Mention It All - RHONY Rewind Ep. 7: Second Chances

Episode Date: September 22, 2023

On the penultimate episode of the RHONY Rewind, it’s finale time, and Ramona faces the music after her dinner party faux pas. Meanwhile, Luann does her Countess duties, Ally is working (the horror!), and Alex still won’t leave the house without Simon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Make every get-together chill. This Memorial Day, get up to an extra $1,000 off select top brand appliances like LG. Plus, get free delivery at the Home Depot. Tackle pool, towels, and camp laundry with a large capacity washer. And host in style with the fridge serving craft ice, mini craft ice, cube ice, and crushed ice. Shop appliance savings now through June 3rd at the Home Depot. Offer valid May 14th through June 3rd, US only. Free delivery on appliance purchases of $998 or more.

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

Welcome back to the Mention It All podcast. I'm Dylan Hafer, and we have made it to the penultimate episode of the Rony Rewind Experience. This is episode seven, second chances. And this is the season finale. of Roney season one. Next week, we've got a Watch What Happens Live reunion, which I have not revisited in several years. And I, um, I'm keeping my expectations low because I feel like a lot of those early reunions

were, uh, not iconic. Um, but this is a pretty good episode. They, after a season of kind of fits and starts of getting, some semblance of a group and storylines and drama going, it was a compelling finale. And, you know, as with most of the episodes this season, a fair amount of the appeal now

comes from just the things that come out of these women's mouths. You know, it's been a really good season of quotable moments. But I do going back, thinking back to what it must have felt like to watch this in 2008, which I did not. I, you know, by the time I was on my Housewives journey, there were, you know, numerous seasons

in the books. So I can't quite relate to the contingent of people who are day one viewers. And I just have to say, I have so much respect for people who started in those early days and really stuck with it because after watching these seven episodes, thinking back, trying to, you know, if I could put myself in the shoes of someone watching this in 2008 with no idea kind of what's to come, how much impact it'll have, I'm not sure I would have been particularly blown away with this season of TV. I mean, even more so, thinking about season one of Orange County, it's a little bit of a slog. It is, it's not what we have come to know and recognize as housewives.

And this show, Roney's Season 1, it's a little bit closer to that, but still, it's a different experience. And I think part of the reason that I have really been able to enjoy it this time is because I know what's coming. and I know that there are the dramatic irony of Ramona and Mario and I know the journey that Luann is going to take us on and I know that you know scrappy Bethany is going to rule the world someday not literally I hope but you know there's a lot of there's a lot to be gained from kind of knowing what's going to happen with these people but this episode it starts out Luann and Bethany are at a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, raising money for Hurricane Katrina Relief. Love that. You know, they see Alex and Simon there, and it's the first time they're all seeing each other after the disastrous dinner party in which Ramona stormed out after Alex brought Simon. So Bethany brings up the Hissy Fit at the Girls' Night.

And it's interesting to me. Simon Luana's like so why were you there? And she's like, did you know that it was going to be all women? And Simon lies through his

teeth. And it's like, well, I didn't have any idea. And Bethany's like, babe, we told you on the phone. We said it was a girl's night. And Alex is like, well, I just don't. You know, I don't get the, I don't get the whole girl's night, boys night. Why is it a thing?

You know? she is out she's just all about gender equality um and i think that's beautiful for her bethany this is a bethany's really firing on all cylinders this episode she says she should take that to capital hill girls night out is a big discriminatory event the thing is like this is a perfect housewives tidbit because it's like first of all girls night is like a you know social construct who cares it's a six people having dinner at Jill's apartment. But then it's like for Simon to not be able to pick up on that. It's like, what planet are you on?

And then for Alex to justify it saying that she thinks gender equality means that husbands should be able to come to girls night. It's so stupid. It's just so dumb. It's like, okay, that's not, okay. But Alex McCord is a feminist, and she will not be deterred. heard from bringing her husband to absolutely everywhere with her. Except, unfortunately, Simon has a death in the family. So he has to leave for nine days. This is the longest amount of time

that they have ever been apart. And, you know, it's going to be tough. While he's gone, Alex is going to have to take Francois to the child psychologist for her state of the child appointment, which I guess is just figuring out how's it going with the kid and then you can get into school. I don't know. I don't know anything about kids. I don't know anything about parenting. So maybe did I have a state of the child appointment when I was a kid? I can't imagine I did. But, you know, Francois was on a different playing field than I am. You know, he can translate twinkle, twinkle, little star in Latin or whatever. we'll get to that later.

But we get a little glimpse of Ali, Shapiro, who is interning at Zarin Fabrics, and looks about as happy to be at work as I am on a rough Monday. The horror of her having to learn how to use a phone. Really just palpable. Feeling bad for her, but good to see she made it through. Meanwhile, our big finale culmination event that we're leading up to is this dinner party that Jill is planning at the 21 club. Husbands are invited, kids are invited, which was a little strange to me, but like, you know, go off, sis.

But the big question is whether she and Bethany are going to invite Ramona. Because, of course, last time Jill hosted it in their party, Romona ruined it all. And she says, this is one of my favorite, one of my favorite, like, really, like, sassy Jill Zarin quotes. She says, you never know which Ramona you're going to get. Ramona or Ramina. And I just know, when Jill came up with or had Brad, her gay husband come up with Ramina, oh, I know she has never felt more satisfied with herself. She's saying, you know what?

I got my confessional interview tomorrow. You know what I come up with? Ramona or Ramina? Isn't that amazing? Isn't that fabulous? Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh my God, they're going to love it. They're going to love it.

Ramona's going to hate it. Ramina, isn't that amazing? Like, it's, there's something so beautiful about watching somebody just like, think they did something so wholeheartedly. And she kind of did. I mean, Ramina is, um, you know, it's like the prototype for the singer-stinger, maybe, or the Ramona coaster. Like, we're working out our puns with Ramona Singer's name.

And Ramina maybe isn't the most, you know, slides off the tongue or what's the, what is it? It's the most, um, it's not slides, slips off the tongue. Why is my brain broken? Um, off the tongue. Roll off the tongue. Wow. We got there. Ramina, it's a good start. It's a good season one, season one little job.

So good. Everything you want for summer is at Nordstrom rack stores now and up to 60% off. Stock up and save on the brands you love like Vince, Sam Edelman, frame, and free people. Join the Nordy Club to unlock exclusive discounts, shop new arrivals first, and more. Plus, buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack. Girl, winter is so last season. And now Springs got you looking at pictures of tank tops with hungry eyes. Your algorithm is feeding you cutoffs.

You're thirsty for the sun on your shoulders. That perfect hang on the patio sundress. Those sandals you can wear all day and all night. And you've had enough of shopping from your couch. Done hoping it looks anything like the picture when you tear 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.

Bethany has her birthday lunch at a racetrack. I just, I can't, anything that's happening with like, Bethany's dad, Bethany's parents, Bethany's biological father, the racetrack,

the horses, the blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. It just kind of goes in one ear and out the other. Like, I can't,

I don't know. I can't be bothered. Also, they're at this racetrack and it's like the middle of the day and there's almost no one there, and they're sitting in like picnic chairs. It's very strange.

Like the racetrack, I've never spent time at a race track, but it feels bleak to me. And I get that for Bethany, this is the environment she grew up around, question mark. But like, I just, it doesn't seem like something that I would particularly enjoy. And I am, I do like a sport. I'm getting into football this season. That's new. But, you know, the racetrack, I just don't think that's where I would thrive. But it's where Bethany thrives.

It's where she feels most at home. And everybody knows her dad, even though she doesn't like her dad. I don't know. It's a whole thing. But that happens. We see Ramona bring one of her friends to Dr. Gesey for some Botox. Dr. Gisi, she is like one of the longest running Bravo side characters. Ramona loves to go to Dr. Gle for a little laser, a little facial, a little Botox, a little needle.

But no knives. She likes the needles, not the knives because, you know, she doesn't want to be. want to do age stuff to her face. Like she just wants to look good. She wants to look young. She wants to look revitalized. But she doesn't want to have surgery. And I respect that for her. I don't know all these years later if she has fully stuck to that. You know, she's like 67. I certainly would not begrudge her if she changed her tune. But she, um, she tells us, we all want to look younger. And if you work on it on a regular basis, you look younger than what your chronicle age is. chronicle age is so important

because your chronicle age is I don't know, it's a made-up term. I think she means chronological, but I'm not even sure if that's like a thing. Your chronological age, just say your age. Just say age. You look younger than you are.

I don't know. Ramona certainly does look good. And at this dinner party, Ramona She might look good But she is over an hour late And this is after she Disrespected Jill's dinner party

So brutally last time Jill's freaking out Bethany is calling Ramona She walks in And This is a classic Classic Romano moment Because Jill is upset

And Ramona's like Oh I'm sorry Look we got in the cab And I'm I'm sorry. Okay. I'm sorry. Wait. I'm here. I'm sorry. The perfunctory just throwing out the two or three sorries in the short span of time. She really, she really disarms people with her apology style. That it's like within two minutes, just like, well, you look good.

I like the dress. I like the hair. I wish you weren't late, but you'll look good. It's wild because I've, I've only met Ramona once in passing, so I don't have any experiences like this with her. But everybody always talks about how she's such a difficult person to stay mad at because she just does this thing where she pulls the knife out of your hand. And it's just like, no, but we're good now. We're good now. look, as obnoxious as Ramona is, it is a talent, really, to be able to be that careless and that, you know, clumsy with your relationships and to still always be able to reel it back in and get people back on your side. That is something that most people can't do. And I think it has a lot to do with why Ramona has stuck around for so long, despite being objectively kind of a nightmare. But, no, this dinner party, it's cute. It's nice.

It's in this, like, big room. I don't know. Big room. It's, she talks about the 21 Club. I'm sorry, this looks like it could be a meeting room, conference room at a hotel. The way of these women are obsessed with a very specific niche of New York establishments. Bethany has a little birthday dinner earlier in the episode, and she's like, oh, my friend has this restaurant Philippe, and there's this private room that's like insane to get a table in. And so I got the whole room. And it's, they're there and it's just, it's just a room. Like, all of this stuff that's kind of this old New York, like, society vibe, it all looks a little bit.

shabby. Like something really nice was put together 50 years ago or 30 years ago and then just kind of got dusty. The 21 club is giving that. And maybe I'm way off base here. I don't fucking know. I hope they don't, you know, put a hit on me or whatever

for speaking ill of the club. But I don't know. I just like, this whole lifestyle just doesn't appeal to me at all. I don't know. I guess they have money, which is nice, but early in the episode, though, one of the best scenes is Luann working with the Soho partnership to sort of help homeless people get back on their feet. She says, part of being a countess is I have certain responsibilities. And, you know, it's not a job. It's a, it's an honor. So she is working with this woman, Karen, who is, you know, trying to get her. her kids back, trying to get a job. She's doing a mock interview. And Luanne tells us that she was surprised to see Karen because she looks so clean. She doesn't look like a drug person. And this is perfect. This is, this is exactly, this is why we come to housewives. This is why the countess's sort of journey and trajectory is so compelling because this is where she started.

And you can tell she has a good heart. She's, she's happy to be working with this woman. She is, it seems like really excited about being able to potentially help her. She loves the outfit that she picks out. Like, it's a nice moment. But the things that come out of her mouth, she doesn't look like a drug person. Luann. I'd like you to look around at your friend group and tell me what you think a drug person looks like because I'm pretty sure you couldn't pick them out of a crowd.

But it's nice. It's very reminiscent of the moment in a later season when she's working with the women who are like, you know, picking out clothes or whatever and is telling them how they have, like, time to lose weight. It's just, it's perfect. It's what we go to the Countess for. But anyway, back to Jill's dinner party. Ramona, she, she's bragging about how she wanted to like extra pretty, so she actually hired a makeup artist for tonight. And this is so wild to go back all these years to a time when it was a novel concept to have glam, to hire glam. I kind of, miss it because everybody looks good. Everybody picked out a nice dress. Everybody, you know, did their

hair. Ramona looks a little more dolled up than usual. She looks good. The pink dress, it works. Jill's dress is really pretty, too. It's like this crystal, kind of like a gilded, what's the word, art deco almost. But anyway, Ramona is taking on Alex once again. Of course, Alex was alone for nine days while Simon was away with his family and she's asking if she needs a permission slip for a girl's night, if she did anything. And Alex is like, I don't know. I just kind of like, it was a crazy week. I got home. I would just like have a cocktail and sit on the couch. Ritman is like, I don't know. I think it's weird. She didn't do anything nine days. And like, Alex has two young children. And granted, they did have the O'Pair there while Simon was gone. But like, okay, sometimes I go

nine days without partying. It's not that weird Ramona. Bethany hits us with another great line. She goes, this week on an all new Ramona torches Alex for being codependent. I don't have an issue with Alex's social life. But I do, you know, Alex's kids are not the most well-behaved. They're yelling. Ramona's losing it. She says, you're hurting my ears, sweet pee. It's so funny that Ramona is a mother but has kind of like no bedside manner with other people's kids. But then she also says that when Avery was a kid, she knew not to go on the couch, not to whatever. And it's like, wow, that sounds like a fun childhood. But yeah, I mean, this is pretty much the end of the season. We get a toast to the fabulous Manhattan moms, which is a fun little callback to what this show was

originally supposed to be. And that's kind of it. It's short. It's sweet. It's, you know, over before it almost starts. And that is the same with this episode. We'll be back next week to talk about the reunion. But otherwise, have a great weekend. Thank you so much for listening. Don't forget to rate review and follow the show wherever you listen. You can follow us on Instagram at Bravo by Betches. And until next time, be cool. Don't be all like uncool. Mentioned at all is produced by Dylan Hafer, Sean Kilby, Jorge Morales Pico, and Rebecca Sousmaqat. Editing by Jorge Morales Pico, social media by Dylan Hafer, guest booking by Dylan Hafer and Ali Be sure to follow at Bravo by Betches on Instagram and Twitter.

Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is California's number one entertainment destination for today's superstars. Catch the Jonas Brothers return to the Yamava Theater stage on April 30th, the powerful vocals of Demi Levato on May 17th, and the signature Southern Country Rock of Eric Church on July 19th. Tickets on sale now at Yamavatheater.com, only at Yamava Resort and Casino, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You in? Must be 21 to enter

Betches