Andy Cohen Has the "Absolutely Essential" Formula For What Makes the Perfect Housewife

Andy Cohen knows a thing or two about the Housewives. We mean the guy is in constant contact with the ladies at all times and serves as executive producer on the franchise. So when it comes to knowing what it takes to be a great Housewife, he definitely knows what he's talking about. And when Lisa Rinna appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Tuesday, she really wanted to know what traits he thinks are key to making a great 'Wife.

"I think what makes a good Housewife is willing to live their lives openly in front of the cameras," he shared with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills actress. "They don't hide things. Anytime you hide things on camera, it will come out, it will come back to bite you and it will be far worse than it ever would have been if you had just owned it, as you say."

Next up, it's all about the friendships. "I think that in terms of casting bringing in someone into the group — and you're the example that I always use, as is Dorinda [Medley] in New York — is that an actual connection with the group that goes further than a year, or we knew each other, or we met at a party is absolutely essential," he explained. "And I think Erika [Girardi], when we brought her in she was close friends with Yolanda [Hadid] and that was really great. You have a 10-plus year history with [Lisa] Vanderpump and Kyle [Richards] and Kim [Richards] and Eileen [Davidson] for so long that is so important."

Andy was quick to point out that it doesn't always pan out. "We learned an important lesson when we brought in Joyce [Giraud de Ohoven] and Carlton [Gebbia] on Beverly Hills, who were both great women and in another universe would have been great for the show in their own way. But the problem was there was not a rooting interest of, 'You offended me by doing this or that,' because they had just met," he said. "But when you come in and get into a thing with Lisa Vanderpump there's a 10 year, [20 year] friendship at stake, which makes it more interesting to watch. So I think that's super important."

Finally, the perfect Housewife has to be able to laugh it off. "I think someone that has a sense of humor or who is funny either deliberately or who is funny but doesn't realize is funny is really, really good," he said. "Shannon Beador is good for that on Orange County."

Check out Andy in his life before the 'Wives, below.