ANDY COHEN
The gleeful host of Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live takes on modern-day dating in Fox’s reboot of Love Connection. A ndy Cohen can live through a Real Housewives brawl and host a live 30-minute talk show with no guests (in his PJs) in the midst of Hurricane Sandy—and come out smiling. But his Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen isn’t the only place the 48-yearold shines. He also hosts Andy
Cohen Live on his own SiriusXM channel, Radio Andy, produces projects with his own production company and is a
New York Times best-selling author three times over. And now he’s hosting the reboot of the beloved 1980s dating game show Love Connection, debuting May 25 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.
Did you watch Love Connection growing up? I did. It was great then, and I’m happy to report it’s great now. It’s updated for today, but it’s a really timeless show. It’s about the he-said-shesaid surrounding first dates. That worked then, and it works today.
Does the new show follow the same format as the original? We’ve got couples of all persuasions on the show. We’ve got gay guys, lesbians, black, white, everything you can imagine. We’re representing. They go on three dates, instead of just one. We let the audience make a big $10,000 decision at the end of an episode—it’s really updated and has a fun and funny twist.
It’s an interesting time to revive dating shows, what with so many people using apps to date. It’s almost like everyone is living in a dating game show. It’s true, but you know what? I really sensed from our daters that they got a kick out of the idea of face-to-face first date setups that are not predicated on some buildup that happens online. There was something very traditional about getting to know each other and spending five hours with someone, just getting to know them. That was something really “new” that our people got very into.
Why do you think shows like Love Connection and The Real Housewives are so popular right now? Everyone’s looking for an escape, and I think that people love human behavior and things that they can either judge from afar or that they can relate to.
You started your career behind the scenes. How did you hone your hosting skills? Iwasa journalist at CBS News for 10 years, and I’d always ask people very rude questions. And that started the Housewives reunions. I also have a love of [radio shock jock] Howard Stern. He’s my broadcasting role model. I feel like I learned from him and I just kind of went from there.
How do you juggle so many projects at one time? I have a good assistant. The great news for me is that I love everything I do. I happen to have nine jobs, but it’s all fun. That’s how I juggle it. It’s all stuff that I’m very engaged in and excited by.
How do you spend a typical Sunday? I basically have a daytime date with my dog, Wacha. I’ll eat a late breakfast at this diner in the West Village [in Manhattan] and eat outside with him. Then we have a doggy playdate and chill out. And then I wind up having to doa Watch What Happens Live show that night.