Andy Cohen does not care.
In a secluded convention room above the lounge of London’s Langham Lodge, I discover the manager producer of the Emmy-winning Bravo collection “The Actual Housewives” and the host of “Watch What Occurs Reside” nonchalantly writing on a notepad Graffiti. Regardless of Cohen’s informal demeanor, sitting on the lengthy picket desk felt like I used to be about to listen to the State of the Union deal with from an vital elected official. To some extent, this isn’t removed from the reality.
Cohen is undoubtedly the president of “The Actual Housewives,” having been producing the present and internet hosting the reunion particular because the franchise’s inception in 2006. Since then, it has develop into a world phenomenon, with a passionate fan base and 11 completely different collection launched in the USA and 21 collection world wide. On Saturday, Cohen will probably be in London for the inaugural Hayu FanFest hosted by NBCUniversal’s all-reality SVOD service, which permits viewers in 45 markets world wide to look at their favourite exhibits stay on the identical day they premiere in the USA
“I simply assume it is nice that we’ve such passionate followers throughout the ocean,” Cohen stated. kind. “The story of America is one thing our followers are obsessed with, and coming right here and having individuals throughout the town really feel the identical means speaks to the success of the model.”
However managing one of many greatest actuality collection of all time is not with out its challenges. Bravo, father or mother firm NBCUniversal and Cohen have been going through a so-called “actuality reckoning” since final yr, resulting in lawsuits filed by former Housewives over sexism, drug and alcohol abuse, on-set racism and calls from one man. ” star Bethenny Frankel calls on actuality stars to affix a union. Bravo and NBCUniversal carried out exterior investigations into the misconduct allegations in opposition to Cohen, who was finally exonerated. Whereas all of the authorized disputes have but to be resolved, Cohen stated he “does not actually give it some thought” nowadays.
“My job has at all times been targeted on making the exhibits I make – as I stated a yr in the past and I am going to say it once more now – and I am proud to be working with an unbelievable manufacturing firm,” he stated. “I am happy with the methods we put in place a yr in the past and I am happy with the methods we have put in place now to take care of individuals’s psychological well being and produce completely good tv for individuals world wide to look at and love.”
Beneath, Cohen shares extra of his ideas on the fact reckoning, teases the upcoming episode of The Actual Housewives of Beverly Hills (premiering Nov. 19), and feedback about rising New York star Rebecca Minkoff ) was the backlash from Scientologists reacted, extra.
There are 4 “Actual Housewives” exhibits presently on the air — “Orange,” “Potomac,” “Salt Lake Metropolis” and “New York Metropolis” — which season is your favourite thus far?
I haven’t got a favourite. Frankly, the present I actually like proper now’s Atlanta, six episodes into the brand new season. So usually I am trying to the longer term, however I am additionally excited that the trailer for Beverly Hills got here out yesterday and it is a actually good season. Individuals’s lives have modified dramatically.
You shortly revamped this season of “Potomac” after Robin Dixon and Candace Dillard Bassett exited – how do you assume it went?
Nice. I really feel just like the platelets modified the way in which we wanted them to. We simply have to make some changes to the workforce to allow them to begin shifting ahead and that is what these exhibits are all about. So I am actually completely happy, not solely due to how good the episode is, but in addition how a lot the followers like it and the way the rankings are going up.
It opens the door to some new friendships, which could embody…Gizelle Bryant and Wendy Oseford?
It was nice to satisfy Gizelle and Wendy. In truth, I talked to each of them yesterday. Gizelle stated, “Oh, I have to name Wendy, there’s one thing.” And I believed, I like listening to that.
Some Monica Garcia followers imagine the season of “Salt Lake” would have failed with out her. They have been confirmed fallacious. What do you consider this?
I feel the entire level of those exhibits is that they are group exhibits and nobody is de facto better than the group. After all, final season was unbelievable and this season is unbelievable in an entire new means. You must belief the method, and we had nice casting this season. I imply, Bronwyn [Newport] It is only a welcome boost. I feel from the primary episode you are like, “Wow, that is shifting ahead.” We see a unique Mary [Cosby] this season. By the way in which, we’re nonetheless within the early levels of the season, so individuals will probably be very completely happy.
Mary actually appears to be turning over a brand new leaf this season, and I feel she’s extra susceptible than ever.
Me too. Mary has some very attention-grabbing private tales that I feel will actually contact individuals.
There are some new faces in “New York,” together with Rebecca Minkoff. How did you react to the backlash she acquired for turning into a Scientologist?
I can not actually choose individuals’s response to Scientology, however I’ll say she’s a well known New Yorker and it is enjoyable to have her in it. And Raquel [Chevremont] It completely blew my thoughts and he or she has some actually good private tales as effectively. However she’s so formidable and trendy, and I am excited to have somebody on the present who’s so dynamic within the arts world, which I feel is the place we have at all times wished to be. I really feel just like the group appears extra cohesive, and so they’ve been hanging out loads over the previous few years, so it is an entire bundle.
Do you discover it unusual that not one of the different girls requested Rebecca extra questions on Scientology?
That is one thing that comes up over and over on the present, and I feel she made it clear in her first grilling simply how far she was going to go – it did not appear to be she was on the present to advertise Scientology. So we’ll see how the scenario develops.
How do you are feeling now that it’s been over a yr because the actuality reckoning started? Has it revolutionized the way in which you do issues?
I actually did not give it some thought. My job is at all times targeted on making the exhibits I make – as I stated a yr in the past and I am going to say it once more now – and I am proud to be working with an unbelievable manufacturing firm. I am happy with the methods we put in place a yr in the past, and I am happy with the methods we have put in place now to take care of individuals’s psychological well being and produce completely good tv that folks world wide love. Most particularly, I like the ladies on “Housewives” and the relationships we’ve with them. There’s an unbelievable article within the Los Angeles Occasions the place Heather Homosexual talks about how a lot the present modified her life and why she thinks it is vital for girls and why it is A feminist present – it actually reaffirmed all the things that was vital to me.
Bethenny Frankel has positively been one of many loudest voices throughout this actuality reckoning. Have you ever heard from her?
I do not actually pay a lot consideration. She’s very energetic on TikTok; I am not on TikTok.
You appeared on Doug Emhoff’s TikTok the opposite day as a part of Harris’ Lady Dads alongside Ben Stiller. Why was it vital to you to marketing campaign for her?
That is crucial election of our time. I do know somebody says this each 4 years, however I feel it is true. I’m a homosexual American father who loves my nation, and I’m the son of a lady who taught me to at all times arise for what I imagine in and converse my thoughts. I’ve a platform and if individuals wish to take note of what I’ve to say, that is nice, and if they do not, I completely respect that. The election will probably be over in two weeks, we’ll all be again to our commonly scheduled programming, and everybody can chill.
You additionally went viral final week for a video of you rocking out to the Grateful Useless. What’s your response to this?
My preliminary response was that I used to be frightened as a result of the web is a cesspool and I believed, wait a minute, I actually need this non-public second of intense pleasure at a live performance to be handled as such. I am completely happy to say it restored my religion in humanity. It was a contented second, so I hope it makes individuals as completely happy as I used to be.
Will we see you internet hosting “New 12 months’s Eve Reside” with Anderson Cooper once more this yr? Are you able to drink?
Sure! You guess. After what Anderson did in that hurricane, I not solely gave him tequila, I threw tequila on him.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
