Mention It All - RHONY Rewind Ep. 4: Social Wife

Episode Date: September 1, 2023

This week, we hit the midpoint of the RHONY Rewind journey as Alex and Simon continue their social climbing odyssey, Bethenny’s relationship begins to crumble, and the Countess heads downtown (if you can believe it). Dylan breaks down the drama-free episode and awards a new quote of the week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Exclusions apply for licenses see Home Depot.com slash license numbers. 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 Hey everyone

Welcome back to the Mention at All podcast I'm Dylan Hafer And today it is time for episode four Of our Rony Rewind series This episode is entitled Social Wife Really Really clever with those puns there back in the day perhaps this is not the best thing to say at the very beginning of a podcast episode that I hope you will keep listening to, but this is a boring-ass episode of television.

Things have changed so much in the last 15 years, and I think sometimes we don't give enough credit to how much the kind of mechanics of these shows have changed and how much of a groove. they've gotten into with production where I do feel like even now on a kind of filler episode of Housewives, there usually is enough to look at and enough to pull your attention that it feels like there's stuff going on. But this is, it's not great. And I found myself, and some of you might comfort me for this. I found myself while I was watching this episode, wishing that I was rewatching an episode of season 14 of Real Housewives of New York City. I would love to see the cackling hags at Aaron's anniversary party or at the House in the Hamptons or decorating holiday wreaths and being horrified by the fact that Jenna Lyon's name is really Judith. But instead, you know, we get four out of the

five women together, which I guess is, um, we're assembling the team of New York Avengers very slowly here this season. So after Jill met Alex via Bethany at Fashion Week, she invites them plus Luanne to get drinks. So it's four out of five, which I guess, you know, four out of five ain't bad as the saying goes. Um, it's strange for Alex to be out without Simon. She says this, Jill notes this, and I mean, this is something that is a recurring theme of the first four seasons of Real Housewives of New York, but the way that Alex fully just doesn't know how to function or has forgotten how to function without her husband, like, attached at the hip, is so strange. Like, and it doesn't even feel like, like there are some couples on Housewives where it's a very

toxic like controlling mankind kind of vibe like a jimbelino back in the day on oc but this doesn't feel like that it just feels like they truly are obsessed with being around each other and they live on a wavelength and a frequency that nobody else quite can click into so it it really is like she needs her her like emotional support weirdo there to help her out but actually it's her first time meeting Luann and she passes the Lou test with flying colors. They're talking about, you know, speaking French or speaking Italian and

they're, you know, having a grand old time with each other, talking about music. Alex is like, oh, you know, we're gearing up for the opera. You know, it's directed by this woman and I can't wait to see how she does an opera. And Bethany's like, I was at a first opera? And I was like, no, no, no, no, no. Like, she does the other opera, like the

whatever, it's like, do you ever have something that you're kind of personally fixated on, but you know nobody else in the room gives a single fuck about it. Yeah, Alex lacks that social cue of realizing that saying you're going to the opera is the extent of the conversation that those women want to have about the opera. But it is pretty funny to watch. Luann also reveals that she spent the weekend getting lice out of the kid's hair. She's like, well, you know, they just came from camp in Switzerland. and the way she says Switzerland, it's like a cross between

pretending that you have some European accent and sounding like you're from, I don't know, Staten Island. Because, I mean, Luann has a very Connecticut-ish, like Martha Stewartish way of speaking, and Switzerland really just threw me for a loop. But, you know, Jill was able to do all the Googling necessary to figure out what to do about the lice.

So, you know, happy that that worked out for her. But overall, I mean, this whole group scene is kind of neither here nor there. There's no real drama except for Bethany thinking Alex is strange. You know, Luanne invites Alex to go to karaoke with her and her niece, who we get to meet in this episode. Luanne and her niece, Nicole, they go downtown to see a band. And Luanne's whole demeanor about this, she's, she's going into Victoria's room. She's like, Victoria, help me get dressed.

I need to get dressed to go downtown. I love to go downtown. It's a different crowd than I'm usually with. You know, that, that bohemian type of flare that Nicole has. And it's, you know, it's not what I'm used to. And she's wearing this, um, this like long red coat. And with like a print on it and like a silk. kind of vibe. I would, she looks like she could be a villain in a John Wick movie. Like Luan

could have like some sort of really exquisite sword or something and she would be like spinning around and like, you know, flinging throwing stars in a hand-to-hand combat. And she would look really badass. I don't know about this, you know, concert that she's going to on the lower East Side. I don't know if, I don't know how she compares to all the other people there, but, you know, she loves to get out. She loves to go have a good time. But you know who isn't happy about her leaving the house is her 10-year-old son, Noel, who's like miserable about her leaving. She's like, oh, Rosanna, give the kids dinner, pasta. And then, you know, I'll be back early. And Noel looks like he's about to have a tantrum. And Luanne says in the confessional, you know, when he gets like

that I feel for him, but I don't let it override what I have to do in my own social life. And it's so funny because Alex makes a comment earlier when she and Luann are meeting about how she works for Victoria's Secret Beauty. And so she goes to Ohio sometimes for work. And Luanne sort of like half says, but stops herself right before saying, like, I didn't know you worked, essentially. and Luan being like, well, you know, I do, I feel bad that my son is so upset, but, you know, there are things that mommy has to do. Like, go to a concert at a random dive bar in the lower east side with my 20-something-year-old niece. It's like, yeah, Lou Anne, everybody has stuff that they have to do that takes time away from their kids.

but for most people it's like go to work, do job, make money, pay bills. And she's like, uh, you know, that's social life. It's calling. I mean, to be fair, these kids are fine. Victoria's friend who's a boy, I was going to say boyfriend, but, you know, Luann thinks that that part of their relationship has cooled. Um, he comes over and Rosanna's just lecturing Victoria about how she's not respectful enough to Mrs. D, as she calls Luann. The relationship in this family, and, you know, I didn't grow up with any kind of, you know, nanny or people in the house like that, but it's, it's so interesting how she says she's like

a second mother to the kids. Luanne says she's like a second mother to the kids. clearly the kids Victoria's like oh you know Rosanna just kind of talks and you kind of don't listen to anything she says like you kind of just like forget that she's there and it's like this woman is spending her whole ass life in this in these other people's house

doing everything for them. I don't know how she's being paid. I don't know how her time off benefit structure is. I hope it's generous. I'm not super confident but oh God. It's like such a strange thing to watch be like portrayed so openly. And I'm sure in 2007 or 2008, the, the optics around things like that were a little different.

Or maybe people just didn't think about it so much. I mean, it's not like Luann is the world's most self-aware person. But it is a little bit like, I don't love all of these interactions between the Delis Epps family and Rosanna. It's not giving me a great feeling. But hey, at the very least, at least the count, Alex was out of town during the whole lice thing because he's a germaphobe. Imagine if he had to deal with that. I'm like, God, Luann, I want better for you. Get the hell out of there, girlie, and you know she will.

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It's time for a little in-person spring treat It's time for a trip to Ross Work your magic Um Ramona misses that initial girl's night out Because she's out with Joni And some of her girlfriends I hate that I just like know who Joni is

Like before her little title card even comes up I'm like oh it's Joni Why do I know that? Why is Joni somebody who I would recognize on the street. I don't like that. But, you know, they're, they're having some cocktails and they're flirting with some guys. And there's this, this bald guy who's kind of, you know, giving Joni a hard time. And Ramona's like, you know, I didn't really care for him. You know, just, just wasn't, you know, he wasn't a gentleman. And it's like, Ramona, the, the reason you don't

care for him should be because you're married to somebody else, not because he's, like, annoying. So what? We flirt. But you know, I'm so glad that I already met my soulmate. So I don't have to date in New York City. Because, yeah, can you imagine? It's like, oh, sweetie, if you only knew what the universe was planning for you, it is kind of tough to watch. Because all of these women, you know, think they've found their forever people. Alex and Simon still together. God love them. Jill, I mean, obviously it's sad what happened with Bobby. but she seems to be doing super well. She's, you know, seems really happy with Gary. Bethany and Jason, though, oh, God. You know, Luann and Ramona, their marriages are, you know, long gone. Bethany's situation with this guy, Jason, Jason number one. It's interesting because, I mean, their relationship is for all intents and purposes

at the beginning of the end right now. And we've only watched four episodes of the show. So it's not like this is some great love that we're invested in, but, God, it just feels like they are so tragically not on the same page. And at the end of the episode, Bethany has her friend Lauren over and they're, she says she has her over for hors d'oeuvres and leachie martinis. I'm like, that is so specific. Like, what would you do if your friend texting was like, hey, come over Tuesday, 7 p.m. I'm making hors d'oeuvres and leachie martinis. I'd be like, you're making hors d'oeuvres?

Also, like, why is the drink predetermined? Like, what if I just want a normal martini? But anyway, they're having fun. They're getting slashed because Bethany knows that she has an important conversation to have. And, you know, she doesn't usually like to be out of control and drunk when things like this are happening. But, I mean, to be honest. I don't blame her in this situation because she starts to bring it up with Jason. You know, she's talking about when was the last time I slept in the bed here?

It's been four months or something. But she doesn't even have a drawer. Not even one drawer of stuff at Jason's apartment. She says, I woke up this morning. I had a doctor's appointment. And I was like, thank God I wore a bra last night. So I have one at your place. because I have literally no clothes there.

And his response, his ice cold response. You should leave some there. Now, if you're listening to this podcast, and you're in any kind of situation where you're, you know, seeing somebody taking steps, but not quite sure exactly, you know, where the commitment lies, if somebody ever says something like that to you,

it's over. Cut your losses. Don't give it three more months just to make sure that man, that man wouldn't dump water on you if you were on fire. I don't think that's the right saying. Wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire? That sounds so gross, but I think it might be right. Whatever. He doesn't give a fuck about you.

You should leave some there. Sir, you should be clearing out the drawer preemptively. you should be like, hey, I don't know if you're ready, but just in case you ever are, I made some space for you. Instead, he's like, you could leave some there. I don't care. You know, hang a bra on the doorknob of my bedroom. And then, hey, you'll have one if you need it. Like, sir, you know, Bethany is asking if they can have this conversation. He says not right now. She says, you know, essentially this is when she's realized.

that they're not on the same page and they're not going to be because if it's not an enthusiastic yes, it's pretty much a no. If you've been with somebody long enough that you think you should be living together and the other person is like, I don't want to have this conversation, you have your answer even if you don't want to acknowledge it. Like, you know. The flag is red. It's tough to watch. But obviously, you know, that relationship was never meant to work out. Luckily, Bethany has her networking that she's going about. We see her earlier in the episode at her unexpected Mexico event and she's, you know, meeting people left and right. Bethany pretty much explains the concept of networking to us like we are babies fresh out of the womb. She's like,

yeah, so you go to an event and you're just like meeting people person after person after person. And it's all networking and it's connections. And that's how you get to. shit done. It's like, yeah, I've, I exist in the world. I'm not like 12 years old being like, how does that work? Like, do, do I enjoy doing it? Not always, but the concept of networking is really not that complicated. I did, I wanted there to be more skinny girlness in this season. and I don't remember if it starts at all toward the end of season one, but she really at this point is not being specific at all about what her brand and her business really is. She's, you know, saying that she works with clients and that she's the natural food Jeff thing.

But like I want to see her at the grocery store with the like sad table of cupcakes. And I don't remember if that's season one. And honestly, don't spoil it for me because I'm rediscovering this as we go. But I would like to see Bethany, you know, like hustling a little harder. And right now I just kind of feel like she's sad about her relationship and making sure we know that her father isn't responsible for her success. But is she successful at this point? It's a little unclear. That's, you know, really the only other thing worth talking about this episode is Alex and

Simon's much anticipated tour of the private school of whom Jill knows the owner or the manager or the CEO. It's unclear, but they arrange for a private tour. They show up. It's in the old Bank of America building. And boy, can you tell. Like, the school looks like a bank. And I mean, I guess there's something nice about that.

Like, the theater space is like this great hall. like it looks like you could be in Grand Central Station. I guess that's cool. But they're like, here's our cafe, which is actually the old bank vault. And Simon's like, wow, can you imagine your kids eating lunch in a bank vault? As if it is like the coolest thing he's ever heard. I'm like, I don't care about what the room that the cafeteria is used to be.

It's not the fucking Sistine Chapel. But thankfully, you know, the food's also good because the tour guide tells us that they're the only school in New York with a full-time nutritionist on staff. And isn't that just amazing? So important. You know, Alex is very impressed with the tour. She says that she can definitely see Francois thriving there. But, you know, really, they haven't seen a school yet that Francois wouldn't thrive in. So, you know, they're going to get their shit done.

But my line of the episode is earlier when Jill and Alex go on a double date along with Simon and Bobby, really for the express purpose of Alex and Simon making sure that school tour happens. They are just like the pinnacle of shameless social climbing in a way that I sort of have to tip my hat to. They sit down and Simon already likes Bobby and he likes Bobby because he'll have a stiff drink with him. and Jill, he says, is a diet soda girl. And if you have been paying attention to, I don't know, TikTok the news lately, Jill recently, or I guess Allie went viral for posting a video of Jill packing an entire suitcase of Diet Coke for their trip to Europe because allegedly they don't sell the same kind of Diet Coke in Europe. I would just like to applaud Jill for her consistency and the fact that now we know loving Diet Coke.

Diet Soda has been a part of her personality since 2007 at the latest. Good for her. She's a woman of her word. That's all for today. Thank you everyone for listening. Don't forget to rate review and follow the show wherever you're listening. We are going to be off on Monday for Labor Day, but lots of exciting stuff coming up next week after that.

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 Sous McCatt. editing by Jorge Morales Picoe, social media by Dylan Hafer, guest booking by Dylan Hafer and Ali Friedlander. Be sure to follow at Bravo by Betches on Instagram and Twitter. All. Pay off your home, travel for life, drive a Ferrari. In celebration of the world premiere of the Monopoly Big Board Buckslot machine by Aristocrat Gaming, Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel

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