Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture

Written by Andy Cohen

Narrated by Andy Cohen

The man behind the Real Housewives writes about his lifelong love affair with pop culture that brought him from the suburbs of St. Louis to his own television show

From a young age, Andy Cohen knew two things: He was gay, and he loved television. 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 him while he was 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, Cohen tells tales of absurd network-news mishaps, hilarious encounters with the 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 the TV, both making shows and hosting his own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: May 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781427222596

Andy Cohen

Andy Cohen is the author of four New York Times bestselling books. He is the host and executive producer of Watch What Happens Live, Bravo’s late-night interactive talk show. He also serves as executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise and hosts the network’s highly rated reunion specials. He’s won an Emmy and two Peabody Awards for his work, and he lives in New York City with his two children.

Reviews for Most Talkative

[rarichard_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I never really knew Andy Cohen.... until now.I had seen the RHNJ reunion, and when I taped the early AM showing of Top Chef sometimes it would catch the last few moments of WWHL. That's all I had known of Andy Cohen. I knew I'd like him, just didn't take the time to watch more. That's why I wanted to read this book, and I'm so glad I did.Getting to know this man, who he is, where he came from, and what drives him was great. I felt like if I was in school with him, that we'd be friends. His interests from soaps to news and just tv in general and walking his journey with him made me feel like he was real. That may sound silly but I usually like to keep some tv personalities in their tv bubble.He really told his story well and kept me engaged throughout the whole book. I admire his drive to fulfill his dreams. I admire his strength in coming out.If you like tv and more specifically reality tv. Take the time to get to know Andy - you'll be glad you did.

[katkealy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book, which is why I gave it to my best friend to read. I think he'll enjoy it, too. Perhaps more - I think he may have seen a couple episodes of one of the Housewives series... The only part I didn't like of the book was the section on the Housewives, since I really couldn't care less about them. I found the rest of the book very interesting and engaging and think Andy's story is entertaining and interesting.I definitely recommend it for pop culture fans - especially if you like the housewives, since it'll probably interest you even more.

[zeppelin25_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I won this book as part of Early Reviewers. I have to say, I went in this not really knowing who Andy Cohen was, and came out wanting to become a regular viewer of his show! The book chronicles Andy's rise to fame, and talks about his entire career from an intern at CBS to being the executive producer of The Real Housewives series. I found it to be a funny quick read and shared just enough information about the celebs he's come into contact with. He is a good writer and I thought this was much more entertaining that some of the memoirs Ive read. The book reminded me of a blend of Wade Rouse and Bossypants (Tina Fey). I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a fun read!

[phantasma_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I don't know what I was expecting, but this wasn't quite it. The book reads like someone's diary entries, almost. It seemed like he was writing it more for himself than anyone else, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm finding it hard to find anything to say about this book, since it was rather bland. There was nothing terrible about it, but nothing great, either. I think this would have been a much more entertaining book (for me) if I was more interested in his sort of sordid pop culture. I didn't really know who Andy Cohen was when I requested this book, it just sounded sort of fun and I like some pop culture stuff... just not the same stuff Cohen does. If you like Real Housewives and soap operas and that sort of thing, I think you'd enjoy this book. Maybe you'd even squeal along with the author as he recounts his experiences. It just wasn't really my thing.

[bookchickdi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I first saw Andy Cohen when he hosted the reunion show for Bravo TV's Flipping Out, a reality show about house flipper/designer Jeff Lewis. I wondered who this Cohen guy was and from where he came.Cohen is an executive at Bravo TV, and besides foisting on the American people The Real Housewives of (insert one of many cities here), he also hosts Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, a crazy nightly talk show that has counted among its guests Jerry Seinfeld, Ralph Fiennes, Holly Hunter and every real housewife. Oh and they frequently drink on that show, so it's hilarious.I confess that I used watch the Housewives franchise (NY, NJ, Atlanta, Beverly Hills), but it began to consume me, so I gave it up. (I still like Flipping Out.) I won a copy of Cohen's memoir, Most Talkative: Stories From the Front Lines of Pop Culture, and I have to say I was utterly charmed by this book.He begins by recounting his interview with Susan Lucci, (Erica Kane of All My Children, Cohen's and his mother Evelyn's favorite soap opera) while a student at Boston University at the time. He also ends his book with another Lucci encounter, and it is the perfect way to bookend his pop culture life story.Cohen interned at CBS News, and ended up working on CBS This Morning for a decade. The show was the lowest rated of the morning shows, but I found this section of the book the most interesting. His story about accompanying Dan Rather on a story about western wildfires was fascinating, although I recently read Rather's latest memoir and Cohen is sadly not in it.There are lots of pop culture references here, including Cohen's obsession with Oprah Winfrey and the few times he got her to agree to interviews did not go well. He has his own Ah-ha moment when he learns that trying to trick Oprah is a big mistake.Fans of the Housewives shows will be enthralled by his chapter on hosting the reunion shows. He gives the reader the inside scoop, and even though I swore off the Housewives, I admit to enjoying this chapter immensely.Cohen's love for Battle of the Network Stars took me back to my childhood and love of the show. He even tried to emulate it with Bravo's version, Battle of the Reality Stars, which didn't take off (and that is probably a good thing.)There are some serious moments here too, and Cohen struggling with telling his friends and family that he is gay really tugs at the heartstrings. I think anyone who is going through the same thing (or has gone through it) will get something from this book.The only chapter that fell flat for me was the one about pulling pranks on his mother with his best friend; that was the only miss in this delightful book.The book is very funny, reading it is like sitting down and listening to Cohen tell you his life story, warts and all. You can hear his distinctive voice and see his head tilting in your mind as you read of his delightful walk through pop culture. I think the audio version of this book would be amazing.rating 4 of 5

[dpappas_25 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book just as much as I love Andy Cohen and Watch What Happens Live. That being said this book succeeded my expectations. Andy takes readers on a journey through his life, from his childhood all the way up to working at Bravo. Reading this book didn't feel like reading, it felt like Andy was talking to me. I was constantly laughing while reading this. I loved hearing about Andy's crazy friends, weird pranks, and awkward meetings with Susan Lucci. This took me less than a day to read and I loved every minute of it. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Watch What Happens Live, it won't disappoint.[I received this book from a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway. That in no way affects the content of my review.]

[lmikkel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book made me sad. Because I love Bravo and I have always enjoyed Andy on Bravo and I no longer have access to the Bravo Channel. Boo. But it also made me happy because Andy is just as warm and entertaining in his book as he is on tv. I especially enjoyed learning about his childhood and his struggles coming to terms with his sexuality and the reactions of his family and friends. His utter honesty about himself and his own personality was refreshing. And I loved hearing about all his adventures in the world of pop culture. It was a quick read, but as another reviewer said, that was in part because it was so enjoyable.

[readingfiend_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I couldn't put this book down. Andy Cohen of Bravo TV, recounts his life growing up in St. Louis Missouri sharing the drama of All My Children with his mother and sister, being best friends with two girls, realizing he way gay but not knowing how to share it with his family and friends. He loved television and drama. He goes to BU, spends time in London, comes out to his family and friends, interns at CBS and is ready to take over the reins after one week there.It is a fascinating look at his life (I love him on "Watch What Happens: Live"), his time at CBS producing and wrangling people for stories, his moves from there to his current time at Bravo. Television behind the scenes is fascinating to me and I really enjoyed the stories he had to tell.Quick read because I couldn't put it down. And didn't want it to end.

[bookwormteri · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you love pop culture, Bravo, or the Real Housewives series (the only one I don't love), pick this book up. The story of Andy's Cohen rise to "stardom" is full of fun and foibles. He is adorable and funny. I really enjoyed his story and can totally understand how The Real Housewives series came to be....

[cmwoodys · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One word - REFRESHING!!! A Fantastic read! As a fellow Missourian I was not sure what to expect when I first opened the book. As I progressed through the book here are some thoughts that I had jotted down - "Hilarious" "I love the play on words" "Jewish version of confession" "Brutally Honest" I would highly recommend this book for anyone who appreciates a not-so-serious review of one's early life! Bravooooo Mr. Cohen! I cannot wait to read about the next 40 year's worth of adventures in your life!

[joalby1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun and funny book to read. Andy obviously dgaf & has his own way of doing things. I enjoyed that it wasn't all Bravo and his life at the network. I enjoyed reading up on and learning about the path that got him to where he is now, the mishaps along the way, the people who were there along the way.I love the fact that he built up to the Housewives rather than lead in with what he is most well known for at this stage in his life. I enjoyed the memoir and the stories about his life on the journalist side of things starting out, mistakes made, how to save face when things don't go the way they were planned.Going through reviews I've seen, I'm kinda laughing that people are upset it's not more Housewives driven.. The book is called Stories From The Front Lines of Pop Culture. It's not called Andy Cohen Reads The Housewives & Makes A Bitch CryIf you wanna know about the housewives, they pretty much all have their own books, go read those

[brittanygates · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a big Bravo fan, so I was really excited to get this book! The beginning moved a little slowly. It was mostly about Andy's early life and overcoming his fear of people knowing his sexuality. As Andy starts his career, it becomes obvious that he was made for this type of business. He knows his viewers, and he knows what makes great T.V. What I enjoyed the most was the fact that Andy is really just a Super-Fan himself. Reading his book was like having a phone conversation with a friend that had somehow made it backstage to all our favorite shows, and wanted to give me all the gossip. Andy Cohen is proof that you really can make a career out of doing what you love; even if what you love most is watching television.

[minacee · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a fun, quick, and easy read. Superfans of Andy Cohen are going to love it. However, I was hoping for more pop culture. There is certainly tons of TV pop culture in here because Andy has been obsessed with TV (specifically, soap operas) since he was a child. Then he went on to become a TV show producer first at CBS then at Bravo. This books talk about the Desperate Housewives franchise (which I am only vaguely familiar) a lot at the end. But that did not detract from the memoir that this book really is at its core. Andy pulls memories and stories from his life in St. Louis, abroad, and at Boston University that shaped his personality and helped him accept his sexuality. Andy Cohen is sweet,genuine,and hilarious.

[gagvlibrary · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This year's minor celebrity memoir, chronicling Andy Cohen's rise from intern to TV producer and occasional host, and his brushes with stardom along the way. As one would expect, it has a boy-next-door tone. If you have followed Watch What Happens Live or The Real Housewives, you will enjoy the behind-the-scenes perspective.

[rhshelver · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first time I saw Andy Cohen on TV, I didn't know who or what he was. I thought he was just some guy they dragged off the street to ask nosy questions of the Top Chef gang. As I found out more about him, like that he was a producer and not just a "pretty face", and that he was from St. Louis (as am I), I started to pay more attention when he was on Bravo. But I still didn't know much about him.After reading this book, I know a whole lot more about him and I find myself really liking him. Not only is he from St. Louis, but he is proud of the fact and loves his hometown. He likes gingers. He hates when Boston University spells the word "programme". He is an instigator and practical joker. I liked the fact that you find out things like this about him, rather than have the entire book be a look-who-I-know celebrity dish. I liked that he comes across as self-effacing, instead of egotistic. The book was light, frothy, and a quick read. Really enjoyable. (One note though: If you've never watched the Real Housewives (I haven't), and don't know anything about them (I don't -- not a point of pride; I just don't), you can skip the chapter about them. You'll be lost and mildly bored.)

[amhamilt · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Andy Cohen's memoir is full of the self deprecating humor that has made him one of today's pop culture icons. The book is witty, entertaining, and even a bit surprising. I've only known Andy from The Real Housewives reunion shows and Watch What Happens Live; I had no idea that he spent 10 years as a producer for various CBS shows. I had no idea that he was involved in any part of the television business aside from being a TV personality. While the book was a quick, light, enjoyable read, I was hoping for a bit more gossip. Andy didn't really reveal any pop culture tidbits that I didn't already know. Another downside to the book was that I just can't find Andy Cohen to be a likable personality. He portrays himself to be a loud, juvenile, fame-obsessed person, and consequently, I thought that large parts of the book came off as loud, juvenile, and fame-obsessed.All in all, it was a decent book, but not one that I would ever buy myself. I'd advise getting it out of the library if you're interested, because (in my opinion), it is not a book that needs to be read more than once.

[jendoyle2000 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book! Although I like autobiographies, this is not something I would have picked up in a bookstore; however, when I saw it as one of the potential Early Reviewer picks, I thought that I'd go ahead and check it off. When I won a copy, I decided that it would be a great right-before-bed book. As I've mentioned in another review or two, I am not someone who likes to go to bed early; when I find myself heading up around 11:30 so that I can read an extra few chapters of my current book, then I know it's a good one. What did I like about it? Well, for one thing, I really, *really* loved the relationship that Andy has with his family. It has become so typical to bash one's family that I have begun to think I am an exception in that I not just love, but actually enjoy being with my parents and sisters. It is clear that Andy loves his parents - his mom is a central figure (and his way of portraying her evoked several laugh out loud moments for me) throughout the book, and his dad, although not quite as obvious of a personality and sometimes a bit befuddled in his understanding of his son, is clearly a loving and guiding force. Similarly, Cohen's long-standing relationships with friends show a close-knit group providing loving support. Both the relationships and the way Cohen writes about them show a side of Cohen that I did not expect. To be honest, I didn't know a lot about Andy Cohen before reading this. I've a fan of Top Chef and Project Runway, but only recently became aware of the reunion shows. And, not being a watcher of the Real Housewives series, I didn't have the same exposure to him that I might have otherwise. What little I did know gave me an impression of someone who was a little bit too cocky, a little bit too enamored of himself. (And I swear I had no idea about the public school children incident until I read this.) Anyway, How wrong I was! (Or, as Evelyn would say: HOW WRONG I WAS!) Instead, he makes fun of himself throughout the book, talks about very mockable subjects with more fondness and appreciation than meanness, and comes across much more as the underdog than anyone would expect given the success (obviously earned) he has had in his career and his overall confidence and affability.[Spoiler alert] The part that wasn't all fun and games, of course, was his coming out story -- or, rather, stories -- although I have to say that my biggest laugh came from his mother's reaction: "I wasn't so much worried that you were GAY, but that you were an AIRHEAD." It was obviously a traumatic time and his concerns about how his closest friends weren't entirely unfounded, although for reasons other than he'd expected. What I loved the most about this is that, despite where Cohen now sits, he is still very much the pop culture fan -- and he's not afraid to say it. As a fellow pop culture fan, I think I'll be seeking out his Watch What Happens Live and other reunion shows. Thanks to him, I might even start watching a Real Housewife or two.

[r · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Vapid. No, really, not because he deals with reality tv, the housewives, none of that, because I love the housewives, but he is actually, quite genuinely, shallow. More shallow than he ever appears. I don’t mean to be nasty, or cruel, I am just confused. I didn’t know people could, sort of, care so little about the depth of the human experience, in favor of things that seems so, empty, and unfulfilling. I don’t get it. His parents seem intelligent, I’m sure he is booksmart, but he doesn’t seem to have any concern about consequences. Or feel any sense of responsibility toward any thing that isn’t “trendy” including politics and charity, he doesn’t seem like he has any interest in anything beyond the novelty of it. I hope I’m wrong.

[sweans · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is very fun! I'm admittedly never really been a fan of soaps (unless you count the summer I got very into the Tabitha/Timmy story line on Passions) or The House Wives of (insert geographical location here), so I was a little out of the loop in a few of the chapters. But it was still fun! As a fan of both pop culture and self deprecating humor, there was still much to be enjoyed in the book. The only thing that bugged me about this book were the little smiley faces in between story breaks in chapters. They were sometimes a little jarring, when the story was something of serious nature. But other than that, it's a quick fun read I'd recommend picking up.

[acornell_13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This early review book that I got chosen to read seemed to be written solely to gossip about the Read Housewives series of shows produced and aired by Bravo Network. Andy Cohen is the executive producer of many of these shows and has some sort of staring role in part of the shows. Although I have seen teasers for them on Bravo (probably while watching re-runs of the West Wing) I have never watched any of them or been interested in any of them.The first 3/4 of the book is about Andy's coming of age in real life and in the television industry. Most of the book is funny and heartwarming. He came of age in the 80's, about the same time I did, and he also came out at that time. His memoir concerning these early years and his rise through the ranks and his coming to understand his sexuality was really quite moving and powerful. I have a close friend from this time who I imagine was also thinking and going through some of the same things as he came out. I loved it. I laughed aloud many times. I really felt a kinship with Mr Cohen. Of course, as you might imagine, the last couple of chapters, all about shows that I have never seen (nor do I want to after reading this) was not very interesting to me at all. It might be to you if you watch them yourself or have seen Mr Cohen on a late night show he emcees. I do recommend it, mostly for the for first parts of the book in which he grapples with his own life and how he plans to live it.