1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: I'm sitting at sag Harbor, at a restaurant called to 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: Total Journal, and I'm about to have lunch with my 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 1: best friend Andy Cohen. Or setting for today's conversation couldn't 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: be more kind of perfect. Sag Harbor is a place 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: that Andy and I would run around in our twenties. 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: We used to go to this place called the Paradise Dinner, 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: which was super gay and super fun and it's long 8 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: gone seven. We were sitting there having cheeseburgers when we 9 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: found out Princess Diana died. We cried, and then we 10 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: went to a gay bar called the Swamp. This is 11 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 1: what sag Harbor is. As I sit here today waiting 12 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: for Andy, I am really reminded of all the good times, 13 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: countless days sitting on the beach, great afternoons listening to music, 14 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: playing poker, fun times where we just had friends over 15 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: and we were laughing and cooking dinner. Sad times because 16 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: relationships end, did people came, they left, Reckless times because 17 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: we just sometimes drank too much or drove too fast, 18 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: and we were young and we were having a blast. 19 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 1: I went to the wrong place. Well, Hello Andy Goler, 20 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 1: Hi Bruce, where'd you go. I went to Dopo dopo 21 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: to toe dopo. I was a dopeopo. Can I get 22 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: you anything to drink? The rose? I'll have one too, 23 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 1: Thank you, might as well chers cheers to eight years later. 24 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: Here we sit, pull up a chair. We're gonna have 25 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: some fun. I'm Bruce Bozzi and this is table for 26 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: two and we can also order Ricardo. Yeah, Ricardo. I'm 27 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: gonna get the linguini with clam sauce. I mean, do 28 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: you want to start, if you want to start, start, 29 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: That's what I was looking at. Look at that, okay, 30 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: and I'm going to do the spighetto. Hi, Andy Cohen, 31 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: thank you for lunch. You know, Harbor was a very 32 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: important place for us because to me, it launched our friendship. 33 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: You think about it the summer of even though we 34 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: had the years like the September through May, it was 35 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: the summers. Talk to me about those summers. What you 36 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: remember you know us, Well, that was when I met you. 37 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: You were dating um, someone who was my best friend, 38 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: and we he found an amazing house that was on 39 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: the bay in sag Harbor and we all crammed into 40 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: this little two bedroom house. We had a little chair 41 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: starting in So we were in this teeny house and um, 42 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: we were crammed in. And I mean, look, I spent 43 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: the first two summers just staring at your toughest in 44 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:10,359 Speaker 1: your little You had a blue bikini and then red bikini, 45 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: and I mean each of the bikinis had their merits. 46 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: But you look like like yeah you big blue eyes. Yeah, 47 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: and you know, I mean I was like, who is 48 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: this pretty? Why? I mean one of the things that 49 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: you would do those summers, you'd always ask like who, like, 50 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: what do you like? Who? Like? What are you like? You? 51 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: What are you gonna do for a job that we're 52 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: working at the Palm? So I mean that I think 53 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: you were a little student because I could talk to 54 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: you endlessly. And but one of the things that I 55 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: think was really that you might not know about you 56 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: during that time, was you know when you ask those questions. 57 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: I was a little bit deprogrammed, and I was certainly lost, 58 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: and I was working for my family at the Palm, 59 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: as you said, but that wasn't like and when I 60 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: couldn't really come up with an answer, that never left 61 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: like this guy, who is I mean, at the time 62 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: you're working at CBS, You're completely driven and I'm lost. 63 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: That was like, it was a painful question and a 64 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: good question to be asked, and it never sort of 65 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: left me that I always said when I said to you, 66 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: I like magazines. Yeah, I was like, well, maybe you 67 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 1: want to work in magazines? Is that something you would 68 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: want to do? You're like maybe. Listen it was. It 69 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: was really fun and so began my my relationship with 70 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: the Hampton's yunks to Jeff your Ax who found this place, 71 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: and then you guys broke up and he wound up 72 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: moving elsewhere and I held onto the house and I 73 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: ended the house until this year. Yeah, twenty two. So um, 74 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: that was great. Two. What were when we go back 75 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: to the summers? We didn't really go to the beach. 76 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: What did we do? We laid out at the house. 77 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: Were very much at the house. You were like king 78 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: of music and pop culture for the house. Even then. 79 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: You were really an educative for me in regard to 80 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: like Diana and remixes and all that kind of stuff. Right, 81 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: what was the music of the time that we were 82 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: listening to. Well, we're listening to very gay kind of 83 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 1: dance music and remixing a ton of Madonna. I mean 84 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 1: it was Madonna. It was I mean it was Madonna. Madonna, Madonna. 85 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: That's really and share was coming up the new stuff. Wow, 86 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: look at that. This, this is the beautiful, the flat bread, 87 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: the isle of thank you, Andy, How would you describe 88 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: yourself in the early nineties. I was really ambitious. I 89 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: was very energized by the city, by my job at 90 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: CDs was I wanted to do everything. I got no 91 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: sleep and I did do everything. I just never stopped. 92 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: I wanted to succeed at CBS. I wanted I said 93 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: yes to every assignment. I was some of the big assignments. 94 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: I remember you going places with Dan Rather. I did 95 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: one shoot with Dan Rather that was really impactful for me, 96 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: which was just a profile of Don I missed for 97 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: forty eight hours, actually, and I was doing a lot 98 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: of entertainment stuff for the morning show at CBS. I 99 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: said yes to everything. I loved it. You know. The 100 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: funny thing is I stayed in the Beach House for 101 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: twenty eight years and I loved it so much. It 102 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: was a sweet little love shock who really was And 103 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: I always said, I'm the only thing that would get 104 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: me to leave this house would be if I was 105 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: ever lucky enough to have a house on the ocean, 106 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: and I actually never envisioned myself able to afford that. 107 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: That was not my realm. And so now I'm by 108 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: the way. I just came from a walkthrough at my 109 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,239 Speaker 1: new beach house, which will be done, God knows when, 110 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: maybe the end of the year. You say you were 111 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: very ambitious, and you were very ambitious, and you worked 112 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: really hard. But one of the things that I think 113 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: maintains to this day is you always were having fun. 114 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: I remember going to work with you. I remember, you know, 115 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: we were obsessed with a weatherman at CBS and like WS, 116 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: a local guy. I mean, you've no idea how the 117 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: trajectory of the next twenty eight years would be, not 118 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: only financially but your actual career. When you were you 119 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: were producing morning show that you at forty eight hours, 120 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: then you go, I'm back to the morning show, or 121 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: you would dealing the more show. What were the steps 122 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: like if you had to sort of say, I know, 123 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: Dan was a big influence on you. Well, he was 124 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: like the king of CBS News. He was the big anchorman. 125 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: I don't know what my goal was because I thought 126 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: that I had made it the whole time, because you 127 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: never talked about like it wasn't like need to go 128 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: do this or that or the other. I remember when 129 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: I was offered a job that would have doubled my salary, 130 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: what I fell out to be a producer at the 131 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: Sally Jesse Raphael show Ross the Street. Yes, and I 132 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: was like, I mean, no offense to Sally Jesse Rafael, 133 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: but isn't it ironic that I now produced The Housewives, 134 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: which some high falutant people consider like trashy TV. But 135 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: I considered at the time Sally Jesse Rafael kind of well, 136 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: you know, you lower than what I was doing at CBS, 137 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: but it was twice the money. But I stayed at 138 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: CBS because I was like, that's not who I am, 139 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: and that my value. But the irony is that I 140 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: do consider The Housewives who I am because I think 141 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: it's a great soap opera. I think it's the great 142 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: American soap opera, and I've always loved soap operas. But 143 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: do you also think I mean, you talked a lot 144 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,719 Speaker 1: about Oprah in your life from what an influence she was, 145 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: so do you think maybe Oprah? You know, once you 146 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: once of the Oprah Talk Show, you're not going to 147 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: Sally right exactly. If Oprah had been in New York, 148 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: I would have done everything I could to work at 149 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: that show. Since we're talking about work, I wanted to 150 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 1: talk to you about a couple of people and to 151 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: see how they influenced your career because growing up with you, 152 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 1: because I think we grew up together. I mean someone 153 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: like Lynn Redman, who people don't know. So Lynn was 154 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: a producer to explain who Lynn is. And you know 155 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: Lynn who I spoke to this morning. I was her 156 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: intern when I started at CBS News in like nineteen nine, 157 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: and she was just this woman who I was like, 158 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 1: oh my god, she has the best energy, and I 159 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: like fell in love with her. Yeah, And I said 160 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: to her, we're going to be friends, and she said, no, 161 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: we're not. You're an intern. I remember when I came 162 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 1: out to her because she thought that I was straight. 163 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 1: She felt like she had to share something about herself 164 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: because I had, so she said, well, I'm getting divorced, 165 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: and I was like, oh my god. And I mean, 166 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: so began a really incredible friendship. And I think in 167 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: terms of an influence, I mean, it's funny because she 168 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: reluctantly admits that I gave her great advice, even in 169 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: those days, work advice, work advice, like and I was like, 170 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: you know, she got offered a job at the CBS 171 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: Evening News, and she had all these fears about going 172 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: there from the morning show and she was gonna have 173 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: to integrate the CBSC even News because there weren't really 174 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: many people of color working there. I said, you have 175 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: to do this. I mean, you absolutely have to do 176 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: what you think. That's part of like your you know, 177 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: if I had to describe you, one of the things 178 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: that is amazing about you is that the aptitude and 179 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: you're able to give great advice. You listen to you 180 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: know what I mean. You know, it's so funny. I 181 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: take relationship advice on my radio show all the time. 182 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 1: I give relationship advice. I am in no way qualified. 183 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 1: I look at me, I'm like eternally single, So like, 184 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 1: why is that the case should My bar one people 185 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: is so high. I think I have the greatest friends. 186 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: That's how I'm comparing people, new people to people that 187 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: I've known for so long. I'm open to it. I mean, 188 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: now I have two kids. I mean, yeah, we're gonna 189 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:24,079 Speaker 1: talk to people really looking for four year old guy 190 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: with two kids. Yeah, I don't think so. I mean, 191 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,839 Speaker 1: I don't know. I don't think that sounds not desirable 192 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: to me. It's a lot of work, I'll tell you 193 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: that much. Yeah, tell me about it. Welcome back to 194 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: table for two. As my conversation with Andy carries on 195 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: the sunlight at two tilt Jarno shine softly and doesn't 196 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: threaten to turn gold for hours, shifting our focus to friendship, 197 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: specifically male friendships, which have meant so much to Andy 198 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: and me over the years. One of the things that 199 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 1: isn't necessarily culturally seen a lot is very visible male friendships. 200 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: And you talk about growing up and I had the 201 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:24,679 Speaker 1: same thing like you did, which is a lot of golfriends, 202 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: you know, but you have very visible male friendships. So 203 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 1: a lot of kind of just touch upon your relationship 204 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: and who and who these guys were to you. I 205 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: went to college and I went to orientation at the 206 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 1: orientation weekend, and my person that I was assigned with 207 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: in my room, it turns out, is this guy Dave Ansel, 208 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: who became like my brother, and he really is like 209 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: my brother. And we call him straight did because he's 210 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 1: like the straight version of me, he and I. His 211 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: family was in the food business. My family was in 212 00:12:56,559 --> 00:13:00,199 Speaker 1: the food business. We just so connected. And I will 213 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: say within forty eight hours of freshman year beginning, Dave 214 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: turned to me and looked me at my eyes and 215 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: said I love you. And I was like what. And 216 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: I was like, oh my god. And you were not 217 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: out to him, no, and he was not saying I 218 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: love you like like we're in love, like we're gay guys. 219 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: It was brotherly love that I had never experienced. And 220 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: I was like, oh my god, this is the greatest. 221 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: And you know, I mean maybe when he first started 222 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 1: he got a great the he had a teeny little waist, 223 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: he was swemmer. I mean, you changed. At the beginning. 224 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: I fantasized about him a little bit, but then I 225 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: just was in love with him. And then I remember 226 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: when he would fool around with girls. I want to 227 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: get a little jealous. Yeah, this is eighty six. I 228 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: would get jealous. I would be like, oh, Dave slept 229 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: out lest like is this r And he was like 230 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:58,959 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, like who did you have sex? Smith? 231 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: And he's like so and so I'm like he's like, 232 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: you don't think she's hot. I'm like, no, she's not, 233 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: you know a little bit, and we didn't like to 234 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: pretend how to get by at that time. Would you 235 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: peeking him when he was getting changed? No, not really, No, 236 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: I mean we I mean I saw naked and he 237 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 1: saw me naked, but nothing I was that. It was 238 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: really like a brother. When I looked at him naked, 239 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: it was like I was looking at my brother, right, 240 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: There was no, there was not, So you liken it 241 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: to John Mayer house. So the John Mayer thing is 242 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: John Mayer is someone who's very in touch with his 243 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: emotions too. He very quickly in our friendship started saying like, 244 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: you know what, I gotta tell you something, I love you. 245 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: Like he is someone to say I love you, and 246 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: I cherish you, and I cherish our friendship and just 247 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: this stuff that straight guys aren't necessarily supposed to say. 248 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: And these friendship with straight men have pup ended a 249 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: lot of preconceived notions about what male friendship can look. 250 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: It's most recognizable friendship has developed on screen and the 251 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: public eye with a fellow gay TV personality. Yes, I'm 252 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: talking about Anderson Coople. So then what's the difference between 253 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 1: me and Anderson in your life, two of your closest 254 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: gay friends. I mean, I would say at this point 255 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: Anderson is closer than you as a friend. With him, 256 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: it's like I have a very specific relationship in that 257 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: we've known each other for years and obviously, but I 258 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: would say in the last fifteen years we've gotten much 259 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: closer because he's been able to kind of guide me 260 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: as I've been in front of the camera and guide 261 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: me navigating what that is and having a show. It's 262 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: saying the wrong thing and getting it printed in the paper, 263 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: and you know, there are a lot of things about 264 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: navigating that world of doing a show every night that 265 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: he can relate to and that he's given me really 266 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: good advice. So you guys are sort of like the 267 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: Dean Martin Jerry Lewis, where you're a real the funny guy. 268 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: And then the great thing is, yeah, we've been able 269 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: to you know, we've been able to develop our friendship 270 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: as a public duo, which has been so fun for 271 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: me and I think for him because both of us 272 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: are such solo acts. I mean, I don't want to 273 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: have a co host at these reunions. Don't watch what 274 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: Evan's life like it's a one man band, and Anderson 275 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: ain't looking for a you know, don't put Connie Chong 276 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: next to him and the anchor ship like they did 277 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: to Dan rather like so he's a solo show. So 278 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 1: I think for both of us to be able to 279 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 1: do this thing together and do New Year's Eve together, 280 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: this will be our six year I think doing New 281 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: Year's Eve. You've been a pair, you kind of like 282 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: created this thing, and then you also become parents at 283 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: the same time. How has that impacted your friendship? And 284 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: it took that to a lot. I mean, we're you know, 285 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: we're these geriatric parents, um, and you know, hobbling around 286 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: chasing our children. But look, it's another bonding thing. And 287 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 1: also I think it's a really I think what's gonna 288 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: be really interesting for us is going to be as 289 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 1: it develops being gay dads. You know, as our kids 290 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: start realizing more and more, oh, I have gay dads. 291 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 1: I think that will be something that I'm so glad 292 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 1: that Ben will grow up with Wyatt, and Ben will 293 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 1: grow up seeing Anderson and Benjamin raising Wyatt and Sebastian. 294 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 1: And I was playing the stupid question game with Ben, 295 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: which I shouldn't play the other day at dinner where 296 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: I was like, let's play a question game and then 297 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: I'm like yellow or blue? Like blue, you know, and 298 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: hot dog or Mac and cheese, Mac and teethe. But 299 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: then I started saying, like because I so shady and 300 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 1: I'm even doing it with my kid. I'm like, would 301 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: you rather go to why at Cooper's house and play 302 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 1: or would you rather have a play date with like 303 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: ex friend of his from school? And He's like, I'd 304 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 1: rather go to Wyatt Coopers and I was like, thank god. 305 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: And then I was like, I'm like, you don't need 306 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: I know. And I'm like, you know what, Andy, you 307 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: don't need to be pitting Ben's friends against each other 308 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: like these are you know? And I said like, would 309 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 1: you rather go to Bruce's in California or go to Mom? 310 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: Which is a terrible thing to choose. He chose me. 311 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: He chose Mom, which Andy as definitively transportatin posting the 312 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 1: housewife reunions, interviewing famous friends, and watch what happens love. 313 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: There isn't a question he's afraid to ask. You might 314 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: not be surprised to hear that he's always been like this. 315 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: He's been a potcht her since the day I met him, 316 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: and well, it's one of my favorite things about it. 317 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: One of the things that I can remember vividly is 318 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: every time that we were together in ninety four and 319 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: ninety five and ninety six, inevitably would be in a 320 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 1: fight with the guy I was dating, because you would 321 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: have a tidbit, a negget of information that you would 322 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: throw out and I'd be like, oh, no, you're it comes, 323 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,360 Speaker 1: it comes. It's just clearly part of the DNA, which 324 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 1: also makes you super successful in what you're doing. Thank 325 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: you man, your wal grovocatur. But last night I was 326 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,639 Speaker 1: at a birthday party for John Slapper. I went to 327 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: the bar. There was this woman. She goes, oh, I'm Gina, 328 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 1: and then this guy was there. It was very attractive, 329 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: and he was waiting for a drink and he goes, hey, 330 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: I'm so and so, And I said, are you two lovers? 331 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: To the two of them, which, by the way, strange people. 332 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: It's not a thing that strange people. And the woman 333 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 1: was very titillated because this guy was very cute. She goes, no, 334 00:19:57,560 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: we're not, and I go, will you two she gets 335 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: to know each other. I found out later that I 336 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: was married and his wife was at the party, so 337 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: it was very improbably, but I asked another to some 338 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: of straight people, are you two lovers? And they're I 339 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 1: need to ask straight people like and they were married. 340 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: They go, well, we're married for twenty five years ago, 341 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: so you are loved because I know you know each other. 342 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: Going well, welcome back to my conversation with Andy Cohen 343 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: on table for two. There's something that happens during a 344 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: long meal in a restaurant, like to tell a journal, 345 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: if you take your time, you're bound to be interrupted 346 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: by someone special, even if she's just giving you a 347 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 1: hard time for not visiting more often. Honey, I love you, 348 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: I love you. Why don't I have you seen you? 349 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:03,719 Speaker 1: You let me alone? No, why when have you? I 350 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: don't know. She's been working her ass all. You want 351 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: to see you here anymore? After Donna given us a 352 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:13,479 Speaker 1: hot tip for a new restaurant, and Andy and I 353 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: promised to visit her more often, we settled back into 354 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: our conversation. In one of your books, you talk about 355 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: that you loved growing up in the Midwest. Occasionally I 356 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: would go to St. Louis, and to my astonishment, the 357 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 1: neighbors brought over muffins and pies my hand. I came 358 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:35,439 Speaker 1: home and I was like, wait, I don't understand this, Like, 359 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,439 Speaker 1: you know, the person who lives next to you and 360 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:41,440 Speaker 1: they bring up it was literally you know, it was like, yeah, 361 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,199 Speaker 1: it was crazy. But so I want to ask you 362 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 1: now that we have Lucy and Ben in the world, 363 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 1: and how do you plan on keeping it simple? Well, 364 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: which is an important piece, especially because your life is 365 00:21:52,200 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: much bigger than they're going to have a totally different upbringing. 366 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,360 Speaker 1: I mean, they're growing up. You know, they're city kids already, 367 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: they're city kids and they're already seeing But how do 368 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: you keep it simple? Walk out of the block. You 369 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:16,080 Speaker 1: get stopped every six ft year stuff. New York is 370 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: Maybury in reality. I mean the thing that is nice 371 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 1: about people stopping me. All they say is hi, Andy, 372 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: and they say hi. Then like usually they're not coming 373 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: up for a picture and stuff, and then is there. 374 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: I mean they sometimes do, and I do it, but 375 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: that will change. Has been starts to become more aware 376 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: of it. I'll say I can't do it right now, 377 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: but he calls you Andy Colin, which is funny. Sometimes 378 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: he does, but that makes sense. You know it's funny. 379 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:48,440 Speaker 1: You'll be like, come here, Andy going, I'm gonna jump 380 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: in the deep end, catch me. He also does it 381 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: because he knows that I laugh. I don't think he 382 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: knows why it's funny. But how do you keep it simple? 383 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: I'm just trying to keep their lives as localized as possible. 384 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: I just don't want them to be douche and I 385 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: want them to be aware of what they have. I 386 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: want them to work when they can. So now that 387 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:17,919 Speaker 1: you have their old enough two children, Lucy's baby, and 388 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 1: you're three years in with them, and you've watched me 389 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: with Ava, is that what you thought it would be. 390 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: I think you can think what it's gonna be, but 391 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: it takes on a life of its own. What's the 392 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: hardest part, The current hardest part is that he's just 393 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 1: testing his boundaries, right, He's testing how much he can 394 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: get away with and which is a very normal thing 395 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: to do at three and a half, but it is 396 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: exhausting to navigate No, you can't hit me, No you 397 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 1: can't wear pajamas to camp, and explaining and then having 398 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,159 Speaker 1: them be very upset that I can't wear pajamas to camp, 399 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: and you know, Yesterday, we have a terrible morning. I 400 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 1: mean it was just ruthless. It was exhausting. Today we 401 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:06,400 Speaker 1: had a great morning, you know. So it's normal. It's 402 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: like every right. I think there's a volatility to it 403 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 1: that's a little tiring. What would be the attributes of 404 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 1: growing up in the Midwest that you would like to 405 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: make sure your children have a sense of values, the 406 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 1: value of a dollar and working for it. I just 407 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,199 Speaker 1: I always worked growing up, and so I want to 408 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: figure out a way that this kid your parents did. 409 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: What were some of the jobs again the opera? Well, 410 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 1: I mean I was. I delivered papers, which I loved. 411 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 1: When I was like in fourth grade, I was a 412 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 1: doorman at oppera theater of St. Louis. I worked for 413 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: our family's food business. That was mainly I worked there 414 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: every summer or break and making deliveries, answering phones, making copies, 415 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,120 Speaker 1: working in the warehouse, working on the assembly line, like 416 00:24:57,240 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: everything that I could possibly do. I did you wore 417 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 1: in college in Faniel Hall, right, I worked at a 418 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: very dead heady like push card for four years, actually 419 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: all four years at the U. I also was a waiter, 420 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: but I worked there selling Mexican like blankets and those 421 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 1: Baja plover's and bracelets. And he has come a long 422 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: way since his days selling oversized ponchos from a push card. 423 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: But one thing that has never waivered is his work ethic. 424 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: As you have these two children, and you've been working 425 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: your ass off for the last you know, your whole 426 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: adult career. Right now, you are extremely busy. I know 427 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,639 Speaker 1: you're writing another book, yes, so what makes you what 428 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: made you lean in to write another book? And what's 429 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 1: the book going to be? Well, the book is going 430 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: to be the third installment of the Antikoen Diaries series, 431 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: and people who love the diaries and they both sold 432 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: very well and said, what are you going to do 433 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:06,199 Speaker 1: another one? And I just wasn't. I didn't think they 434 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: would be different enough from the first two. And now 435 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 1: I'm raising kids. Lucy is born during this book. I mean, 436 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: things happen that are different than in the first two. 437 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 1: And I'm dealing with, you know, fighting with Ben's toddler bed. 438 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:23,359 Speaker 1: I mean things that I never would have imagined writing about. 439 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 1: So I think that parents will really relate to this. 440 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,199 Speaker 1: And it's truly a different chapter in this series, and 441 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 1: it's a different chapter in my life. There do you 442 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:35,239 Speaker 1: mean do you think, because you know the nature of 443 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: your celebrity is so is about the visibility? Do you 444 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 1: feel like and you are? And one of the things 445 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:45,880 Speaker 1: you've created with the Housewife franchise is looking into people's 446 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: homes and relationships that there's that's something within you that 447 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: you're that I like to shy away. Yes, you like 448 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 1: to share. You lean into your I think that I 449 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: do like to. I am more selective than people would 450 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:04,119 Speaker 1: realize about what I share, but I do like to. 451 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 1: I think it's fun and I think people kind of 452 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 1: expected of me, especially since I expected of everyone in 453 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:15,440 Speaker 1: my universe, in the in the Housewives universe. But I'm 454 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 1: not on one of these shows. And so is there 455 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 1: anything you've ever shared that you regret? You know, I 456 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: wish I had not done there? Yeah, I mean I 457 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 1: don't want to repass it because then it gets rehashed. 458 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:33,400 Speaker 1: But yeah, there's been a couple of you know, the 459 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,199 Speaker 1: thing about it is the nature of celebrity now is 460 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:40,119 Speaker 1: that you make an off handed comment a lot of 461 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: times on a podcast or on the radio that you're 462 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:46,639 Speaker 1: just sitting here, and then if you look at this 463 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: sentence on its own, you sound absolutely insane, and people 464 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:55,639 Speaker 1: do and break it down like that, and so and 465 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: then my mother calls. Your mother is like, what are 466 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: her big issues with you when it comes to this Now, 467 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: it's anything relating to the kids. So I set her 468 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 1: the first chunk of this new book I'm working on 469 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 1: to see if she felt that I violated Ben's privacy 470 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:20,359 Speaker 1: in this book. And she cleared it. Then she said, 471 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,239 Speaker 1: it's okay. Your mom has been a huge influence in 472 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 1: your life. We both have strong relationships with our mom. 473 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:29,679 Speaker 1: We both have strong mothers. How much credit do you 474 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 1: give that influence once she's bringing you to where you 475 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 1: are today? A lot? I mean, I think she always 476 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: taught me that there was a world outside of my box. 477 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: She always thought it was important that my sister and 478 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: I realized that we were privileged and that everyone didn't 479 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: live like us. She used to work with juvenile delinquents 480 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: in the city kind of system, and she brought us there. 481 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,560 Speaker 1: I remember she brought us to the juvenile detention center 482 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: once because she wanted us to see these kids and 483 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 1: get it into our heads a what could happen if 484 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 1: you start? You know, she was trying to scare us 485 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 1: straight a little bit, but also just say not everyone 486 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: has it so easy. Behind our house there was his 487 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 1: law office and Senator Eagleton from Missouri. Thomas Eagleton had 488 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: an election headquarters there one year, and she kept saying 489 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: to me, you should go volunteer. She was really bugging me. 490 00:29:39,080 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 1: She's like, go to Eagleton's office and volunteer, And I 491 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:46,680 Speaker 1: was like, and I went, and I started volunteering for them, 492 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 1: to the point that I loved it there so much 493 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: that I was hanging out there every day after school. 494 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: It became my life. Wow, from like late when I 495 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: got back from Camp Um to or it was that summer, 496 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,920 Speaker 1: and then the election was in November. But I became 497 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: and I think that you brought up Lynn Redmond earlier. 498 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 1: I think that was what made me become fearless when 499 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: I started at CBS News thinking that I was going 500 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: to be friends with all these much older people around me, 501 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:18,959 Speaker 1: because I did become friends with these people. Um, I 502 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 1: remember their names today, Laddie, Arnold, Jackie. There were all 503 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: these people that I met during internships and stuff who 504 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: were older, who would like take me out to lunch. 505 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: When I was a kid. You know, I would be 506 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:35,280 Speaker 1: like most they would take me out to lunch and 507 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: I would be like, so, you know, so I think 508 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: that that really affected me, and I really felt like 509 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: I was in somewhere cool working for the selection campaign. 510 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 1: I was like, this is really interesting. And these idiots 511 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: in my class, what are they doing? I gotta say, 512 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 1: your parents really the fact that your parents saw you. 513 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 1: You know, when you're seeing and you're motivating and your 514 00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 1: push to be a part or something is to learn. 515 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 1: And your mom when you came out, your mom leaned in. 516 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: She understood, she saw you, she knew what was coming in, 517 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, and she embraced and she 518 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: learned about it. It's completely part of the wholeness of you. Yeah, 519 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 1: and you're fortunate that didn't happen to Uch. You know, 520 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:22,840 Speaker 1: most people don't have that not and they struggle. Yeah, 521 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 1: from that point on, Yeah, I was very lucky. You know, 522 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 1: you are one of the only openly gay late night 523 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: talk shows. I am the only well let's assume maybe 524 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:37,680 Speaker 1: that I beat someone in the closet, but you are 525 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 1: the only who do you think is in the closet? No, no, no, no, Boddy, 526 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 1: neither of the Jimmy's, neither the Jimmy is no. I mean, 527 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:49,200 Speaker 1: Seacrest is as gay as you're gonna get, but he's 528 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:51,880 Speaker 1: not gay. So no, I don't think there's I don't 529 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 1: think there is. But my question is, you know, we 530 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 1: grew up well, you know when people thought you were gay, 531 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 1: they weren't nice. And so you represent a rather large 532 00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:05,960 Speaker 1: community and you're the only one out there. When have 533 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 1: you felt part of the group. When have you felt 534 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:11,840 Speaker 1: part of what group? The late night When has it 535 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:15,000 Speaker 1: been like, yeah, I don't totally feel part of the group, 536 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,760 Speaker 1: but I've been all in late night TV for thirteen years. 537 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 1: I mean I talked about years ago. Um and Graydon 538 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,080 Speaker 1: Carter and I have talked about this. There was a 539 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 1: big photo shoot the Vanity Fair did of all of 540 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,640 Speaker 1: the late night talk show and they left me out 541 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 1: of but they added James Corton, who wasn't even on 542 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: the area yet, and Trevor Noah who had just started, 543 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:42,880 Speaker 1: and we were like, I know, he's so cute, and 544 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:45,920 Speaker 1: we were my pr People were trying and trying, trying, 545 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:49,000 Speaker 1: and actually I was asked in a New York Times 546 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: magazine profile. There was a conversation about that I'm always 547 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,479 Speaker 1: keeping score of kind of where I rank in the 548 00:32:55,600 --> 00:33:01,280 Speaker 1: universe of celebrity or how people see me. And I 549 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 1: used that as an example is something that I was like, 550 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:06,719 Speaker 1: you know, I had been on the air for seven 551 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 1: years at that point, but they wouldn't. And Graydon later said, 552 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:13,720 Speaker 1: you know what, after that article came out, he goes, 553 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 1: you know what, you were right? You should have been 554 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 1: in that, which was really meaningful to me. Acknowledge your feeling, Yes, 555 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:25,840 Speaker 1: and so, but I think overlooked. But just well, first 556 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 1: of all, I think my show is not I'm not 557 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 1: a comedian. I think it's I think it's a different 558 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: kind of talk show, true, and I think that makes 559 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:38,000 Speaker 1: you I think there's been a traditional idea of what 560 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,880 Speaker 1: a late night talk show is. I would argue that 561 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 1: Watch What Happens Live has redefined what the late night 562 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:47,200 Speaker 1: talk show. I think we've seen a lot of things 563 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,560 Speaker 1: that originated on your show bleed into everyone else. No, 564 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 1: I mean it was the first bar on late night 565 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,440 Speaker 1: James Gordon got a bar. James Gordon wound up kind 566 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 1: of ripping off your shot. There you go. So it 567 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 1: is what it is. And that used to be stuff 568 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:05,440 Speaker 1: that I was really hyper sensitive about, and frankly I 569 00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:08,280 Speaker 1: just feel so grateful now, and I'm not blowing smoke 570 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 1: and being bullshit. I'm so glad we're still going that. 571 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:17,359 Speaker 1: It's like great copy my set, go go with God. 572 00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 1: And so I mean, I kind of I think when 573 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 1: you take a step back and you look at someone 574 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:28,920 Speaker 1: who represents not the mainstream, it plays in and of itself, 575 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:31,360 Speaker 1: and you've gotten a lot of flat you have certainly 576 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 1: redefined at night and to thank you, one of the 577 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:42,719 Speaker 1: next two chapters for you, oh God, I mean no, 578 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:47,800 Speaker 1: I think it's figuring out my real estate and finishing 579 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 1: this speech house. I'm working on our new apartment in 580 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:52,920 Speaker 1: the city. And then I think it's the kids. I mean, 581 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 1: the next I want to keep all these planes in 582 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 1: the air that I have going professionally. But also I mean, 583 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 1: it's really about the kids and just making sure they're 584 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,359 Speaker 1: as great as they can be and I don't let 585 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:09,080 Speaker 1: them down. Well, if there's anything like my best friend, 586 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:14,040 Speaker 1: thank you, they will be. Just as our time together 587 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,279 Speaker 1: is wrapping up, Ricardo clears our plates and brings out 588 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:21,240 Speaker 1: an espresso soaked Tiramasu to top off and already indulge 589 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 1: in lunch. Ricardo, we are done. He has he has 590 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 1: dipped and dumped his bread into my post. And as 591 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:30,840 Speaker 1: much as I'd like to stay here basking in the 592 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,560 Speaker 1: memories from the place that brought us so many, it's 593 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:36,360 Speaker 1: time to move on to our next meal. I mean not, 594 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:41,120 Speaker 1: you have to come, yes, so you can get the table. No? 595 00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 1: Did you hear that? Where he has to come so 596 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:48,800 Speaker 1: we get a table? Absolutely not. As the afternoon slips 597 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:52,240 Speaker 1: away and the sky begins to glow, I am filled 598 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,799 Speaker 1: by the warmth that comes from sharing a meal with 599 00:35:54,960 --> 00:35:59,120 Speaker 1: someone so important to me. I feel really thankful that 600 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:03,120 Speaker 1: I have a friend like this guy. And friendships don't 601 00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:06,880 Speaker 1: come easy, they don't last necessarily. They have a beginning, 602 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:09,520 Speaker 1: they have a middle and an end. And our beginning 603 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:18,960 Speaker 1: was here and we're still going strong. Table for You 604 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:22,479 Speaker 1: with Bruce Bozzy is produced by IRR Radio seven seven 605 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:26,960 Speaker 1: Park and Airmail. Our executive producers are Bruce Bozzy, Jonathan 606 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:30,280 Speaker 1: Hoss Dressler and Nathan King. Table for Two is edited 607 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:33,000 Speaker 1: and written by Tina Mullen and researched and written by 608 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:38,120 Speaker 1: Bridget Arsenalt. Our sound engineers are Emil B. Klein, Paul Bowman, 609 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,280 Speaker 1: and Melissa Midcalf. Table for Two is l a production 610 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:45,320 Speaker 1: team is Danielle Romo and the Rain Viens. Our music 611 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:49,200 Speaker 1: supervisor is Randall Poster. Our talent booking is by Jane Sarkin. 612 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:54,080 Speaker 1: Special thanks to Amy Sugarman, Uni Share, Kevin Uvane, Bobby Bower, 613 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:58,360 Speaker 1: Alison Cantor Graber and Gabby Karen Jump Prelo to Felice 614 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:01,600 Speaker 1: and the staff of Tu Till Jarno and Sack Arbor. 615 00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:04,880 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, visit the I 616 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 617 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:14,480 Speaker 1: your favorite shows. H