**Get ready for a wild ride—Mark Consuelos is stepping into the world of '9-1-1,' and it’s not just any role; it’s what Kelly Ripa calls "the fantasy role" of her life! She jokingly says, "I’m finally married to a tech billionaire," and trust me, this guest arc is as exciting as it sounds. But here’s where it gets controversial: a billionaire swallowed by a whale? Yes, really. And this is the part most people miss—this bizarre storyline is actually based on true events!
Mark Consuelos, who you might know from various TV hits, is making his debut on the hit ABC procedural drama '9-1-1' during its highly anticipated Season 9 premiere. On a recent episode of "Live with Kelly and Mark," the husband-and-wife duo hyped up his multi-episode guest appearance, with Kelly emphasizing just how big of a deal this is for her co-host and spouse.
Consuelos plays Tripp Houser, a character he describes as "a nice guy" and, more importantly, "a billionaire with a heart of gold." When Mark first read the script, he was stunned. "I couldn’t believe it," he admitted. "I was like, ‘What?’ But as I kept reading, the story just kept getting better and better."
In the episode airing tonight, Tripp is casually kayaking in the harbor while holding a board meeting on the water—a pretty unconventional setting for corporate business, right? Things take a wild turn when, during a video call with his colleagues, Tripp confidently declares, "Tell the board I will not be intimidated by them. My IQ is 150. My resting heart rate is 41. I’ve got the telomeres of a 22-year-old gymnast. I will eat them for lunch." Bold words, indeed. But then, in a jaw-dropping moment, a whale swallows him whole. Yes, swallowed by a whale—talk about eating your words!
The studio audience erupted in applause, and Mark couldn’t help but quip, "He had me at whale."
Mark shared with the "Live" audience how much fun he had filming this arc. He recalled a conversation with '9-1-1' showrunner Tim Minear, who reassured him that the whale incident wasn’t just a wild script invention. "He said, ‘Listen, I just want to make sure you know we weren’t punking you. That actually happens.’ I said, ‘I know, I love it,’" Mark recalled with a smile. This character, he explained, is a blast to play because he constantly finds himself in trouble, and the show itself is known for taking bold, sometimes outrageous creative risks.
Kelly chimed in, emphasizing that the storyline, as unbelievable as it sounds, is rooted in reality. She even sent Mark clips of real people being swallowed by whales while kayaking to prove the point. Mark confirmed that Tim Minear "assured" him this was a true story, which made the role even more thrilling. Kelly joked about being "all in" on the storyline, deadpanning, "Wait, my tech billionaire husband suddenly gets swallowed by a whale? What will I do?"
As the excitement builds, Mark encouraged fans to "tune in tonight," and Kelly promised she’d be "front and center" to watch every moment.
Catch "Live with Kelly and Mark" on weekdays, and check their website for local listings. Don’t miss the Season 9 premiere of '9-1-1' tonight at 8/7c on ABC, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
So, what do you think? Is this wild whale storyline a brilliant twist or just too far-fetched, even if it’s based on true events? Are you excited to see Mark Consuelos take on this "fantasy role"? Share your thoughts below—let’s get the conversation going!
