If Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had a "Real Housewives" tagline, what would it be?
"Some people call me that woman from Michigan. I call it getting (bleep) done," she revealed Tuesday night on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" talk show.
The cable network discreetly put a sound effect over a word that rhymes with "wit," while Whitmer's witty answer delighted host and executive producer of the "Real Housewives" franchise Andy Cohen
"You were ready with that. I love it! Oh my gosh, that is so good!" Cohen raved about her response.
Although the "WWHL" guest list often relies on Bravolebrities (as those famous for being on a Bravo reality show are called), the show also has welcomed actors, comedians, authors, broadcast journalists and genuine legends like Cher, Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep.
Whitmer was there to plug her new book, "True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between." She was joined by another guest, three-time Emmy winner Uzo Aduba ("Orange Is the New Black"), whose new memoir, "The Road Is Good: How a Mother’s Strength Became a Daughter’s Purpose,” debuted this week.
The governor gamely embraced the show's playful spirit. Early on, she fielded a question involving “Real Housewives" veteran Luann de Lesseps, aka Countess Luann, who Cohen said had tweeted to ask who is Whitmer's favorite Bravo doppelganger.
"Are you familiar with the oeuvre of Countess Luann?," asked Cohen. Replied Whitmer, "I am, because … every once in a while, a video of her dancing in a bar is attributed to me." (The Countess posted the video of herself on X, formerly Twitter, in June and some people have tweeted that they mistakenly thought she was the guv.)
When Cohen mentioned that she was a party girl in her past, Whitmer got laughs by responding, “I was your most fun friend from high school who you wondered if they’d ever amount to anything.”
“She did, everybody,” said Cohen.
Whitmer participated in a "Clubhouse Quickie," a fast round of questions on topics like her first concert (New Edition), the most famous contact in her phone ("Oh, George Clooney?), how she'd describe Vice President Kamala Harris in three words ("Badass. Ready. Exciting."), her most recent TV binge (the Showtime series "Yellowjackets") and more.
She also played a game called "Should We Give a Damn?" that had Cohen asking whether we should give a damn about everything from "The Golden Bachelorette" (Whitmer said, "Yes, you go, girl!") to the fact that the upcoming "Wicked" movie adaptation will be split into two parts ("No, just plan accordingly," she advised).
Whitmer even smashed three breakaway bottles over Cohen's head during a current events quiz dubbed "Whit Me With Your Best Shot." It was a penalty for each question read by Aduba that he missed.
At times, there were glimmers of political relevance, such as when Cohen asked Whitmer whether she would accept a Cabinet position if Harris wins the presidential election. "I have committed to serving the people of Michigan through my term, so that ends in 2026 and then, I don't know what the heck I'm going to do next, Andy," said Whitmer.
Whitmer concluded her appearance by naming her five favorite Republicans, putting her dad, Dick Whitmer, who served in the late Michigan Gov. William Milliken's administration, at No. 1. Not long afterward, someone in a shark costume came onstage, a nod to the viral clip of Whitmer saying, "It's Shark Week" and mouthing a four-syllable expletive before the broadcast of her 2020 Democratic National Convention speech.
Oh, and note to Cohen: It's "Michi-GAN-der," not "Michigan-DER." Well, he hails originally from Missouri, so he's forgiven.
Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at [email protected].
(This story was updated to add photos.)
Source ; freep.com
