Imagine being stuck in traffic, knowing you're about to miss a live TV appearance—talk about a heart-pounding nightmare! But that’s exactly what happened to Ryan Reynolds, who nearly missed his guest spot on Live with Kelly and Mark due to a traffic jam that felt like a scene straight out of a disaster movie. And this is the part most people miss: even celebrities aren’t immune to the stress of running late. As soon as Reynolds stepped onto the set, he let out a sigh of relief so palpable, it was like watching a man escape a real-life thriller. Kelly Ripa, with a mix of humor and relief, greeted him with, 'Thank you for getting here,' to which Reynolds quipped, 'Thank you, it’s very nice to be here. I wasn’t so sure for a second there.' Her response? 'We weren’t sure either.'
But here's where it gets controversial: Mark Consuelos revealed that just five minutes before the show, Reynolds sent them a text that was equal parts hilarious and panic-inducing. Without hesitation, Reynolds offered to read it aloud, pulling out his phone with a sly grin. 'I was coming from upstate,' he began, 'and then you guys decided to move 80 blocks out.' Kelly, clearly amused, asked, 'Did you just find that out today, did ya?' Reynolds, never one to miss a beat, replied, 'I think I even said it in the text: “This is how I find out?”'
The text itself was a masterpiece of wit and frustration. 'Morning,' it read, 'I gave myself two full hours from upstate, but I’m sitting on the Hudson, which can only be described as the second act of Sharknado 10. Unwatchable. But I’m sitting here. It’s happening, and there’s nothing I can do about it.' Despite the chaos, Reynolds joked, '[My driver] is saying I will arrive at 9:15 a.m. The other map says I can get here earlier if I did the worm for 50 blocks, but I’m 48, and I’d rather get a vasectomy the normal way.'
Here’s the bold part: Reynolds didn’t stop there. He took a playful jab at Mark, saying, 'The good news is I’m dressed, and I don’t care about makeup the way Mark does. I’ll walk right out there like I’m starring in a damn Dove commercial, celebrating my inner beauty. So what if I don’t look five hours younger through the magic of cosmetics?' The crowd erupted in laughter as he wrapped up the text with, 'I hate being late, but I’m coming. Tell this to the most terrified person wearing a headset. I believe it’s Beth. I love you both.'
Reynolds later confirmed, 'And it was. Beth was here. Looked terrified wearing a headset. But I’m here.' Kelly, ever the gracious host, added, 'You made it worth the wait.' Mark, empathizing with the stress, shared, 'I hate being late too. That feeling takes about a year off your life,' to which Reynolds quipped, 'Yeah, that definitely shortened the time I have left with my children.' Kelly, calming the room, simply said, 'Don’t worry about it.'
But let’s pause for a moment: How would you handle being late to a live TV show? Would you crack jokes like Reynolds, or would the stress get the better of you? And more importantly, do you think his lighthearted approach to the situation was genuine, or was it a carefully crafted persona? Let’s discuss in the comments—because let’s be honest, we’ve all been late, but not all of us can turn it into a viral moment.
