Mention It All - How Do Mormon Wives Stack Up To Housewives? Ft. Gibson Johns

Episode Date: September 9, 2024

It’s been a relatively quiet time in the Real Housewives calendar, but there’s a new of wives to discuss, and Gibson Johns is just the person to help Dylan do it. They talk about Hulu’s breakout hit The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, including key differences from RHOSLC, the bizarre role of #MomTok, and where the show might be headed in a second season. Later, they talk about Kristen Doute’s well-timed engagement, and what we know about RHOM filming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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See Store Online for details. Betches Media presents. Ha ha, laugh, funny. Mention It All, a Bravo by Betches podcast. We don't say that, but now we said it. With me, Dylan Hafer. We're going to check, me, though. Hey, everyone.

Welcome back to the Mention at All podcast. I am so excited to kick off this week with a friend of mine, a Bravo podcast fellow... Keep going. Gibson Jaws. My friend, my frequent guest, I would say. You've been here a bunch. You're in the studio today, and we are going to be talking about the hottest new show on Hulu, which I did not expect to even take off the way that it has over the weekend, the secret lives of Mormon wives. And I'm excited to get into that. Giveson, how are you? First of all. I'm fantastic. I'm so excited to have you back. Yeah. I mean, I feel like we've messaged a little about the show, and it's just like, I've been dying to talk about it. It's just, it's one of those shows that like, yeah, there are things that, like, we can change about it. But ultimately, it's like, you just want to.

talk about it. It's like they're so, it's like such a water cooler feeling show where it's like, holy fuck, did you see this? There was a lot over the weekend. So we, you and I both had gotten screeners for this show pretty early. They were, they sent this out to a lot of people. And you had, you watched it all very quickly. I had checked out the first couple episodes and we were talking about it and I was like, oh yeah, like maybe we can, well, we should talk about this when it comes out. You know, we're at a little bit of like a light point in the housewives calendar. I'm like there's, I've been craving a Sunday night show on Bravo for the last month, and there just hasn't been anything.

So I was like, okay, yeah, we'll do an episode about that. Why not? And then over the weekend, it felt like one of those things where it was like every time I looked at my phone over the weekend, a new person was like, I started the show. It's like giving a word of mouth spread. It really is. And I think these like streaming reality shows, it can be so hit or miss, what kind of like pops in, I don't know if it's.

It's the algorithm or just if there's a weekend that people are bored with nothing to do. I know. But there are shows that come out that seem really interesting and have kind of like a almost like a true crimey hook. And then nobody cares about them. But this show, it really is, it's taking off. And I think that's exciting to see because we don't always get, I mean, even on Bravo, we see new shows with new casts can really just be like a tree in the woods. Blink, can you miss that? Basically.

I mean, especially if you think about it's on Hulu, that's where Van Pham Villa air. And like I think you are similar Like I watched maybe the first four Maybe five episodes of that show And then I just got so bored and just turned it off Yeah And it's I think it's exciting when a non-Bravo And non-netflix reality show hits

Yeah it's it's rare for that to happen Right to find an ensemble especially That it's not just a family that's really interesting Or like one person it's like it's this it's this ensemble And it's a little weird It's very specific It's a very like niche experience that these women are showing us on the show.

Yeah. I think part of it's also the amazing trailer they put out for this show. Yes. You know, it's like they, I've never heard a better use of the song Unholy by Santa Smith and Kim Petrus. I mean, it's just like perfection. And yeah, it's just the logline is crazy. It's like mom influencers on TikTok, they're Mormon.

They had a swinging scandal. Half of them have been divorced. Most of them are in their 20s. It's just like. That was crazy. More and more and more and more and more. It was crazy watching the show and realizing that it's like, I'm, the age of the oldest person.

Yes, I am older than the entire cast, Dylan. And I think sometimes people talk about, I think, I mean, obviously it's hard to watch this show as a Bravo fan and not compare it to Real House House in Salt Lake City. And I think there are interesting comparisons, interesting connections. You had DeMe, you had a few of them on your podcast. And DeMee specifically, you found out. I like lit up. Anthony Harrington's ex-husband.

Yeah. Her husband is Andy Arrington's ex-husband. Yeah. I just asked, like, you know, like, you know, why did you decide to do a reality show? It kind of feels like not something that would be approved of by the Mormon church. And she was like, well, like, my husband's ex was on Salt Lake City. And I was like, what? I was like, oh, and she was like Angie Harrington.

I was like, oh. I was like, friend of, tried to be a full time. Okay. But still, a great connection. She said that she actually auditioned for housewives. And it kind of sounded like what mutually wasn't a good fit. But when I was talking to my brother about this, like, to me, to me, not to like get ahead of ourselves, but like she is actually one of the better reality stars on the show, I think. And I could see her working on that show in five to ten years.

She's a little young. She's 29. I think this could be sort of like the minor leagues. Totally. Totally agree. Yeah. No, 100%. Casey tweeted it's kind of like a mix of teen mom and Salt Lake City Housewise.

And like I see some of those comparisons. I think watching it, it feels like this. This is a direction that when they were conceptualizing real houseways of Salt Lake City, I feel like they could have made a decision to go in this direction, to go for like to focus on this like Mormon and Mormon adjacent community of women who mostly got married really young, had kids really young, live in this community, which is as, you know, we're talking about the show, it's fascinating. Yeah. But it's very specific. And I think I'm very glad that for Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, they decided to have a couple people on the cast that feel tied to this world a little bit. Like Whitney and Heather, you know, Heather's background before she was on the show, I think would have slotted in really well with a lot of these women. But that this feels like you're watching a completely different section of this Utah world than Real Housewives.

I'm glad, yeah, I'm glad that we have more, that we have more of a mixture on Salt Lake City because it kind of gives you more of the outsider perspective and, and just other, you know, points of view. But I also kind of think that it's sort of like, I kind of, I don't want to get ahead of these women's lives, but like, we see Jesse, who's one of the older one, she's 31. And she's like, she's like kind of the most, she's kind of the best perspective on her relationship with the church. And I'm guessing that it kind of comes with age.

I mean, Heather and Whitney both, we saw them working through down season one of, so like, they still work through it, but like, they were there in their 40s, you know, and I kind of think that that is a natural thing that happens with a lot of women in the Mormon church where, like, you get to your mid 30s and 40s and you're like, whoa. Well, and especially if you're getting divorced, if you've been married more than once, if you have children with multiple partners, things that, whether or not they're, you know, getting you excommunicated from the church, they're certainly not like, there are people that are going to look at you differently or frown upon that stuff.

And so as you're getting older and you're like, okay, like, if I'm in this community that is, like, judging me for these life choices or even not choices, like, things that have happened to me. Yeah. Like, why am I going to continue to, like, buy into that community? Totally. And that's, yeah, that's one of the most fascinating parts of the whole show, I think, for me. Because I don't know. I really don't know that much about the Mormon church. And, like, I also just wonder, like, these young women who they're on this show, they probably, I mean, I don't know how much.

much they've, like, seen in the world. But, like, now they're going to, like, be on these press tours and, like, going to, like, L.A. and New York. And, like, they're going to be, like, exposed to new cultures and things through this experience. I'm just so curious how that affects them and how they're thinking about everything. Well, their husbands are going to be texting them the whole time being like... Zach Affleck, put the phone away.

Oh, it's funny, but it's not. I know. I'm curious. So, watching the show for me, I was very much not paying attention when the whole swingers scandal went down. I was not plugged in at all. I knew that it was happening to the extent of like, oh, when people said like the Mormon mom swingers, I was like, oh yeah, that. And then that was, I never like read an article about it. Yeah. No, I was not plugged in at all to it. So I'm curious because

this show basically, it's clear that that happened, that got a lot of attention. And then some production company was like, that could be a show. We need a camera now. So it's, it very much feels like they arrived sort of in the aftermath of that. And then the show, really, they filmed this pilot, and then they say right on there, 11 months later. Wild. I do kind of appreciate that they didn't try and act like the pilot was filmed at the same time as everything else.

But did you not being super like up to date on the scandal of it all that started it, did you feel like there was a piece missing watching the show of like what actually happened here? They definitely left a lot of details out, especially because so many, every single other woman besides Taylor on the cast, like explicitly is like, I was not involved in the swinging stuff. And so you're left, you're, you kind of are left wondering as if you were like, okay, but like, you know, swinging is like by definition a group activity. So like, who are the other women that were involved? And it just, it sounds like if you just, Google that they just didn't cast a lot of those, they didn't cast any of those women. But I definitely felt that. Like,

I kind of forgot about it, honestly, by, like, episode three or four because there was so much else going on. Like, Whitney and all her shit was distracting me from everything else. And also, because Taylor essentially becomes a different person by episode two when she's pregnant 11 months later. And, like, I think that's fascinating. But there was an element missing. Right. So Taylor, Taylor Frankie Paul, which is just what a name. Oh, a name.

She's like the protagonist of this series, essentially. Yes. She's like the central character. and we learned that she was involved in this swinging scandal with the soft swinging. And these Utah accents are really just busted out. Everybody's on the healing journey over here. But we find out that this has happened. This was with her old husband.

She announced it while she was announcing her divorce. Yes. And so now on the show, she is with this new guy, Dakota. And in the pilot, we see that she is pregnant. And then she shares that she has had a miscarriage. marriage. Yes. In the midst of Whitney also sharing that her husband was caught on quote unquote. Definitely straight husband. Was caught on quote, Tinder, quote.

On Tinder. He was struggling with a porn addiction. There's a lot going on. But then 11 months later, now Taylor's just pregnant again. Very pregnant. She's having the baby. And her relationship with Dakota is like so bleak. Yeah, it's tough. The entire season. It's tough. And it's just, it is kind of wild watching it. I was like, I'm so glad that this that these men aren't on housewives because imagining being like at BravoCon and then just like seeing Zach Affleck like milling around

it's so strange but it does feel like with this there's a little bit more of like I feel like I'm watching something like at an arm's length well it's like one thing for a housewife to sort of feel pressure to stay with a man who maybe she shouldn't be staying with

because of like keeping up an image or money or money or whatever the factor is but here it just feels like there's this whole other added factor of like you're just not supposed to get divorced and it's so frowned upon and you might get shunned by certain people or what have you. I mean, so many other, so many different things, but like, especially if you've already gone through a divorce or I mean, I guess she's not married to the guy, but like there's still this like, I'm having a baby with this person. I need to stay with him feeling, even though they literally fight, it sounds like five times a day,

like screaming matches, like like like staying, you know, sleeping inside of our beds kind of fights. Right. Every time we see them fight, it's like, okay, well then, I don't want to be together. Okay, then I'm not going to come home. And it's like, do you ever have a good day? And this is what we see. Right. You know?

Right. This is eight episodes. Yeah. And like we talked about one of those episodes was filmed a year in the past. Right. There's two episodes where they're in Vegas. There's one episode where they're on this like girls trip, quote unquote, to park city.

A one night. In like a penthouse. One night sleepover where they're sleeping in bunk beds. But it is like, it does feel like, like this show is kind of, it's like low budget in a way that I really enjoy. Yes. Because it's like, okay, everything's kind of just going to be like. It's very local feeling.

At somebody's house. Yeah, which I love. Yeah. The women are just showing up when they go to Vegas, they're staying in an Airbnb that looks like it could be anywhere on Earth. Oh, I stayed in that Airbnb for a bachelor's party last year, you know? Like, that's what I feel. But it's funny because they're in Vegas.

But like, when the real houseways of Beverly Hills go to Vegas, they're like in a suite at the Venetian that's like the sickest thing you've ever seen. When this group goes to Vegas, they're like, it looks like they're still in Utah. Right. And then they go to... 100%. And that's why I'm already like...

I'm already like... I want a second season of the show, but it's also like I want them to maintain... I don't know if they'll be able to maintain sort of like a lot of the qualities that made this first eight episodes so compelling. It is interesting though, because the idea is that all of these women are already known as part of this mom talk social media group. And many of them have like millions of followers.

It was crazy to me because I was watching the show. And I probably got about halfway through before I was like, oh, let me do a little drive-by on their social media and see, like, what we're talking about here. Because it's like people talk about being an influencer. That can mean anything. Michaela, who to me kind of gives nothing on the show. She's not one of the standouts, I would say,

she's like two million followers on TikTok. It's crazy. No, it's wild. And it just, first of all, it shows you that on TikTok. Like, we all have very different experiences on that app. But yeah, it's wild. Like, these people, like, I mean, and Whitney's getting $20,000 for,

a vibrator sponsored content deal. You know, it's like they're... If the Lord allows her to do that. Right, but they're like, they're making money. I mean, Jen Affleck says that she's a breadwinner for their... I think they all... Yeah, like, I think a lot of them make a lot of money. And your dollar goes a longer way in a place like Salt Lake City, probably.

And, like, they all live, like, pretty great lives, it seems, in terms of the, the aesthetics and, like, the material wealth. Yeah, it's interesting, like, because, you know, talking about this show feeling a little bit like lower budget or more down to earth. It's like these women, it's not like they're poor. It's not like we're watching like, you know, teen mom where it's a struggle every day. It's like I actually kind of, it's kind of nice that this show isn't really about money, except maybe in the sense that culturally where they live, it's pretty uncommon for a woman to be in a position of power professionally. Totally. And to be the breadwinner in her home and to be the one

kind of like providing. But that's at odds with. like everything else that's in their life. It really is. And we see that, you know, most of them seem to be pretty secure in their relationships. But like with, you know, Jen and Zach, it really becomes an issue where it's like he doesn't want her to be going to this event that Mom Talk is going to be at.

And it's like, well, do you want to go to med school or not? Like, do you want your bills paid? So good. So good. Everything you want for summer is at Nordstrom Rack stores now. And up to 60%. off. Stock up and save on the brands you love like Vince, Sam Edelman, Frame and Free People. Join the Nordy Club to unlock exclusive discounts, shop new arrivals first, and more. Plus, buy online

and pick up at your favorite rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack. Girl, winter is so last season. And now Springs got you looking at pictures of tank tops with hungry eyes. Your algorithm is feeding you cutoffs. You're thirsty for the sun on your shoulders. That perfect hang on the patio sundress. Those sandals you can wear all day and all night. And you've had enough of shopping from your couch. Done hoping it looks anything like the picture when you tear open that envelope. It's time for a little in-person spring treat. It's time for a trip to Ross. Work your magic. I do you think with some of them, I had this feeling that some of them have like a lot of family money too.

Like especially with like the Affleck. I'm like they live like a really nice house and like the pioneer ancestors. Yeah. Like a stash of Mormon cash. Right. But with like with Jen and Taylor, I think those are the two whose relationships are probably the most concerning and get the most air time on this season.

A feeling that I had as a view around. I'm presuming you felt the same way. It's sort of like you're sitting there and you're like, I just want this woman to see the light. Like I want her to break out of this relationship. She is, she's a strong, they're all strong women. They're pretty independent in a lot of ways, not so in other ways, but like they have it in them to sort of like break out of these like really constricting relationships and a religion that's really constrictive. You just like want them to break out of that.

Like that's how I felt the whole time. Like there's that scene towards the end after Jen has left the Vegas Airbnb spent the night with Zach and then she comes back. She's like, everything's fine. She's like, oh my God. She's like, guys, we had such a good conversation. It's honestly exactly what we needed. And it's like, girl, he was below. Literally.

He said he didn't love you. Oh my God. Yeah. He said he wanted to get you. He said you wanted a divorce if these are your values that you had. And Jesse's sitting there and she's literally like basically willing Jen to get divorced. Like that's essentially what's happening. And I was like, I was like, I'm with Jesse.

When you said that Jesse kind of has the most perspective. Yeah. Or like the most whatever. Yeah. I totally, I think she and Macy are the ones that I sort of connected with the most long I was watching. because I think like you can tell that everybody's in various stages of how they, what their personal relationship is with like the church and everything that comes along with it.

The Mormon scale. And it felt like Jesse, I think she almost had a little bit of the quality of like we talk about on housewives. Sometimes there's somebody who's like the narrator a little bit like back in the day. That was Bethany on Real Houseways of New York. And like I'm not saying Jay Z. Stiles over here. It's like the next Bethany Frankel. But like watching the show, it, we weren't necessarily.

getting that much of Jesse's personal storyline, but her voice was really present in those confessionals. And I think actually, like, knowing that this is a world and a community that most of us don't have a lot of knowledge about, I thought that's one thing that production did really well was they used the women as kind of these, you know, narrators of like, oh, yeah, so actually this is what this means and this is a really big deal. And this is why this isn't normal or getting divorced as seen as this or, you know, even making money and being on social media. Like, I thought it felt watching the show, like, entertaining in a reality way, but also kind of educational.

I totally agree. That's a really good point about Jesse. She was the audience surrogate in a lot of ways. And, yeah, even, like, down to, like, why they drink soda all the time. And, like, why are they going to Botox because they want to be high on laughing gas and, like, to get the cheap thrill or not so cheap thrill at 22. They're like, God didn't say anything about plastic. surgery, it's kind of crazy. It's so crazy.

It's like they're not allowed to drink coffee or tea, but they're allowed to drink like basically like 20 gallons of soda every single week. And like, it's just so funny. Layla being like, I drink one, 44 ounce one of these five to six days a week. And I drink it in probably an hour. And she's just like deadpan to camera being like, yeah, so I'm probably going to die when I'm 50. And they go to these soda bars where they get these like gallons of soda that are like cotton candy, coconut, diet Coke. Raspberry.

Do you know there's a place in New York now that does that? Oh, really? They opened, so it's, I can't remember what it's, this is bad podcasting. I can't remember what it's called. But there's one at South Street Seaport. Okay. And there's one in Rockefeller Center in the like, the shops. Okay.

By the rink. Have you been? I went to the one in the seaport a few weeks ago. And, I mean, it's good. Okay. I mean, I believe it. The one I thought is, it was Dr. Pepper and vanilla and like, uh, creamer.

So it's essentially a Coke flow or like a root beer. Yeah. And that's the vibe. They have like fruity ones too. I mean, it was like, it's delicious. I'm sure it's good. It's just to drink that every single day. I was like, oh, I saw this on TikTok.

Let me go get my little treat. It was. It's not fun of your daily routine. Should we go to swing? I mean, but it is fascinating. And like they and I think Macy also did a really good job of explaining some of that stuff too. But yeah, Jesse is absolutely the person who I just like gravitated towards in terms

just like, I mean, even when she's in that hot tub drinking out of that flask, I was like, that's me. Yeah, the relationship to drinking is really, it feels like it changes from minute to minute. But it took me a while watching the show to really like remember who everyone was and start to feel like there were some of them that I could maybe relate to or kind of like grab a hold of. But what also was really wild throughout the season was to watch Whitney's kind of rise as this like villain figure. It's not something that I necessarily expected to have on this show,

somebody who was kind of just like so hateable. Yeah. Because I expected like, oh, these people are very different from me. Maybe they're going to say some things that are a little bit like, you know, like, you know, questionable or whatever. But watching somebody just kind of, I don't know if she was, didn't realize how she was going to come across on this season or if she really just like doesn't give a flip, as she might say.

Like, it was, she's a piece of work. I don't know. She's a very compelling reality TV star, I think, very unintentionally. I think it's all very unintentional. I think I saw a TikTok last night that she posted. She was like, when you finally watch, she was like, Welp. And then she was like, she basically has a lot to say. So I think we'll be hearing more from Whitney in the coming.

I'm sure she's next up on file, files. Right. There we go. Oh, my God, please. No, she, I think she's a great villain. I don't think it's intentional. I think that she... And it's funny because you don't... She's not hateable because she's like

so antiquated in her beliefs and so, like, you know, devout Mormon. It's because she's a bad friend and refused to apologize about anything and had no idea of how she was coming across at all. That's what makes her unlikable. You know, it's not for her beliefs or anything. It's just she's not a good friend to these women.

Right. There are a couple moments in the season where it's like people are weird about the drinking or, you know, when... when somebody gets uninvited from the baby blessing because they're not, you know, religious enough essentially. Like, there are moments like that. We're kind of like, oh, that seems shitty.

But with Whitney, it's like she basically decides three or four episodes into the season that this group just like isn't for her. But then she kind of like. But she can't help herself. She like drops in every couple episodes. And what it creates is this weird dynamic where by the halfway point in the season, it's pretty cut and dry that she doesn't like most of these women, and most of these women don't like her.

And she's decided that she doesn't really want to be a part of the group. But then it's like, okay, I'm going to stop. I'm going to go to this, I'm going to go to this like getaway night. Yeah. I'm going to go to the divorce party. I'm going to go to the divorce party, even though I haven't spoken to Layla and God knows how long. And then crucially, she shows up to Michaela's birthday in the finale. Yes.

After completely ghosting, Macy's business launch event. Her best fan in the group. Macy, who she has said is the one person in the group that she still wants to be friends with and she arrives at this this Michaela's birthday party with a gift. And then basically like immediately is like,

okay, I'm gonna go because this is awkward. And Macy's like, hey, can we talk? Right. And she's like, I just don't get why you're mad at me because like I felt like I couldn't go so I didn't go. And Macy's like, yeah, that's why I'm mad at you. It's weird because to me,

I think Whitney sort of epitomizes like, you know, she can dish it, but she can't take it. Like, she just has very thin skin, as we've seen on the show. And it's weird because I feel like usually in a reality setting, at least on Housewives, we're so primed to like, let's say if somebody's been like away from the group events or like they've been sort of outcast on the group, like, if they're going to show up to a random group event, they're going to come in either super apologetic and like with their tail between their legs and just really kind of eat their words and like try to get back into the good graces

of the group. Or they're going to come in like super unapologetic. and be like, exactly. It's one of the other, whereas, like, Whitney, it was so hard to tell what she was going for in a way that I found, like, fascinating, but also, like, kind of frustrating. Right, like, she wants to have her cake and eat it, too, in a way that's just, like, maddening to watch because you're like, how would Macy not be pissed off at you? Right.

Why? How could you not think that you need to profusely apologize? I mean, to me, like, it could have come down to something as simple as, like, I should have texted you. and let you know that I wasn't going to make it. And she didn't. But it's like, it becomes this bigger thing. And I think that part of the, part of the weirdness around it is the way that this group discusses and refers to mom talk.

Yes. Like, almost like this entity that they have created. And it's like a club that they're all in, which it's funny because knowing a little bit more about the background of the Swinger scandal and sort of how these women know, each other or maybe didn't know each other that well before the show. Like, it's not really true that like these eight women created mom talk

and without one of them will survive. It's like, it feels like on housewives when it's clear that they have told them to say like, the group of ladies or like the social circle instead of like the cast. Totally. Totally agree. Just say mom talk. Yeah. No, exactly. Will Montau survive this?

Will it? I don't know. I think about it a lot. I'm like, wow. I'm going to have another diet Coke right now. Will mom talk survive this? No, you're so right. It's like it felt a little bit put on in terms of the mom talk thing. Yeah. I do think there is a, there's some element of truth to like them worrying. It's lucrative for them to be a group together.

Yeah. In terms of posting videos together, getting more followers via cross posting, different, whatever, you want, however you want to like look at it. But it's definitely like, why is Whitney so essential to this? Again, like, Michaela has two million followers of our own. Why do we need Whitney's? They're like, yeah, it's, it's hard because. like Whitney at this point obviously is not a good friend and we don't like spending time with her, but like, what is mom talk without Whitney? And it's like, it's just seven other girls making

videos that all look the same anyway. And it's funny because I actually think that I actually think that part of that makes it like unsurious, but then also part of it makes it such a good show because like I think on a Bravo show again, like circling back to what we know, we love it when they find organic friend groups and like an organic friend to join a cast or what have you. But on this show, I think because it's so surface level with them, it almost, it almost brings something else to it. I don't really know exactly what. And maybe it makes the fighting more savage and like they can like turn on each other more easily.

Yeah. Which is good for reality TV, I guess. But like there is an element that that brings. Well, and also I think with housewives, it's like obviously sometimes people are acting fake and keeping up appearances, but it's really just because they want. to or because they've decided that they should. On this show, it's like, no, like, they're going to make a TikTok with each other right after they're done fighting because they still want to get the views.

Because Mom Talk needs to survive. And I thought it was, like, when they were in Vegas and they went to the Chippendale's show, they got there, like, it seemed like extremely early so they could do this like meet and greet situation. So then they're just like chilling in this booth area. And they're like, there was one moment where they're just like, I guess we should like make a video or something. That is like peak.

Like, we're not. actually that close. We don't have that much to talk about. So we have 10 minutes of downtime. Let's make content. I guess we should like make a TikTok. Right. Right. Does anyone have any like saved sounds? That's so true. It's so great though. And it makes me wonder like I'm assuming that this show is going to get renewed for a second season for for multiple reasons, partially because we're talking about it here right now. We've been like everybody's talking about it. It's the moment right now. But this season ends on a total cliffhanger, which is something that Bravo doesn't really do. Never.

And that I think is worth talking about that it's like, and I mean, we've been spoiling it, but like if you really don't want to know, it ends as Macy is calling this woman who has allegedly maybe hooked up with Taylor's boyfriend, baby daddy's, baby daddy in the past. And so it's like, it literally ends with this other one and be like, I'm ready to tell you everything, cut to black. And I'm like, that is a very captivating end of a season of television if you're, like, writing a season of scandal.

Right. But, like, I'm assuming that conversation happened and was filmed and is, like, sitting in the can somewhere. I'm so curious. And so I'm like, if we don't have a season two. If we don't have a season two deal and I'm burning this office down. I was sorry. You're in my house.

True. I take it back. I'll burn. Whatever. It's number one on Hulu. It's like everyone's talking about it. They had a cliffhanger. I don't know how they couldn't have second season. Like I just don't. I think the only caveat would be if these women wanted to do this again because I had this huge feeling that the show turned out very differently than they all thought it would turn out. Yeah, I guess that's true. I feel like with the exception of Whitney and maybe Jen because of how bad her marriage looks. the whole season. I feel like for everybody else, I could still see them watching the show and thinking like this is a net positive for me. Think of how many followers I'm going to gain. Think of how many brand deals, how many vibrators I can sell,

how many, you know, boxes of fruity pebbles I can buy. Like, I feel like for the most part, this group is going to come out of the season being like, that was fun. Yeah. Yeah. No, I totally agree.

I think maybe they need some space from it to really think that. Yeah. But if they are thinking, thinking long term, they should absolutely be thinking that way. Yeah. But like, for example, you did some stalking of them. I went to Michaela's Instagram and she basically posted this whole thing about like the chronic illness she had that was alluded to on the show, but I got the sense that she was like,

here's what you didn't see. And it was like all these slides about different. It kind of felt like she had filmed a lot about that and they kind of basically all of it out of it. So I think there's are like elements that they're probably personal storylines that they wanted to be included that did not get included across the board. That's tough. And I was thinking about like, this show has eight women in the cast.

And like compared to a housewives show, eight is like the maximum we ever have on Housewives cast. And like usually a new franchise would have like five or six. Yeah. And they have more episodes in a season to cover more storyline and get to know people better. So like eight episodes, eight women, this like Taylor stuff takes up so much conversation. I mean, like we have to watch Whitney. at a farm deciding if she wants to homestead. Baking with her kids for the third time.

Oh my God. And so it is like, yeah, unfortunately, we don't get a lot of Michaela. We don't get a lot of Jesse at home. Right. We don't get a lot of Macy at home. Like, it really is pretty, it feels like there are only three or four of them

that we really spend a lot of time with one-on-one. Which makes you excited for second season. It's like, I'd love to know more about Layla's divorce. Like, it sounds like kind of a lot happen there. I'd love to know more about... She's 22. Yeah.

She's like a single mom. Right. And she has two kids. I'd love to know more about Demi and her 15 year age gap with her hot husband who used to be married to Angie Harrington. I think he's the best guy on the show. Yeah, totally agree. Like, best vibes from him.

Yeah. I'd love to no more. Macy also has a crazy backstory. She posted some real that was like, here's my story. She played like D1 tennis. And then she got this like a really bad injury. And she's been divorced and was cheated. Like, there's just like a lot of shit that's happened in their lives that you're right.

There's not enough air time to to show us everything. So again. I feel like I know we're on streaming. I know the seasons are shorter, but we could bump it up to like 12 or 13 episodes. Oh, absolutely. Eight is eight feels like kind of selling Sunset's 11 seasons.

I was burning through my screeners. And I just in my head it was 10 episodes. And so I got through like episode four and I was like, okay, it's like picking up steam. And I'm like halfway. Yeah. Sad. No,

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While supplies last, ends June 30th, terms at AKA.m.m.S. College PC. I do also wonder, like, if in future seasons, would we stay as tied to the mom talk idea of kind of because I feel like that makes sense. It's like that's the elevator pitch for this show. It's like this group of moms on TikTok, there was a scandal. Now they're picking up the pieces. But like, I'm like, I'm sure they have friends.

I'm sure they have people in their lives that are not in this like mom, this mom talk sisterhood. Yeah, yeah. And like I wouldn't mind seeing somebody's sister-in-law who like isn't on TikTok but is fucking crazy. I don't see it as an essential element of the show going forward. You know, like, I don't need... I think it's funny to see them, like, kind of just shoot up and shoot a TikTok and after having drama. But, like, I don't...

The mom talk thing. It's just sort of like, now just call it a friend group. Also, the weird transitions on the show where, like, they transition between scenes by showing, like, one second of a TikTok. So funny. It's so funny. It's like, it's funny. It's funny that there are just, like, little quirks of this show that wouldn't exist if it was, like,

within housewives or within some, like, kind of established. universe. I do enjoy that. And I think, I mean, good for Hulu for like finding this, picking this up. I don't know, like, what the, you know, Genesis of this show actually was. But it's, it's really firing on all cylinders in a lot of ways. Like, even the intro, I'm like, every time that thing played of like the Google search and then walking in front. Yeah, and they're all walking the blue room.

And they're doing the pretty little, they're doing the pretty little liars like, like, like finger to the mouth and walking in front of the church hand in hand. It's, it's, it's very. And they're all wearing matching outfits. The blue coats? Beyond. It's like, it's cooked up in a lab. And I think a lot of times when these reality shows feel really gimmicky,

like this could have felt so gimmicky. Yeah. It could have felt so, they could have all not played ball, you know. But these women brought it. Yeah, this is the kind of show where like, sometimes with like non-Bravo or even bravo shows sometimes. I'm like, okay, like, I'll give this a shot. And I could have put this down after four episodes and been like, okay, like, I checked it out. I can do my little.

I can talk about it. You were hooked. But I was like, no, I'm finishing the season. Yeah. There's something to be said sometimes about people who come into reality TV so green and just so. It's interesting because they, like you said, have been in the public eye and in their own sort of way via TikTok and via the scandal. And we see sometimes, like on, I think on Vibla, people came into that show kind of already plotting what they wanted to come off as and what drama they were going to start very inauthentic. Right.

But like for some reason, these women just didn't. feel that way to me. They just felt like they were living their lives and like they're kind of they can't help themselves to be this way. Like Taylor, I think, you know, she's a little controversial, but I think she's a really good reality star. And I think that she's almost compulsively honest. You know, she almost like can't help herself by just like saying it. She feels like a Shannon Bador to me almost where it's like, she's kind of in the center of the storm and like things are happening to her. Yes. And like she might not be the most, she might not be doing the most of anyone on the show

but like she kind of is like a little bit of the like center of the mess. And she's gonna tell you about it. She's like, I mean, she's sitting there having a blowout fight with Dakota in front of Macy sitting right there. And she's like,

I shouldn't be here. She is having a blowout fight with him over the phone in front of the entire group hangs up on him in front. It's like, her mom's gonna come over and be like, Taylor, baby. Oh my, her mom is it. What's going wrong?

Her mom has elements of Monica's mom. Monica's mom also. to me a little bit Britney Cartwright's mom Yeah totally A little bit of that There's some really bad extensions happening there

Yeah But I just think that there's something about Taylor that makes her really compelling central figure on this show Wait speaking of the Vanderpump world Yes We had some news a few days ago And you know the only other person in the world

That I can see putting a used Pete upon pregnancy test inside of a cake Might be Kristen Doty Not this through line But there's a cap on it It's like clean, right? That's how Whitney reveals her pregnancy to her family if you haven't watched. But Kristen Doty is engaged to Luke, the man, that wonderful man that we met on season one of the valley.

Mr. Colorado. Is he going to move to L.A.? The question on everybody's lips. You know, I hope that season two opens with him saying that he's moved to L.A. I got it. We can't do another season of like those awkward-ass conversations where it's like, Well, I'm never leaving L.A. And he's like, well, I'm never leaving Colorado.

And it's like, well, I guess we're in love though. Yeah. Engaged. On the cast trip. On the cast trip. And I don't know. I mean, Kristen must have like said like, okay, okay, baby, it's time. On camera.

Is the ring in the suitcase? Yeah. We're packing to go. Yeah. Luke proposing to Kristen on the season two Valley cast trip to Hawaii. First of all, I'm so glad that they're getting like a real cast trip this season. Same. Same.

I feel like that's what they needed. Hawaii makes perfect sense. Obviously, revisiting the scene of Jacks' crime when he got arrested for shoplifting the sunglasses. I don't think Jacks is on the trip. No, I think he might be because I saw some tweet from Zach that was like, how is it possible to leave rehab and come out a worse person? And that was from the trip. There were like some photos that I had seen of people posting from Hawaii that Jacks was like conspicuously absent from. And I'm like, I don't know who he's speaking to.

I feel like he's going to, I'm already guessing we're going to post treatment center. Uh-huh. We're going to get the kind of jacks where it's like, I just don't know if I can be part of this group right now. You know. I don't know how the Valley Group's going to survive this. He's going to go homestead for an episode. No, like I could totally see him like being like, oh, poor me in his hotel room during a group event or something.

He's like, oh, man, they're just, they're going to be drinking so much. They're just questioning me. Yeah. No. I'm happy for Kristen. Me too. I am. I hope that this is like...

It's a gorgeous ring. It's a gorgeous ring. She looks happy. She seems happy. I hope that this is going to be like a positive step in her life. But I also am just like so glad that in all the uncertainty of some of our favorite shows that the Valley seems like a sure thing for season two. And that, you know, so much is happening. So much is happening.

I mean, there's the Jackson, Brittany of it all. there's, I mean, this whole proposal. And like, yeah, I'm happy for Kristen because I think that she's just been like hit with so many like down things on the show. And like she takes it a lot. So it's nice. Even if obviously people have things to say

about their relationship and him, it's nice for her to have a moment of like just extreme positivity on a show. Like this is what she wants and this is what she got and I'm happy for her. You know what I mean? Like you just have to kind of, you root for Kristen.

in a lot of ways. Speaking of getting what she wants, Real Housewives of Miami, it hasn't been filming in so long, and we are finally getting, you know, the white smoke is coming out of the chimney in Miami that they have been cleared to start filming.

And we're still getting all of the info about who's going to be back on the show. It seems like most, if not all of them, are going to be back. They actually did just announce for the fan fest in Miami that it's like the entire R-H-O-M cast. And I'm like, all of the women are like in that little teaser.

And so it seems like everybody's going to be back, but there is some questioning of like who's a friend, who's full time. I saw it just this morning, like reportedly Nicole maybe like wanted to step down to a friend of. Interesting. I don't know if that's true. I saw like one tweet about it. So who knows. But Lisa Hawkestein yesterday, we noticed that in her Instagram bio, it said RHOM season two through six. And season six is last season.

Yes. And so immediately it's like, is she leaving? the show? What does this mean? Was she fired? What do you mean? Did she quit? What's happening? And I, I mean, right away, I clocked this as like, this is some like contract negotiation shenanigans. It's like back in the day when it would be like, Portia has removed the peach from her Instagram bio. Literally. What could this mean? And then like two days later, it's back. And by the end of the day yesterday, Lisa had updated her bio to say two through seven. Period. I mean, you know, I literally sent a screenshot of it to the group text. And I was having a meltdown. I was like,

this can't be. Imagine Miami without Lisa. And everyone's like, no, it's probably just a negotiation tactic. Yeah, no, I don't know exactly what shape that cast is going to take next season. But I'm so, I just. Oh, my God. I just don't understand for life of me what, what's going on. Like, yeah.

You know, to recap people, the reunion aired in March or April around then. And then the report came out right after that that, like, they're taking an extended break. They might do a cast shuffle. And we heard literally no news about production. But meanwhile, Todd files for divorce. Yeah. They might get back together. Larsa and Marcus, that whole thing.

All this stuff is going on around the show without cameras up. Nicole had her baby. Yep. Then Martina and Julia, they... Yes, they adopted. They adopted. Gertie had more updates in her health journey. Right.

There's been things. And now just as... of the last week or two, Lenny and the Mistress. Lenny and the Mistress. Like I would have loved to have seen Adriana come with that headline. You guys, I got a text.

Lenny and the mistress are no longer together. Hello. But our long national nightmare is over. Adriana, you know that she is hitting Katerina Mazepa up, left and right, being like, I think we got a place on the show. Do you think somebody would film a scene with her?

I think, I think Adriana would film a scene. team with her. I think Adriana would be like, it should be like, there's a girl's brunch happening. Oh my God. And it's in the spirit of inclusivity. Oh my God.

I decided to bring my long time friend. I mean, it would change it up because her and Lisa are close and that would change it up. Because I will say, I don't really want more Alexei Adriana Marisol running in a circle,

chasing each other. So like if she crosses Lisa by having the mistress to lunch, like that's a change up. If we can get like Anna Kinkoses to come to the Mother's Day brunch, I think we should be able to get Katerina Mesaffa.

I think so too. I think now she probably needs a check. Also, I just like, I love saying her name. I'm glad you can say it. Yeah, you got it. Yeah, but I'm just happy. But I'm just like, we're finally going to have answers. We're finally going to have answers.

What if you and Lisa do like a John Tucker must die? I mean, sign me the fuck up for that show. I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm getting too excited right now. Classica. No, Miami's going to be great. It's going to be. It always is.

Exactly. It always is. They're going to bring it. And we have a lot coming up. So I'm no longer like struggling to fill spots on the calendar. Oh my God. Well, I'm actually so happy that Secret Lives came sort of right before we're getting hit with Salt Lake and Roney. Like, it's nice that it's coming now right as we're kind of gearing up.

Exactly. Because if it was in like November, then I'd be. Yeah. It'd be overwhelming. Yeah. But thank you so much, Gibson. I mean, this is so great. A pleasure.

I mean, we could have talked about Mormon wives for like two hours. We could have gone episode by episode, but, you know, let's let listeners do that to do it on their own. I mentioned fruity pebbles like one time. I still don't even, that is. That's a 45-minute investigative episode. So, yeah. Well, maybe next time there's a lull in the Bravo calendar. We'll do the deep dive on the 3rd pebbles.

But thank you so much for being here. Thank you for having me, as always. Everybody listened to Gibson's podcast, Gabbing with Gibbs. Yes, yes. What are you excited about these days? We do two episodes a week. This week, we have an interview with Jennifer Padranti from OC. Love.

And probably some more, oh, I actually have another interview from Sister Wives coming out. Sister Wives. Mormon Wives. Secret Lives and Mormon Wives. I have an interview with Taylor and Macy that I filmed like literally two and a half weeks ago, but they wouldn't let me release it until now.

So that's coming out. Yeah, all things, reality TV. A little peek behind the curtain of how fun these things are. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's why I've watched this show twice all the way through. But yeah, wherever you're a podcast,

Gabonogic. Not just because you're a messy bitchulus for Trump. I mean, that too. Thank you everyone for listening. Don't forget to rate review and follow the show wherever you listen. You can follow us on Instagram at Bravo by Betches. And until next time, be cool.

Don't be all like uncool. Mention It All Podcast is produced by Dylan Hafer and Bell Roman. Editing by Bell Roman, social media by Dylan Hafer and Candice Maniga, guest booking by Ali Friedlander. VP of Podcast is Chris Allen. And be sure to follow Bravo by Betches. Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is California's number one entertainment destination for today's superstars. Catch the Jonas Brothers return to the Yamava Theater stage on April 30. the powerful vocals of Demi Lovato on May 17th and the signature Southern country rock of Eric Church on July 19th

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