Kelly Ripa - Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories

Advanced apologies to anyone I forgot to thank, but know that it will haunt me for the rest of my life.

First and foremost, my endless gratitude to my mom and dad, Essie and Joe Ripa, who lead by example. Every good thing I am I owe to you. Your love, generosity, compassion, and work ethic are only matched by your fierce and unrelenting sense of humor. Its not lost on me all the sacrifices you made for your daughters and everyone else. And even though you probably kidnapped me from my birth mother, Cher, I forgive you. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for EVERYTHING!

To my in-laws, Camilla and Saul (Tony) Consuelos, thank you for your courage in leaving your homelands with three young kids for life in America. For raising Mark to be the embodiment of your profound, loving, familial spirit, and your boundless support and guidance. You welcomed me into your lives like I was your very own. Thanks, Mom and Dad! PS: Your secret about being in the CIA is safe with me.

To my hearts:

Michael, Lola, and Joaquinmy unending love, appreciation, and gratitude. You three have filled me with immeasurable pride and joy. Youve impressively balanced being in the public eye, whether you liked it or not, while still maintaining your privacy, dignity, and normalcy. As individually talented, hardworking, and brilliant as you are, it is your kindness and altruism that fill my heart the most. Thanks guys, I hope this book doesnt cause you too much embarrassment. I think I showed great restraint.

To Linda, Adriana, Mike, and Kelly, thank you for raising the greatest nieces and nephews this aunt could wish for.

And to Alec, Sergio, Maddie, Isa, Gabi, Gianna, Luci, and Gigli, youre all so uniquely gifted and lovely. I simply adore spending time with you. It remains my privilege to be your number one favorite aunt. ;)

To my nonblood related siblings:

Gretchen and Willie Randolph, and Tenisha, Chantre, Andre, and Ciara. Thank you for all the laughs, meals, ball games, parties, and fights over who is going to pay the check.

Albert Bianchini and Kyle Barisich, whether at work or play, you two show up. Every special person day at school, and every single important life event. I cant wait to repay the favor someday. Hint hint.

To Jason Sellards, you read my earliest words and gave me the best feedback. Watching you write your memoir was my guide.

To the women responsible for my professional life:

Profound gratitude to Felicia Minei Behr, the EP of All My Children . Thank you for gambling on a newcomer. Angela Shapiro-Mathes, aka my BOSS, you have given me too many opportunities to list, not to mention your guidance, insight, and laughter, even when nothing was funny. Joanna Johnson, you created Hope and Faith and provided me with my favorite job to date. To my literary agent (I HAVE A LITERARY AGENT!), Cait HoytWOW! And Andy, thank you for keeping me on deadline-ish.

To my editor, Carrie Thornton, Im eternally grateful for the two years of our lives well never get back, but if I ever try to do this again, please kill me.

And finally, every once in a while a person comes along who sets the bar so high, both professionally and personally, they raise everyone in their radius and beyond. Debra OConnell, YOU ARE THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN SHOW BUSINESS! Youre a fearless leader, a tireless mentor, and if rumors are true, a clone. But beyond all of that, youre an extraordinary wife and mother, and I believe the only executive at Disney to survive a drive-by shooting. I love you more than words.

To my team who are also like family:

Jason Weinberg and Bryan Lourd, thank you for the never-ending love, support, and guidance. We reverse-engineered the entire friend/client blueprint. (If there is one.) Jason, you FaceTiming me while standing next to your famous clientele got me through the grind of thesaurus-ing synonyms for words like insanity and horseshit. Bryan, you Jedi mind-tricked me into thinking I could write to begin with. Thank you for spell-checking my copy edits. We have walked through many fires together, and speaking of fires... Thank you, Matthew Hiltzik, for always having your hatchet and hose at the ready.

The inner sanctum:

To Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper, the stalwarts. Andy, you encouraged me to start journaling again in case I ever wanted to write a book. Anderson, I will never be able to properly repay you and Benjamin Maisani for a lifetime of favors, late-night dances, and endless giggles.

To Faith Ford, Ted McGinley, and RJ Wagner, Im so grateful to have had the opportunity to share the soundstage with you three. What a gift.

To Jerry OConnell, you are in a class by yourself in the friend department.

To David Muir, you are the backbone and moral compass I need sometimes.

To Barry Sonnenfeld and Susan (Sweetie) Ringo, the New Years Eve maestros. Barry, I will never be able to tell a story, make a martini, or leg wrestle like you.

To the Perskys for all the years of Shelter Island picnics, peppermint ice cream, meatloaf, and stories.

To Jon and Lizzie Tisch, thank you for pretending not to notice when I spill things on your white carpet.

To Leo Gomez for getting me there.

To Rachael Harris, Nastaran Dibai, Sahra Jaamac, Lucy Liu, Cartwright Lee, Ellen Barkin, Carrie Ann Inaba, Elsa Collins, Monica Mangin, Isaac Calpito, Jeffrey OBrecht, Jess Tubbs, Ian Sherman, Arlene Stewart, and Daniel Arias, who all had to listen to me agonize over writing this book.

The OGs:

Scott Silber, my first friend.

Dondr Whitfield, as an author yourself, you knew to do wellness checks on me.

Eva LaRue, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Finola Hughes, Ariel Kochi, Claudia Bell, Pam Newman, Walt Willey, Richard Esposito, its always like no time has passed, even when a lot has.

The miracle workers:

MakeupKristofer Buckle, thank you for decades of friendship. You know how to make the most of me, and everyone else!

HairRyan Trygstad, thank you for this cover, and all the covers!

HairVanessa Alcala for all the early mornings.

FitnessAnna Kaiser, easily the person I spend the most time with, for body and mind. Anysia Kelly and Blaire Buchanan, Annas trusted protgs.

PhotographerMiller Mobley for always capturing the image perfectly, and fast!

NutritionDr. Daryl Gioffre for your endless quest to get me off sugar.

LongevityDr. Erika Schwartz, only if you want to live long and feel good.

For restoration from the neck upDr. David Rosenberg, providing works of art!

For the neck downIm still searching for the one, reach out if you know somebody.

Cosmetic DermatologyDr. Robert Anolik and Dr. Roy Geronemus, for resurfacing and freezing.

Cosmetic DentistryDr. Marc Lowenberg, somehow keeping my teeth white in spite of all the coffee.

OphthalmologistDr. Samuel Guillory, for attempting to save my eyesight.

The village:

To Michael Gelman, even though looking at you is like staring into the sun, I sure do appreciate your ability to keep the crazy train on the tracks all these years. When something looks easy, it rarely is.

To Ryan Seacrest, the boy wonder! And Alfred, his humble manservant. Thank you for switching coasts and coming to the dark side in record time. Working with you is no work at all, and vacationing with you, especially at one of your many subterranean estates, is absolute ecstasy.

To Art Moore, the gentlest of gentlemen. You live up to your name. No matter how much time I have with you, I always want more. Thank you.

To the Live! staff The ones who really do all the work:

Chad Matthews, Flody Suarez, Brian Chapman, Dj Vu, Angie Riley, Christine Composto, Cindy MacDonald, Dana Dodge, David Mullen, Edward Connolly, Esther Pak, Delores Spruell Jackson, Diane DAgostino, Donna Bass, Elyssa Shapiro, Jan Schillay, Jim Niebler, Jason Francisco, John Ogle, Joni Cohen Zlotowitz, Kelly Burkhard, Kristen Osborne, Lauren McTague, Laurie Ciaffaglione, Lori Schulweis, Michael Fagin, Michelle Champagne, Monique Bobbitt, Scott Eason, Bill Cabral, Andrea Lizcano, Seth Gronquist, Ashley Lewis, Beau Hart, Caroline Schlobohm, and Shira Kaplan.