Key Highlights
- Andy Cohen expresses optimism about hosting an interview with Madonna on his show.
- The two have had a past conflict due to other guests criticizing Madonna on the show.
- Madonna has not consented to a booking despite 23 seasons of Watch What Happens Live.
- Cohen cites Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep as proof that his show is influential.
The Andy Cohen-Madonna Dilemma: A Decade-Long Quest for the Queen of Pop
Andy Cohen, the mastermind behind the long-running Bravo show Watch What Happens Live (WWHL), is still holding out hope that he can get his hands on Madonna. Despite a past conflict that has seen Madonna call him a “troublemaking queen,” Cohen remains an optimist.
“I hold out hope” that Madonna will agree to an interview, says Cohen in an interview with Entertainment Weekly (EW). This statement comes as no surprise given the show’s history of booking high-profile stars like Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep. “The fact that Oprah came down before we were even five years old, that was a huge deal,” Cohen reflects.
But their relationship has been anything but smooth sailing.
In 2023, Madonna called out Cohen on his show, resulting in a verbal spat that culminated with her playfully giving him the middle finger at a concert. “The problem” with booking Madonna, as Cohen sees it, is that other guests have criticized her, particularly Patti LuPone, who famously said she was a “movie killer.”
Despite these hurdles, Cohen has been persistent. He’s even gone so far as to cut together a “comp reel of five minutes of me kissing Madonna’s ass on my show,” he tells EW. This gesture is meant to demonstrate his good will toward her, but it hasn’t swayed the singer.
A Show of Pull and Influence
WWHL has been around for 16 seasons as of February 1, 2026. Cohen points out that Madonna’s absence is unusual given their long history with other famous guests. “She’s got Confessions coming out this year,” he says, referring to her 20th anniversary album release. “I’m an optimist.” Cohen believes that his show has major pull and influence in the entertainment industry.
Cohen isn’t alone in his optimism. The show has sat down with some of the most famous names in entertainment, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Shaquille O’Neal. “We’re a little show, we’re all the way down in SoHo,” he says, adding that their success can be seen in past guests like Oprah and Meryl Streep.
The Madonna Controversy: A Complex Relationship
But there’s more to the story than just booking famous faces. The conflict with Madonna stems from other guests criticizing her on the show. “A lot of people have slagged Madonna off on my show and because of that it gets picked up,” Cohen explains. This has made things difficult for him, but he remains undeterred.
“Madonna is a movie killer.
She’s dead behind the eyes. She cannot act her way out of a paper bag,” LuPone said during a 2018 appearance on WWHL. “She’s a wonderful performer for what she does, but she is not an actress.” Such comments have made it challenging to secure Madonna as a guest, but Cohen remains hopeful.
Despite the challenges, there are signs of progress. Madonna has shown a sense of humor about their prickly connection.
After calling him a “troublemaking queen” in 2023, she playfully gave him the middle finger at a concert shortly after. And last year, Cohen revealed that he had texted with her.
As WWHL looks ahead to two more seasons, anything is possible. “We’re in year 16,” says Cohen. “They picked us up for two more.” He believes that they can overcome their past differences and bring Madonna on the show. “The writing’s on the wall,” he concludes.
Conclusion
Cohen’s determination to get Madonna on his show is a testament to his belief in the power of persistence. Despite their past conflict, he remains hopeful that they can overcome it and book her for an interview. The future of WWHL looks bright, but only time will tell if Cohen’s optimism will be rewarded.