The Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen stage is like a mini-pop culture museum. The retro-inspired set, also known as the “Clubhouse,” features a random mix of collectibles and trinkets, many of which have become synonymous with the late-night talk show. There’s the iconic shotski made by Jimmy Fallon, Lady Gaga’s urine perfume, Tamra Judge’s old breast implant, and a Lite-Brite installation of the Empire State building, just to name a few.
But the Clubhouse isn’t just full of Bravo memorabilia and celebrity-gifted items; it’s also home to some of Andy Cohen’s most cherished possessions.
Andy Cohen shares the Clubhouse items from his childhood
The WWHL host took to Instagram this week to highlight a few Clubhouse pieces from his childhood. He posted a photo of a center shelf that displayed a Childcraft encyclopedia set.
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“My old encyclopedias have been on the Clubhouse shelf since episode 1!” he captioned the photo.
Above the set was a wood carving of Andy’s initials.
“Made this at camp when I was a kid!” he said about the piece, which hung beside a plaque from Camp Nebagamon, the Wisconsin summer camp Andy attended in the late 1970s and early ’80s.
The WWHL set was modeled after Andy Cohen’s previous apartment
Since its inception in 2009, WWHL has become a cultural phenomenon and a go-to source for water-cooler talk. The series has delivered numerous viral moments, ranging from shocking and tense to heartwarming and hilarious.
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Andy has said he wanted to distinguish WWHL from other late-night talk shows by creating a laid-back vibe in which guests could be comfortable. He and his team accomplished this through drinks, fun games, and, of course, an intimate set.
Andy spoke about the Clubhouse design in a 2012 interview with the Los Angeles Times, saying it was heavily inspired by his then-apartment.
“The reason the set looks the way it does is because I wanted it to feel like me,” he explained. “The show is so much a result of my mind and sensibility, that it just seemed like it would be more comfortable if it sort of looked like me too.”
After visiting Andy’s NYC pad, art director Kenny Cahall decided to recreate Andy’s shelving unit that held “a mind-boggling array of knick-knacks.”
“He lives in a real New York apartment,” Kenny said. “It’s not very big and it’s designed around storage.”
Kenny filled the Clubhouse shelves with some items taken from Andy’s home; these included a bedazzled Pez dispenser, Snoopy figurines, several glass heads, and the aforementioned encyclopedia set.
“Those are my Childcraft encyclopedias from when I was growing up,” Andy confirmed. “They came from my parents’ basement in St. Louis.”
Learn more about the history of WWHL and how it went from a digital series to a TV talk show.
