Anderson's Friend Andy

.

Watch What Happens: Live - Exclusive Interview with Host Andy Cohen

Posted on 12/10/2010 by Gina and Cast Interviews


by Gina Scarpa

Andy Cohen is a busy guy. Besides being Bravo's Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development, he's also the host of the popular show Watch What Happens: Live. On the live show, he interviews everyone from housewives to A-list celebs and you never know what's going to happen! Today, we spoke to Andy in an exclusive interview about his upcoming week, where he'll host 5 episodes of Watch Happens: Live featuring lots of stars including Anderson Cooper, Iman, Amy Sedaris, Rebecca Romijn, and Denise Richards.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you get your start at Bravo?
A. Andy: Well, I was at CBS News for 10 years and then I was at a small cable channel called Trio. I was in charge of Programming for 4 years. We kind of merged with NBC Universal. My boss at the time became the head of Bravo and brought me over to the channel.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: A lot of people want to know how much power you have over at Bravo. How much say do you get in the casting or ideas for new shows?
A. Andy: Yes! Both are a big part of my job! It's a lot of fun. It's a true team effort. I have a great team who are as responsible for any of the success that we've had as I am. Working in tv is so fun! Anybody lucky enough to be working in tv has nothing to complain about.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did the idea of bringing celebrities onto Watch What Happens: Live come about?
A. Andy: I think that was always my hope that we would be able to attract more than people who are just on Bravo. I started doing a web series on Bravo that was live after Top Chef and Project Runway. Occasionally, I would have a celebrity take part in the show. When we launched the show on Bravo and next week is going to be so great because we have 5 nights of Watch What Happens: Live. I love that we're live and we have interesting combinations of guests. We have Rebecca Romijn and Kenaan Thompson, Tom Colicchio and Amy Sedaris...

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: This Sunday, you have Anderson Cooper and Nene Leakes as your guests. What brings Anderson to Bravo?
A. Andy: Anderson is a friend of mine and he's always a Housewives fan. He's such a fun and funny guy. It's always exciting to see him in situations that you normally wouldn't expect.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Who was your favorite celeb to have on Watch What Happens thus far?
A. Andy: I love when Ellen Barkin was on and when Jerry Seinfeld was on. Tiny Fey was pretty great, too!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What other guests do you have coming up that you're excited about?
A. Andy: I'm hosting a New Year's Eve special on Bravo that I'm excited about. It's going to be a 2 hour house party. That is going to be amazing. We have Housewives from all over the place. Kim Zolciak is singing "Tardy for the Party". We've got awards. We've got some of the biggest people in pop culture. We're going to drop a wig at midnight. Most people drop a ball but we're dropping a custom made wig!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Let me ask you about the Housewives for a second. How do you remain so neutral when you're interviewing them, especially when they're fighting?
A. Andy: I'm usually saying what the audience thinks. I usually get somebody's point across. As long as the audience feels like I'm getting their questions answered, I feel like I've done my job.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Of all the shows on bravo, which one do you think you'd fit in best with as a cast member?
A. Andy: Oh my gosh! That's a demented question. I think the The Real Housewives of New York. I think I'm living in that world.

Don't miss 5 nights of Bravo's Watch What Happens: Live, beginning this Sunday, December 12th!

(Image courtesy of Bravo)