One-on-one with Andy Cohen, 'Housewives' Creator

MyFoxTwinCities.com:

He hosts his own late night talk show, is known on social media as "Bravo Andy" and brought shows like "The Real Housewives of New York" to life -- and FOX 9's Tom Lyden got some one-on-one face time with Andy Cohen to talk about how he changed the cable TV landscape.


Cohen says he's got a full plate of housewives right now, so a Twin Cities branch of the show won't be coming any time soon, but the creative brains behind Bravo said he is confident that the drama won't be disappearing either.


"I think we know our audience," he said. "We have the most educated and affluent audience in cable."
It's clear that Cohen knows a thing or two about housewives -- including the mild-mannered kind that gathered at the Mall of America on Monday for his book signing. Cohen says the secret is finding authentic -- and dramatic -- talent.


"Those are people who are not only great at something, but huge personalities," he said.
The latest breakout star from the series, Bethenny Frankel, has parlayed the success into her own talk show, which debuted Monday morning on FOX 9.


Yet, finding outrageous talent has its perils. Russell Armstrong, husband of one of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," committed suicide last year during taping -- and Bravo got some of the blame.


"We're doing a show of beautiful women. Sometimes, when you open the package, what's happening inside is not beautiful at all," Cohen explained. "That's called life."


The network that began with "The Actors Studio" now offers a buffet of reality shows -- including "Tabitha Takes Over," a hair salon reality show that profiled H Design in Minneapolis a few months ago. As brutal and unflattering as the episode was, the staff said it was a genuine portrayal that has helped business.

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