Mention It All - Kumbaya, My Lexie

Episode Date: August 23, 2024

With the RHOC cast still on their dueling trip-lets, Dylan assesses the vibes in both La Quinta and Big Bear on this week’s episode. He also narrates the latest updates in Shannon v. Lexie, and the newly-discovered layers of Shannon and John’s financial fight. Earlier, Dylan shares news from various nooks and crannies of the Bravo world, from Melissa Gorga’s podcast appearance to Kandi Burruss’s big new gig. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 up on that envelope.

It's time for a little in-person spring treat. It's time for a trip to Ross. Work your magic. 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 both Hey everyone Welcome back to the mention it all podcast For the last time this week It's Thursday night It's Friday morning

Who knows when you're listening to this But I know that we have a new episode Of Orange County We are going to talk about And boy does this season Just keep on cooking And I'm excited to get into it It's one of those episodes

of Housewives where I kind of just started typing as I was watching and then suddenly I had like three and a half pages of notes. And then it's like so many notes that you have to go back and highlight certain parts of the notes. And then I also printed it out and then I was making notes on the notes. So there's suffice to say there's a lot to get into with OC this week. But before we do that, we have some some fun little updates from around the internet, around the Bravo world. I feel like there's just been there's been a lot going on lately. Both things, again small. I mean, obviously it's exciting to have trailers for new seasons of housewives and whatnot and big things on the horizon. But also, there's just so many little, there's so many

little nooks and crannies of the Bravo universe. And I've really been enjoying kind of digging into more of those and just highlighting little things. Because look, it's not your job to follow all these people on Instagram and to see everything they're doing and to notice everything they're posting. That's kind of my job. And guys, it's a hard job. And it's, it's a hard job. And it's, That's not my whole job. Let's be real. But things like this week, this will make you feel old. It certainly made me feel old. Fadra Parks' son, Aden, started high school.

This boy is, he's 14 years old. He's in ninth grade. Her other son, Dylan, is in sixth grade. Where has the time gone? I was Googling to make sure that I was actually correct about this because Fadra posted, you know, that it's the first week of high school. And I found this article from last year, which was just so funny, and I didn't see this when it came out. So Fadra was talking about Aden's 13th birthday, which was last year. And she said, so for his birthday, he either wanted a

dirt bike or a way to make money. And so I said, well, definitely not going to give you a dirt bike to kill yourself. I will give you $150,000 for you to buy a piece of property. And so now he's basically trying to figure out if he wants to do a little multi-unit duplex, you know, start his own little rental properties. We're talking about a 13-year-old boy getting $150,000 to invest in real estate for his birthday. Truly, my brain cannot comprehend that. But I guess Little Aden is a landlord and good for him for starting his journey early. Maybe he'll be on million-dollar listing someday. Another little Atlanta adjacent piece of news, Candy and Todd are back in the Broadway producing game. I got this, I got this press release yesterday that

they have joined the upcoming Broadway production of Othello, Shakespeare's, Shakespeare's Othello, as lead producers. And it's their fourth Broadway producing project in four back-to-back seasons, which is really impressive. And this, this production of Othello, if you're not paying attention to Broadway news, is starring Denzel, Washington, and Jake Gyllenhaal. So it's pretty major stuff. Candy obviously has been in the hunt for a Tony. since she started getting involved with theater producing. But I have a lot of respect for her that she's sticking with it beyond it being a storyline for her on Housewives because that that first time out of the gate, it was a little bit like,

my storyline is that I want an Egot. And the way I'm going to do that is by producing a show. And the nice thing about this is that it gives me something to talk about and an excuse to bring the girls to New York. But, I mean, Candy is no longer on Housewives. And she also, another thing to note about this is that Broadway productions, usually have like a million producers. Like it's something where you can, you know, you give a set amount of money and your name is on it. But most of them are co-producers.

So if you look at like the list of 50 names, usually there's like three or four actual producer producers and then a lot of co-producers. Candy and Todd have graduated to the main producers. They're lead producers on this production of Othello. They were also lead producers on the revival of The Wiz that just closed on Broadway, which did not get any Tony nominations, but did extremely well at the box office. So I think it's really cool to see them sticking with this. And I feel like one of these days, Candy will get that Tony.

I'm manifesting that for her. And I guess Todd can have a Tony too. Good for Todd. I also noticed Carl's soft bar, as we talked about a few weeks ago, they're selling merch already. They're selling merch already. the soft bar, you can get the merch. The bar itself, of course, has not opened yet. It used to say coming soon on the Instagram. Now the Instagram says early 2025. So we're circling in on a potential date, but obviously I would put an asterisk next to that because if something's being planned for

early 2025, you know, that could mean June. That could mean it's not ever going to happen. And it's kind of giving something about her, you know, after post-Skandival when they were selling their merch. But the thing about that is that people were excited. There was like a lot of hype and anticipation around something about her. And that buying the merch felt like a way to support the cause in a way. I don't know that there's the same hype around the soft bar and cafe. I don't know that Carl is going to be able to move $100,000 worth of merch. But I wish him the best.

Lindsay has been looking very good on Instagram. She's been posting her outfit selfies, her maternity looks. She's showing off the bump. It is weird to think about that they're just, like, out there filming a season of Summer House right now that we're going to see in six months. Obviously, that's how it works literally every summer. But I just feel like this year more than ever, I'm kind of like, oh, yeah, they're still doing that. They're still at it. What is that going to be like?

I can't wait to find out. I also listen to Melissa Gorga on the two T's and a pod podcast, which is not something I normally listen to. Really, I don't listen to a lot of Bravo Liberty podcasts in general. I maybe have talked about this before. It's just I find that listening to the average Bravo Liberty podcast is just like one step too deep for me. It's like I watch all the shows.

Obviously, I'm on social media. I'm talking about these things. I'm hearing things. I'm seeing things. 45 minutes a week spending time with them inside my ears. It's just a little. It's not something I can commit to. But I was interested when I saw that Melissa went on the 2T's podcast.

Also, now they're calling their guest episodes. They're calling it in the Twatseat. Like 2T, like T-W-O-T-T-T-T-T-W-O-T-T-T-T-T-T. and so they've like sub-branded their guest episodes, which it's like, I was going to say it's cute, I guess, but like is twat-seat? I mean, it's like, it's clever, I guess. I don't know. So Melissa was in the twat seat. The episode itself, like marginally interesting.

At this point, I mean, this is why I haven't wanted to talk that much about Jersey in the last few weeks because it's like, what is there to say? It's over. it's going to come back at some point and it's going to look different, but nobody knows what that means. And Melissa is in the same boat as the rest of us. Obviously, she has a lot of feelings about how this season played out. She agrees with Tamara and Teddy and all of us that that Real Steakhouse finale watch special was kind of a dud. She felt like it was pointless. I think everybody felt like it was pointless.

She still hasn't spoken to Jackie in months. There's no kind of friendship there. She's still on the same page with Margaret. You know, yada, yada, yada. nothing is surprising. The one little tidbit that she dropped that I thought was interesting, and maybe we knew this before, but I didn't actively know this before, is that Jim Leonard, Teresa's attorney, who we saw on the show this season at the, you know, the reveal of the non-reveal of the facts about Margaret Joseph's. Jim was originally Melissa's attorney way back in

the day. And Melissa says that Jim was working with her. before he was ever working with Teresa, that Jim did her first couple seasons of contracts to do housewives. Jim was her lawyer representing her. And then when the legal stuff started happening with Teresa, Teresa asked Melissa if it would be okay with her if she started working with Jim. And Teddy and Tamara are kind of like, wait, wait, wait, wait. Why would Teresa want an entertainment lawyer representing her

when there's this like criminal mortgage fraud stuff circling around her and Joe, which is a whole other can of worms. I mean, I don't know how much Teresa knows about the different types of law. That doesn't seem like something that maybe she would have had an intimate understanding of. It was probably just like, oh, like I heard about a lawyer. Here, I need a lawyer. Can you be my lawyer? At some point, obviously, Melissa ceased working with Jim Leonard. But it's crazy to think about that like once upon a time, Jim Leonard maybe had a,

had a different point of view on things. There was also a moment on this podcast that I just couldn't stop laughing about because they were asking Melissa about her family and her mom and if her mom has been dating. Of course, her father passed away a couple years ago. And she basically was saying she's not dating right now. And Teddy was like, oh, maybe I should set her up with the Coogues, aka John Cougar Malencamp, aka Teddy's father, as we all know.

And that was funny, whatever. It was like a throwaway thing. And then Teddy, Teddy shares that Dina Lohan won't get out of her DMs because her goal is to try and get set up with John Mellencamp. And Teddy's like, Dina, the face app is a little much. I can't even send a photo. It was just the funniest moment because if you have seen Dina Lohan's social media anytime recently, oh, baby, those filters.

shit is smoothed over there. There are very few distinct facial features that you can really pick out. But just, I don't know, it was a pleasant episode listening to Melissa on the two T's podcast. And maybe I should keep an open mind about listening to the Bravo Lab podcast. Because sometimes there's little gems in there. I think the last one I did was the Marisol and Alexia podcast right after Alexia's divorce news came out. That one was good. And by good, I mean, like, informational.

But I don't know. I just, on a weekly basis, it's too much. It's too much. This episode is brought to you by Prime. Obsession is in session. And this summer, Prime Originals have everything you want. Steamy romances, irresistible love stories, and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice.

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It's the number one OBGYN-YN recommended brand of emergency contraception, and it won't impact your future fertility. That's Freedom to Be. Use us directed. The one other little piece of news, I guess it's worth mentioning, is that House of Villains, Season 2 is premiering on October 9th. We knew about this earlier this year. Teresa's the only Bravo Lab on this season,

and honestly, this cast feels like such a flop. And season one was already kind of a flop. I feel like there was a lot of attention when they, announced their cast and then the second the show started, people dropped off of watching this pretty quickly. I, Jacks Taylor was the first person sent home on season one. And then Tiffany Pollard was sent home the week after. And from what I heard, I was not really watching, but from what I heard, the season was

pretty, pretty blah after Tiffany got sent home. Interestingly, they have brought Tiffany Pollard back for season two. I think that reeks of desperation a little bit. But Teresa's there. The rest of the cast, it's just. Richard Hatch, season one of Survivor, have we not progressed past

the need for Richard Hatch? The man, not only did he, like, go to prison for not paying his taxes. On Survivor All-Stars, am I the only one that remembers that he basically got accused of sexual assault

or, like, being really, like, inappropriately, his whole thing was being naked for every challenge. If you watched Survivor back in the day, you know, clap if you care. But it was a whole thing

thing. And I'm like, it's 2024. It's about to be 2025. We're only a few short months away from 2025. And Richard Hatch is still being paraded out for these like one and done TV appearances. We've got to move on. Really these

reality star mashup shows, I feel like how to really, like last year was kind of the peak of them where it was like, House of Villains, Stars on Mars, the goat, the like this was when Traders premiered for the first time. And other than traitors, have any of these shows been good? I mean, there's like,

your classic dancing with the stars, like, that's a separate bucket to me. But like, nobody is, nobody is watching Kim Zolsiak on The Surreal Life right now. That show is still coming out every week. They're on, like, episode seven, crickets, not a peep. Jill Zarin and Kristen Doty were on the goat earlier this year. Nobody is checking for these shows. So how's the villain season two? I mean, perhaps I'll watch an episode, but even that seems like too much of a commitment. I've got to watch, you know, secret lives of Mormon wives. I've started watching that show, by the way. It comes out in a couple weeks.

It certainly is interesting, and now I'll circle back when I can say more. But let's get into the real entree of this episode, and that, of course, is the real Housewives of Orange County. And when we pick up, when we pick up this episode, we are still on our two separate trips. We're in Big Bear, we're in La Quinta. And these little triplets, like triplets, they're kind of strange. Because I think near as I can tell, unless they've cut some stuff out, they're only staying at these places for one night. And it's kind of like, was this always the intention?

Like, it's giving like on Jersey the house burnt down and then they didn't go on the trip. But like, was the plan really that they were each going on these like, half group trips for one night? Like, does that... What really meets the threshold of counting as a trip on housewives? Because even splitting the cast up half and half to me, that sort of like diminishes the possibilities of the group trip. And then the fact that they're only there for one night, it's like, wait, what's...

What is this? Why did they arrive at this format? Like, who decided, yes, this is what's going to make sense. You're each going to be in these California locations that are driving distance for approximately 22 hours, and that will give us enough footage for not even two whole episodes. I mean, they, like, arrived at these places last week and leave these places this week. So they're really there for, like, a total of one episode, if you add up all the footage. But definitely the Big Bear trip looks like they're having more fun.

But I think the Lakinta trip looks more enjoyable. Does that make sense? Like Big Bear, they're like, oh, it's a kumbaya. We're wearing the matching pajamas. And we started both a Bible study and in only fans. It's very like slumber party sleepover vibes. And the Lakinta trip, while there is this like weird tension between Emily and Gina and people are, Gina and Heather and Shannon is, you know, going through it a little bit.

I just like, I think I would rather sit by the pool at Lakeinta for a day than like pretend to like, you know, Alexis and Katie are like humping each other in their onesies at Big Bear. Like it's just that. This is quite sound like my vibe. But Alexis is, um, Alexis is really, she's, she's getting on my nerves. And I don't think that this is a hot take. I think she's getting on a lot of people's nerves. And what's funny to me is, first of all, Alexis getting like the yapper edit is really great. Like Katie basically being like, the nice thing about having Alexis is around is that you don't have to think very much about the conversation because if you stop talking, Alexis will just talk.

Like, that's, if Katie is saying that's the best thing about having Alexis around, I don't think that's actually like a ringing endorsement of having Alexis around. Like if that's the only thing you can come up with that she brings to the table. But anyway, aside for that, I think Alexis, obviously she's talking too much about Johnny and she can't shut up about Shannon and there's this whole thing. But she also is just a little delusional about the energy that she's bringing into the group because when she's talking with Katie before they're leaving Big Bear, she's like, oh, you know, like, I think I can really try and bring you and Heather together because I'm close with both of them. of you. And so it's, you know, it's hard for me that you're not getting along. And I think that maybe when we get back from Big Bear, Tamara and I can kind of have like a kumbaya with the whole group and just bring everyone back together. And I'm like, girl, you think that you're the one that's going to have a kumbaya and bring the whole group back together. You're the one that can't go

through a dinner without threatening Shannon with legal action and some video that you have recorded. and Tamara is Tamara's the one that is screaming at Shannon every time she sees her. It's one thing for Alexis to be like a little bit in her bubble, her love bubble of Johnny Jay and Lexi. But like what makes you think that you are the one

that is going to bring this group together? If anything at this point you leaving would probably allow everyone to kind of breathe a sigh of relief because they don't feel like they have to walk on eggshells around you. It just is like a little, it's a little often. me. And I don't, it's, Alexis obviously has always been a little bit of a character, but it's

strange to me that she is like so wrong in such a like single-minded way this whole season so far. And I'm like, girl, like, can we not recalibrate just a little bit? Meanwhile, in La Quinta, they're talking about the, again, the 75K and the facelift thing with Shannon and John. And I felt like I actually understood sort of the conversation around this. better after this episode because when Heather was specifying that sort of the reason in the past that Shannon paying for everything seemed like so suss that when Shannon would say, oh, I pay for everything with John was because it was being painted in a light. Like, does John really care about Shannon?

Is he committed to this relationship? If he can't even pay for a dinner or a hotel or a flight or whatever, how much is this guy really willing to commit to her? But when you have the alternating side that, okay, maybe she paid for the dinners and the hotels, but he paid $75,000 for her facelift, it feels like the scales balance out a little bit more. That it's like, okay, so he didn't just like, he didn't never pay for anything. Like, maybe he wasn't paying for things on a daily basis. But I think Shannon, she's just so emotionally working.

up over this situation in a way that I think is valid. This is a man who she was with for years. She feels like not only is, did the relationship end and she's going through some, some tough personal times with the DUI and everything, but also now I think it feels like there's some really, you know, vindictive energy coming her way from Johnny and Lexi. But she's adamant that she was beyond generous with John throughout her relationship. And so basically, it's not okay for him to imply or insinuate in any way that she's greedy or she took advantage or he paid for this thing. And she says it's like a men's ego thing and that she wasn't ever going to make it an issue, but now it's become an issue. And so it's like, okay, now I want to talk about it.

Emily, Emily, ever the attorney, the negotiator, she's like, just give him like 30K and call it a day. And Shannon's like, I don't want to give him the time. I think this is going to be tough. for Shannon because like he wants a dime and then some how many dimes would be $75,000 $75,000? $75,000. I think it would be $7.5 billion. I don't know. I can't. Don't, don't, I shouldn't be doing math live on Mike. That's going to make me look stupid. It's going to make me look like Lexi. But anyway, I digress. Shannon, it is particularly weighing her on her in this time that She does not feel that she has the support of Tamara in this time of need. And that normally she would turn to Tamara and Tamara would be there.

But she does feel like she's been getting an outpouring of support from others, specifically from, you know, the other women that are in La Quinta. And she wasn't expecting that. So it's funny because Shannon is suddenly kind of having a good season, maybe for the first time ever, because it feels like there are so many forces at work, against her. From the John Jansen situation, from the Alexis situation, to Tamara kind of going too hard on her,

all of a sudden, I'm like, let Shannon live, let Shannon breathe, let her, let her heal in peace. And, you know, maybe she's not going to be triumphant and come out on top like Rocky on the steps this season. but at least I feel like I am rooting for her to kind of like turn it around and get it together. But it's tough when she has this $75,000 that clearly, as we will get to, is just not going to go away. We have the Emily and Gina. They finally have their big moment and kind of confront the weirdness that's been happening between them. Of course, over a game of pickleball, as all conflicts should be resolved on housewives these days.

You know, they're talking about Gina's mad that Emily was saying she kisses Heather's ass, and then Emily is mad that Gina was talking out of both sides of her mouth when it came to the Katie and Heather situation. Really, none of this is that deep. First of all, both things are true. It's like, does Gina kind of kiss Heather's ass sometimes? Yeah. Is Emily a little aggressive, maybe a little bitchy sometimes? Yeah.

So at the end of the day, like, okay. You guys are friends. It's going to be fine. Emily tells Gina that she lets Heather manipulate her. That pisses Gina off. Gina's like, I don't want to see you be the grand bitch. And Emily says she's working on it. When Gina did laugh, when Gina's like, if you want to say I'm a pussy, that's fine. Just say it. And then he's like, I don't think you're a pussy. But finally, finally they get to the crux of it. And Gina doesn't say this in as many words, but she really kind of starts to lose it. And then she says, everybody's fucking mad at me. okay fine everybody hates me and I think that what this really comes down to is that because of where the situation is with Travis because of things that how this you know paparazzi thing played out with

Heather and now this weird tension with Emily I think Gina is just like in kind of a high strong stressed out place her stuff with Jen earlier this season that already feels like a while ago but clearly that weighed on her too but I think really the situation with Travis more than anything Gina just feels like she is kind of going through it right now. So she feels like Emily is supposed to be her kind of easiest relationship in the group. Like they've been there together the whole time. They have this kind of dynamic duo energy. And she's like, I see what's happening with Shannon and Tamara.

And like, I don't want our friendship to devolve into this like seasons long back and forth bullshit of betraying each other and not being able to trust each other. And I love that Emily is just like, we're not Shannon and Tamara. Those are two dysfunctional nut jobs. We're normal. And I think that they are. I think that they really needed to have this kind of, they needed to let things explode a little bit so then they could realize sort of that they do still care about each other. The issues between them are not that major.

And I think it seems like now things are going to kind of like settle between them. And obviously they have like bigger fish to fry over the course of the season. So I'm glad we're, I'm glad we resolved that. It was like kind of a blip. in the grand scheme of things, but, you know, it was important. And their relationship, I think, is maybe doesn't get the respect it deserves as, like, a key dynamic on the show. But we have to go back to Big Bear. And this, you know, back to the Alexis v. Shannon saga of it all. Because Alexis, as they're packing up to leave, gets a call from Johnny Jay.

And of course, we only get one side of the phone call because, God forbid, Johnny Jay, like, make his voice heard on the show or show his face or anything like that. that. So we just hear Alexis being like, oh, my God, it's about her. I'm literally going to lose it right now. No, the gloves, the gloves are coming off, booby. We're going to, oh, my God. Alexis is crying after the phone call.

She's like, it's got, it's at the point where John has had enough. She gets so blackout drunk and she doesn't know what she's done or said. But we have the footage. And then, of course, vague, nope, too vague. Because then she's in the confessional and they're like, okay, so like, what exactly, what exactly is the footage? Like, what is, why are losing it? Like, what, literally what is any of this about? And Alexis is just like, yeah, so I'm actually not at liberty to discuss that.

So that's, you know, that's the kind of question that everyone would just have to ask John. I would love to ask John, and I'm sure the producers would love to ask John. So where is John? Like, produce Johnny J. Bring Johnny J. to us. This isn't my only frustration with Alexis, but it is one that is growing really week by week because the thing is like, if you are going to make somebody such a big part of the conversation, it's kind of unfair to never force them on camera.

And I mean, obviously we shouldn't force people to do what they don't want to do. You know, it's a free country and, you know, all of that. But like, get him on camera or like, go away. It's the same. And I can't remember if I made this comparison already. But it's the same shit as Danielle Cabral and her dad and her brother, like, produce the source of the drama. We want the mess. We don't want to talk about the mess.

We want the mess. Now, I'm assuming, you know, after watching the rest of the episode, I'm assuming that the phone call was something about Shannon turning down the settlement offer, you know, to pay the 75K. Or, you know, John turns down the settlement offer and says he won't accept anything less than 75K. And if she doesn't come up with a payment plan, they're going to file a lawsuit. I'm assuming the phone call has something to do with that. But of course, we don't know that because Johnny Jay isn't there and Alexis isn't at liberty to discuss. us. But then once they get back from these trips, we do get a little like side view into what's happening because now, of course, because John isn't there and Alexis won't, you know, is keeping things

vague, we have to rely on like the other women in the group to like maybe say a little more than they were supposed to. So when Katie and Emily are catching up at the grocery store, which first of all, why are we filming at the grocery store? Can we like do an activity? Can we sit down somewhere? But no, they're just like inspecting the produce. But Katie is telling Emily about the phone call and about Lexi saying that she has these videos of Shannon. And Katie says, and this is new news to me, Katie says that there was something about a ring camera video of Shannon almost running over John's daughter. I'm sorry, what? Like a human daughter?

that changes the equation a little bit. And if that's true, I would love to unpack that a bit more. And if it's not true, then that's a pretty fucked up thing to lie about. But like, at a certain point, like, are we seeing this video? Does this video exist? Like, can we subpoena the video? Can Andy subpoena the, can we get the video at the reunion? Does anybody have the video?

Does anybody know how to like hack into an iCloud? Of course, don't do that because I sent you. but like if you did and then it like fell into my lap like where's this video? That's crazy. She almost ran over John's daughter. What?

This is the kind of thing that it's like we can't be whispering about this through the grapevine the whole season. Like that is a game changer. And Shannon right now because John and Alexis are seeming like such loony tunes, Shannon is like kind of getting the sympathy at it. And if she almost ran over John's daughter,

she might not deserve the sympathy at it, and it seems like Alexis would want to make that clear. Instead, she's just like, if she ever finds out what I know, then I know that it's not going to be good. Yeah, that's the last of Alexis we have this episode, and I'm sort of glad for that because clearly my patience is wearing thin. I haven't talked at all about the stuff with Jen and her ex and her ex's girlfriend and all. of their kids. There's a lot of weirdness going through this. And I feel like we don't have all the information. But Jen, it comes up more when they're at Big Bear because obviously Alexis has a co-parenting

situation with Jim. And, you know, a lot of the people in this group have co-parenting situations. And, you know, Tamara has experienced with this with her kids. But what's crazy is that between Jen and Ryan and Will and Lara, the new girlfriend of Will, who was friends with Jen when they were married, which is all. whole other Jesus Christ can of worms. They have nine kids between them. Nine kids.

Very, like Ferris Bueller's. They have nine times. Nine kids between them. And so, Jen, I think, feels like she is sort of getting shut out of the dynamic with Will and the girlfriend and the kids, and she just wants them to all be good.

But she feels like, you know, Tamara shows her this picture that Will posted on Instagram of him looking happy with the kids and she feels like she doesn't get to see that side of him and I mean, I don't know the particulars of this situation and obviously like co-parenting kids is is difficult and it's different for everyone. But like Gina, Jen really seems like she's kind of going through it in every aspect of her life. And she and Ryan go on a spa day because of course, you know, I'm like, can you guys find like a free activity? Is there like a, is there like a, can you go on a

picnic in the park? Like, is there a, you know, going to the beach, that's free? Like, why are we always, why are we going to Vegas? Why are we going to the spot? Like, sit on your patio and talk to the camera. It's, it's, like, I'm always on the lookout for something free. And I feel like Jen really, if there's like a newsletter, she could subscribe to, like, free activities happening in Newport Beach. I think that is something that really I would recommend highly to her because it's, it's great to find free things in your community, especially when maybe, um, you're trying to keep an eye on the budget. But, um, Ryan shoots down the idea of doing it. an only fan. So, you know, got to find some other way to make the money. But yeah, and then he's also,

like, giving her advice about stuff with the kids, about how she needs to learn to say no sometimes, and how, you know, five kids are asking her for five different things for breakfast, and she's making all of them. And I'm like, first of all, like, who has the time? Just, like, say no. I mean, like, not to give parenting advice to anybody, but, like, I think he's right. But she says it's hard, you know, it's she got used to when she was staying home all the time, you know, whatever. I always forget that she has a 17-year-old son. Like, in my mind, all of Jen's kids are like 12 and under. And so seeing the little like flashback, whatever momentary scene of her talking to her

17-year-old son, I'm like, oh, damn, like, you're all across the board here. That's really got your hands full in sort of a Gina sort of way. Gina, by the way, now doing construction on the house. And Travis has feelings about that. which I kind of understand. So they were living in this house together for like three years with all the kids, six kids sharing two bedrooms. And then Travis and his kids move out.

So now it's Gina and three kids. So they're going to be two and one in the bedrooms. But then Gina's immediately remodeling both of the bedrooms. So all three of the kids, Gina's kids, are staying in Gina's room. And Gina is staying on the couch. I just can't. I mean, again. life is hard.

Everybody's going through a different situation. But like, can you, like a short-term rental maybe? Just like, can you do like an Airbnb for a month while the rooms? It just is the week. I don't know. I'm giving like, it's like Willy Wonka when, you know, all the like grandparents are staying in the same bed. Like that's what I'm picturing Gina's house like.

And it's stressing me out. But the big climax of the episode, I suppose, is Shannon and Tamara's big meetup. And Tamara right off the bat is coming into it. with a little bit of a chip on her shoulder because she really feels like it should have been Shannon's job to reach out to her. And that, you know, she hears from everyone that Shannon is working on herself, but she's really skeptical. And, you know, obviously, I think she's a fucking drunk and an alcoholic as she's told everyone else in the group. But she feels that Shannon should be reaching out to her and kind of, you know, making amends with her. I don't know. I mean, I feel like you're both

on the show. It's obvious at some point that you're going to meet up. whether production is arranging it or Shannon is setting it. It's like, who cares? You're going to film a one-on-one scene. It is what it is. So Tamara starts right off the bat and she's like, I know this is probably difficult for you, but I wish you would have reached out to me.

Shannon does that thing where like the second Tamara starts talking, she's like looking at her and squinting. It's kind of like a Jennifer Coolidge face where it's like, she's so confused at like each individual word that's coming out of Tamara's mouth. And then she's like, well, I, I, Tamara, why would I reach out to you when you've been defaming me for weeks saying I'm drunk and I need to be sober and just defaming me left and right? And you can tell, this is what I love. You can tell that Shannon has had the word defaming like written in her notes app. Like she has like a sticky note on her mirror or something.

Like you can tell that somebody. said that to her or she thought of it. And she was like, oh yeah, the next time I see Tamara judge, I'm going to tell her that she's been defaming me for weeks. I don't know if this is legal advice. I don't know the threshold for defamation. I have a feeling that wouldn't hold up in court. But I mean, Tamara's been saying a lot of shit about Shannon.

And Shannon is adamant that still she is mostly limiting herself to two drinks. I love that. That's just like what we've arrived at, that that's like her thing. She's like, two drinks, two drinks. Tamara asks again if she's an alcoholic, and Shannon says that in the past, she has used it excessively in darker periods, and that if she feels it's an issue, she will take a look at it. This is very, like, you know, corporate speak where it's like, what will I admit to and what will I acknowledge? Tamara, she's like, well, if you're not an alcoholic, I don't think you should be sneaking a drink. And there's like this flashback to a time when Shannon mentioned, like, secretly drinking. It just feels so, this is what Gina was telling. Tamara earlier in the episode when they met that it's like it doesn't ever feel like Tamara's actually coming from a place of love and support. And even in this scene where the theoretical objective is that they're going to like, you know, reaffirm that they love and care about each other. It feels like Tamara is like standing there with like a little like dark gun. Like she's like waiting

for Shannon to say the wrong thing. And then Shannon sort of does because Shannon says that she's seen Tamara in compromising positions. So, so what if she said what she knows about Tamara? And that gives Tamara the, the, the little opening to just be like, well, did I drive my car into a house? Tushay. Shannon leaves the table. She's distraught.

She's like, complaining to a producer in the bathroom. She's like, she's my character damaging lies about me. Shannon says Tamara's lucky. She's not stooping to her level because she could if she wanted to, again, like the, the threats that are being thrown around on this show. But somehow they don't seem that serious. Shannon comes back to the table. They do sort of make up a little bit, you know, whatever.

Because it all comes back to the 75K, the John Jansen thing. And this is where Shannon reveals that John is going to sue her because her lawyer made a settlement offer. And, you know, she doesn't want to pay him a dime. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Tamara is like, well, you know, my heart breaks for you. And so because of that, as such a good friend, I will let you come to my party this week. She's like, you know what? You and Vicky can come. Mother Teresa, Tamara Judge, is allowing Shannon and Vicky to cross her doorstep once again.

And, you know, what more could you ask for from one of your closest friends that you've been through it with over the years? You can come to my party. Sure, whatever. Fine. Come. Tamara and Shannon, clearly we have not seen the last of this this season. You know, I just don't, I don't think Tamara exactly. I don't think she's, I don't think she's, She has Tamara's, or Shannon's best interests, totally top of mind. Not quite. Next week's episode, we're getting Teddy and Vicky at Tamara's party. You know, I'm always in the mood.

Say what you will about Teddy. I'm always in the mood for Teddy making a little dig at Vicki Gunnvelson. It just, it sparks joy for me. But we'll get to that next week. Thank you so much for listening. We'll be back next week. 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. Mentioned-all podcast is produced by Dylan Hafer and Bell Roman. Editing by Bell Roman, social media by Dylan Hafer and Candace Maniga, guest booking by Ali Friedlander. VP of Podcast is Chris Allen. And be sure to follow Bravo by Betches. Beches.