic in a Palais blazer, Ralph Lauren turtleneck and Hervé Legér skirt) and Seacrest making their way to opposite sides of the stage. “Today’s show is new but was pre-recorded earlier in the week,” the post’s caption read.

Unfortunately, it has not been revealed why Thursday’s episode was not live, but it was clearly planned for since the show organized to shoot it ahead of time. This means that after filming a normal work shift the team needed to stay and do it all again. Talk about a long day.

Naturally, viewers and Instagram followers had a few questions about the change-up. One user commented, “Trying to figure out why, since they just returned Monday,” while another guessed that the pre-recorded show was due to Seacrest’s return to American Idol.

Whatever the reason may be, we’re hoping we get some answers tomorrow, when the two return for a live show (we hope).

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