Andy Cohen is revealing which Housewives he believes are the most misunderstood, which franchise consistently delivers the best entertainment and which former cast member he was most disappointed to see leave Bravo.
And some of his answers may surprise longtime Real Housewives fans.
In a new interview with Men’s Journal celebrating 20 years of The Real Housewives, Andy participated in a rapid-fire round of questions about the women and franchises that have helped shape the Bravo universe.
From defending Kyle Richards and Teresa Giudice to admitting he still misses Lisa Vanderpump, Andy offered his perspective on some of the biggest personalities in reality television.
When asked to name the most misunderstood Housewife, Andy didn’t hesitate to single out two women who have faced their fair share of criticism over the years.
“I think Kyle [Richards] is very misunderstood, and I think people got to see a different side of her during Girls Trip. And Teresa too, same reason,” Andy said.
The comments come after both Kyle and Teresa participated in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th, which brought together familiar faces from across the franchise for a special anniversary season.
For Kyle, the experience allowed viewers to see her interact with Housewives outside of Beverly Hills, where her relationships and personal life have frequently been the subject of intense scrutiny.
The longtime Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has faced criticism over her friendships, family drama and separation from Mauricio Umansky, with fans often questioning how much of her personal life she chooses to share on camera.
Teresa, meanwhile, has spent years at the center of some of the most explosive storylines on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, particularly her longstanding feud with brother Joe Gorga and sister-in-law Melissa Gorga.
Her relationships with fellow Housewives have often been deeply divided, with viewers either strongly supporting or criticizing her behavior.
However, Andy appears to believe that seeing Kyle and Teresa outside their usual cast dynamics gave viewers a different perspective on their personalities.
The anniversary season of Ultimate Girls Trip featured Housewives from multiple cities, including Porsha Williams, Gizelle Bryant, Luann de Lesseps, Vicki Gunvalson and Lisa Barlow.
With the women interacting outside their regular franchises, the show offered a different look at relationships that aren’t necessarily shaped by years of hometown feuds.
But Andy’s answers didn’t stop there.
When asked which Housewives franchise has been the most consistently entertaining throughout the years, Andy gave a very direct answer.
“Atlanta,” he declared.
The choice is significant considering just how many memorable personalities and storylines The Real Housewives of Atlanta has delivered since premiering in 2008.
From NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak’s explosive arguments to the rise of Porsha Williams, Kenya Moore, Kandi Burruss and Cynthia Bailey, Atlanta has produced some of the most talked-about moments in Housewives history.
The franchise has also delivered numerous viral confrontations, iconic one-liners and dramatic reunions.
And while Bravo has experienced cast changes across nearly every city, Andy’s answer suggests that Atlanta has remained one of the franchise’s most reliable sources of entertainment in his eyes.
When asked which Housewife his friends in the entertainment industry contact him about most frequently, Andy explained that the answer changes depending on what is happening on television.
“Oh, well, it depends what’s going on on the shows. You know what I mean?” Andy said.
“It could be Erika Jayne for a season. It could be Dorit [Kemsley]. It could be Porsha [Williams]. I mean, it really depends what’s going on on the show.”
His response highlights how quickly attention can shift from one franchise to another depending on which Housewives are involved in the biggest storylines.
Erika Jayne has faced significant public scrutiny over the years amid her estranged husband Tom Girardi’s legal troubles, while Dorit Kemsley has been navigating the breakdown of her marriage to PK Kemsley.
Porsha, meanwhile, has remained one of Atlanta’s most recognizable personalities, with her relationships and personal life frequently generating headlines.
Andy was then asked which Housewife he most looks forward to welcoming into the Watch What Happens Live Clubhouse.
Rather than choosing a favorite, he initially tried to keep things diplomatic.
“Well, all of them,” Andy responded playfully.
But when pressed to name women he particularly enjoys spending time with, Andy pointed to three Housewives from Atlanta and Potomac.
“I mean, I always have a good time with Porsha, Gizelle [Bryant], Karen [Huger],” he admitted.
The women have all appeared on Watch What Happens Live numerous times over the years, delivering everything from hilarious interviews to candid discussions about their personal lives.
Porsha has frequently entertained viewers with her humor and willingness to participate in Andy’s games, while Gizelle and Karen have become fan favorites for their quick wit and ongoing rivalry on The Real Housewives of Potomac.
But perhaps one of Andy’s most revealing answers came when he was asked which Housewife he was most disappointed to see leave the franchise.
His response was immediate.
“[Lisa] Vanderpump.”
Lisa Vanderpump famously exited The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2019 following a difficult ninth season.
Her departure came amid the infamous Puppygate controversy, which led to the breakdown of several longstanding friendships, including her relationship with Kyle Richards.
Lisa ultimately stopped filming with the other women and did not attend the Season 9 reunion.
Although she left RHOBH, Lisa remained part of the Bravo universe through Vanderpump Rules, which had already become a successful franchise of its own.
Her exit from Beverly Hills marked a major turning point for RHOBH, with the show continuing without one of its most recognizable original cast members.
Andy has spoken positively about Lisa’s contributions to the network over the years, but his latest answer makes it clear that her Housewives departure still stands out to him.
The interview also featured an interesting question about the men of Bravo.
When asked which city he would choose if he were creating a reality series centered entirely around Housewives husbands, Andy didn’t hesitate.
“Jersey.”
His answer is hardly surprising considering how involved the husbands have been in The Real Housewives of New Jersey over the years.
Unlike several other franchises, RHONJ has frequently featured the husbands as an important part of the show’s central drama.
Joe Gorga, Frank Catania, Joe Benigno and other New Jersey husbands have developed their own friendships, disagreements and memorable group scenes.
Joe Gorga in particular has become a major personality on the franchise, with his relationship with Teresa Giudice playing a significant role in the show’s family drama.
The men have also participated in cast trips, group dinners and arguments that have occasionally become just as explosive as those involving their wives.
With RHONJ preparing to return for Season 15 in December 2026, Andy’s answer raises an interesting question about whether Bravo could eventually explore a spinoff focused on the men of New Jersey.
However, Andy did not announce any plans for such a series.
Finally, Andy was asked which Housewife had surprised him the most throughout the franchise’s history, whether because of her popularity or how much her life had changed.
His answer was Porsha Williams.
“Well, I mean, Porsha. If you look at her run, I mean, how she started and where she is, that’s a wild trajectory,” Andy explained.
“From a true housewife to, you know, in a serious relationship with a woman. That’s a journey.”
Porsha first joined The Real Housewives of Atlanta during Season 5 in 2012, when she was married to former NFL player Kordell Stewart.
At the time, her storyline focused heavily on her marriage, traditional expectations and desire to start a family.
However, her life changed dramatically following her divorce from Kordell in 2013.
Over the years, Porsha became one of Atlanta’s biggest personalities, navigating relationships, motherhood, business ventures and personal growth in front of the cameras.
She later welcomed her daughter Pilar Jhena with Dennis McKinley and married businessman Simon Guobadia in 2022 before their marriage ended.
More recently, Porsha has spoken openly about her relationship with a woman, marking another significant chapter in her personal life.
For Andy, Porsha’s evolution from the woman viewers first met in 2012 to the person she is today represents one of the most unexpected journeys in Housewives history.