Andy Cohen wasn’t thrilled about Tom Sandoval doing a post-Scandoval interview with Howie Mandel.
“I found out about it last week [and] was annoyed on my behalf, on Bravo’s behalf, on the viewers’ behalf,” the “Watch What Happens Live” host confessed on SiriusXM’s “Andy Cohen Live” Wednesday.
However, Cohen thinks Tuesday’s polarizing episode of the “Howie Mandel Does Stuff” podcast ultimately backfired, saying “neither Tom nor Howie did themselves any favors” — especially since the “Deal or No Deal” host admitted he knew nothing about his guest’s show, “Vanderpump Rules.”
“I’m surprised he gave an interview to someone who doesn’t seem to be familiar with the show or watch the show on any level,” Cohen added.
“He’s like, ‘I don’t understand why this [cheating scandal] is a big deal,’ but maybe that’s what Tom felt he needed from an interview, so he could just be completely unchallenged.”
Follow Pvnew’s coverage of ‘Scandoval‘
- Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss, Ariana Madix drama, explained
- How Ariana Madix found out about Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss’ affair
- Ariana Madix rips ‘subhuman’ Raquel, ‘rat’ Sandoval in ‘Pump Rules’ reunion trailer
Cohen, 54, emphasized that he viewed the interview as a “missed opportunity” for both Sandoval, 40, and Mandel, 67, and even compared it to him doing a hypothetical “Deal or No Deal” reunion.
“You know what — if I was doing a ‘Deal or No Deal’ reunion, you know what I would do? I would watch ‘Deal or No Deal’ to find out what it’s about,” he shadily said.
Despite the podcast episode — which Bravo told Pvnew it got a “heads-up” about — spilling tea, Cohen encouraged “Pump Rules” fans to still tune in to the show’s highly anticipated reunion, during which he conducted one-on-one interviews with Sandoval, 40, the bar owner’s ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix and his secret lover Raquel Leviss.
“I’m still looking forward to you all seeing that, and hearing his perspective up against Raquel and Ariana is fascinating stuff, so there’s still more to come,” he teased.
Cohen previously made his stance clear about how “jackhole” Mandel “didn’t do his homework.”
“Now both Sandoval and Howie are being dragged on social media,” he said on “WWHL” Tuesday. “Howie, you have to be careful before you take a side. Bravo fans are very passionate.”
Sandoval made several claims during the bombshell interview, including that he broke up with Madix, 37, on Valentine’s Day — before she learned of his affair with Leviss, 28, on March 1.
The cover band frontman also gushed about his “magnetic” first kiss with Leviss but alleged they are “taking a break” from their sexual relationship amid all the backlash.
“Vanderpump Rules” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
