Bravo host dishes dirt in ‘Andy Cohen Diaries’

“The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year” (Henry Holt and Co.), by Andy Cohen

In his new book, “The Andy Cohen Diaries: A Deep Look at a Shallow Year,” author Andy Cohen tries to explain to his rescue dog, Wacha, the luck of going from a West Virginia kill shelter to lunching at Jerry Seinfeld’s estate in East Hampton, New York. Wacha may not get it, but we do. The talk-show host and man-about-town takes his beloved pooch and readers along for a joyride of endless parties, A-list interviews, decadent vacations and a little work in between.
The book is inspired by “The Andy Warhol Diaries” — a thick tome published after Warhol’s death — that covered his day-to-day life over nine years at the center of New York’s art, music and entertainment worlds. In the introduction, Cohen calls Warhol’s diary a “pop culture time capsule,” exposing celebrities in their natural habitats.
Twenty-five years later, Cohen, also at the epicenter of pop culture in New York, provides a captivating look at hanging with the rich and famous.
Cohen — host of a late-night talk show on the Bravo network and executive producer of “The Real Housewives” series franchise — worked hard to get where he is, but he makes it look easy. A typical day in his downtown Manhattan playground includes a workout with his personal trainer, a romp at the dog park, lunch with friends, a meeting or conference call, a nap, hosting his show and drinking with pals until the wee hours.
An engaging storyteller, he creates a narrative with reappearing characters, including his hilarious, bossy mother, Evelyn. Other players range from the famous — talk-show host Kelly Ripa, actress Sarah Jessica Parker and musician John Mayer — to the amusing — his loyal doorman Surfin, an overly chatty flight attendant and his butt-kicking personal trainer, affectionately called “the Ninj.”
Cohen addresses the obvious risk in recording his every move and mood in the book’s subtitle, and in the introduction. He owns the name-dropping and navel-gazing, but has the honesty, wit and confidence to pull it off, striking a balance between being self-involved and self-aware. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, and isn’t afraid to point out behavior gaffes and personality flaws.
Brooke Lefferts, AP