The executive producer of 'The Real Housewives' franchise on the financial habit he would 'never' get into
By Myles Tanzer
Andy Cohen starts every day with a jam session. After getting out of bed, the late night host flips on the Grateful Dead's Sirius XM channel before his morning tea even starts brewing.
For the lifelong Dead devotee, this is heaven. But Cohen says his new boyfriend, businessman Kevin Sobieski, has had to get used to jam band tunes at 7 a.m. "He was like, 'wow, so this starts on the weekdays at this time too.' And I said, 'yeah, this is when this program begins.' "
What a long, strange trip it's been for Cohen over the last 20 years as the executive producer of Bravo's "The Real Housewives" franchise and the host of its pugnacious reunion specials. As part of the anniversary celebrations, Cohen is releasing a new book, "Andy's Bravo Scrapbook," featuring personal photos and behind-the-scenes commentary of the reality phenomenon.
Cohen, 58, lives in Manhattan with his two children, Ben, 7, and Lucy, 4. Here, he gives advice for balding guys, clears up a persistent internet rumor and shares some recent good reads.
What time do you get up on Mondays and what's the first thing you do after waking up?
I wake up whenever my children wake me up. Usually that is anytime after 6:30. The first thing that I do is deal with whatever situation is being presented to me by my children, so that is either them saying, "I'm hungry, I have a stomach ache, I did something calamitous." Or, "Can I watch TV?"
What's your caffeine routine?
I put two tea bags of Yorkshire Gold tea into my "Weekend Today" mug and begin my caffeinating process, which is a two-tiered process. After I drop the kids off at school, I go to one of three different Starbucks locations, and I get a large English breakfast tea from there. The reason that I get it from Starbucks is that the FDA has not yet studied the insane amount of caffeine that they provide in their tea. If you order a large, they give you two overstuffed tea bags. It's potentially criminal, yet, it is absolutely what I need.
What about breakfast?
My producer at [SiriusXM radio show] "Andy Cohen Live," Jordan, picks me up a scooped out onion bagel with egg whites from Toasties on 49th Street.
And what's your workout routine like?
I work out three to five days a week. Usually it winds up being four, hopefully, and I work out with a trainer.
When your friend Anderson Cooper did this column, we asked him how fatherhood had changed him. I was wondering how fatherhood has changed your friendship with him.
I would say that our friendship -- with no offense to him or me -- has become a little more boring. We're tethered to our homes way more than we've ever been. He already was a homebody, but there would be a chance that I could lure him out with the promise of a good time. Look, we're both going through the same periods at the same life stage with our kids, so we're talking about that and not, you know, "Did you go to Horse Meat Disco?"
Looking back through the book and the 20th anniversary this year, what was one of the hardest "Housewives" decisions that you stand by?
Well, we basically blew up "The Real Housewives of New York City" twice, which was really hard. I think we were at a crossroads with the show in both situations and I do stand by both times.
Any you regret?
I'm not huge on regrets, but I will say that there are some throughout this book. Very small regrets where I regret asking a question or not asking a question or how I phrased something.
On a lighter note, your hair has changed so much over the years, do you have any advice for guys on their hair journeys?
My only advice is that if you're losing it, shave it. And if you still have it? Experiment with letting it go long.
You've been mediating arguments for almost 20 years, are there any differences between the way boomers and Gen Z argue?
No, but I will say that there is a difference in how the younger generation views people arguing and views the way I interview. As I've co-hosted "Love Island" reunions over the last couple of years, the younger generation who watches that show is so precious about certain things. Like this year, they couldn't believe that I was asking these couples, "when you got out of the house, how was the sex finally?" I'm like, we have been watching these people heavy-petting for an entire summer. This is the question.
Are there any tips you've learned from moderating reunions that you think are applicable to everyday people?
Yes. People want to be heard. You need to listen to what the other person is saying and figure out a way to acknowledge what they're saying and to own something.
What's the one thing you've read about yourself on the internet that you want to clear up?
Oh, my God. I mean, I couldn't even begin -- there's too much. I mean, yes -- I am cross-eyed.
Is there anywhere that you like to pinch pennies or save?
I wouldn't Postmate a shake from somewhere, you know? I think it's important to always be aware of what you're spending your money on.
What's one piece of advice you've gotten that's guided you?
My friend Liza [Persky] said, "only go as far as you can see." I give that piece of advice all the time. If you get too far ahead of yourself or things seem overwhelming, it really means you need to take it one step at a time.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article is being republished as part of our daily reproduction of WSJ.com articles that also appeared in the U.S. print edition of The Wall Street Journal (October 31, 2026).