From a young age, Andy Cohen knew one thing: He loved television. Not in the way that most kids do, but in an irrepressible, all-consuming, I-want-to-climb-inside-the-tube kind of way. And climb inside he did. Now presiding over Bravo’s reality TV empire, he started out as an overly talkative pop culture obsessive, devoted to Charlie’s Angels and All My Children and to his mother, who received daily letters from Andy at summer camp, usually reminding her to tape the soaps. In retrospect, it’s hard to believe that everyone didn’t know that Andy was gay; still, he remained in the closet until college. Finally out, he embarked on making a career out of his passion for television.
The journey begins with Andy interviewing his all-time idol Susan Lucci for his college newspaper and ends with him in a job where he has a hand in creating today’s celebrity icons. In the witty, no-holds-barred style of his show Watch What Happens Live, Andy tells tales of absurd mishaps during his ten years at CBS News, hilarious encounters with the heroes and heroines of his youth, and the real stories behind The Real Housewives. Dishy, funny, and full of heart, Most Talkative provides a one-of-a-kind glimpse into the world of television, from a fan who grew up watching the screen and is now inside it, both making shows and hosting his own.
MY REVIEW:
I love Andy Cohen! He’s like the gay, Jewish, white male version of Oprah Winfrey. Okay, maybe that’s a stretch, but he’s just such a likeable guy. If you’ve been following this blog, you know that I’ve been on a humor audiobook kick lately. I listened to the audiobook version of Most Talkative – all 8 hour and 37 minutes of it!
I enjoyed the beginning of the book where Andy talks about his youth, his midwest upbringing and and his experience with coming out of the closet. This is one thing I love about books from celebrities – the feeling that you are getting to know them on a personal level.
I also enjoyed hearing about the development of Andy’s career and some of the behind the scenes action from the Real Housewives. However, as the book went on, it got a little long and rambly. The title, “Most Talkative,” could not have been more appropriate. Despite that, if you like Andy Cohen, I think you’ll like this book.