Mark Consuelos responds to Jimmy Fallon's plea to drop out of PEOPLE's Sexiest TV Host race: 'Maybe after I win a bunch'

"Anyway, if I don’t win, I would love for Jimmy to win," the host said.

Sorry, Jimmy Fallon, but Mark Consuelos won't be dropping out of the running for the title of PEOPLE Magazine’s Sexiest TV Host anytime soon.

Less than a week after Fallon put out a request on The Tonight Show for Consuelos to exit the competition, the Riverdale alum confirmed that he will stay in the race during Monday’s episode of Live With Kelly and Mark.

“I love Jimmy. I really do love Jimmy. He’s such a great guy. And over the weekend, I was considering it. I’m like, 'You know what, maybe I should pledge my support,’” Consuelos said. "And I was like, ‘You know, maybe I should come on the show on Monday and say, 'If you’re going to vote for me, you might as well vote for Jimmy.' But then I reconsidered."

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Related: Here's why we'll be seeing less of Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show

Kelly Ripa, who had just taken a sip from her mug, almost did a spit take in response to her husband’s remark. "No," Consuelos said of potentially dropping out. He then conceded, "Maybe after I win a bunch."

The actor noted that he believes he has “some stiff competition” from his fellow nominees: Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Mario Lopez. He added, "I love all these guys."

There’s no competition when it comes to who’s getting Ripa’s vote, though. "I have to say, from a sexiest standpoint, and believe me, I love me some Seth Meyers, I love me some Jimmy Fallon, I love me some Mario Lopez,” she said. “But from a sexiest standpoint, you are the sexiest.”

In response, Consuelos teasingly told his wife of 28 years, “You’re not exactly… you’re not partial."

Ripa maintained that she was looking at the category from a “zoomed-out perspective” and — while nothing thrills her more than to see her husband “taken down a peg or two" — really believes that he is the sexiest out of all of them. In fact, she’s already voted “many times.”

Consuelos added, “Anyway, if I don’t win, I would love for Jimmy to win.” To which Ripa quipped, “You would love for Jimmy to come in second.”

Related: Kelly Ripa measures Mark Consuelos' tongue on Live

The All My Children star’s comments come after Fallon asked him to please remove his name from the ballot last week. "Seth would let me have this,” he said. “He would want me to have this. He's a younger dude — let grandpa have one thing.” (Fallon is three months older than Meyers.)

That leaves just Consuelos and Lopez. “Mark Consuelos, I'm going to ask you right now, please remove your name from the ballot of PEOPLE's Sexiest Talk Show Host,” Fallon said as he tried to stop himself from laughing.

With just two contenders in the race, Fallon said that Lopez would let him win “out of respect,” adding, “He’s been a guest on the show. Just let me have it ... Just one year! It’s not like it’s a big deal!”

Live With Kelly and Mark airs weekdays in syndication. Check your local listings for showtimes in your area.

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