Andy Cohen's diary: Housewives, Tinder and celebrity dish

Andy Cohen has struck a pop culture chord with America. Working as a programming executive at Bravo, he became the brainchild behind one of the most talked-about reality shows on television, "The Real Housewives" franchise. Inspired by scripted soap operas of yesteryear, the "Housewives" series has become the modern-day serial broadcast drama.

"I think the "Housewives" have replaced the modern soap opera in a way for a lot of people," Cohen said on "CBS This Morning." "Scripted soap operas, there's only a couple on the air now, and truth is stranger than fiction, which is part of the reason that I love my book, actually."

His latest achievement, already a best-seller on the New York Times' list, is aptly titled "The Andy Cohen Diaries." Cohen assures readers won't be disappointed when they're transported behind-the-scenes of his A-list life.

"I want to give people the feeling that they opened up my diary and they got something out of it and I delivered the dish," he said. "And certainly there's a lot of backstage dish about what I'm really thinking on my late night talk show and nights out with friends."

The book tells the tale of his numerous celebrity friends, his rise up the entertainment ladder and, as candid as he permits, his journey to find love -- a journey that includes both "age appropriate" and "very age inappropriate" matches on the dating app, Tinder. Using pseudonyms like "Blue Speedo guy" and "Irish Chef," Cohen teases fans with his dates and lasting desires to find the one.

"I'm still single," he said. "I have great fulfilling relationships in my life, I just don't have love."

But before Cohen became the household name worthy of a tell-all book, Cohen was a Boston University broadcast journalism graduate from St. Louis. At 21 years old, he interned with "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty at CBS News. Cohen then secured a job at the broadcast company and within his 10-year term, served as a senior producer for "The Early Show," as well as a producer for "48 Hours" and our very own "CBS This Morning."

Although Cohen was not out during his time as an intern, he had become obsessed, in a sense, with one man in particular -- Andy Warhol.

"I became infatuated with Warhol's diaries, which came out in 1989," Cohen said. "I loved this book -- it reads now like a pop culture time capsule -- and I used it as an inspiration to write my own diary."

Now 25 years after its release, Cohen has debuted his personal take.

"I kept a top-secret diary for a year and then published it," he said.

Cohen's transparency in his book extends well beyond the pages. His infectious energy broadcasts throughout the country on "Watch What Happens Live," where his 22-person studio audience and millions of television viewers share in the often alcohol-infused interviews -- the show has its own bar for both the host, guests and audience. On the other end of the screen, viewers are encouraged to live-Tweet questions to Cohen and participate in their drinking games.

As a pioneer in both broadcast and digital realms of television, Cohen only plans to progress further with his production company and continue to build on "Watch What Happens Live."

And until he reaches a pinnacle in his career and connects with his yet-to-be-found companion, he's got his adopted beagle-foxhound mix, keeping his heart open.

"What has he added? Oh, love," Cohen said. "Anyone who owns an animal will relate to our love story."