Mention It All - Secrets from Bravo's Love Hotel Ft. Joel Kim Booster

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

In today's episode, Dylan is joined by Love Hotel host and Bravo superfan Joel Kim Booster for a wildly unfiltered conversation about what actually went down behind the scenes of Bravo’s steamiest new dating show. From Luann delivering peak Countess energy to Ashley Darby thriving in her post-divorce era, Joel pulls back the curtain on all the Cabo chaos. He dishes on casting rumors, which Bravolebrity should be in the mix for season two, and his thoughts on the finale. Plus, Dylan and Joel share their thoughts on Rachel Zoe joining RHOBH, Monique Samuels returning as a “friend of” on RHOP next season, and what the future holds for Summer House without Paige DeSorbo. Go to the Always On YouTube page to watch full length episodes every Tuesday: Youtube.com/@AlwaysOnBetches Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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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 at All podcast. I am excited to be joined today by a very funny comedian, writer, actor, and most importantly, the host of Bravo's Love Hotel. Joel Kimbooster. Hello. How's it going?

Good, good. I'm so happy to be here. We're, like, wrapping up the Love Hotel. No, it went by so fast in a blink of an eye. I feel like it happened and it's done now. I'm so curious for you. So you guys filmed this back in the fall. Yes.

Now it's been coming out for the last couple months. What has it been like for you? Obviously, you've been on lots of different shows and movies and things and it takes a while for stuff to come out. But for a show like this where you're hosting and being yourself, what is it like kind of watching it week to week? You know, it's crazy. I will say I felt like when I was there, I was like, oh, I'm so.

so immersed. I'm so a part of this. It's like I know everything that's going on. And then to watch it back, I was saying to someone earlier, it's like watching your kids on the nanny cam after you've gone out for the night because I'm suddenly now realizing what was going on while I wasn't around the entire time. And so it's fascinating. It's a lot of fun. It gives me a lot of joy watching it because I'm getting that peek behind the curtain a little bit. It is fun. I feel like some dating shows, it feels very regimented of like you only see each other at these prescribed times where it's like you go on the date, like on The Bachelor, it's like they don't hang out together. And I kind of like on Love Hotel that it feels like everybody's just kind of like hanging out at the

hotel. You can go to whoever's room you want. It's like very much unstructured free time for a lot of them. And I think like that's part of the best part is, is some of the moments with the ladies where they're just kicking and like gossiping about their dates is some of the best, I think, stuff on the show. Because, you know, I think one of the big draws and great things about the show is that you get to see these ladies not so much in conflict with each other, but really like supporting each other and like rallying behind each other. And, and, um, you don't get to see that on even like an ultimate girl's trip sometimes. Yeah. I kind of like, I like, like, when the show was first announced, it's like, oh, they're going to be like fighting with each other over guys

and blah, blah, blah. And like, there's like little moments of that. But I feel like all of them kind of weren't taking it too seriously to the point where it was like really getting feelings hurt like that. I definitely think there is a makeup of this show casting wise where there could have been a lot more conflict between the ladies. Yeah. But I think that the ladies that they cast, I think just were pretty naturally like, you know what, we see what this is. We see who sort of makes sense for each other. And we're not going to like necessarily step on each other's toes when it comes when it comes down to it. Backing up a little bit, we'll get more into Love Hotel. I want to talk about your Bravo origin story as Joel. I know you've been watching Housewives and everything for a

really long time. What was the first show that you kind of found and became attached to? So in high school, I watched when OC premiered. And I was like sort of, you know, lightly into that. It was just mostly like on while I was doing homework. But it wasn't until I was in college and got really into New York and Jersey that I really became sort of obsessed with the world of Bravo. Because I think like New York was really when they figured out the early formula in a big way, you know, like early OC, it was like a docu series, you know, they barely interacted. It's like, okay, Vicki's at work. It wasn't until Tamara, you know, until Bass Lake and that Tamara sort of invented housewives in the way that we understand them now in a big way. And so,

yeah, until that happened and until New York happened and Teresa with the table flip, you know, that was probably when I was like, okay, I'm on board for this for life. That was like, that was when the ecosystem kind of started to like flesh out a little bit. Yeah, I mean, they're kind of always on. The table flip, I mean, say what you will about Jersey or Teresa, the table flip is probably the first big iconic housewives, like, in terms of like the grander pop culture landscape. Like, everybody knows about that table flip. I was in high school when the table flip happened. And I remember this is like the gayest thing that I've ever done. Maybe.

Like, we had a courtyard in our school where you could eat lunch. And like, I didn't even watch housewives at the time. but I made my friends film me like reenacting the table flip at lunch. And I'm like, why did I do that? Yeah. If it was reaching little gay boys in wherever you grew up, like it was, it was going to stand the test of time. I was watching like YouTube.

Like, I don't think we, we didn't have cable. So I was watching like YouTube clips of like, what is this? What is this text? Yeah. So then have you kind of like, have you stuck with it all the time? Or have you kind of dipped in and out? I've definitely dipped in and out. I think like, um, there was like a moment post-colle.

where I didn't have a TV and this was like before streaming was like super accessible for everybody that I definitely fell off a little bit and it wasn't honestly until I think I was in New York and I started listening to bitch Sash a computer podcast about housewives and that really like drew me back in was like having because I didn't also I started when I was doing comedy open mics all my friends are these grody straight guys you know so like I didn't have any friends who were watching bravo either and so when that how the podcast came along. It was like, oh, finally I have friends that are, you know, involved

in watching the shows with me. And so I definitely dove back in, probably around whatever season they went to Ireland on the OSEC. Oh, yeah. That was when I started back up again. Like Megan King. Megan King Edmonds. Detective Megan King Edmonds.

A Biden for a moment. Oh my God, I forgot about that. Such a blip in time of Joe Biden being at Megan King's wedding. Oh, gosh. Yeah. I hope she's well. I hope she's well too. I hope she's still solving mysteries. I hope she's still putting clues together. I saw in an interview about Love Hotel that you compared doing Love Hotel as a Bravo fan to kind of going to like Disneyland. The Star Wars immersive experience. Staying at the

Star Wars Hotel. Yeah, as a Star Wars fan. It definitely was. I mean like it was so crazy to have been watching these women since I was a teenager to then like having them like. feet away from me. It was just very, very bizarre. What was your, so you've been on, you know, watch What Happens Live? You've like been at around events and stuff. What was your kind of like Bravo Lebrity experience IRL prior to this show? Like do you have any good interactions? Yeah, I mean, the entire Marks family came to the premiere of Fire Island. Um, and of course they did. Seth Marks has like held my hands and gotten weepy and told me how important that movie is to him. Um, as the father of a gay child.

Ally. Yeah, ally down. And Meredith has always been super sweet and very supportive of me as well. And so that was probably like the most like, definitely like impactful interaction I've ever had with a housewife before. You know, I've been on Watch What Happens Live

with a bunch of them before that too. So that was definitely, you know, sort of bigger interactions. I've been on with some real big personalities. Watch what I'm. It happens live is so funny because it's like they're in like season mode. And I feel like when housewives are like in season, it's like they've trained for this. And they have their talking points.

They have their narrative. Their narrative. They're living in their in their world. They're selling. They are selling. And when you're when you're like paired with that energy for Watch What Happens Live, you're kind of just like along for the ride. Exactly.

And you know what? This is going to be the first episode I've done since being, you know, a member of the family. And it's honestly, I'm approaching it a little differently because I'm suddenly like, oh, these are my co-workers. I can't just be like some gay guy on Watch What Happens Live as a fan anymore. Yeah, you're no longer just like a commentator. No, I am, now people are commenting on me too. Right. Watch what happens live.

The audience poll can be like, did Joel do a good job? Yeah, exactly. And so I definitely, you know, have a new level of empathy because, you know, Bravo fans, they are, they are an intense breed of people. I am now learning. I was one, M1. But yeah, it is that it's definitely a different level of scrutiny than I've ever gotten before. Do you feel like, was there any like advice or any kind of like mindset that you took into this show airing versus like when you're on like I watch, I love loot? Like you're on loot that comes out every week. But people aren't like, oh my God, Joel was such a bitch this week on live. Yeah. It's definitely like this is my first real like four end reality. Other than like game shows and stuff that I've done before. Yeah. Like you've been on drag race. Jack Race and Celebrity Jeopardy. Clock. Winner.

But no, this was definitely a different level because it's funny, like, you know, critiques of me before have been, you know, they've always been personal, like, especially about my stand-up and stuff like that, because that's very personal. But this is different, I think, like, because I was just sort of figuring out how to do this job on the fly, you know, as I was doing it. And so, you know, and it was just like trying to figure out how to be me, you know, in this new context. And so it is definitely like, it's definitely weirder to get critiques about like just my general personality rather than like the work. So, yeah. I also feel like with the show

like this, it's like a fine line because it's like you want to be involved in what's happening on the show, but not like inserting yourself too much and you want to be funny, but not, it's not like your stand-up special. You know, like, it is kind of like how much are we supposed to get. The other thing too is that like I was acutely aware. aware to, even while filming it, that like, no one's tuning into this show to see me, right? Like, these people want to see these ladies. So I'm there to facilitate them being able to be funny and them being able to be interesting and them being able to be good TV. And so it was like, I was finding myself a lot, like, again, trying to straddle that line of being like an

interesting, funny, you know, personable host, but also being aware that like, it's not your moment, you know, like you are there to make sure that Luan has a platform to be Luan at the end of the day. So yeah, it was, it's definitely like, you know, I think I was more successful in some moments than others in finding that balance. But yeah, it was definitely a very, you know, sometimes scary new experience. Yeah, you get one moment to be in a speedo. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not my idea and I knew people would be, I was going to, I was going to ask the coup. I knew people would be mad. And I was like, and everyone's going to think that I like campaigned for this and I did not. So it was just another producer.

I think. You're like, great. So I love the wardrobe suggestions. What about this? How long were you guys in Mexico? Three weeks, three, a little over three weeks? That's like, it's like not that long, but when you're like in that environment, it's three weeks in the same all-inclusive resort, there was no, there was no getting off of it, there was nothing around us to escape to.

So like even as beautiful as it was, any place for three weeks with the same group of people is, going to you're going to start going a little cabin crazy. But yeah, it was, it was, I mean, beautiful, very, like the crew was incredible, I have to say. Like, I loved the people that were working on that show to death. And, but it was hard because, like, obviously, like, for me, like, I would go in and shoot my things and, you know, prep for whatever was coming next and meet with the producers. But all of my friends that I made on that show were in the crew. And so they were working when I had downtime. So I was just, like, truly, I would, be, if I was not working, I was alone, like, just completely alone for like,

sitting alone and VIP. Yeah, no, truly, truly. Um, and so I got, you know, it was, it took a minute, but I was able to, like, figure out how to do, like, other work while I was there. I was, like, writing and trying to, like, be productive. But it's really hard when you're just, like, in Cabo, at an all, includes a resort to, like, make yourself do anything when you're not working other than just, like, lie and rot. Right. You're like, so I'm not technically on vacation, but also, like, what else am I supposed to do? Exactly. Yeah. That's like, yeah, I've heard like people that are on like the White Lotus talk about. They're like, well, it's like really great to be there for six months, but also you're there for six months.

Yeah. It was a really relaxing but long three weeks, I will say. Yeah. What was your, I'm curious, like, obviously it's a brand new show. There's a million dating shows out there. And it feels like every show kind of has there a different, almost like intent of like how serious is it supposed to be? Is somebody getting married at the end of this? Are we just having fun?

Like, what was your kind of idea of like where this show kind of falls in that spectrum? You know, I didn't really go in with like a ton of preconceived ideas about that because it was such a new format for this network, for these women, for everybody involved. None of us knew how it was going to work. And so for me, like, it really changed depending on who I was sort of focused on that day. Like, I think like it was a different show for Luanne than it wasn't. for Giselle. Yeah. It was a different show for Shannon than it was for Ashley. And so I think like it was really about figuring out how to help once you once you we figured out like sort of who was how they were going to play it. I think it was easier to just sort of tailor how we would approach each housewife individual on an individual level, you know? Because like we knew we couldn't push Jazeel too hard, but we also wanted her to have a good time. Right. You know, we we didn't want to like let Luan, you know, we didn't want to like let Lou completely lose off the, off the leash, but we also knew that people wanted to see Luan off the leash, you know?

So it was like figuring out like how to how to keep the balance. Yeah, it's watching it week to week. It's been kind of fun seeing how each of them are having their own experience. And like, you know, like Luan will go from being like super horny one minute to then being like, why don't you have a shirt on? Put on a shirt. Like she, the like class with the countess thing pops out at the funniest times. It really does. And the thing is, it's in her DNA, no matter how, you know, how many seasons of this show, how many bushes she falls in. Like, at the end of the day, she is still the countess.

She's like, no, you need to be wearing a shirt. Meanwhile, Ashley, like, I really respect that Ashley has shown up and, like, played the game. Yeah, and that's like the whole time. The thing is, is I think Ashley was the most writing out of all of them to, like, be on a dating show, quite frankly. Like, I really enjoyed Ashley a lot. lot. Like it was nice. Like I forget that like she is sort of our longest reigning millennial housewife. Oh gee. You know and and you really felt I think the age gap with Ashley in this show in a more acute way than you do on her. Right. She's like can I go on my bioland? Yeah. She's like they're hot. Yeah. Yeah. And so it was it was a lot of fun to get to see Ashley in that environment. I mean we've seen her trapped in like one of the, you know, Mount Rush more toxic relationships of Bravo for so long much of her tenure on the show.

So it was nice to just see her get to like, you know, dive into a pool of men head first and see what she came up with. Yeah. I don't, it's, it's tough, though, because that it's like watching Wale, like, experienced that. It's like, if he had set his sights on a different housewife, he wouldn't have had to worry about that. Yeah. It's like, it's one of those things. None of the guys, and I believe them when they say this, just based on how they acted, watched Bravo. Right.

Or had any preconceived notions. did not bring any baggage in with them about anything that, anything from the ladies pass. And I think, like, Waleigh definitely you feel that the most. Like, I think he definitely had an idea of what this was going to be and what his relationship with Ashley was going to look like on the show. And the thing is, is I understand where both of them are coming from. Like, he's really into this woman. Ashley is, you know, so stunning and so, you know, charismatic.

But Ashley's like, I'm out, I'm fresh out of divorce. I'm here to date around. I'm going to date around, you know? And so I think it's like they, neither of them, I think, could ever really quite get on the same page as much as they were attracted to each other and as much as they, you know, clearly had a connection. I think like they were there for different reasons at the end of the day. I also, I just have to say we keep getting the side by sides of Michael Darby and Ralph to like prove a point that Ashley has a type. And I'm like, that's so rude to Ralph. So rude to Ralph.

So rude. And honestly, rude to Ashley in its own way. Like, yes, she clearly, you know, has a type in terms of age range. But I don't, I think that's where the similarities between Ralph is a fine-ass man. And Michael Darby and, yeah. And, you know, he keeps his hands to himself. So good, so good. Everything you want for summer is at Nordstrom rack stores now.

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Girl, winter is so last season. And now Springs got you looking at pictures of tank tops with hungry eyes. Your algorithm is feeding you cutoffs. You're thirsty for the sun on your shoulders. that perfect hang on the patio sundress, those sandals you can wear all day and all night. And you've had enough of shopping from your couch. Done hoping it looks anything like the picture

when you tear open that envelope. It's time for a little in-person spring treat. It's time for a trip to Ross. Work your magic. I'm curious, we've had a couple of different housewives speak out on whether or not they were supposed to be on Love Hotel or maybe going to be on Love Hotel. Sonia's like shouting from the rooftops that she's like, if I was single, I would have been there.

Bryn Whitfield said last week that she was like going to do it and then decided not to do it. Were you like aware of the housewife casting process at all? They did not include me in the official casting process. I have obviously heard the same rumors that every Bravo fan on Reddit has heard. But yeah, I think it certainly would have been a very different show with either of those ladies on. Yeah, I think so. Yeah. But, you know, hopefully there's a season two, and maybe we'll still get to see it.

Yeah, I'm curious. If you do a second season, is there anybody that's like, that you have your eye on? I mean, my go to, like, number one answer for this, it's like maybe a little boring at this point because everybody says her. But Heather Gay, I think, has, she's given so much to the community, and it's time she'd be rewarded by throwing her into a pit of men on a Mexican resort somewhere. I think she'd be great. I think she's really built for the show. I think Adriana, Mira from Miami. I mean, welcome back Miami, I think would be, is exactly the right energy. Yeah, exactly.

And that's what people want to see. I think Paige and Lindsay, you know, they're getting, they're done with Summerhouse or Lindsay less so than Paige, but I think like it would be interesting to see those two together on a show like this for sure. Yeah, I think there's a lot of potential to look beyond just housewives. Right. Well, and, you know, they're telling me now that I should start thinking about men from the Bravo universe that would be interesting. Now, I don't know that I want to see a whole season of men on that show, but it would be interesting to maybe see a Shep Rose in the mix or something like that.

Yeah, it almost like if it was like 12 strangers and then like three men that have been on Bravo before, it's like, sort of what traders does. Does that put them at a disadvantage? Like, do we know too much? I don't know. Yeah, I mean, we certainly know a lot. It depends on the guys. Some of these guys have been out on the town a little bit more. Right, right, right, right. So, you know, I don't think we'll be seeing, like, and the thing is, like, some of the best men are already married,

you know, some of the best, you know, male presences. You know, I'm very much, like, get the man off the TV. I'm not watching that whenever I see a man on Bravo. But, you know, and I don't think we're going to see, like, Jacks anytime soon on Love Hotel. I mean, it would be a great way to get him. into actual real rehab, though, is just tell him that he's showing up for Love Hotel. He's on Love Hotel, but there's no cameras and it's 90 days long.

Maybe someday. Maybe someday. I think that's the way, though. No, I think it's, I mean, the whole thing with reality TV is that, like, casting is truly so important. That is the, I mean, that's where it starts and ends. This is a success of a show, really, I think, you know? Yeah, so, I mean, whoever's in charge of that, it's like, it's tough.

You also, there's no way to know exactly how people will behave in certain situations. So it's like, you could have somebody on paper who's like, oh my God, I would love to see her dating. This would be so fun. And then they got there and they're like, this is uncomfortable for me. I would say, I think like, yeah, it was interesting too because as much as these women have been on TV for like 10 years plus, this is a very different way to shoot a television show for all of them. For sure. You know, like it was much more camera time than they're used to. Because on housewives, they're used to getting a call sheet.

And like, this is the scene we're shooting. This is what we're talking about this scene. Like, they get, you know, and this was very much like the cameras are around from the moment you wake up till the moment the cameras go down and you're in bed. But then there's still, you know, the set camera. You know, so it was just a lot for them, I think. And it was interesting to see how each of them reacted differently to it. I will say the one person I think who acted exactly in the way we expected them to act was Luann.

Right. I think Luan, like, you know what you're getting. with Luanne and boy did she deliver. Yeah, I think like most women that are have been on a show like this or you know, like housewives for like more than a couple of years kind of almost like are playing the game mentally a little bit where they're like, okay, like I know how this is going to look. I know what I'm going to come across. I'm not going to name names, but I think some of them are very used to self-producing a little

bit on their own franchises. And that was not something they were able to do. is easily with this show. Yeah. Well, I thought it was, it's been interesting in a couple of the like key ceremonies where it's like they're almost like strategizing. They're like, okay, we'll give the key to Ashley so she can have, it's like, I would like to see like every woman for herself a little bit more. Yeah, they were definitely playing nice for sure. They, they were very much were. And I think like, again, like it would have been interesting to have Bryn and Sonia on that cast and see how much

they were able to play nice, you know? Would have been a very different dynamic, I think, between the ladies. For sure. So now the season, is like wrapping up. What was your like, how did you kind of see it like ending and do you feel like there were like emotions that surprised you or the situation with like Shannon and and Ralph is a lot. Earl. Earl. Yes. Shannon and Earl. Yeah. So many men's names. So many men's names to keep in mind. Yeah. I will say, you know, the finale I think snuck up on all of us, the people who were there and I think like they I think all just assume that they had sort of unlimited time to make these decisions and make these connections and there's definitely moments in the finale that like

people will say it's for TV but I think you know when it's your life and when you are making such a big decision in the moment like I think it really does become quite real quite fast and so like there's definitely I think the moment with Ashley and I in the finale you know she's used to being on TV, but that was a real moment of real emotion from her in that moment. And I think, like, it was really difficult for some of these women to make the decisions that they made. Yeah. Well, even Shannon, like, announcing that she had invited Earl to move in with her. I'm like, oh, like, I didn't even realize that was, like, something that we were doing, but now it's, like, this whole thing. And then the other women are like, that's not a good idea.

Then it kind of ends up not being a good idea. Like, it's interesting. And, you know, clock, too. I don't know if you saw the OC trailer, but there are a couple of Love Hotel gentlemen that show up in the OC trailer for this upcoming season. So that's fun. I won't say who. A little Easter egg. A little Easter egg. Go back and pause the screen a couple of times. You'll see some familiar faces. I love that. The universe just keeps on growing.

I want to get your opinion on a few Bravo happenings that are in the universe right now. How do you feel about Rachel Zoe joining Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? I mean, it seems appropriate. I loved the Rachel Zoe project. again when I was in college, that was like sort of the hayday, some really great shows were on Bravo during that time. And so I think it's nice that she's like coming home, you know? We haven't seen her on TV in a while. I'm interested to see like, you know, she hasn't been on reality. The reality TV has changed a lot since the Rachel's O'O project. Yeah. And so I'm interested to see if she's going to be quite as messy as she was on her show originally or if she's like, because, you know, I think the internet has changed the way a lot of these people approach being on these shows. And, And, you know, they're very aware of the narrative and the image and things like that. And she was never super concerned with being likable. Yeah. And I, and that's what, unfortunately, like, we need a couple of women like that on these shows to keep things, you know, the conflicts alive and interesting.

And I think, like, that's the problem with some of, especially Beverly Hills is I think they're very aware of the narrative that they're crafting and the images that they're building. And so it will be nice. Hopefully she brings a little bit of chaos. Yeah, I could see like, because I feel like that was something that you got with Lisa Rina, little bit where she was like, I don't give a fuck if anybody likes me. And maybe Rachel kind of has that edge. Yeah, they're all a little afraid, I think, on that show to be, um, yeah. She's also, she's getting a divorce. So, uh, and I can't wait to have a front receipt of that. Okay, how do you feel about, um, reportedly Monique Samuels being a friend of on Potomac next season? Um, you know,

between that and Fager coming back this season, I just, um, Bravo's, capacity for forgiveness is breathtaking. And I think it's something to be admired. And I, you know, I didn't have strong feelings about Monique either way when she was on. I definitely think that franchise needs some love and some help. Yeah. Well, they're in an interesting position because, you know, Karen's occupied elsewhere. And Mia's not coming back.

He's not coming back. You know, and unfortunately, this really does close the door on Candace coming back. love Candace. I am a Candace stand down. And so I yeah, it'd be interesting to see what direction the franchise takes. I'm I'm jazz that Stacey's coming back though. Same. She will rise. I keep, okay, she will rise. I keep like forgetting that Stacey Rush exists because like, you know, the show's not on. I've only known her for one season. And then like, I'll just kind of remember in the back of my head. I'm like, we're in a good place. We're in a good place. And I'll say hot Hoteig, I don't think she paid T.J explicitly to be on the show.

Okay. I do think that they probably had a conversation where she was like, being on the show will be really good for you. Yeah. But do I think she explicitly said I will pay you X amount of money to be my boyfriend on the show? No, I don't think that happened. That's kind of where I landed to, because to me, like, first of all, he would have

produced the receipts. Yes. And second of all, it's just like, that's so... Where's the Venmo, Tj? That's so intense. Yeah. To literally be like... And to lie about it so...

Like, the thing is, is like, she's either... a full on lunatic-sized sociopath to lie like that. And I'm not counting that out as a possibility by any means, you know. But like for her to so adamantly be like, I did not pay him. And then for them to produce that clip of film, it's just like, I don't think it's as cut and dry or black and white as either side wants it to be. I don't think she, I don't believe she's a good enough actress to come across that stunned and upset at the reunion if it was fake.

clearly pressed because of the way he came off on the show and was like going scorched earth. And I think it's really unfortunate. And I like Stacey. I think like it's unfortunate that she had to go through all that with someone who was so clearly not a great guy. Maybe Stacey needs the Love Hotel. You know what? You heard it here first. She needs gentlemen being introduced every three days.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean... I wish that for her. I do too. It would have to be like a sort of special born-again version of the show. I think so. Probably. Good sleep is everything.

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at ollie.com. That's O-L-L-L-Y.com. This episode is brought to you by Redfin. You're listening to a podcast, which means you're probably multitasking, maybe even scrolling home listings on Redfin, saving homes without expecting to get them. But Redfin isn't just built for endless browsing.

It's built to help you find and own a home. With agents who close twice as many deals, when you find the one, you've got a real shot at getting it. Get started at Redfin.com. Own the dream. How are you feeling about Summerhouse now that Paige is leaving, Lexi is leaving, we don't know what's happening with, Lindsay? It's tough, right? Like, I think the summer house is ready for a Valley-esque spin-off,

because I don't want to see these 40-year-olds on vacation. That's, you know, it's, it's, it's sort of the, the appeal of the show is becoming a little less, like, pronounced as the older they get. Like, I don't need to see Lindsay back in that house trying to juggle having a baby in the group share, you know, but I still want to see Lindsay. on my TV. Yeah. So they need to figure out what they're going to do on that. Yeah.

I feel like we're like at the fork in the road where it's like we have to like make the next decision. And that's the thing like when when Lindsay's like, oh, well like I've been going to the Hamptons in the summer forever. So of course I'll still be there. It's like, yeah, I want you to go to the Hamptons and have a nice summer and then like come back and film. Not like you don't need to be at the theme party every weekend.

Exactly. You do not need to be at like the 19th. pirate party that they have. Every time they show up to the house and there's just a mountain of Amazon boxes on the porch and you know it's all those supplies for the party that weekend. It just, it like makes me stressed out just watching it. I know. It's so great.

I'm like the carbon footprint of every game party on summer house is massive. But there's a pirate ship. But it's awesome. Okay. And how are you, there's a new Bravo show that was recently announced that I feel like a sort of spiritually in the same lane as Love Hotel, which is Wife Swap. Oh my God. I mean, I am a huge Wife Swap fan, trading spouses, you know, like back when every

network had the same version of the same show. I think it's genius. I think, like, you know, it's getting harder and harder with the main franchises, I think, as they all, as television changes, as reality TV changes, to get them in places where they're uncomfortable and sort of like not in control. And so I think any, any sort of format shakeup where like you're taking them out of their comfort zone and sort of forcing them into a new situation where they're maybe not as well versed in how to control those situations, I think, is going to be what exactly what we want to see from some of these women. Yeah. And I feel like that was

sort of like the idea with girls trip that is like now I feel like evolving more into these like specific formats where it's like a love hotel where you're having them date, a wife swap where you're having them swap. The thing about, I think the thing about the girls trips to that wife swap and and love hotel sort of fix is that the endings of those seasons were always sort of like, you know, because there wasn't, there was no clear ending. It was just the end of the trip, you know? And so like you weren't really being able to see full arcs play out in an interesting, satisfying way with some of the girls' trips because a lot of the conflict would just die out because it's like we never have to see each other again. We're going back to our own cities, et cetera. And so you're still getting a lot

of like the interest of seeing Luanne and Shannon interact on Love Hotel outside of their own franchises. But there is like a more built-in arc of like, okay, so we're getting to follow them with these relationships and then we get to see if they are going to continue it. And so that's like a nice way to sort of land. Yeah. Interestingly, it's like the, The biggest impact of Girls Trip was kind of just like reinvigorating some of these women's TV careers. It's like Gretchen's coming back to O.C. Gretchen's coming back. I mean, I will forever mourn the season of Girls Trip that we may or may not ever see because I am desperate for an Alex McCord return to television.

I need it. I need it in my veins. Like Alex McCord slept on not given the respect. on her name as she deserves. I think Dr. Alex McCourt. Oh my God. Look at me. She got a PhD. Contributing, contributing to the disrespect. No, it is crazy. And that's the thing that's like when you have somebody like Fadra who it's like she was on girls trip and then she was on traders and she's kind of like worked her way back up the ladder to. Yeah, she was on probation. The mother shared. It's like Alex McCord could be like, I don't know, running the UN by now or something if that

Morocco season had her on traders. Honestly, she'd use that new degree. figure it out in a day have those traders out of there. I do believe she would make some smart choices. I don't know. It's been such a long time. She's in Australia. She's living her best life. The kids are grown pretty much.

Speaking five languages. It's, you know, anytime I see a photo of those boys, I'm like, what planet am I on? It just feels so strange. You're in Brooklyn, baby. That's it. You're in Brooklyn. Are you excited for Gretchen to be back on OC? It's been such a long time.

It's been such a long time. I guess I am to some degree, but like Alexis's return was kind of a flop. So like I just want, if they are going to return, I need to see like growth or evolution. I can't just see like sort of the same conflicts play out the same way that they played out when she was on. So it'll be interesting to see how that all plays out. But I definitely like I'm more excited to see like Jen and Katie, honestly, than I am about Gretchen. Yeah, OC has like in the last couple seasons really like built up this strong base in the cast. And now I'm like, I actually like don't even.

I don't need it. I don't need like the extra accessories of like, oh, and like maybe we'll have, you know, Gina Keo pop by. I'm like, okay. Yeah. It's like fan service, but for who? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. The fan service, I think it can really be effective. But it has to be like. Yeah, because was Critchin anyone's like. Deep favorite? You know, I feel like she was when when housewives maybe like eight years ago or something, I feel like she was one of the most kind of like trolled housewives online. Because people like hated Slade and people thought their relationship was fake and that they would never get married, which they.

But like I don't like I feel like she was one of the OG like. Well, I mean like the way Tamara and, you know, Vick. and everybody else really treated her was really when you started to see the franchise shift in the more drama-focused in her personal conflict sort of lane. And so it'll be interesting because she hasn't really been on since the show has gone through like two different evolutions, I feel like, in terms of what kind of show it is. And so it'll be interesting to see if she's still playing by, you know, 2008 rules or if she's, you know, if she's, you know, also been paying attention and watching the show of all. Yeah, recession indicator.

Exactly. Okay, the last thing I want to get your thoughts on, Bryn announced this morning that she is not coming back to Roney. Oh, no. It's a shock, I'm sure, you're processing. You've spent a lot of time with Luanne. Where do you see the future of New York as a housewife's franchise? I mean, I think we need to point to Atlanta as a successful soft reboot of a franchise right now.

I think Atlanta was really in a slump for the last couple of seasons, and we saw now with this new cast, like a mix of old and new, I think, is the way to go. And I think, like, most of the new hires on Atlanta are full home runs. And I think Shemia, especially, is, like, such a great little bridge in between the old and the new. What, like, a revelation. I think she's so great. And then to have, like, again, Porsche and Fager back, too.

It's like you still have the fan service, two real fan favorites that people want to see on their TV are back. And then you surround them with, you know, really. compelling newbies. And so I think that would be how I would do it if I was looking at New York. I just don't know what, you know, a good mix of old and new looks like for New York. Yeah. And I think that's the thing is it's like at a certain point you have to just like make a decision and it's a leap of faith and whatever. But yeah, it feels like Atlanta, they kind of have cracked the code a little bit. And even with OC, I mean, bringing back Heather and then bringing back Tamara. Like they kind of had to like build back up the core. And yeah, I feel like with

New York, that's kind of where they're at where it's like, okay, like we've got a lot of pieces to play with. Like, what's the right? Yeah, they have a deep bench to pull from if they wanted to. Yeah. I mean, Kristen Takeman, she's on the bench. People forget. Kelly Ben Simone. Christian Takeman was first chair her first season. Okay. And if she hadn't been pushed out the next season, at least I'm pretty. Then I think she would have had a much longer tenure on that show than people that's fair credit for because she on season six is a tough season for as many people know but lots of iconic moments and Kristen was a part of that so I think you know um justice for Kristen Takeman justice for Kristen Takeman I wasn't expecting that to be where we landed today but

justice for Kristen Takeman she's doing great yeah she is she's doing great and love hotel it's a lot maybe no I think she's still married she's still married she still married she still married she can't she shouldn't go on the Love Hotel. No, no, no. I don't want to be like starting rumors that anyone should go. That's like the new way to ask. We should actually, you know what they need to do next season is not Love Hotel, but they need to do Temptation Island. Bring on some of these married housewives. Give their husbands the opportunity, you know, the platform to, you know, and them the platform. And you're like, I will generously offer to host that. Exactly. I think, I think it's a million dollar idea, Andy. That, oh my God. Did you see like the clips that went viral from, I think it was like

Temptation Island, Spain or something. The guy, the guy on the beach. Yes. Oh my God. Can you imagine? And that is what we'll get with Joe and Melissa on Bravo's Temptation Island. I'm going to get him. A freaking animal.

Tentation Hotel. Okay. You heard it here for it. That's honestly make it happen. I mean, we're halfway there with Wife swap. So why not just go the full. Wife swap. Love swap hotel housewives.

Yeah. Exactly. I'm all for it. Everybody should watch Love Hotel. I think so. And I think, like, the premiere just ended. You can binge it. It's a really easy watch.

It gets better and better every episode. It goes down easy, but there's also, like, enough substance to it that you're not just like... There's something to bite into. I love it. Well, congrats on this season, and thanks for coming. Thanks for having me. Thanks, Joel. Thanks, everyone for watching.

Don't forget to rate review and subscribe. And until next time, be cool. Don't be all like uncool. Mention It All is produced by me, Dylan Hafer, and Joe. Dia Moore, edited by Julia Stanton and Grace Hernandez-Johnson. Socials by Dylan Hafer. Our senior director of studios is Brian Russell Smith, Associate Director of Studio Post-production Shannon Jimenez-Sis-Sisone,

and our production manager is Will Maxwell. Be sure to follow Bravo by Betches on Instagram, and subscribe to Always On on YouTube for full video episodes. What's the difference between butter and butter made from real California dairy? It's the real California farm families behind it. Real people, real care, real intention. Why? Because real matters. So whether you're pouring milk, melting cheese,

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