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Andy Cohen revealed the two Real Housewives franchises he has a soft spot for, and he addressed his upcoming book. The Watch What Happens Live host also spoke to Leah Remini’s casting on the new season of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and NeNe Leakes’ potential return to Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Earlier this month, NeNe sparked speculation that she might return midseason to RHOA after she seemingly played coy when asked if she would come back. Though NeNe sued Andy and Bravo years ago, they recently invited her to film for the new season of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, which celebrated the franchise’s 20th anniversary.
Speaking to Page Six, Andy said he doesn’t have favorites when it comes to the Real Housewives franchise, but there are two installments he has a soft spot for.
“I will say New York and Atlanta have always been kind of close to my heart,” he said. “I have many favorites [when it comes to Housewives]. The great thing about the show is that it really is an ensemble show and everyone plays their part, and someone can have a quiet season and then they come back and it’s all about them. So, you just never know what’s going to happen. … Real life is fascinating.”
The host also addressed his upcoming book, Andy’s Bravo Scrapbook: Twenty Years Behind the Scenes of the Real Housewives and the Bravoverse.
“The great thing about the book is I take you behind the scenes of pretty [much] every reunion show we’ve ever done,” said Andy. “I share my insights about what I was thinking and what I went in thinking.”
“There were reunions where we thought it was gonna be someone’s last season and then they totally blew us away at the reunion,” he added. “And there are reunions where someone came in, and we were, you know, thinking, oh, this is great. And then they wind up isolating everyone in the group or isolating themselves. So they really can determine a lot in terms of the future of the show.”
Later on, he addressed the claim that the shows reward conflict.
“I think that’s an over-generalization and that if the show was just only that, it wouldn’t still be on the air in all these iterations,” he said. “You know, it’s funny, it can be about sisterhood…and so I think if you just skim the surface, it’s kind of an easy way to slam the show. I don’t think that it’s actually representative.”
On Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, Andy addressed Leah’s casting on RHOBH.
“First of all, I’m such a Leah Remini fan, just from having her on Watch What Happens Live and talking to her, I think she’s so smart and strong, and a very brave woman,” he said, via @nochaser_tv on Instagram. “And we have been flirting with her for a few years about coming on the show. And it’s just been this kind of quiet dance. And this year, it just seemed like the time was right, and she was ready. … She’s already bringing a lot to the show.”
Andy later was asked about NeNe’s claim that she would return to RHOA if Andy called her and sat down with her. Specifically, Andy was asked if he would call her.
“Well, here’s the thing. I mean, look, I sent her a copy of the book last week. So we are in production on the new season of Atlanta right now, which is what we’re focusing on right now,” he said cryptically. “But, you know, there you go. I hope this book brings a smile to her face. I’ll tell you that.”