Bravo's Andy Cohen Says School Kids 'Ruined Everything' at Oscars

By Nicki Gostin Posted Mar 2nd 2011 02:30PM

It seems that Andy Cohen, the Bravo exec and genial host of all the 'Housewives' reunion shows, did not like the Oscar ceremony. At all. But it wasn't James Franco's lethargic performance, Anne Hathaway's cheerleader perkiness or the sheer length of the show. No, the culprit was -- are you ready for this? -- the children's choir from Public School 22 in Staten Island, who performed a rousing rendition of 'Over the Rainbow' to close the broadcast. No lump in Cohen's throat, just bile.

"It was just bad," he professed on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' on Tuesday. "It was just awful. It was horrible."

Not finished chiding the kids, he carried on about how much he abhorred the performance. "I literally -- if I wasn't going to go out to some parties I would have slit [my wrists] right then. It was the worst. I was looking for a knife to stick in my eyes, it was so terrible." Ouch.

Cohen compared them to Up With People, a singing group from the '70s. They were a saccharine choir made up of fresh-scrubbed teens with sensible haircuts (no long hair on the boys).

So what was it exactly about those munchkins clad in multi-hued tees that so offended the man who brings us 'Housewives,' 'Millionaire Matchmaker' and 'Tabatha's Salon Takeover'?

"Not the time," said Cohen firmly. "Everything has its time and place. The end of the Oscars is -- we don't want to see this. You just ruined everything."

Gregg Breinberg, P.S. 22's charismatic choral director, had a quick retort, telling the New York Daily News, "Anyone who would diss 10-year-old public school kids probably has some issues."

By Tuesday night, Cohen labeled himself the "Jackhole of the Week" during a segment on 'Watch What Happens Live.' He said that he was a product of public education and that the school kids didn't deserve his dissing.

Tags: Andy Cohen, Oscars, P.S. 22 Chorus

Comments

(61)

Wednesday 02 March

By bbmoves

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Ask andy if he had his life to live over,would he fall in love with himself all over again?

By K~sea

Kids should have STARTED the show!

By Lisa

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I agree that it wasn't really appropriate but that jerk didn't have to make it sound like the kids themselves were horrible. They did a great job.

By Barry

I agree. Yhey are just a bunch of future gang bangers.

By Hassie

So he is the host of all the "Housewives" reunion shows? That makes him an expert on excellent entertainment? Ummm. Spoiled, rich women acting like tweens? He's looking for some attention for himself and needed to pick on these kids. As always, there were plenty of awkward moments during the Oscars. Guess it is more fun for a bully to pick on a group of kids.

By RFosel

no, the bastardo rather have us watch trashy skanks, drunken brawls and hid QUEENY BEHAVIOR, HE'S A loser! THE KIDS WERE THE BEST THING ALL NIGHT, WHAT oscars? IT WAS A JOKE. Cohan shut the f up!!!

By lazy one

he should keep his opinion to himself. The kids sang beautifully, the song did fit in properly with the Oscar's because it is originally from a movie. Perhaps if the children were better dressed for the occasion, it would have fit in better. But this did not deserve Mr. Cohen's extreme criticism.

By Carol

I am so happy that I do not know who Andy Cohen is! The children were wonderful although I thought they should have been on earlier in the broadcast. Get over the "glitz" as this story states. Trash mouthed acceptance speaches aren't glitz either. I think it was ruined just about then.

By LeeLee

Oscars no place for children, including james and Anne. Those kids ruined a perfect Oscar song, recalled fondly by so many, and turned it into a whine fest for undisciplined elementary school kids. Argh, the worst. People used to decry the opening musical numbers, but give me a Billy Crystal montage and/or singers and dancers (professional, please) any day. Have we forgotten why we have the Academy Awards? To honor FILMS, not to be forced to listen to off-key children annoy us into turning the channel. Keep kids home and off my TV, at least for the Oscars.

By david

It seems the producers along with Anne Hathaway were trying something new, to end the show with something heartwarming and uplifting. Obviously, many people were unhappy with much of the show, from beginning to the bitter end. The kids were earnest and adorable. It's shocking that such a sycophant like Mr. Cohen who produces such cultural dung would be so vicious.

By hummerpoo2

What is an "Andy Cohen"?

By Hey Miss Wanda

TEAM ANDY!!!!!

By joanmarie1640

Cohen said,"They just ruined everything." He thinks THAT was what ruined the Oscar show this year? That was just merely the ending to a terrible,terrible show. The host and hostess were terribly miscast--and everthing went downhill from there.

By OLDERBLUE

I liked this... I Really LIKED this..!!!

By krajki

Andy was totally out of line. His programs are nothing to brag about. It was his opinion he should keep it to himself.

By james

I love children-time for a little youth on a stiff old show -the acadamy awards-I give the children an oscar

By Dee

That show was ruined long before those kids ever got on the stage. The Oscars SUCKED from the very beginning! And Cohen knows that... Plastic people telling plastic lies to protect relationship with other plastic people.

Thursday 03 March

By Miracles

I think it would have better if they would have reunited ALL the celebrities (insert air bunnies) from the shows (again, air bunnies) Andy Cohen does for Bravo. You know, those smart, sophisticated, well behaved, well spoken, sewn, stuffed, stretched, plopped up, boozed up Housewives.

By Jeanie

Here I thought I was the only one that didn't like those kids! It's not that the singing was bad, but that they didn't fit into the show. They needed to be dressed nicer. Also, they all moved around like they had been given too much sugar before the show. They need to have choreogrhaphed movements. It was distracting to watch them move every which way.

Sunday 06 March

By Dadicated

The children were the only bright spot in a rather broing show. I thought the way the show ended was very touching. But even if he didn't like the kids Cohen was a total jerk for criticizing them. I have a child who graduate from PS 22. I will never watch any show that Cohen is involed with nor will I buy from any sponsor of his shows. I hope he finds a knife for that eye.

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