Mention It All - How Reality TV Really Gets Made Ft. Eleni Sabracos

Episode Date: November 17, 2022

Dylan is joined by Eleni Sabracos, a reality TV producer behind some of our favorite Bravo shows. After getting an update on her viral Adele saga, Eleni breaks down her career journey, and gets into the nitty gritty of how Real Housewives is actually made. She shares stories from RHONY season 13, the day Jen Shah got arrested, and teases what it was like being in Thailand for the upcoming season of RHUGT. Later, she and Dylan chat about BravoCon, and how Eleni ended up as Heather Gay’s assistant. Check out our latest promo codes here: https://betches.com/promos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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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, boo. Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the Mention at All podcast. I'm Dylan Hafer, and today, I am excited to be joined in the studio by a reality TV producer, a TikTok star.

You know her from social media and from her work on TV. Of course, please talk of Eleni Sabrakos. That was such a beautiful introduction. I've never gotten such a lovely introduction in my whole life. life. Oh, well, I'm so happy you're here. Thank you for having me. You were just saying before we started recording that it feels like we know each other because of social media and all of this stuff. But it's the first time we're meeting in person. Yes, it's true. Like I saw Benny Drama recently and I went up to Terry and I was like, how's your mom? Because I feel like I know them. And he's probably like,

who are you stranger? I'm like, how's your mom doing with her foot? You know, like whatever. Well, and with you specifically, if you're not familiar with Eleni's social media, if you're listening. So obviously you make TikToks about your work producing reality TV shows like the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, New York, et cetera, which we'll get into. But you also are known on social media for being a big Adele fan. Yes, that's me. I have a very niche audience. I feel like you either totally know me or you totally don't. So when I wonder if people know me, I first mentioned the Adele thing. I go, oh, I failed to see Adele in concert. And then if they're not understanding what I'm talking about, I'm like, okay, they have no idea who I am then.

And then I'm like, do you watch the Real Housewives? And they're like either yes or no. That's how I gauge who my audience is. Right. So you have failed to see Adele in concert like three times. Oh, it's more than that. Okay. First, I tried to get tickets to see her in New York.

And those were fake tickets. But nobody feels bad for you when you buy fake tickets on Craigslist. Like I tried to make it into a whole sob story then, but no one cared. Did you see the woman a couple weeks ago who thought she bought Taylor Swift tickets on TicketFaster.com? No. See, I- spent like $15,000 and everybody was like, girl, Reeve. Oh, God.

See, that's just like, oh, honey. Which, speaking of in case, in case Eleni goes crazy at any point while we're reporting, right now, you are in the queue to procure Taylor Swift tickets for Heather Gay. I am Heather. We'll get into this, but I'm also Heather Gaye's virtual assistant. And I'm currently trying to get her Taylor Swift tickets. And as you know by my failed adult attempts, I've never been successful with this.

I don't know why she assigned this to me to do. Heather has put a lot of faith in the ticket master gods. Yeah. She says, I will ruin Christmas if I don't get these Taylor Swift tickets. So please, Taylor Swift, if you're a huge Bravo by Betches fan, please give us tickets. Thank you. The gay family will be on a healing journey. Yes.

Healing, healing, healing, healing. Okay, so then you flew to London, London. So yes, fake tickets in New York. Then I actually got tickets. I didn't mention this, but I got tickets in D.C. with my cousin and I was stuck in traffic and didn't make it to that. Come on. Like, it was just horrific.

She FaceTime me from the whole thing. I was sobbing in my car and traffic in D.C. awful. Then I was like, okay, I'm going to go to Australia because she had her Australia leg of the tour. I was not financially supported by this with anyone on GoFundMe or my family. So that was a no. Then I was like, okay, I have a wedding in Ireland two days after Adele's show. So I just bought the tickets in London.

It was like asked for, not for permission, but asked for forgiveness. bought the tickets in London and then was like, Mom, I need to first fly to London for my aunt's wedding in Ireland. But these were like not your average tickets. Like these were golden circle tickets. Right, like right around the stage. Yes. There was like a stadium.

There was a standing room, but then there was a special VIP golden circle that I had gotten into. And Adele is known for bringing people on stage. So I was like, okay, this is also meant to be. I'm going to get her attention. She's going to bring me on stage. And she'd be like, oh my God, six, heart. this happened to you, love you, I like whatever.

And so I made these shirts to get her attention because Adele loves Beyonce. As any Adele Van knows. I have one shirt that says, I love Adele like Adele loves Beyonce. I have one for my brother that says my sister loves Adele like Adele loves Beyonce. And I made one for Adele that said, I am Adele, I love Beyonce. And then I made one for her son that says, my mom loves Beyonce. British phrase for mother. Okay, so you've got the whole family decked out.

Yes, decked out. And I got a Beyonce like Fathead Card. board cut out preordered from like the British version of Staples. And so I fly to London. I wake up the next morning. She cancels her show. Like I thought a family member had passed away from the amount of text messages I received being like, I'm so sorry for your loss. Okay. I can already tell that your producing background is coming into play just by how organized you were with this. You're like, so I called ahead to the British version of Staples and had this thing ordered. And then I had the shirts made it a different. Yes, yes, yes. And I like had, it was like a child's medium. I'm like, I had the sizes

fixed out. So I flew to London. She cancels her show. She goes on a hiatus for a million years. Well, I'm forgetting that when I'm like in hysterics over this Adele thing in London, like with my brother, my brother's like, we can still see London. I'm like, no, the day is ruined. You're like, fuck. Now we have to go to a museum.

Yeah. He's like, no, actually what we saw instead of Adele, which is not Adele, is we saw King Kong a comedy. Okay. Which there's nothing funny about King Kong. And it should have, no offense to the people who made that. But it should have never been a comedy. And I was front row and I had not a funny bone in my body because I'm traumatized and depressed about Adele. And you know how like actors play off you?

I really feel bad for the actors because I was sitting there like dead silent. Like I refused to laugh. And every joke they made, I did not peep a laugh. And I could tell they were like, that girl in the front row is not okay. Straight up not having a good time. She's straight up and not finding anything. We're saying funny and it wasn't funny. So when my brother was like, let's go out and about, I called an Uber to go out in London.

And my Uber driver's name is a dude. deal, A, D-E-E-L, a deal. Which, word scramble is a doubt. Like, I'm sorry. That is just, like, the universe being like, ha-ha! It's the middle finger. Yeah, it's a literal, thank you. It's them being like, sorry.

So then she goes on hiatus. And then my brother surprises me for Christmas with tickets to her show in Vegas for her opening night. I'm sure we all know how this goes. I fly to Vegas. I bring the shirts. I left the cardboard cut out at home. And, well, I left in London, but that's besides the point.

I get to Vegas and she cancels her show again. And this time I'm just like, okay, I'm just not meant to see her. Right. And I was like hysterically crying and my friends are like, Eleni, you have to make a TikTok about this. And I had zero following. I had like 200 followers. Right.

Nothing. And so I made a TikTok. Two hours later, it has four million views. Like it just blew up instantly. TikTok is wild that way. It's weird. Like, and I had, I had, yeah, I had like, I went to sleep. I woke up and it had 10 million.

And I had 50,000 followers. And it was just like. I didn't know what to do with myself. I was like, and I had had people go viral like that before where they're like, you need to capitalize on this. Right. If you don't keep posting,

those followers don't matter. You'll have no engagement. This won't mean anything. And like, I really wanted to make this into a career. So I was like, I have to keep posting and posting and posting. And that was when I randomly posted about what I do for work,

which I thought was super uninteresting. But people find interesting that I work for housewives. Right. You get, you go viral for one thing. And then you start posting about your real life. And you unlock this corner of the internet that. People were like, wait, the Adele TikTok girl works for the real housewives?

I'm like, yeah, that's me. You're like, she knows about Mary Cosby. Oh, I live and breathe and love Mary Cosby. It was there when Jen Chaw was arrested. Like it was just I just, so I posted that. And that was when I really gained more of a following. And that those videos just took off. And I enjoy posting about my real job.

There's only so much Adele I can post. Right. But you are now as we speak in a couple days' time headed to Vegas. Yes. Yeah. I don't want to jinx it. No, no, no. Something's happening in Vegas later this week.

Yes. Something that is along the lines of a concert. And you're going to be there. And Adele may be performing and I will God willingly be there. And this time around she canceled. It's just like, I might have to give up or hopefully it just gave me more followers. I don't know. I'm like if you're like selling my soul for followers.

But yeah, so I'm supposed to see Adele. I leave in two days. Wow. And I will be seeing her. And maybe we'll do a check in once this airs on if I actually do see her. I've never seen her perform. I've met her now at this point. Yes, you did meet her a few weeks ago.

I did meet her a few weeks ago. She had a premiere for her I drink wine music video. And I went to that in L.A., which was weird. Like I just, I was like, why am I here? Like, did they mistakenly invite me? Yeah. I was like, are they confusing me with somebody else? I was like, oh, did you think you invited Beyonce?

No, it's me. So I went to that. I met her. She was lovely. She's gorgeous. She smells amazing. People always ask me that. I will say, though, something devastating I did find out when I was there.

She does not watch housewives. She doesn't? No. For some reason, I thought she was into like Beverly Hills at least. Her team was. Okay. Her team was. And you know, and I feel like we can relate on this.

I feel like when I find out that somebody doesn't watch housewives, I kind of feel like I have an immediate disconnect with them. Because with people who watch housewives are Bravo, you have an immediate understanding. Like at BravoCon, it's like, we all have a shared understanding that we know what little girl means. Yeah. You know? I find that it's, it's not like I can't get along with you or can't build a relationship

with you. But there, it is the best built in small talk you could ask for. Yeah. Because if I know that somebody else. keeps up with housewives. At the very least, we could have nothing else in common. And we can talk about... For four days straight.

Potomac for 10 minutes. And then it is what it is. And it's a gift and a blessing. It's just a connection. Like I feel like a spiritual connection because we understand... Yeah. Like it's kind of like a who are two people that are like at odds at housewives? Like are you a...

Like a Teresa or Melissa? Yes. It's like, are you a Teresa or Melissa? You know what I mean? It tells you a lot. It tells you everything you need to know about somebody. So when I found, I did ask her when I met her, I said what I do for work. I was like, just because I often think she knew.

I was like, by the way, I am a Housewise producer. She was like, what? Like, she could not believe it. She's like, oh my God, you're a star. What are you doing with them? I was like, Adelethons come a star. You heard it here first? And so she doesn't watch.

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So I want to talk more about your background in reality TV. Yeah, let's get into it. So I know that you went to college for this, essentially. So what was your major in the? school and how did you kind of get from that to where you were like actually getting hired on shows? Yes. So I went to Ithaca college and I studied television there. Absolutely loved it. Like it was the best experience ever. They like totally immersed me in TV in the best possible way. And when I was at Ithaca, they do a program where you go to L.A. for a semester. And I went to L.A.

and I got an internship at Bravo. And mind you, I had never watched Bravo before ever. I had, I think in my interview, I said to them, they go, what shows do you watch? And I go, I don't watch Bravo. My internship boss, who is now my really good friend, goes, that is the moment that we were like, she's hired because I don't know why. And I remember leaving the interview being like, I just totally ruined that. I don't have an internship now. But they loved that I was honest because they said, you were looking at my phone as if the cue, the Taylor Swift cue went up and you scared me. No, nothing happened. I'm sorry, the Taylor Swift's cue scared me. As I was saying, anyways, So I got the job because I was, I'm not recommending that you tell somebody in a job or

if you don't watch their content, but that works for me. Yeah. I mean, maybe there was something to like, it's not just like a fan who wants to work here because they like it. No. But the beauty of that was that once I had the internship, it is a lot of like administrative tasks. Like I definitely got my foot in the door in the entertainment industry.

But a lot of my time was spent just sitting at my desk and watching Bravo because I wanted to know who they were talking about when they were like. the Tom's or a Tom Tom. I'm like, who is Tom and who is Tom? And so I just binged like Bravo for four months straight in the office, became the biggest fan and basically like started working then on those shows from that internship. And now I'm like, I love, I'm a fan girl for it all. I often get lightly ribbed by my coworkers for watching TV at my desk.

Yeah, well, that's work for you. It's work for you. You're like, I am studying. So, yeah. Earlier I was like, yeah, like, I had to be caught up on below deck adventure. So I watched below deck adventure. Yeah, you're like, I have to tweet along with tonight's episode. So I need to watch.

No, I, like, one of my favorite things is to cancel plans and be like, I have to watch a show. I have to work. I actually do watch your account a lot for if I miss an episode. I will go to your stories and be like, okay, I need the, this gives me like the summary of like what happened or where I should stand on things. You know? It's like a politician that I just. immediately agree with. So I know, so you've worked on Real Housewives of New York. Yes. You did season 13. I did New York. I, so when I, uh, after I graduated, my first job ever was Real House of Orange

County. And my job on that was to just, uh, 13 seasons. They had like boxes and boxes of paperwork and they were trying to digitalize them, digitalize them. Yeah. So for four months straight, I sat at a desk and I scanned and shredded, like release forms. And I scanned and shredded paperwork. And I digitalized it for four months, 10 hours a day. That was what I did. Like just mindlessly. Is it like, is that the kind of thing where you're, is it like going through an old box of like memories and you're like, oh, this is interesting?

Or was it literally just forms? It's like random names. Like I didn't know who anybody was. Like it was like the waiter from a restaurant from season two signed a piece of paper. And I had to like digitalize it in case for some reason he decides to sue us. Like so that was what I did for like literally four months. every single day. It was so awful.

But when I walked in at my first day of work at that job, sitting next to me at my desk was my old boss from Bravo. And he had to quit Bravo and started because when you work on the shows, you don't work for Bravo. You work for the production company. Right. Which a lot of people don't know that. It's like I don't work for Bravo.

I'm not employed by Bravo or NBC. I'm employed by like whatever production company they've hired. Right. And like the same production company does New York and Salt Lake City for, For example, which is how I did that. Yes. Same thing with the same production company that does Orange County, does Beverly Hills, does banner pump.

And it's an amazing company that does that. And so I went to my first day of work and he stayed next to me and I was like, okay, I'm meant to be here because my old boss was here and he was like, we're in the right place where we're meant to be. And then fast forward, I was working LA a little bit and like COVID happened and everything stopped filming. Yeah. I worked on half of that season where Orange County like went to iPhone footage and it was

kind of awful. Season 15. In like Vicky's backyard. Not Vicky. Someone's backyard. It was a lot of like Shannon. Shannon's backyard. When Kelly Dodd was like mid going off the rails.

Yeah. It was like weird times. So I went to go actually work at ENews for a little bit in COVID. And then that same internship boss that like I had sat next to that was like we're in the right place. He had moved to New York since then. He was like, I'm going to be working on Rehast of New York as a producer. Like you need to get this job. I was like, okay.

How? Are you going to give it to you? Yeah. So are you hiring? And he was like, no, like figure it out. I was like, okay. So I like networked like crazy on like LinkedIn and I looked up every producer that ever worked on Rehouse was of New York.

And I reached out to them and I was like, I worked at Bravo. I'm so interested in this. And I just did it informational. That's like my pro tip is never be like, give me a job. Right. You need to be like, I love what you do. And I just want to talk about you all day. Those like, I'd love to take you out to coffee and pick your brains.

Yeah. Yeah. It's like really generic. but I mean, I'm sure it's in the Wends Happy Hour book of like networking 101, but that is the way to do it. Yeah. So I end up talking to this one producer and we really hit it off and he passed my resume along and I got the job from like interviewing, which is just wild. And then that took me from New York to Salt Lake and on and on and on. Yeah.

So you, so you were New York season 13, which for people who are bad with numbers, I always have to like look at up. It's the best. So this is the, this was the, the fine. season of Roney, oh, gee, whatever you want to call it. Yes. As we know it. Working on that season, I know you were, you were like a field producer?

What was your? I was an associate producer. And so I would like work. You basically your job on that is to one help with like the field producer with whatever they need, like with talent in the field or anything like that. And also help with like keeping track of the story. So it's like you make these summaries about like what's going to going on to keep everybody informed.

So like if the producer's like, did Luann talk about her Christmas song? Like, no, she hasn't mentioned that at coffee. Like to kind of just keep everything going. Does that make sense? You're just there to support basically. Right. So working on that season, did you kind of have an inkling that things weren't going well in terms of like the health of the franchise?

Or is it hard when you're on that day to day of a level to really see like I don't think this is going to be the best season. Personally, no, because I had been such a fan of New York for so many years. And then here I was like surreal working on it. And I was having the time of my life working on it. Like I was filming a TV show in New York City with the Real House of New York. It was everything. I was in St.

Morgan's townhouse in her kitchen. Like I couldn't. It was my dream. You were paying me to be there. Like, of course. Like I could watch that woman make a smoothie and cackle. And so to me, I was so. when I thought it was phenomenal.

I remember talking with my co-worker job while we were filming and being like, this is just the best thing ever. Like at the Hampton's trip, I remember we were sitting in Ramon's garage. We were like, this is so funny. This is the best thing ever on TV. And I don't know if it's like just,

I don't know what makes it the best and the worst. Because personally, when I was living it, it was phenomenal just because they were just so iconic. I think that it was definitely hard to make a TV show in New York City in COVID because it's just you're in their apartments. And it's not like being in a mansion in Beverly Hills. Like you can film in Salt Lake or Potomac or any of those houses. You're in these giant houses.

Like, I don't know if people remember, but this was a time when like you, when even dining outside wasn't allowed. Like that was this time period. Like you couldn't even do that. Yeah. And New York was slower to reopen than a lot of places. Yeah. So there wasn't, couldn't go anywhere.

No. And this was also time where like legally, I think you couldn't have more than 12 people in a room. So like imagine that. Yeah. How does that work? You have five ladies to camera. You know what I mean? Like it just was really hard to make, in my opinion, what it is had been in the past years.

So I think that it was kind of like things were stacked against them. I don't think it was like their fault at all. I think it was just the time of the world. And it probably needed a refresh. And I'm excited about these new women. Yeah. It is funny when you say, like, we were sitting in Ramona's garage. I know you post, I saw in one of your TikToks that you posted, you were like literally sitting in the bathroom in someone's apartment.

Because it's like when you're, when everything is being filmed, like you can't just have like a living room full of random people that you're not supposed to see. Yeah. And it's very. Yeah. And they're like small quarters. Like it's their apartments. So my, my place of work is always like, um, coat closets, laundry rooms. any kind of, where else have I sat?

I sat in a hallway once. You're like, if we're really lucky, we get a guest bedroom. Yeah, if we're really lucky, we get a chair. So, but it was really fun. I had the best time ever on that season, even though it was awful. I loved it. So when you went to Salt Lake City after that, you were working as a different kind of producer, right?

So this was more involving of like logistics and locations. And so it was a promotion, if you will. Love to see it. Love to see it. Girl boss. But I, yeah, so I lived in Utah for that. And that job was much more, less dealing with like the story of what was going on with them, but like about locations. So if Heather's like, I really want to go to make candles with my daughter, like you help her organize that. It's very authentically like what they want to do and like they're initiating it. Yeah. But like you can't just show up to the candle company with a camera crew. And the women don't

know like production logistics. So you have to be like, okay, we're bringing two camera people and one audio. And like that's your kind of job to coordinate those things. I was going to, that's interesting that you say like it's what they want to do. Because I was going to ask like when you're coming up with like planning all the locations and stuff, like obviously there are times when they'll organically be like, I want to go out to dinner. And like, is there ever kind of a thing where it's like, oh, like I found this restaurant?

Like does anybody want to go to lunch? Well, they definitely will be like going to lunch. Yeah. And they give us like lists of like, these are places I would naturally go and want to go to. Okay. So it's very, it's very collaborative, if you will. It's not just like, you're eating here. Sorry.

You're like looking up yelp in Salt Lake City. Yeah. I'm like, what's the best? Well, I mean, Salt Lake's different because there's so few restaurants and everybody knows everybody. Like every restaurant I would call knows who they are. Like, but from before the show. I think that that's something that the show doesn't portray super well is like,

how small lake city it is. I don't even know how you would portray that. But like every restaurant I call, be like, oh, yeah, I know Lisa Barlow. Yeah. And I'm like, oh, from the show. No, no, no. She's my kids.

Something like, like, whatever. I feel like we, you get a sense of that a little more in the cast that it's like, oh yeah, Angie Harrington's been around. It's like, okay, I guess. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, my God. We can, we can dish about that.

Yeah. So it is, I, anyways. What was your question? Anyhow. No, so that season, you were involved in a lot of the logistics and planning and stuff. Yeah. So when you're doing a job like that, are you still spending a lot of time around the cast or like following the story? Or are you more detached from it?

I think I'm like, a good producer is following the story. But I was really busy. So you're supposed to be like following what's going on in the story. And that's what that story AP is. supposed to be doing is like keeping everybody updated on like what's going on. But it's hard to like do that while planning a bunch of stuff. So this is a trick question. No. Yeah, I mean, I worked with the cast a lot. Like I would work a lot with Heather. I worked a lot with Whitney. Like I was definitely the closest with them. Love me some Lisa Barlow. I loved her and I had the best time planning her

horseback riding with Meredith. I just love her. We were like, my favorite Lisa Barlow story is getting a phone call from her at like seven in the morning being like, oh, Lenny, I need to know if it's, uh, the Western or European horseback riding because like Twitter will come for me if I'm in the wrong outfit. And I was like, I don't know what it is. And so I'm like, that was my job as like Googling. Like, you, I don't know. I'm not an equestrian. Right. So I don't know what that means. But I love Lisa. And I love all of the Salt Lake women. I like enjoy them all so much. I love. I love Mary Cosby? Oh, God.

We're never going to see her again. I don't know. Mary Cosby and I had an understanding because she just loved me. She saw me and she just goes, Greek goddess. And I was like, oh, so she, I don't think she ever really knew my name because any time she'd see me, she just go, Greek goddess. Or I told her I was from New York. And she'd go, New York.

So I was either Greek goddess or New York. That is so, Mary. The name is never going to stick in her brain. But if you're Greek goddess, it's okay. She would just light up when she'd see me and go. New York. I'm like, that's me. She's like, oh, Broadway.

Yeah. She's like, Greek goddess. She told me, when I met her, she told me she sensed my energy that I was Greek. That's what she told me. And I believe her. I mean, I feel like that's a good thing to hear because I feel like Mary is the kind of person where if she met you and sensed your energy and didn't like it, she would tell you. And you would never be able to redeem yourself. I will say, like Mary is exactly in person as is portrayed.

Like, Mary is so authentically herself. Yeah. My favorite Mary Cosby story is my colleague was driving her home. And she was like, I really want some ice cream. And they were like, okay, yeah, Mary. Like, we can get some ice cream. Like, let me look a place up. And she was like, no, no, no.

Don't look it up. It will find us. And so this is in Zion. Like, there's no, like, ice cream shops on the road in the desert. Right. And they're driving home. And sure enough, and in the middle of nowhere on the right side, hand of the road is an ice cream store.

And they're like, oh, see? And the ice cream store did find us. And then she just sat in the back licking her ice cream cone contently. Maybe she is. Maybe she does. Maybe she does. I think you'll have to ask. She's not coming on this podcast.

Let me tell you, I would not know how to get in contact with her. You could DM her. She's big on Insta. I think I'm blocked. Oh. You know, actually, fun fact, I maybe have said this before, but Mary Cosby blocked Bravo by Vatchez before the show even ever premiered. Oh, you know, maybe it was an accident.

Maybe. That's very, maybe she was trying to follow you. Could be. I haven't seen what she's been up to in a few years though. I haven't seen her either. It is funny though when you say like people are usually like that she's the same off camera. Yeah.

I found in my interactions with people on Bravo like 90% of the time, what you see is for the most part what you get. I mean, obviously like if I'm coming across somebody in like an interview context, it's not the same as when they're in a heated situation with their friend of me. But like the personalities are. what they are. Yeah. I think that's because it's like so like you can't like it's not scripted or anything like that. Like you're genuinely reacting to how you would react in situations, I guess. So I feel like that's why they're so similar. I can't think of anybody who was like not at all

as portrayed. Right. Everyone's pretty legit. Romona is exactly as you would imagine in person. Like of course people have different sides to them and maybe, you know, if they're in a situation where they feel like whatever. But it's like maybe they're even nicer because they feel like it's professional with you. So they're like, ah, he could post a mean, mean, meme about me. So I better be nice to Dylan. They could call you out for your face tune. Yeah. He's going to come for me for my face tune, so I better be nice. Yama Vah 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 30th, the powerful vocals of Demi Lovato on May 17th, and the

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I'll say as much as I can about the situation about being sued. Okay. Now proceed. So you were at the beauty lab and laser parking lot. Yes. No. No. So I had gone to veil already.

Okay. And I was like setting everything up in veil, like making sure everything was good to go in veil. Right. Okay. Filming was like with the house and where we were going to film and everything. So I wasn't there, but I was in a very heated group chat where everyone was confused about what was going on.

So like you, so like waking up that morning, you're assuming Jen is coming to bail. Yeah, we were going to bail. Yeah. I was planning stuff with Jen because like I was your, I think I can't even remember, but I was assigned a couple cast members. I think mine were like Whitney, Heather and Jen. Pretty positive. Because I kind of worked with all of them. Right. But Jen and I were working on stuff for Vail because she was going to like have some things. And yeah, yeah, we all thought we all thought Jim was coming to Vail. I think that's public knowledge. I don't think I'll get in trouble for saying. Right. It is funny though because

it's such a massive event. Yeah. That was like the realest thing that ever happened. Right. But it's like even from a logistical standpoint, I'm like, okay. So like they probably had like I know that this is. isn't the case, but in my mind, I'm still like, okay, so they knew that she, like, wasn't really going to be there. But it's like, no, like, you, everybody thought she, yeah, the feds aren't like, hey, producers, just so you know, we're going to mess up your schedule tomorrow. I think rule of thumb is, like, if you start to see, like, production in the background, that's when you know that none of this was planned, because they would never, like, like,

you know, when, Monique, when the Candace Monique fight happened, and it was like, the producer parts, like, that's how you know that was real is because they wouldn't. like have her be like, okay, producer, you're going to step in now and talk to her on camera. Like, it wouldn't do that. Right. Like, that's how you know it's like a mess. But honestly, I think that that happening in the beauty lab and laser parking lot was the best thing to ever happen for Heather's business. Because now it's a Utah landmark. It's like you go on Yelp and you search places to see in Utah and beauty lab and laser will pop up. I, the amount of people, like, I feel like everybody I know who is at all Bravo savvy, who has happened to be in. Yeah.

Utah in the last year and a half has like made a pilgrimage. Yeah, for sure. For sure. Whether or not they're getting any services. It's iconic. It's iconic landmark. I told Heather she needs to start, she needs to get a cardboard cut out of herself outside to start people taking pictures.

I don't know if that's allowed. Maybe she can like, um, like buy an old sprinter van and like make it into an attraction. I was upset. I mean, maybe they're trying not to be insensitive, but I was upset that there wasn't a beauty lab and laser parking lot at BravoCon. Like I wanted like a. pop up of the of the parking lot to like take picks in. I have to show you after this in our in the batch's office,

all of the conference rooms and stuff are named. And some of them are Bravo themed. We have a beauty lab and laser parking lot. It's iconic. Like it's just amazing. And there's not a ton to see in Utah. So it's really just giving it. National parks.

Skiing. And if you don't ski, you can go to the beauty lab and laser parking lot. It's iconic. Well, I mean, if like Mary's church is closed. I know. Have you been to Utah?

I have been to Utah? I have been to Utah when I was a kid. Like I've been to the, I've been to like national parks. I think we stayed. We like flew into Salt Lake City. So I've. So you haven't been to the parking lot. No.

Yeah. It's like most glorious trip mall you'll ever see. Maybe that'll be my GoFundMe project. Send him to Utah. He really needs to go for a concert. Oh my God. I, yeah. I,

I feel like there are probably a lot of misconceptions about reality TV production in general. Of course, the being scripted, being fake thing is kind of always simmering under the surface. And I obviously, I'm sure everybody listening has like heard someone say it's not fake, but like that's the number one on TikTok. That's the number one question I get is like, is it real? Is it scripted?

And like it is like no one's telling them like you're going to say this now. Like no one, it's not like that at all. I personally would say that we are making a TV show. And as a human being, if I'm in a fight, with my best friend, I would never then go to lunch with her the next day. Do you know what I mean? So I feel like it's great TV because the relationships and the like fights are genuine, but like you're putting people in situations where like, like if you made me go with my arch nemesis to a dinner party tomorrow and then made my other friends go talk smack about it at tea time, you know what I

mean? Like that would be tumultuous. Right. Like in real life, it would kind of just be like, oh, we'll ignore each other for 10 years. Right. It's like you might not plan a girl. trip and include the bitch you hate. Yeah. Because they're on the cast, you're all going to go and we're going to be happy about it. Yeah, exactly. So I will say that's not fake. It's just, I mean, it's a TV show.

Right. And I think the idea of something being aided by production is a lot different than the idea that production is like scripting out a storyline. And I think that's why Bravo is so beloved. Like I was talking about this at BravoCon. Like besides like drag con or like Rupalls or something like that, I feel like there's no other like network of TV. TV or like batch of TV network characters that you could have a full blown convention

where people are like, Craig, you're sewn pillows, like freaking out. You know what I mean? So they've like really built this amazing community because it is so real. And like these are real people's lives. And they're all so unique and just fascinating. Yeah. No, I mean, thinking about BravoConn in that perspective, it really is kind of wild that it's like if real Housewives of Orange County had it.

started this weird thing 16 years ago none of this would exist this podcast wouldn't exist all of that like the shows you've worked on and it's like it's so bizarre yeah like in your mind it's like oh this is just like

a TV thing and then it's like okay well tell that to like 30,000 people at the Jevitz Center. I don't know about you but I was feeling very emotional at BravoConn I was like this is beautiful I was like think about what they I mean I know it's like I just thought it was so cool I was like there's no other network TV show group of people you could of real people that you could get together like this.

And it's a full blown starred convention where like we all are just like, I don't know, flipping a table in a museum and we all know what this means. We all know the iconicness of that moment. Right. So. So after Salt Lake City, you also worked on the upcoming season of Miami. Yes, I did. I did it. I forgot about my Miami ladies for a second.

I know. I love them. Yes, I did Miami, which was super fun. I love the Miami gals. Was that, had you, like, spent time in Miami before that? No, I had never been, which is why I took the job is because I did not want to be in New York in the wintertime. Fair enough. So I was like, I did Salt Lake in the snow, so I'm now, I'm going to go to Miami beaches.

And also, I like that it's kind of like on its comeback. And I wanted to be a part of that. So that was why I really did it. And I love the people who produced it. They're awesome. They did such a great job bringing that show back. Such a good job. Season four or five?

Yeah. We just filmed five. Five. Six. I believe we just filmed six. I believe. Right. Five aired.

Yes. Yeah. Okay. Like I said, the numbers are hard. I kind of wish they had just, I know that this is weird, but I kind of wish they had just started over. Well, that's the thing with with New York. People are like, how is this going to be season 14 when it's a whole new cast?

I'm like, I don't know if it is. I don't know either. But what was like, how did your experience doing Miami compare to like Salt Lake City, New York? Like what were kind of the biggest differences? Yeah. Whenever I'm, I guess whenever I'm like, I was in the same job on Miami as I was on Salt Lake. And I'm working a lot with like local places and local people. So you learn a lot about a city and a location like very fast.

Yeah. Utah was kind of like, oh, my brother is the owner of that and my cousin. The owner of that, it's very small. Like, whereas Miami was much more like these big restaurant groups and these big, like, these like big interesting performers and people. It's a much more like entertainment focused city, if that makes sense. There's a lot more going on. Yeah. So it just was like a different experience in terms of like filming.

Like you're filming more in these like luxurious houses on the water where they're like, I'm just going to take my boat over to their house. instead of a car. Like, it's just a totally different way of life. Yeah. Like, they literally live on the water and the beach and it's just very Miami. Like, I don't know. What was that? What is that cast like to spend time around?

Because I think they are, they are a very extravagant group of ladies. I love that cast. I love Alexi. I love Marisol. I was definitely the closest with them. Probably because we also did girls trip together. Right. And we had a very fun time at BravoCon driving around on a golf cart.

And I honestly love Larsa. She's like one of the nicest people I've ever met, which I think shocks some people. Yes. She's super kind and like chill. No, I think I think Larsa kind of based on nothing has a reputation. I know. Yeah, it's true. It's like all talk.

And then you're like, wait, I guess I've only ever really seen her on like one season of House Lives. And you know, she was friends with the Kardashians. But it's like, I don't know her to be like a horrible person. No, no, no, she was really great. They all were super great. They're all just super interesting. I feel like they all have a lot, like, personally in their personal lives going on and then also friendship dynamics. Which you don't always find that on every franchise.

Like, I feel like they're personal lives are very strong in terms of, like, story to tell. Exactly. Like, I feel like the season that aired already with, like, Alexia and her sons. Yeah. I feel like she could, she's so interesting. She could have her own show with just. that. And I love that about that franchise is like that they have like super strong like personal things going on. I also love on that show because I had actually never watched Miami before I

started working on it. And my boss was like, you should probably watch it after I got hired. And I was like amazed in the season that aired at the friends of. Yeah. We're so predominantly in the show. And I think that's how it should be. Like I love that. Yeah. It's a really full group. It's very, yeah, and the dynamics awesome. Like, I don't even think of, like, Marisol or any of them as, like, friends of. Right. Marisol, Adriana. No, no, no. I mean, I don't know if that's because they were on previously, but I feel like I wish that, like, other franchises didn't just have, like, oh, that's their friend of who contributes one line in a scene.

Right. Like, no, like, a full storyline drama can be with a friend up. And that's fine that they're a friend. Yeah. Like, you know what I mean? And, like, you mentioned before Marisol, then getting the invite to do girls trip, it's like, she's. Well, she's iconic. Right.

I love me. So you did go to Thailand. Yes. And I know we can't talk a lot about like what happened there. Yeah, I can't tell you anything what happened. But it's kind of fun that you had previously worked with half of the cast. Yeah, it was awesome. Actually more because Leo was there too.

Yeah, it was like a giant reunion. I opened like the van door. I had told Heather and Whitney I was going to be there and I had told Alexei Marisol because I had been filming with them when I got the job. But I didn't tell Leah. And I just like opened the van door and in it was literally, Heather, Whitney, Leah, Marisol and Alexia, and all my gals. And I open the door, I'm like, hello.

And they're like, Leah just goes, you! She, like, remembers me. But, so it was a super fun time. And I, um, love Candace. Like, I just, I never worked on Potomac. Yeah. Um, and we just really bonded. Um, I just love her.

I think that I love that now that I met her, I'm like, girl, you go be a mess on Twitter. Like, I freaking love you. Is it different working on a show like that? that were there in the house the whole time. The cameras are kind of rolling 24-7. For sure. It's a much more condensed filming experience. What was that like?

Well, I've done all-cast trips, which is kind of similar. Yeah. And I felt like it was just like an all-cast trip is like three days of just like non-stop. Right. And it just felt like an all-cast trip, but for 10 days. And I was really counting down the days towards the end because it was hot. I have really sensitive stomach. So I was not agreeing with Thailand.

in terms of dietary restrictions. You're like, I'm going to go hide in the bathroom. Like day four, I had like immense stomach pain. And like the local crew there that was from Thailand were just the most loveliest people in my entire life. And there was this girl Winnie from the local production team. I was like, Winnie, I have so much gas that you need to help me. And she like went to the Thai drugstore. And she's like, this is magic.

I don't know what it was. I ate it. It's like a chewable thing. And I was like healed. It was like, and the gas is gone. Wow. Anyways. God bless.

Gas in Thailand. I don't know about the ladies, but I had major gas in Thailand. I'm sure they were suffering in silence. Anyways. It's a lot. I'm so excited to see that show. I'm so excited to see Miami. Yes.

What are you? I know you're working with Heather right now. Yeah. You were at Bravo Con with Heather. We kind of, I feel like this like current connection that you and I have started because of this video of Heather stealing a loaf of bread. Which because of you, that like blew up. Right.

Because you posted that. I posted that being like, this is a great Insta dump. Like, you know when you like post like a niche. Yeah, no, I literally was like swiping to your carousel and like, no, that's funny. Yeah. I was like, this is a niche Gen Z Instagram dump of Heather Stling this baguette. Yeah. So I was hired.

I actually interviewed to work at BravoCon as a producer and didn't get the job. Okay. It's okay. I'm not upset about it. It wasn't. I actually have never produced. a live event before, which is what that is. Right.

So I don't blame them for not giving me the job just because I have every Bravo knowledge ever. But then they did ask me to help with, like, talent. And so you're basically, like, assigned one talent for the whole weekend. And they asked my preference. And I said any of the Salt Lake or Miami women. Yeah, I was like, those are my only ones. Yeah. Because I just know them the best.

Yeah. And, I mean, to set the scene, like, BravoCon weekend, especially for the talent, was a marathon. Oh, it's insanity. You're spending a lot of time with somebody. You're sensitive to their needs. It's like, it makes sense you want to work with somebody that you already know. And it's also more fun for me.

Like, I don't want to work with somebody that I don't know. I have to do like a whole intro and like make them trust me. You know what I mean. These people already trust me, whatever. So I said, and they had given me Heather by chance. And so then we were reunited, me and my queen, Heather gay. And we just had a blast. Like BravoCon.

It was like, okay, one o'clock you have a meet and greet. Two o'clock you've got to go to your panel. three o'clock you've got to go to the digital stage like whatever yeah we were just like boom boom boom like five minutes for glam and we just like really worked well together and I had worked really well with her in the past like I had a really good experience producing with her and so I had been asking her about like her social media at bravo con and I knew her book was coming up and I was like who's doing your social media who's doing your book for your book tour like I just was asking all these like questions now that I'm also in this influencing space yeah like oh what about brandy

deals. And she's like, what? Like brand deals. She's like, what's that? I'm like, Heather, you could be making money on these brand deals. Like, this is your housewife. And she is just busy being a legit business woman. Like she's running her business. She's writing her book. She's got three daughters that she just didn't like really go through all that. So I was like, I can help you with social media and with your brand deals. And so that's from doing for her. And now it has become that I'm her a virtual assistant. As you can see that I'm currently still in the queue. Yeah, we're about to finish up.

It's been 44 minutes I can see and you are still in the queue. I've been in the queue since 1 o'clock. What is that? Like, I need to, I wish this was live so I could be like, tweet us if anybody else still in the queue if it's just me. I don't think it's just you. You don't think so. I've never, like I said, I've never made it this far.

I've only bought fake tickets from a man named Courtney on the street outside Madison Square Garden. So I've never done the official ticket master. Well, at least you're on ticket master. I know. And not ticket faster. Queen Heather Gay. Yeah. So I'm just helping her with that. And it's been phenomenal. I actually just want to do it all the time. But I refuse to move to Utah. We can't lose to Utah. Thank you.

She wants me to live in her basement in Utah and I just can't. Well, I feel like the thing is like, once you go, if you leave New York and move to Utah, you're never going to come back. Am I admitting defeat? Yeah. I, especially because when I lived in Utah, I made it a point to tell everybody in their mother I was from New York. I was like, I'm from New York. I don't belong here. Right. I'm just so chic. I can't be in the suburban neighborhood. Yeah, Utah was, and I had met my now boyfriend in Utah and I refused to move there for him. I was like, you have to move to New York. So I was like, I can't move there now for Heather Gay and not for my man.

That would be a tough look. I'd be like, actually, thank you for picking up your things and moving to New York, but we actually are going to go move into Heather Gay's basement if you don't mind. That's amazing. Anywho. I'm so glad we finally got to meet and talk about everything. I'm sure I will be seeing you again very soon. I know. Who's your favorite, like, housewife that you've met in person?

Oh, in, it's really hard. Like, who did you immediately connect with? Because I feel like some people you meet and you're like, okay, I'll continue to just watch you on television. And some people you meet and you're like, we drive. Okay. This is not necessarily the person that I, that like my favorite whatever. That's fine.

Yeah. But one that I think, an answer that surprises people is that Kelly Ben Simone. Oh. She came. She was in the studio over the. summer. Okay. She came in.

She is one of the most charming, captivating people to speak to face to face. We had like a 45-minute conversation. Yeah. She complimented my smile. It was like, it was like a very like, it's one of those things where she could be saying the most random, hard to follow thought that just is like pulled out of outer space. And you're like, okay. Yeah.

Yeah, Kelly. I vibe with that. suddenly, scary island makes sense. I know. And so like, I think when people are like, Kelly's crazy, I'm like, okay, but she has a point. Yeah. And also, I'm crazy too. So I vibe with that.

Yeah. I think I really enjoyed, did she post something recently where she was like selling a house? Yeah. So she does real estate now. Yeah. She did just post this video where she's like, you guys, Kelly Clorra and Van Simone, I've got the best listing.

It's going to be the place for you. You've got to see it. But like the video didn't show the house at all or anything. It's just like a 45 second intro. And it's like, okay, Kelly, where's the house? I got to see the house. Yeah, Kelly, wait. Actually, no, I'll just buy it.

I don't need to see it. Just because you said that. How much? Yeah, I feel like I hope that she returns to TV because I would like to see how she's evolved. Yes. Maybe. I don't know that she really has, but I think that's fine. But maybe we've evolved.

We've, yes. Maybe we've evolved. Society wasn't ready. Society wasn't ready for Kelly Benson, but now we are. Now we are. Manifesting big things for 2020. Yeah, for Kelly. Manifesting you seeing a...

You can say it. You can say it. I don't want to chinks it. Well, thank you so much for being here. This has been so fun. Yes. Where can people follow you? You can follow me at Eleni Sabraacus.

E-L-E-N-I-S-A-B-R-A-C-O-S. Very hard to spell. If you know anybody who can just get me the Instagram or TikTok handle just Eleni, my Greek name is just not cutting it. Right, I know. But I had it for a while as Aleni Sabra. And then everyone thought I was affiliated with the hummus. or people would call me.

Oh, Lenny Sabra. I'm like, no, that's not my name. Yeah, I was like, Hummus Queen. I wish. Yeah, actually, I do love hummus. Wow. But unless they're paying me for brand deals, I refuse to. Exactly.

Yeah, I got to get it for Heather, too. Yeah, Heather will be doing a brand deal with them. Manifesting. Manifesting. Anyway, thank you so much. And 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, My Betches.

And until next time, be cool. Don't be all, like, uncool. Mention It All is produced by Dylan Hafer, Sean Kilby, Jorge Morales Pico, and Rebecca Sousmakat. Editing by Horace Pico, Social Media by Dylan Hafer, guest booking by Dylan Hafer and Allie Friedlander. Be sure to follow at Bravo by Betches on Instagram and Twitter. Feels like every product claims real protein these days. But real doesn't start on a label. It starts at the source.

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