Talk show host and All My Children alum, Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley) is opening up about her life and times in her highly-anticipated memoir available now, Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories.

Ripa chatted exclusively with PEOPLE who got some of intel and dish on what’s included in the book.

Kelly told PEOPLE, when she landed the gig as the new co-host of Live with Regis and Kelly, with the late Regis Philbin back in 2001, she felt like she was “getting shot out of a cannon.”  Ripa was also appearing on All My Children at the same time.

She tells the story of when her agent called with the offer, Ripa was told: “They want you to know who your boss is. It was very ominous, and it did not feel good.”  Her agent also said the show didn’t want her, “bringing an entourage.” She brought two people. “I came with hair and makeup,” Kelly says. “It was not an unusual thing for people on a television show to show up with.”

She added that Regis greeted her with executive producer, Michael Gelman, saying: “Uh-oh, Gelman, it’s got an entourage.” It?!  Kelly expressed that she “felt horrible.  He was probably trying to be funny, but at the same time it felt like a pile-on.”

As for Philbin’s attitude at the time, Kelly shared, “I understand that probably he didn’t want a co-host, but the network wanted me to be the co-host and I didn’t think I should pass up that opportunity. I don’t think it was fair to him. But it was also not fair to me.”

Photo: JPI

The actress-talk show host-producer also talked on her marriage to Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo), whom she met while both were on All My Children, sharing that they were, “too young to get married! On paper it should not have worked and when it didn’t work, we really worked at it. We fought for our marriage when it would have been easier to quit and throw in the towel.”

According to the book publisher, HarperCollins:  “In ‘Live Wire’, her first book, Kelly shows what really makes her tick. Whether recounting how she and Mark (Consuelos) really met, the level of chauvinism she experienced on set, how Jersey Pride follows her wherever she goes, and many, many moments of utter mortification (whence she proves that you cannot, in fact, die of embarrassment) Kelly always tells it like it is. Ms. Ripa takes no prisoners.”

So, will you be ordering your copy of Kelly’s memoir? Let us know in the comment section below.

It’s been 12 years since Roark Critchlow appeared on Days of our Lives as Dr. Mike Horton, the brother of Jennifer Horton Deveraux (Cady McClain). However, fans have been excited to see him back on their screens when the series teased his appearance in the extended fall preview.

Now with Jennifer spiraling downward (now that her pill-popping addiction is back), it seems like a good time for Dr. Mike to return to Salem to help his sis. (And if the promo for this week’s DAYS is any indication, it certainly looks like Jennifer is going to be involved in a car crash and need medical assistance or at least some brotherly love.)

Photo: JPI

Roark initially appeared as Mike back in 1994 and left the soap back in 1999. He returned in 2010 for a few episodes honoring the late Frances Reid (Alice Horton) who was Mike’s grandmother.

In an interview about his return with Soap Opera Digest on newsstands now, Roark talks about working with McClain as Jennifer, when he previously worked with Missy Reeves in the part.

Critchlow expressed on sharing scenes with McClain: “Her character is going through a lot. She and I dropped in really easily, I felt. It was a very nice, natural care for each other. It wasn’t difficult, that’s for sure. Obviously, Missy is a super-duper person. But you don’t compare people. Cady and I chatted. We got on good. In terms of story, I thought we pulled it off nicely as being people who’ve known each other their whole lives.”

Look for Roark to make his DAYS re-emergence on the upcoming October 3rd episode of the Peacock streaming series.

So, looking forward to seeing Roark and Cady sharing scenes together? Share your thoughts in the comment section, but first check out this week’s promo for DAYS below.

Talk about your soap opera and great performances!  Last Friday’s WWE Friday Night Smackdown on Fox featured what could go down as a classic opening segment involving The Head of the Table/WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns and tag-along member of the ‘Bloodline’, Sami Zayn.

With the entire Bloodline in the ring and present (The Usos, Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman, Reigns and honorary member, Zayn) it set the stage for a potentially dangerous situation for Zayn.  Even though Sami is a heel, the fans were in Zayn’s corner for this every step of the away, if you just listened to the pop from the crowd.

Photo: Fox

First, Reigns demanded for Solo Sikoa to acknowledge him, since the youngest members of the Usos is the new enforcer of the Bloodline. Solo did just that in short order, and as the group was preparing to make their ring exit, Zayn stopped The Bloodline as he wanted his chance to acknowledge Reigns as his Tribal Chief, too.  That prompted Reigns to question Zayn as to why he was up in their business and wearing the ‘Bloodline’ t-shirt.

Suddenly, it became apparent that Zayn was going to be set-up to be the victim of a beatdown by the family. The moments were so tense that you honestly could not have guessed which way this was going to go – but things were looking bleak for Sami.

Reigns verbally assaulted Zayn for hanging around and wearing ‘The Bloodline’s’ shirt. Roman ordered Zayn to take off the shirt as Zayn’s enemy number one, Jey Uso, demanded the same thing of him.  Next, Uso ripped the t-shirt off Zayn and the audience was scared for Sami.  However, Reigns instead presented Zayn with a new t-shirt making him officially an “Honorary Uce”.  For those who wondered, “uce” is the Samoan slang term for “brother”.  Touched and relieved, Zayn celebrated the moment with Jimmy Uso, Sikoa and then, even hugging Reigns, while Jey Uso looked on mad-as-all-get-out.

The story arc was played brilliantly by Reigns who can play disingenuous like nobody’s business, and Zayn, who can play drama and comedy as the “Bloodline” wannabe.

There are several story angles that could stem from this – one being the obvious – a feud between Jey Uso and Zayn- plus, just how long Sami will be included in the Bloodline, before it all goes south on him.

You can watch the segment below, and then a hilarious video posted on Twitter by Zane on Sunday to Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This.”

So, did you think the Bloodline was going to turn on Sami? What did you think of Zayn and Reigns work in the opening segment of WWE Friday Night Smackdown? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

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— Sami Zayn (@SamiZayn) September 25, 2022