Kelly Ripa Claims Mark Consuelos Is The “Sexiest” Nominee In People’s “Sexiest TV Host” Slate On ‘Live’

Sorry, Jimmy Fallon! Mark Consuelos is remaining in the running for People‘s Sexiest TV Host — and Kelly Ripa thinks he’s the “sexiest” nominee, hands down.

On Monday’s episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, Ripa gushed that Consuelos — who is People‘s reigning sexiest morning host — is up against Fallon, Seth Meyers (Late Night with Seth Meyers), and Mario Lopez (Access Hollywood) for this year’s title. However, as Ripa and Consuelos explained, The Tonight Show host had already “put out a plea” for Consuelos and his other fellow nominees to drop out of the competition.

“He asked if I would step aside,” Consuelos shared with a chuckle. “And I love Jimmy, I really do love Jimmy. I think he’s such a great guy. Over the weekend, I was considering it. I was like, ‘Maybe I should pledge my support.’”

Ripa added, “Like Oprah did at the Daytime Emmys.”

According to People, Fallon had addressed his nomination on last Wednesday’s (Sept. 18) installment of The Tonight Show, during which he asked Consuelos to “please remove [his] name from the ballot.”

Consuelos continued, “And I was like, you know, maybe I should come on the show and say, ‘If you’re going to vote for me, you might as well vote for Jimmy.’ But then I reconsidered.”

Following a roaring round of applause from the live studio audience, he posited that “maybe after [he] win[s] a bunch” he would think of taking it easy on his competitors, but he highlighted that there is “stiff competition.”

“I love all these guys,” he added.

Ripa chimed in to share her thoughts, which she argued come “from a sexiness standpoint.”

“Believe me, I love me some Seth Meyers, I love me some Jimmy Fallon, I love me some Mario Lopez. But from a sexiness standpoint, you are the sexiest,” she claimed.

While Consuelos acknowledged that his wife and co-host is “not partial,” Ripa said she has a “zoomed out perspective” on the matter.

“You know me, I want to vote against you,” she quipped. “I love you when you’re defeated by our trivia callers. Nothing thrills me more than you getting taken down a peg or two.”

In fact, Ripa said she has voted “many times.” Eventually Consuelos conceded, “If I don’t win, I would love for Jimmy to win.”

Ripa teased, “You would love for Jimmy to come in second.”