On the danger of sounding like a Actual Housewives tagline, when Andy Cohen talks, individuals hear. That’s true when he hosts Watch What Occurs Stay and the Bravo reunions, and it’s very true for his SiriusXM present, the place he has time to dig into the whole lot from Depraved to Bravolebrity brouhahas.
“There are issues I say that the viewers disagree with,” Cohen, 56, tells Us from his Andy Cohen Stay studio in NYC. “There was a second early in Vanderpump Guidelines the place I mentioned [on the radio], ‘Lala [Kent] is the voice of cause this season.’ Folks performed that clip for months on finish and had been throughout me.”
Through the day by day broadcast on Radio Andy (channel 102, 10 a.m.), Cohen and cohost John Hill — additionally his ex-boyfriend, extra on that later — “generate numerous popular culture information,” he says. “And we additionally replicate on it. No matter’s occurring in popular culture, it is going to be dissected right here.” And at Andy Cohen Stay, that always means the most recent within the Bravo universe.
Cohen is the primary to acknowledge it may be difficult to navigate giving his frank take whereas carrying so many hats in actuality TV (he additionally produces the Housewives franchise). “Typically I mess up, however I believe I’ve a very good sense,” Cohen says, including, “[Radio] can be a spot I discuss extra typically as a producer than I do anyplace else. It’s an awesome alternative for me to offer background □and clarify additional my viewpoint.”
The individuals he discusses on-air may reply within the media — or they could even reply immediately. “I bear in mind Teresa [Giudice] known as me about one thing I mentioned, however I used to be like, ‘Teresa, did you hear the clip? Let me clarify,’” Cohen recollects of the Actual Housewives of New Jersey star. “And he or she was like, ‘Oh, my God, I get the context now.’”
On December 2, he addressed VPR once more, telling listeners: “Bravo introduced, or phrase obtained out, that they’re revamping the present, and I’ve to say, that is, initially, absolutely the proper factor to do.” No, he’s not a producer on that specific present, however followers regarded to him — as did a slew of celebrities. With out naming names, he confirmed his telephone blew up when information broke of the season 12 recasting. “[The response was] primarily unhappiness and, ‘Oh, my God,’” he says. “Then I’ve to say, ‘Look, it’s the way it must be.’”
How does it really feel to see his opinions be wanted and handed alongside? “If it’s a very good headline, I’m comfortable about it. If it’s a nasty headline, I’m aggravated by it identical to anybody else,” Cohen says. “We now have numerous airtime. [Often] it’s simply John and I speaking. Something that may very well be mentioned may wind up both making a headline or [laughs] coming again to chunk me.”
He doesn’t do it alone
The key sauce to Andy Cohen Stay simply is likely to be cohost Hill. “I can’t consider too many exes that host one thing collectively — Sonny and Cher hosted after they obtained divorced — however I believe it’s fascinating for the listener to listen to John completely shading me,” Cohen admits. “Or he completely knocks me down in a approach that nobody else would go there. Even Jeff Lewis.”
And when Hill will get into his personal Housewives feuds — most lately exchanging in a back-and-forth with former RHOC star Kelly Dodd — Cohen lets him struggle his personal battles. “That was between John and he or she. I sat it out and he rapidly apologized,” he mentioned. “At Radio Andy, I’m simply pleased with all people within the household for what every particular person has constructed, as a result of they’ve all sort of come to this with their very own character and viewpoint. And so they’ve all constructed their very own followings and their very own little universes on the channel.”
Ah, again to Jeff Lewis — one other character underneath the Radio Andy umbrella on SiriusXM. His remarks on Jeff Lewis Stay have grow to be storylines on a number of Bravo sequence this yr, together with The Actual Housewives of Orange County and The Actual Housewives of New York Metropolis, which Cohen acknowledges performs an element in why the exhibits now break the fourth wall.
“It’s wild that the tentacles of the Housewives have reached him, and he’s reached into the present,” Cohen says of the “outspoken” and “provocative” host. So outspoken that Lewis hears from his boss? Not until Cohen needs to be a part of that storyline too. “It’ll take loads for me to become involved as a result of I’ve been burned,” he says. “He’s learn my messages on the air!”
There’s additionally Dorinda Medley, the one former Housewife on the channel. “I wouldn’t have accomplished it if she was nonetheless on the Housewives. It might’ve created some potential points,” Cohen says. “She’s obtained a really distinctive perspective. She’s been within the sport. She’s additionally a fan. She’s very savvy. She’s opinionated, so she works on a bunch of ranges.”
Outdoors of the Bravo universe, Radio Andy options expertise like newswoman Gayle King, who “brings a completely legit perspective on popular culture to radio,” Cohen says; actress Sandra Bernhard; the Smith sisters (“they disseminate popular culture is not like anything”) and maybe the preferred addition to the workforce of late, social media influencer Tinx. “When Tinx is on, the telephone strains are completely jammed. She provides the very best relationship recommendation — individuals actually wish to hear from her,” Cohen says. (Us witnessed the calls rolling in earlier than Tinx’s broadcast had even began.) Time to make your individual headlines, Tinx!
Hey, Mr. DJ
Whereas music is a part of Andy Cohen Stay — simply three minutes earlier than going to air throughout Us’ go to, Cohen confirms to his producer that “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin is the selection to herald that specific Wednesday’s present — it’s the primary occasion on his separate SiriusXM channel, Andy Cohen’s Kiki Lounge. “Throughout Covid, I spent many nights trying to find my most excellent 600 or so songs,” he tells Us. “They’re simply songs that contact me, songs I’ve a narrative about [and] songs which have affected me in my life.”
Track He Can’t Get Sufficient Of: Cohen provides and subtracts from the Kiki Lounge lineup “on a regular basis.” His newest obsession: Troye Sivan’s “Certainly one of Your Women.”
Track He Overdid: Ought to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” keep in 2024? “It’s an awesome tune however such an annoying earworm at this level.”
Track of the Summer time: “I used to be a brat this summer time,” Cohen fortunately declares, referencing the title observe of Charli XCX’s important fave. “I really like that album.”
Track for the Holidays: Cohen’s most well-liked traditional tune is “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses, however he’s additionally a sucker for Mariah Carey’s “All I Need for Christmas Is You,” telling Us as a reality: “Mariah is everybody’s queen of Christmas.”
Track His Youngsters Make Him Pay attention To: Son Ben, 5, “loves ‘Life Is a Freeway’ from Automobiles,” Cohen reveals. Requested whether or not he feels the identical approach in regards to the Rascal Flatts cowl from the 2006 animated movie, he merely replies, “No.”
Track That Makes Him Cry: Coldplay’s “Warning Track” can nonetheless put him in his feels as he considers it his “breakup tune” from cohost Hill.
Track That’s a Hit With the Household: Cohen beams as he studies Ben and daughter Lucy, 2, are on board along with his devotion to Madonna, naming “Hung Up” because the household’s No. 1 tune. However once they’re caught in site visitors (as typically documented on Cohen’s Instagram Tales), his go-to is the Grateful Lifeless.