By TROY MAILLIS

If you are addicted to scandalous, in-your-face reality television, then you must absolutely love this man. Bravo’s Andy Cohen, host of Watch What Happens, will lead this year’s Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade beginning at noon on Saturday, April 16th, at 5th Street and Ocean Drive. With a slew of hit shows such as the Real Housewives franchise, Top Chef and Project Runway under his belt, Cohen and his network have amassed an extremely broad, loyal fan base. He recently spoke with Mark’s List about his role in Miami Beach Gay Pride, his job at Bravo and what he thinks keeps viewers tuning in every week.

You will be in Miami Beach very soon. What kind of message do you want to send as the Grand Marshal of Miami Beach Gay Pride and what does pride mean to you?

I love Miami and I love South Beach, and April is always a fun time to be in Miami. I think Miami was built for pride, and I’m very excited to be a part of the event. To me, pride means being exactly who you are and walking tall in your shoes and not compromising who you are in order make someone else happy. I want to show everyone how far we have come as a community.

You get to work with many aggressive and interesting personalities on the shows on Bravo.

Wow — too many to count. Mainly it’s talking to people and getting to them and having fun with them.  Being on Watch What Happens, I don’t even think of that as a job. My Mom came to the show with me recently and when we left I said, “Can you believe this is even considered work?” It’s just fun.

And at the same time, what is your least favorite part?

I hate negotiating contracts.  It gets very personal and sensitive sometimes.

Why do you think the shows on Bravo have become so popular? Do you think that there is a right or wrong formula for making good
television?

I think they are popular because of the characters. We have amazing people doing amazing things. The shows are really fun and addictive. I think Bravo has a very specific vibe and way that we present humor. We also have a very sophisticated, smart audience, and I think they connect with our characters. The lifestyles that are being portrayed are very interesting and something to aspire to be.

Were there any shows that were surprise hits on Bravo?

The Real Housewives! It was something we all thought could be interesting, but not really sure if people would catch on. You never know what’s going to resonate.  Also, Top Chef. I didn’t expect either of the shows to become as big as they did, and we are very proud of them.

What do you think about the use of pop culture to fight prejudice and homophobia?

I think it’s great. There were not a lot of gay role models on television when I was growing up. I’m really proud that there are kids around the country who see gay people on Bravo as talented, creative people with strength, courage and pride in themselves. We show a world where gay people are thriving alongside straight people. The kids across the world who see this will feel differently in their communities. I think it’s very positive.

What other shows or networks out there have done a good job at making the same statement?

I think The Real World on MTV was very revolutionary for its time. I remember watching Season One and there was a gay character in that cast, and they have had one in almost every season. I can’t understate what that show did as a groundbreaking show. It really was at the forefront of representing gay people at a time when it wasn’t really happening anywhere else on TV.