Best Moments On Watch What Happens Live
Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live has been essential to many Americans' late-night television experiences since it first aired in 2009. Now in its 15th season, the interactive talk show is hosted by TV personality Andy Cohen, and features guests from the worlds of entertainment and politics. Most guest panels seem to be drawn from Bravo TV's shows (where WWHL is syndicated), but many are from elsewhere.
Let's examine some of the best moments from Watch What Happens Live over the last 15 years.
Zoe Kravitz Disses Lily Allen
In 2018, Lenny Kravitz's daughter, Zoe, was asked by Andy Cohen about a rumored kiss she shared with British popstar, Lily Allen. Zoe questioned who Lily Allen was, stating that the singer had "attacked" her, and then completely misrepresented the encounter in her book.
Brandi Glanville Throws Drink On Jeff Lewis
In a segment that could have been ripped from Real Housewives, ROHA star Brandi Glanville tossed her drink over guest Jeff Lewis after Lewis made a crude comment about her. The show continued, even though host Andy Cohen was left stunned. The pair would later post a picture together and a tweet stating that the drink-throwing was a prank.
Amber Rose Turns The Tables On Cohen
Cohen often asks personal questions of his guests, but in a 2015 episode of Watch What Happens Live, Cohen had the tables turned on him spectacularly by guest Amber Rose—who asked if Cohen had ever been intimate with his close friend, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. Cohen stated that he had not through nervous laughter and his face buried in his hands.
Tomás Del Coro, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea Handler Disses Real Housewives
Comedian Chelsea Handler appeared on WWHL in 2018 and promptly began calling the Real Housewives show "trash", after which Cohen pointed out that Handler had Real Housewives guests on her E! network show. Handler denied it, stating that a guest host had booked them. It was awkward, to say the least.
The Hurricane Sandy Episode
As Hurricane Sandy hit the United States in late October 2012, Andy Cohen was scheduled to be on the air with special guest Bethenny Frankel. Unfortunately, the hurricane hitting prevented her from boarding her flight, so Cohen did the show on his own, in his pajamas. That's commitment.
Sonja Morgan's Flirtatiousness
Sonja Morgan—alumnus of the Real Housewives of New York—stopped by the show in 2017 to much fanfare. Unfortunately, she would begin to flirt with Craig Conover of Southern Charm in an awkward exchange.
Patti LuPone Trashes Madonna's Interpretation Of Evita
We've all heard Madonna's incredible version of "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" from Evita (1996). Well, Broadway legend Patti LuPone certainly didn't think it was incredible. She had some choice (unprintable) words for Madonna's interpretation of the musical.
Hillary Clinton Does A Shotski
If you're going to get a politician to let loose, you've got to be pretty great as a talk show host. Well, that's what Andy Cohen did when Hillary Clinton was on the show. He asked the former First Lady and Secretary of State if she'd be willing to do a "shotski"—three filled shot glasses glued to a ski, with all having to be drunk simultaneously to avoid making a mess. Clinton accepted and Cohen was instantly the most talked-about thing on cable news the next morning.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Andy Swears For The First Time In 13 Years
Andy Cohen had never sworn live on air for 13 years before January 2023.That's when, in a "Jackhole Of The Day" rant, he dropped a swear word when discussing TikTok and faking celebrity deaths. Cohen was fired up.
Lala Kent And James Kennedy Can't Stop Swearing
Can't, or won't? "The Clubhouse," as Cohen's show is colloquially known, generally doesn't like swearing by guests. The occasional slip is fine, but in 2015, Lala Kent and James Kennedy made a mockery out of the whole thing by seemingly swearing every second sentence. Cohen was not happy and they were not invited back as guests.
The Street Interviewer, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mariah Carey Doesn't Know Demi Lovato
Mariah Carey was asked by Andy Cohen about questions posed by Lovato to Carey's friend, Jennifer Lopez. Carey claimed not to know who Lovato was, throwing shade in the process.
Lady Gaga Gives Andy Cohen A Makeover
Who could forget the time that Lady Gaga gave Andy Cohen a makeover? Complete with eyeliner, a wig, sunglasses, and other makeup, Gaga turned Cohen into a glamorous model in about five minutes.
Carlos M., CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Shemar Moore Kisses Sweet Brown
Shemar Moore shared a drink with Sweet Brown of the infamous "Ain't Nobody Got Time For That" music video and then kissed the star on the cheek. He most definitely had time for that.
Walt Disney Television, Flickr
A Phone Fight Between Kim Zolciak And NeNe Leakes
What do you do when you want to keep a personal issue private? Not call into national television, that's for sure. Kim Zolciak called into the show to fight with NeNe Leakes from her vacation in The Bahamas. The whole segment was bizarre.
Keith HInkle, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Whoopi Goldberg Teaches Andy Cohen A Thing Or Two
Cohen once had a segment called "Teach Me Your Talent", where various celebrity guests would teach (or try to teach) Andy Cohen their special talents. Whoopi Goldberg's visit to the show was always going to be entertaining, but her teaching Cohen how to correctly roll a doobie (using oregano)? Nobody thought that would happen. Pure TV gold.
The Clubhouse Hosts A Wedding Party
Watch What Happens Live held a wedding contest in 2013, offering the winning couple the chance to be married live on the show. New Jersey couple Katie and Matt won the contest and sure enough, Andy Cohen married the couple live on-air.
Billy Eichner Meets His Idol, Meryl Streep
Billy Eichner is an American actor and comedian who idolizes the legendary actress, Meryl Streep. Well, he was invited to be the guest bartender on the show at the same time that Meryl Streep was due to be a guest. The ensuing excitement on Eichner's face is wonderful.
Walt Disney Television, Flickr
Teresa And Joe Giuduce's Pre-Prison Sentence Visit
If anyone else was due to report to a court for sentencing for a crime, they likely wouldn't spend their last day before the sentencing appearing on a TV show. Well, that's what Teresa and Joe Giudice did in October of 2014. Teresa and Joe were convicted of various financial crimes and sentenced to 15 months and 42 months in prison, respectively.
Housewives Performing Their "Hits"
Many former Real Housewives stars have displayed their musical "talent" for the world to see on Watch What Happens Live, but both LuAnn de Lesseps' single, "Girl Code," and Kim Zolciak's "Google Me" made for particularly painful viewing.
Susan Sarandon's Oscar-Winning Confession On Plead The Fifth
Andy Cohen's "Plead The Fifth" segment is one of his most popular on Watch What Happens Live. In the segment, he often asks his (usually) tipsy guests tough, insightful questions about their lives and past relationships. One particular revelation occurred when Susan Sarandon confessed that she'd been high at almost every Oscars ceremony.
GuillemMedina, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ray Liotta Confesses His Worst Kiss
We've all been there: terrible romantic moments that we'd rather forget. Ray Liotta hasn't forgotten Sigourney Weaver. That's who he named as his "worst kiss" during a round of Plead The Fifth. Ouch.
Titus Burgess Defends Eddie Murphy
Sometimes, the host puts their foot in their mouth—as was the case in a 2019 episode where Eddie Murphy's collaboration with Titus Burgess for the movie Dolemite Is My Name was the subject of discussion. Cohen commented on Eddie Murphy's stand-up comedy routine from 1983, in which he made several homophobic jokes. Titus Burgess and co-guest Laverne Cox defended Murphy vociferously against Cohen's comments.
Lindsay Lohan Confirms Existence Of "The List"
In 2014, there was a wild rumor circulating that Lindsay Lohan had a list of her celebrity intimate partners. Well, In Touch magazine published that list while Lohan was at AA at the Betty Ford Center for Rehabilitation. Very underhanded—but Lohan was forced to acknowledge the existence of the list on-air on Watch What Happens.
Condé Nast, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
January Jones Rebuffs Ashton Kutcher's Comments
A guest caller asked January Jones if she'd spoken to Ashton Kutcher since Kutcher's comments about her (lack of) acting skills. Jones neither confirmed nor denied that it was Kutcher who made the comments, but did say, "I haven't talked to him, but I'm super happy for his family... to be political and all that". Responding to Cohen's final inquiry, "Was it him?," Jones just looked over at him and laughed.
Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
John Legend Stopped By To Take Back His Grammy From Andy Cohen
During the 2015 Grammy Awards, Chrissy Teigen had given John Legend's Grammy to Andy Cohen. Well, on an episode of Watch What Happens Live, Cohen was stunned when John Legend rang the doorbell and stepped into the studio to take back his Grammy Award. He hilariously replaced it with a picture of himself.
PopTech, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Adriana Lima's Shade At Shorties
While rumors were swirling about a possible romance between Canadian popstar Justin Bieber and Brazilian model Adriana Lima, Lima answered Cohen's question bluntly, to put it mildly: "You know what I call guys who are under 6'7"? Friends". Ooof.
Cloris Leachman's Double Kiss
The American actress and comedian who passed away in 2021 was on Watch What Happens Live in 2013. That's when the 86-year-old kissed Jeff Lewis before also planting one on Andy Cohen's lips, much to everyone's surprise.
Voice Chasers, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
John Mayer And Dan Rather Do A Shotski With Andy Cohen
In a "full-circle moment" according to Cohen, he, Dan Rather, and John Mayer did a shotski together. John Mayer and Dan Rather didn't know each other, but Cohen had begun his career with CBS as an intern when Rather was a legend at the company. To have Rather on Cohen's show was a very special moment, and to share in the genius of Rather with a younger man like Mayer gave Cohen pause for thought on his success in the business.
Kelly Dodd And Meghan McCain Trade Barbs
When Meghan McCain and Kelly Dodd found themselves in Cohen's chairs on the aftershow period of Watch What Happens Live, things got a little heated. Dodd accused McCain of being a "trust-fund baby", after McCain declared that she had thought about running for political office but was worried she'd get fired from other jobs. After being defended by Cohen and defending herself, Dodd again interjected with, "She has a PhD—Papa has dough." McCain corrected that it was her mother who was the wealthy parent.
The exchange was awkward and belonged more in a high school hallway than on national television.
Walt Disney Television, Flickr
Anderson Cooper Reveals A Secret About Andy Cohen
As is normal when best friends get together, things become a bit more raucous. Anderson Cooper stopped by the show in 2014, while viewers were voting for him to reveal a secret about Cohen. During the aftershow, Cooper revealed, "I guess the one thing that would surprise most people about Andy, is that he's a bottom". Enough said.
Do you have a favorite WWHL moment? Let us know what it is in the comments below!
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