Andy Cohen may host the interactive late-night talk show, but even he is in awe of her.
She hears and seeseverything, he tells me via email.
A true keeper of secrets!
Courtesy of NBCUniversal
A scandal so big even the least Bravo-literate wants to know what’s going on.
But ever the professional, Connolly is mostly just focused on howWWHLwill cover it in the coming weeks.
But then the reality series went back into production, which meant the cast was no longer available.
So then it went to figuring out who’s the right person instead, she says.
We want to respond to all the fans and what they’re asking.
Lisa Vanderpump made the most sense, and thankfully, she’s available and coming.
We’re all very much looking forward to Wednesday, as is any Bravo fan out there.
It allowed me to breathe and have fun.
Thats how an executive producer should make you feel.
We’re somewhere between fans and producers.
It must be an exciting time, as a producer.
You do have this heartbreak.
Real people’s lives happening and unfolding and being affected negatively.
This cast has a great relationship with our team.
But then also, there’s this insatiable fandom where you’re shocked and need to know more.
In a weird way, yes, it’s a little energizing because we are a live television show.
We respond to things.
We have this platform where Andy can address all of the things that are happening on social media.
That’s what we do best.
So we’re going to be addressing the questions that are online.
We’re going to have our normal video callers and everything.
It’s a way to continue this big conversation that’s happening around Bravo right now.
How much percentage of the show is preplanned and how much is reaction?
It’s 50/50, really.
So we’re very nimble.
We respond to things.
I love live TV because of that.
It’s very exciting.
Andy loves live TV because even if there is chaos; he thrives on that.
He’s a great reactor.
You have what so many people would consider a dream job.
Could you walk us through your morning routine?
What time do you get up?
I don’t think I have a routine anymore now that I have a two-and-a-half-year-old.
We give a shot to be live as much as possible.
My partner also works in television, so his schedule changes a lot too.
The only consistent thing is that I am up by 7 a.m. with a toddler.
Some days I take her to school, and some days she’s home with me.
It’s atypical, but it suits me and our family needs.
How many days a week do you work?
You’re never really off.
I think anyone in any industry will probably feel the same way.
But the nice thing is that I’ve been here since day one.
This is a second family for me.
So I feel like it gives me as much balance as a show and this industry could.
We have three production days a week, and we’re working from home otherwise.
Since you work more evenings than a typical 9-to-5 job, what is your nighttime routine like?
Well, I am a night owl.
I’m not a morning person, never have been.
So, for many reasons, this is a dream job.
I’m trying to commit to doing that at least a few times a week.
That is my zone-out time.
I can’t check my work stuff, and I feel really energized after.
It’s my treat.
When you were growing up, what was your dream job?
When I was really little, 9 or 10, I wanted to be a fashion designer.
Big women, big hair, big dresses.
When did you first feel like TV production was the path for you?
I grew up in the suburbs outside Boston and didn’t know anybody in the entertainment industry.
I didn’t know that was really a thing.
I went to college as a political science major.
And then my mom met a woman who worked at MTV.
I know she’s a big MTV fan.
And I bugged that woman until she was nice to me and gave me my first big break.
I moved to New York based on having a two-week freelance job doing this new music week at MTV.
Everyone thought I was crazy because it was so unstable and so little money.
I was living in a studio apartment with another girl.
But that was my first big break.
Whats the best career adviceyou’vegotten?
Beyond that, my mom’s work ethic has been a big part of my career.
She’s a really hard worker.
In their 50s, my parents started their own business, an Irish Art Gallery.
That’s always been inspiring to meto remember that you’re never stuck.
There’s always some new adventure around the corner, and to like what you do is really important.
Do you have a moment where you thought:Oh, I’m successful?
People are talking about it, they’re watching.
It feels like we’re all on this wild ride.
Because I helped build it, I felt successful and proud of what we were doing.
And we were getting great bookings.
We had Oprah on in the early days, Meryl Streep.
I felt really…yeah, that was the first time I felt successful.
Oprah and Meryl Streep are huge gets.
Is there a guest that left you a little starstruck or was a personal goal for you to book?
I was pregnant when we finally worked out the booking with her, which was March of 2020.
She came, and we had this wonderful conversation about raising a daughter.
It was a pinch-me moment.
She ended up coming back this year, and I brought my daughter to meet her.
So it was full circle.
That meant a lot.
Do you have a favorite part of the job?
I love when the shows are shooting because they’re very entertaining.
We all have so much fun.
But I think my favorite part of this job is the team.
Honestly, I really am proud of this team.
It’s such a good environment.
Everyone is funny, creative, and positive.
Andy certainly sets that tone.
He jokes around so much, and it’s a really lovely place to come to.
Just coming here is a great part of my day.
It’s nice to see everybody.
When you hire, what do you look for new in people?
I look for people who are problem solvers, resourceful, collaborators, generally seem like good team members.
I don’t think it’s about exact experience because every single job is different.
Or I just ask about their last experience.
You get a sense.
What have you learned the most about leadership since youve entered this role?
That no one teaches you how to be a leader.
People take on management roles without really being taught management skills.
Leadership isn’t standing on the sidelines.
You have to get in there and set the example.
Thinking back to the best boss you ever had, whats something that made them that way?
I’m not just saying this for the article: Andy is the best boss I’ve ever had.
Because he was a producer, he’s extremely decisive.
You always know where you stand with him.
For me, you have to be an honest leader and a direct leader.
Andy is direct and constructively critical.
He does that for me, for sure.
Sometimes taking feedback is really hard for people.
They see something that’s not going well, and they want to correct course.
I just verify I’m learning from it.
Any rejection is just a decision that gets made for you.
That’s just the way it is.
It’s somebody making a decision for you about something that wasn’t meant for you.
So it doesn’t trip me up.
Do you have a go-to thank you gift?
One of my shortcomings is gift giving.
I wish I was a better gift giver.
That’s not me.
So how do you show appreciation for your team or people that you work with?
Youve been with*__Watch What Happens Live __*since the beginning.
Is there a period that was the most challenging, and how did you work through that?
For me, it was those early days.
I was having some self-doubt and wondering how long it would go on.
There’s always that possibility.
But it was a good challenge because it was a very fun time.
We were experimenting and figuring ourselves out and who we were going to be.
And it was all about Andy’s personalitywe leaned into that and created a cocktail party.
For a show thats been on so long, how do you keep it fresh and new ideas generating?
We really listen to the audiencewhat they want to see, what they’re interested in.
It really is about your staff; they’re who keep ideas fresh.
How involved are you in BravoCon?
We creatively produce all of the panels as well as all fiveWatch What Happens Livetapings that happened there.
We are very much in it, and it’s an extremely taxing time.
There’s a lot of moving parts, but it’s so exciting.
It brings so much joy to people and unites them.
I’ve met people who are good friends by just having an offhand conversation about Bravo.
Any goals for future BravoCons?
You always learn things to do better.
So that’s a huge priority for us.
If you werent doing this job, what would you be doing?
I’d want to be a career counselor.
I really enjoy helping people figure out what their strengths are.
As women, we often feel negative about some of our shortcomings.
Personally, I’m a procrastinator by nature and used to always beat myself up about that.
And then I come to live TV, and it’s all about deadlines and rising to the occasion.
Being a procrastinator is a good thing.
So I’d like to help people to not be so hard on themselves, particularly women.
Last question: Do you have a favorite Bravo show?
Or is that too controversial to ask?
Right now I clearly couldn’t be more invested in a show thanVanderpump Rules.
I can’t get enough of what’s happening.
I’m very, very excited to see the new iteration.
That’s probably my first love.
Anna Moeslein is the deputy editor atGlamour.
