Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos Suit Up as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for Halloween on ‘Live!’

“The Daytime Duo Brings Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s U.S. Open Adventure to Life, with Their Signature Humor and Heartfelt Homage to Pop Culture”

Swifties, prepare to be “Enchanted”! This Halloween, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, the iconic hosts of the Live! talk show, will embody Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, recreating their playful day at the U.S. Open, as a part of Live!’s highly anticipated Halloween special. Known for its yearly nods to pop culture, the special episode promises to delight fans of both Swift and Kelce with impeccable costumes and infectious energy.

The concept was inspired by Swift and Kelce’s real-life appearance at the tournament in New York, where they joyfully sang along to The Darkness’ “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” Swift even rocked out with an air guitar, dressed in a gingham Reformation dress with her signature red lipstick, while Kelce sported a quirky Gucci bucket hat and cardigan. Ripa and Consuelos have embraced this playful vibe for their Halloween episode, which will spotlight the day’s lighthearted energy and the duo’s quirky charm.

Ripa, donning Swift’s checked gown, cat-eye sunglasses, and soft waves, admits she was daunted by the task of channeling the pop superstar’s aura. “I’ve known Taylor Swift since she was a young teenager and first appeared on our show many, many years ago,” Ripa shared, “and she’s been on our show many times, in every era of her life. She is just as charming and divine and delightful as you’d expect.” Modest about her transformation, Ripa said she did her best to honor Swift’s energy without overshadowing her: “I can’t capture the essence of that in a very brief clip, but I did my best to at least not embarrass her on behalf of both of us.”

Playing Swift presented Ripa with an unexpected challenge—bold red lips. “I am so afraid of getting red lipstick on my teeth, red lipstick everywhere. I don’t want it to go outside of the lines,” she admitted, explaining that the vivid color left her feeling slightly paralyzed by the risk of smudging.

Consuelos, too, faced his own hurdles while channeling Kelce, including sporting a bushy fake mustache and a faux Gucci hat. With his usual humor, he revealed that while he’s yet to meet the Super Bowl champion, he imagines Kelce would have an amusing response: “‘Who’s that short guy trying to come off as me?’” Standing next to the statuesque Kelce proved a funny task, as Consuelos admitted, “They did have to stand me up on some boxes.” Ripa quickly added that both hosts relied on boxes to capture the height disparity of their characters.

The episode’s theme, “Only Halloween in the Building,” will feature the co-hosts in an array of different costumes, continuing Live!’s Halloween tradition of elaborate quick-changes. Ripa likened the pace of the special to a “Saturday Night Live” show: “You come out, you do your live opening bit, then you throw to a taped piece, run backstage while that taped piece is playing, then they go to commercial break. You’ve got a very small window to get back out there and do the next segment.”

For Consuelos, this year’s Halloween special brings a sense of ease that contrasts with last year’s jitters, which marked his first Halloween on Live! since replacing Ryan Seacrest. “A year and a half in, I finally feel like I kind of have my sea legs, not so anxious before a show starts or an interview is going to happen,” he said, confessing that big-name guests once left him “clamming up” on stage. Now, with Ripa’s encouragement and a bit of time to adjust, he feels ready to be more actively engaged in interviews.

Ripa is overjoyed to see her husband’s confidence and charisma grow in his new role. “He’s truly just utterly enjoyable to watch,” she said, breaking into a smile. “He makes us feel very safe and protected and energized, and he’s given us all a new lease on this place.” With Ripa’s steadfast support and Consuelos’ newfound ease, the couple has brought a fresh energy to Live! that’s as charming as it is contagious.

So, fans can tune in on Halloween to see the beloved hosts bring Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s U.S. Open antics to life with their usual blend of humor, heart, and high spirits. And with a full roster of pop-culture-inspired costumes, Ripa and Consuelos are set to keep Live!’s Halloween tradition alive, delighting viewers with their commitment to Halloween—and to each other.