Andy Cohen’s late-night Bravo talk show, “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen,” will again welcome audiences into the show’s studio for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. A solo Cohen returned to his Manhattan studio, called “the clubhouse,” last fall, but his guests and the show’s audience have remained virtual. That will change on June 13, when Uzo Aduba and John Benjamin Hickey will be Cohen’s first in-studio guests on “Watch What Happens Live” in more than 15 months.
For social distancing purposes, the audience tally has been reduced to 20, which is down from its previous 36 — and audience members have to be vaccinated.
“I can’t wait to welcome back my gang of 20 cocktail companions!” Cohen said in a statement. “Also — throwing a party for one every night was starting to get extremely depressing.”
Like all talk shows, “Watch What Happens Live,” which airs Sunday through Thursday nights on Bravo, was forced to adapt to the production shutdown early in the pandemic. In the case of “Watch What Happens Live,” that meant pre-taping the show’s guests remotely, with Cohen interviewing them from home.
Even with this return to the studio, some “Watch What Happens Live” guests may still appear remotely. In an interview with Variety in March, Cohen talked about producing the show over the past year. He expressed “extreme gratitude” that he was able to continue doing the show, and said there have been benefits when it comes to booking guests. He was able to have an especially busy Kamala Harris on the show, for instance, and was also able to feature “Below Deck” cast members weekly, who are often far-flung around the world because they’re yachting professionals.
But Cohen missed doing “Watch What Happens Live” in person.
“It’s actually a party,” he said. “And when you come, the audience is all served alcohol. They have a great time; we’re in a vibe together. I come out and hang with them, and then we bring the guests out. We do the show, and it’s a real communal experience and it’s a real night out for people.
“I’m anxious to get back to that.”