Mention It All - When A Reboot Goes Wrong Ft. Jared Alexander

Episode Date: June 27, 2024

Dylan is joined by friend, soulmate, sister, and returning guest Jared Alexander to reflect on the current state of things across the Bravo landscape. They start with the week’s most distressing news: Kenya Moore will not be returning to filming for RHOA. They unpack the unfortunate circumstances of the reboot season, and why the reboot treatment isn’t an easy fix for any ailing franchise. In other departure news, they also discuss Danielle’s Summer House announcement, and what it likely means for the show. Later, they dig into this season of Jersey, and why it’s not deserving of its lame duck reception. 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 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 I am joined today By a good friend of mine A returning guest My friend, my soulmate My sister

Jared Alexander Hello Hi Dylan I love that That OC reference That was perfect It's almost OC season It is

I'm like, we're not really going to talk about it today, but... We probably will at one point. But it's... I feel it. I'm so ready. In a world of things that seem to maybe not be going so right, I feel like O.C. is, like, the one thing that we're all... Yeah, no, it feels like...

It feels like we're the upside down. Like, I feel like for years it was like, everything's great, but God is O.C. bad. And now it's, like, the opposite. Now it's like, O.C. is what's saving us and everything else is chipping away. Yeah, it was... It's been an interesting week in the Bravo world. We kicked things off on Sunday night with a wild episode of New Jersey

that we can get into a little bit later. But then we've had some news in the last couple days. First of all, I guess you could say the other shoe dropped with the Kenya Moore situation. And so if you're not fully caught up, basically what had happened was a few weeks ago at some filming event at Kenya Moore's salon, there was this situation with an explicit photo

of this new cast member, Brittany, that Kenya had printed on poster boards or, and so last week or the week before, Kenya was suspended from filming, basically pending this investigation that Bravo and the production company were doing to figure out kind of who was at fault, what went wrong. And this week, Kenya basically said,

you can stop your investigation. I'm taking myself out. I am not going to come back to filming for this season. So she did a little dance around being fired. So she's not been fired as far as we're aware from this season, but she won't be on whatever is yet to be filmed. We don't know if she's going to be on what she did film. It's such a strange situation. It is.

It's really, it's just disappointing all around. I feel like we were talking about it because we saw each other last week and like it felt like the writing was kind of on the wall. Like it had been long enough where, okay, she's been suspended for this long. But I just feel like we aren't in the place with Atlanta for something like this. Like we need like seeing Kenya because I remember like before, you know, when like we really didn't know who was going to come back. Like I was someone who was really like, we at least need Kenya. Like if we're going to bring Porsche back, like we need, that's just like a story we want

to see. You know, it's like when like Danielle Stob came back and like obviously you would want Theresa to be there. It's not like, and there's, Porsche is still amazing. But I just think that like it's just disappointing. pointing all around. And I've just been thinking about this last couple days too, and I wonder what you think. Like, I just think, even taking that situation out of it, it does feel like we're like straying away from more polarizing characters on Bravo. Like, Kenya is someone who I think is so,

she was like what like the bread and butter of the network was for a while. Like someone who was going to push story, who's going to, people are going to love her, they're either going to hate her or they're going to love to hate her. And I feel like, especially in light of a lot of legal situations that the network is in, it just feels like it's almost not worth it sometimes to have people like that in the mix. Yeah, it almost, when you talk about kind of going back to those early days, it makes it, you can almost think of Kenya sort of in the vein of like a Brandy Glanville kind of person where they were brought in on these shows and really stirred things up and made people sweat. And Kenya, I think, was a lot better at playing the game and maybe like maturing out

of that in a way where Brandy is, you know, still on Twitter saying things. Oh my God. But it does seem like Kenya's one of those people that whether you find her really distasteful or whether you enjoy her or are somewhere in the middle because there have been some ups and downs, she has that kind of like it factor. She has that star quality that you can't just find five more of them. No. And so I think with Atlanta this season going into this kind of.

of reboot era, keeping Kenya, bringing back Porsche, that was clearly intended to be the kind of like one-two punch of star quality that this franchise was going to ride on for this season. And like, you know, as much as I, you know, I don't know if I love Drew Sedora, as much as I've been amused by Drusadora at certain points, as much as I'm happy to have Cynthia Bailey in the mix. And as much as I'm, I guess, interested to meet these new women, Kenya and Portia were like undoubtedly the main pillars of this kind of new era of Atlanta. And it does feel like they were maybe, there may be like a month or so into filming. Like it's not like they're about done.

It does feel like if this season is going to continue, they have to kind of like think of something else. I don't, obviously we don't know everything that's been happening during filming. Yeah. But it's hard to imagine them just like soldiering on with no kind of plan B. I know. And I wonder if they're going to address it at all. It does feel eerily similar, but again, completely different situation with Lizzie Svetsky situation on Roney.

Yeah. But that was different to that. We didn't know any of these women, so they were able to cut out a good chunk of their season that they filmed, you know? Yeah. And I think that's the kind of thing where like for you and I, that's been. way too much time thinking and reading and talking about this. It's like the Lizzie Sivetsky thing was like front of mind. Totally. But for a million people who are just watching this on Peacock every week, like, they're not going to know that there was a seventh woman who was cut out

under, you know, suspicious circumstances a month into filming. Everybody who watches Atlanta is going to know that Kenya Moore was supposed to be there and is not there, whether they know all the details or not. The fact of the matter is she's a star who's no longer going to be on the season. Yeah. And I think they have a really, you know, unfortunate, tough decision to make now of, like, are they going to scrap whatever they've already filmed and bring in, you know, somebody to be like a ringer for the cast, essentially?

Or, like, do they scrap the season over all? I mean, it's really hard to imagine just, like, canceling Atlanta. Yeah. But then it's like, we've never, we've never really been in this situation before. Because with Roney, it was like, they had a tough season. They took some time off and then they rebooted it. Whereas like, this is, this was supposed to be the reboot. It was.

And I wonder how many times can we retool a city? Like, I feel like, and I love Atlanta to Death. And I feel like we cling on to those golden years of like that stellar all-star cast of like Shiree, Nini, Kenya, Porsche, Fadre, Cynthia. Like, that was like, I think the time with like, that show was so huge and so big. I think for the last, if we're going to be honest about it, five to six years, probably since, even a little bit before Nini left, it just has not really been working. And it feels like we've constantly retooled. Like this joke online, which I think is so funny is that, like, somehow Drew Sodorra has survived like three reboots of Atlanta.

And it is kind of true. And it's only going to be her, like, fourth season. Yes. So, A, how many times are we going to do this? And also, like, I don't think the, it's interesting now. And we'll probably talk about this with Jersey too. I think like with the fandom and everything, it can feel easy to be like, well, just reboot it because Roney worked so well. Yeah.

And that sentiment is so frustrating to me because I think Roney was such a unique and specific situation with a lot more going on than just the show was kind of not good anymore. A, there was like a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes. Also, the show wasn't working that much. And also, New York is a place. Now that Atlanta is a great place to pull talent. But like, there was a clear directive of like we aren't seeing a certain side of New York. You know what I mean? That it's like super specific and maybe if we zoom out. I feel like Atlanta's problem has just been kind of chasing amazing casting that they had for so long. I think it's just completely different.

So of course you want to bring back people like in Orange County. Like that really has retooled and we had some really rocky years, really rocky again. Like the Elizabeth Vargas season, it's like it feels like we dreamed it. But now look at where we are, you know, and it's really worked. So I'm not saying that it's never going to work for Atlanta. But it's been a series of unfortunate events. Yeah, with this. I've talked about that a little bit how I think that the,

the reboot button is not like a surefire way to save a franchise. And I think that I sense that the people making decisions at Bravo are aware of that because I think there's a reason that we haven't seen them do that with like four franchises. Yeah. And yeah, with Atlanta, it's interesting, like going back to the season, like when Eva and Shamari were first added. And I know there are people out there that are like, Hot take, Shibari was an amazing housewife.

And I'm like, I respect your opinion. She was not what the franchise needed in like a star power sense. Correct. And I think with this kind of thing, it is like, okay, so if they were like, okay, we're blowing out the budget and we're going to have Nini, Fadra, Porsche, you know, Kenya, I guess not anymore. But like, would that actually work or would it just feel like Rony legacy? and we're kind of like, yeah, there was a fun idea that was kind of fun sometimes. Right. And I don't know what the right answer is.

Again, I feel like you just alluded to, like, this talent is also really expensive. So when you bring a Porsche back and we know she had like a huge deal with NBC Universal, on top of then Kenya, someone who's super expensive. But then you have like these newbies you can pepper around. And then on the opposite side, we know that like with the Roney reboot, like, from what we got to see at least, it was a very expensive endeavor, not the talent, but like there was like ads everywhere. They threw that giant party, which you needed to do that to really launch a show like that. They gave that show the white glove treatment.

1,000%. They really, they did more than I've ever seen Bravo do for a show. And Peacock is a different story. Peacock, their budgets coming from somewhere else. Yes. Bravo proper does not spend money on shows like they did for Roney season 14. Yeah, I know. It's still so weird.

I don't know why they did it just do one. Right. Yeah. No, but it's true. Like that premiere party was literally insane. I was like, this is wild. And I think, again, that's another reason why it's not just like a surefire thing. You're just going to reboot everything.

I just want, I want Atlanta back. But then sometimes I'm kind of like, maybe it's never going to be like what it was, you know? And I think we weren't there. And I don't want to sound like I'm completely defending Kenya and saying what she did. Was it probably wrong? Yes. But I do think that we are in this era now. to put myself on the perspective of these women,

there has been a lot of behavior that they've been rewarded for for years and years. You know what I mean? And like, you may be come into a situation, you're like, oh, my God, like, this is going to be iconic or this is going to be messy as hell. And then we're in a different landscape. And also, I think the network's priorities are different. Again, it seems like everything is kind of sort of water under the bridge,

but there's still, like, active legal things going on. And that's something to really consider, especially in a what seems like an alleged revenge porn situation. We've talked about this a little, though, too. Like, I just have some questions about, like, how much... We've been to... We've seen filming before. There are a lot of people around, you know?

And again, we weren't there. I just want to know, like, what was known and what wasn't, if that makes sense. A lot of it is in the dark. And I feel like that is why you see a lot of the sentiment online. A lot of people feel, like, are saying, like, throw it all away or, like, I don't want it anymore. And not even necessarily just because Kenya is the... show because she's not, but it just feels like, what pieces do we even have left? Like, it feels like we just, like, lost all the toys in the box.

And now there's just, like, it's weird. Yeah, and unless those newbies are, like, just absolute all-stars right out the gate, you're going to be dealing with a lot of... They very well may be, you know, like, who knows? Like, maybe they feel great enough to say that, like, we don't need Kenya and we can kind of move forward. I think it just, like, again, with, like, them holding out filming for so long, and then Candy was like, I'm not waiting.

for this anymore. I'm out. Yeah. And then, you know, obviously now with the Kenyan situation, it just feels like things are kind of falling apart. But who knows when it's even going to air? I feel like we're not even going to see it until next year anyway. I think we probably already weren't. Yeah. Based on the amount of stuff that is either in production or has already been filmed and things that are going to be like on the docket for the fall. It's like we have OC, Salt Lake City is going to be back before that. Roney's going to be done filming. I think. think in the next few weeks. And so I'm sure that's probably in the plans for the fall. So,

Um, Potomac. Yes. Which they, again, I think, not a similar situation, but a situation where they had to mix things up because it wasn't working. And they just kind of got filming right away. I imagine Karen's DUI was a big reason why, but they just like started to film again. And from the pictures, it seems like, listen, we got a Giselle and Wendy hug. And that to me was like hell had frozen over. So exactly. I mean, look, I'm glad. I don't know how this season of Potomac is going to be, but I'm glad that if something juicy was happening, they had cameras there for it unlike some franchises

coughed off Miami. Get it together. We're promoting the Larsa Light and nobody's even going to be there to see it. Literally. And also, I think their cadence that they had was great, that it's like spring into summer. If they pick up cameras and listen, I love Miami to death. Miami, July, August, September sounds miserable for the women.

I know. It's like Miami's hot year round. That is just like too hot. Did you see, I know you and I love, love us and Dr. Nicole. Do you see she posted a picture of her baby daughter in a onesie that said future housewife and future anesthesiologist? I'm like, both? Oh, I'm screaming, go off.

I mean, Lofty goals. You know, seriously. I mean, if your mom's doing it, I saw the picture, but I didn't read the onesie. I love doctor. I just, she is so, we talk about her all the time. She just, like, feels like the whole package.

Yeah. Talk about amazing casting. Yeah, we need cameras in Miami. Asaph. So good, so good, 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 Nordi 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 spring's 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. I want to talk about the other Bravo departure of the week aside from Kenya. Danielle is not going to be returning to Summerhouse in a full-time capacity this season.

She posted a very interesting lengthy statement on her Instagram that it felt like a little bit hard to, hard to like understand exactly what the situation is. But she's saying she's made the decision not to return full-time to something. Summerhouse this season. And she says, it doesn't feel right to do something she can't put 100% of herself into genuinely and authentically. And because of that, she can't return full time. And pretty much everyone that I've spoken to, I think, is interpreting this as like,

she wasn't asked to return full time for the season. Right. But the way that she's phrasing it is so strange where it's like, because I can't commit myself authentically, it's like, okay. So you'd, like, what do you mean? It's really... Danny Girl. I was just gonna say, it was the signing off as Dana Girl that really was, like, haunting.

I know. Danny Girl. I think all of us feel like the writings on the wall a bit with this season that if they were going to get rid of anyone, it just felt like Danielle kind of lost her. She, I always really enjoyed Danielle for most of her run, to be honest. And it felt like she kind of was this voice of reason and, like, obviously, was a good ally to Lindsay. And it felt like after their risk... last season.

And then this season, Lindsay kind of has had most of the girls, honestly, and really had Gabby, that it just felt like Danielle's, she just didn't really gel with anyone, you know? But it does feel, it read to me at least, like, it was like, oh, you can come back

for like a party or two. You know what I mean? I feel like, I think we, I don't necessarily think we have seen the last of her on Summer House, but I don't think she has her own bedroom in the house anymore. Right.

And I've always wondered, we've talked about this, like, I just want to be like, okay, truly, like, what is the summer house cadence? Because sometimes I wonder if it's just like, if you don't come, you just don't make money that weekend, which is fine, because, like, they really miss out. It's surveillance, so it's different than filming scenes like a housewife show. But sometimes, like, they're gone for, like, weekends and weekends on end. And, like, I'll, like, do the math.

I'm like, oh, they didn't shoot for, like, most of July. Or, like, they came for, like, summer. You know, like, so I feel like the scheduling in that show is already pretty loose. Yeah. But so for her. her to like come to a decision like this, it feels like there had to have been some decision for her not to come back. Yes.

And I mean, every Bravo departure is its own little game of read between the lines of, you know, for some people, like Robin Dixon said, I was fired, which I appreciate. And there are a lot of versions of like, at this time, it's not right for me and my family, whatever. Like with Danielle, I agree. I've, I like her a lot as a person. I've mostly thought she was like a good grounding presence on Summerhouse. And so it is a little bit like, girl, can we just like, can we just like say what it is?

Just say what it is. And like, listen, eight years is a long time of reality TV. That is huge. It's longer than most housewives. And also. It's not embarrassing for her to not be on the show anymore. Not at all. And I think, too, that like it is way more common than we realize how many women are offered to like come back as a friend.

It's just the women who actually choose to do it. like Jackie or someone. Like I feel like a lot of women. Yeah. I remember like when I lean left, she was like, yep, like they asked me to be a friend. It just wasn't worth my time because I have like my other things going on. Or like I think it is a very popular, not popular. It's a really successful move for them should they choose because they're paying less for

these women, but they can still keep the talent around and they're already kind of ingrained. Right. And it's low, it's low commitment from Bravo, but it kind of puts the impetus on the cast member to really make of it what they will. Correct. Because for somebody like Jackie, we're seeing on Jersey, this. season, I don't think Jackie was that thrilled with the amount of camera time she got last season when she was demoted to a friend of. And so it really feels, you can feel her kind of working for

story, for camera time, for whatever this season. And, you know, we can talk about whether that's paying off for her or not. But like, with a friend of, it's like, you might get an invite to every event, but you're not required to show up. But if you pick and choose what you're going to go to, you might kind of not really be on the show very much. And so I can see. You can see. You, for somebody like Eileen or if, you know, somebody who's like in a little bit more of a, you know, solid place that doesn't feel like they need it. They're like, okay, if I'm not getting like guaranteed episodic whatever and a full time slot at the reunion, like, why would I, why would I like pay for myself to go to this stuff? Totally. And a lot of it's a pride thing. Like I remember

when Tamara was fired, she had said openly. She was like they offered me like three episodes the next season and like wrap out my storyline or whatever. And I was like, F that. I'm not doing that. And that's God, she made such a good decision. Such a good decision. I think if she had gotten the like, oh, we love Tamara, but we're just like putting her out to pasture a little bit. I don't know if she would have come back. It would have been totally different.

And I think, honestly, I give her credit because, like, now it's a little different. It used to be like when you were fired, it really was like, we may never see you again. Now we know, well, who knows what's going to go up with ultimate girlship? But we know that there's an ecosystem of traders and of, they're very, they're much more likely to call you to come to a party or something. You could be on the surreal life in 2024. If you're Kim Zolsiak in real life, Desperate for a check. You could eat stars on Mars.

I mean, there's a lot of ways that you can continue this. When Tamara and Vicky were let go, it was very, like, and I always say this, like, I was eating, I ate a lot of crow because I really felt like

I was like, it's Tamara's time. She's too much. This is whatever. And then it gave us the opportunity to miss her, but then also Ultimate Girl's trip started to ramp up, so she got to do two. And then there's like,

there's more opportunities now, but you kind of have to know your worth and then they'll hopefully come back around. Yeah, it used to feel like when you saw the Instagram post of somebody like announcing their departure, like you could almost picture the like Sarah McLaugh. I'm like, huh. Yes. Okay, like, by Derinda. Yes.

Well, because now it's like, now it's, it's still exciting when a housewife comes back, but now we can predict it a little bit more. Yes. Because like, Portia coming back, I felt like we were like, okay, she was on ultimate girlship two. Atlanta's a mess. We're going to need her. But like, I remember like Heather, Heather's announcement, Dubrow coming back was like, genuinely exciting because it was like, oh my gosh, like, A, we need her. But also, like, we didn't know if we were ever going to see her again.

Like, there wasn't a, the whole pause thing, the door's always open thing, felt very low stakes. Whereas now it feels like, oh, no, you very well may be back. Well, and with Heather, I think, and, you know, there are a few people who have been in this category. Heather was not somebody who was going to, like, grovel to the network and come back to one lunch because somebody threw her a bone. It's like, no, she was going to come back. fancy pants and all. She wasn't going to film a scene or two like Retchin or like. Right. Like it was like

if Heather was never going to come back to the show if it wasn't like the return of Heather. Oh yeah. Like she's not Alexis Blino where like we saw her at lunch a couple seasons ago. Totally. You know, I mean I love Alexis but they're not in the same tax bracket. No, and that's what makes you, you know, I mean

I think Alexis's going to be an amazing friend but Heather came back with an orange. Center orange at that. Yeah. I mean that that scene of her like re-emerging. Walking by the like embryo glass wall in her house and just like clacking through. Is anybody home? It's perfect.

The fact that somebody else lives in that house now is so funny. It's so funny. I just was watching the other day that amazing brunch she had when like the house was like just like scaffolding it everywhere when it's like Megan and Vicky with the whole Brooks thing. And I was like my God, like that was a long time ago. Was that when Terry wanted onion rings? I think so. I think that was.

And she was like, shut up about the fucking onion rings. No, it's so wild. Again, we've been watching these women for so long. Yeah. Again, it's interesting when we were talking with the Atlanta situation in terms of exploration, because look at these OC people. And to bring it to Summer House a little bit, too, like, for whatever reason, I feel like still Kyle, Carl, and Lindsay are that show.

They, like, kind of built that show off their backs, and we still want to see more of them. And it's not that we don't want to see Danielle. She's just not as much of a factor, even though she's been there for almost as long. Yeah, I think we've seen, like, the Page, Amanda Sierra group kind of like leapfrog over Danielle in terms of the, like, kind of coreness to that franchise. And I have to give it to the quote of who, I feel like there was more of a last year thing,

but like the bed bugs. Yeah, the bedbugs, the bedstores thing because I do think, I've said this all year, I feel like Paige is like MVP of the year, like amazing Bravo Lab. And I feel like last season, the talk around them was like spoiled. a little bit within the viewership. It was like, okay, like, you guys are just kind of in bed all day. Nothing's really happening. And it did feel like a bit of a gang up all the time with Lindsay.

And it was nice to see, it felt like there were some nudges giving. I do feel like, I think she's a very sweet girl. It was nice to see Maya leave just to like break that up a little bit. Yeah. And it kind of forced them to play. And it made for, again, we keep talking about this. It was like their best season to date. It was a knockout season of Summerhouse.

And I think they can really continue that momentum. because they're just way more game. I feel like they were all really stuck in their respective roles. And this season, they all were just like, let's just like go into this and like, have fun. But I mean, there's still plenty of drama. But like it'll be interesting to see what this looks like. What are you thinking about this coming? I'm sure they start.

I feel like they start around 4th of July. Yeah, it's got to be soon. This week, next week. I don't know. I mean, yeah, I think they had a really great season. I feel like at this point, like, I don't know. Like, I feel like they're kind of just like probably pretty. ready to go. Like, I'm curious, like, what the Carl and Lindsay dynamic is going to be, but also,

I'm like, they'll figure it out. They, they both want this check enough that I don't think either of them are going to, I think they'll stay as long as Bravo will have them. And they'll think they'll do what they need to do to make that feasible. Yeah, I think if there are any Bravo Liberty, like, I'm really not worried about them filming together. Like, obviously it's going to be uncomfortable, but, like, they're adults. And also, like, what's nice about summer house is that you do get away. It's just the weekends. Like, it's a big house. And I think the dynamic. The dynamics, there's plenty happening. And again, I think genuinely all three, no matter like which way I feel about them from literally episode to episode, I think like Kyle, Carl and Z are like,

should be really proud of like what they've done. Like, sometimes I'm like, it's a really good show. Yeah. It's a big deal. That's what's like when you've, when people have like, helped build a franchise like that and stayed on it for so long, there is that sense of like, look at what we made together. And obviously there's like, you know, a production company and a network and, you know, editors and all of that. Like, it's a, it takes a village, a video village. But like, but there is that sense of like, we, we did this together. And I think, so something that I have been thinking about more because, like, Luanne has

been very out and about lately. And every time we see Luan, you know, playing a festival in London or hanging out with Tilda Swinton or, you know. Or drag Brat Chanel's kitchen. Like, all three at the same time. Like, everybody's like, why is there not a camera following her? around. And then this week, there was news that Kelly Ben-Simon, who was supposed to be getting married this weekend, is no longer getting married this weekend. And she spoke to us weekly. And the reason

that she's not getting married this weekend is because her fiancee would not agree to a pre-up. She said, this is a quote, I haven't come this far in business and life to start making poor decisions because of a man. He of all people should have understood the need to protect each other before we tied the knot. I'm truly shocked he refused a pre-up. He thought that I would enter this union without legal protections in place

that I would leave everything to fate. First of all, I love that she's like spilling the tea on the record because it's like, oh, we're not going to wonder at all. Like, did he cheat on her? Was there a scandal? Whatever.

It's like, nope, dude went and signed the pre-up so I walked away. First of all, power fucking move. No, seriously. But also, I'm like, I've been so back and forth on the idea of like Rony legacy as a continuing thing.

But I'm like, God, that would be a great episode of Housewives. It would be so good. Like, I know, I wish there was like, if we could set up, like, a different type of filming cadence where, like, it's just like emergency filming. And like, it's like, when there are like big moments. Yeah, there's just like, what is it? It's not Sirens. What does Roney?

What's the company? Anyway, you just like call them and me. Oh, Shed. You just call Shed immediately. I think Cyrus is Jersey. I was like, do we have a housewife's saying? Woo! You literally are like, divorce.

You're like, Shed now. You just like pick up and you film. And then it's just like, like a patchwork of like their year. It's like a year in the life. It's like like, like, Gilbert girls a year of the life, but it's like, Rooney, a year of the life. Like one, one like 90 minute episode per season. Yeah. Per like, per like calendar season.

Well, because she is busy. I mean, I feel like the, you know, Lou just did that drag brunch that apparently Meredith was at that was like a making it in Manhattan event. And like so, and she's still, we know she's at the Watch What What Happens Live special. Like they're, they're still in the ecosystem, you know? Yeah. Bethany's still on TikTok. Oh my God. Talking about, there was a video came up yesterday where she's literally talking about how she, and she's still talking about how she invented the skinny margarita.

And I'm like, how were we still here? That's what's frustrating to me is that, like, I feel like, I mean, listen, TikTok's a great platform, whatever. And she certainly has burned her bridges with the network. And maybe any network at this point, she seems kind of radioactive. But there's a part of me that's like, because, like, my lullaby is, like, what I watched going to bed or, like, old reality TV clips or anything. And I was just, it was like, Amorosa, Bethany on Bethany's talk show. and I was like, just like falling asleep, listening to them arguing. And I was like, how amazing would it be?

Like, Bethany on Traders or like, I mean, also Amarosa on Traders question work. It's like, that was just kind of problematic. But that would be good. But like, with Bethany, I'm kind of like, there's so much there. And again, I feel like these women left a lot of times on their own accord and like to stick up for themselves. They left and the ecosystem was different. Now you kind of can still have a career and still get that cash flow coming in. Yeah.

Before it was very different and you would want to get your money back. because you'd be like, I'm out of work. Now it's like, there is a lot of potential work for you. And it just makes me sad because, like, as frustrated as I get with Bethany, like, she is like a one of a kind talent, one of the best to ever do it, especially, like, one of the best housewives ever. And I think we could have gotten a lot of really great moments. Like, is the money going to be the same as what you were making year after year on Roney?

No, absolutely not. I feel like we're seeing, again, like we just said, there's like stars on Mars. There's traitors. There's like, there's all these like mashup house of villains. There's all these mashup shows everywhere. And I don't know. There's a lot of... Any screen's a good screen.

If you're willing to broaden your mindset, there are a lot of opportunities to be had, I think. And it's, it's maybe, maybe those opportunities are less appealing if you feel like you're at a certain level. But if you just want a check and to a little bit of attention, clearly it's feasible for these like multiple season housewives to get cast on these shows. I mean, Jill's Aaron on.

on the goat on freebie. I don't know as well who's watching it, but I'm sure the check's still cleared. That's what I'm saying. She got her lower facelift. Oh my God, I saw those pictures. I was sick. Wait, do you know who did her lower facelift?

Who? Lizzie Svetsky's husband. No. Oh my God. She posted a like consultation video and I'm like, that is full circle. This is wild. I still,

anyway, we could go to another place. I would love my like one big Bravo which is kind of bad, but like I would love to go to Bravo headquarters. and just watch whatever footage they have at the beginning of Roney. Not even just because of that. I just think, like, it's fun to watch, like, all these six women who have never done this before. I'm sure, like, yeah.

Barely any training wheels on. I'm sure it just is, like, there's, like, always lost footage you want to see. I think that is mine. I rewatched season one of Roney last year, like, when the reboot came out. And it's, I mean, you could see some of it even in what made it to air. That it's, like, Ramona's, like, just talking to Avery because she doesn't have anyone else to talk to you around the house. And it's like, oh, my. Like, wow, this really was unvarnished.

I mean, not that she's so pulled together now, but it was a different time, you know. And now it's definitely a lot more polished. Yeah. When you finally find your thing, you want the whole world to know about that thing. So you use a thing called Canva to make it an even bigger and better thing. Whether you want to create flyers for that thing, make presentations for that thing, or design merch for that thing, you can do anything. So people can see your thing, feel your thing, love your thing. The next thing you know, it's a thing.

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Try them all now at McDonald's. Refreshers contain caffeine. Copyright 2026, the Coca-Cola Company. Sprite is a registered trademark of the Coca-Cola Company. Okay, we got to talk about New Jersey a little bit. I just, I can't be mad about this season. As much as it's kind of all over the place, I don't know. I just, it's, it's clicking for me.

I'm fully on team. This is actually a great season. Like, it's actually kind of where, Maybe an unsustainable season, but like... I think all things considered, they really are pulling it off. You're dirty. You're dirty. How do you feel...

Scale of 1 to 10, how mad are you if somebody calls you a slob? Okay. No, like two or three. Yeah, to me, that doesn't hit, but like... I feel like it's got to be like... It feels like it's very much a cultural thing. You know what I mean? Maybe there's like a, like, sexual...

connotation or something where it's like you're like you don't keep your you know it feels like down the shore in the early 90s when like they all those girls are going out it's like dina delores teresa like they're like out down the shore and like someone calls them a slop there's a huge fight breaking out you know yeah like a slop right totally i got to check on my dog oh my god i check on my dog with their readers honestly like again like there's just it's it was a slower start for sure. And I think that like obviously this is a really precarious situation we're in in terms of them just picking, filming back up after that explosive reunion. But I think the pieces are really moving. And I tweeted this, but like I really have to give it up to Margaret Joseph's because

I really feel like her move with that screenshot, like completely changed the game. Like it just completely like changed the whole playing field around. It got like players to move in different directions for like things to actually be set out in the open. And like you could even point to Jackie because she was being so messy that it kind of forced Margaret's hand. But like some housewives would wait, maybe reveal that in a confessional, bring it up at the reunion. And like her just like fast-tracking that and literally in the moment, sending it. And then having Joe Benigno holding his phone, like pointing like this.

Like it really shook things up. And it revealed all the cracks in the friend group and also pushed us forward into new territory. I was talking earlier this week about how I think that Dolores and Jackie always had a little bit of like, tenuous piece between them. Like, we've seen them kind of butt heads before. Okay, Jackie. Yeah. And that how quick Dolores was to be like, no, no, no, we're done here.

I know this now. Yeah. Thank you for your time. Yeah. I don't need to hear more. But then it's like by Jackie throwing out the thing about Margaret, talking about Polly and Dolores, like there still is a question mark there. Yeah.

And then I think also that situation, it kind of, I mean, Through Teresa's own admission, it has just laid bare the facts of Jackie and Teresa's weird friendship this season that it's like, this is purely transactional. My jaw dropped. In kind of a wild way. It is so wild. And again, I have to give Teresa even some credit for it because just the boldness of her saying it. I did not expect. I think I text you immediately. I was like, it was like the first 10 minutes of the episode. You texted me while you were watching and I hadn't watched it yet and I was like, okay, okay. And then I was like, she really just... It's crazy.

And considering, like, last week's Watch What Happens Live with Jackie, when Andy was like, I wonder how you're going to feel about this because she was very gung-ho about like, no, like, we're real friends. And it may have started transactional, but like, we're good or whatever. And he was like, stay tuned, basically. And he did get a lot of flack for it from a lot of treehuggers online. But like, it is wild how she literally just boldly kind of said it. I can't help but wonder how Jackie.

He feels watching the season back. Yeah, it's tough because, like, I, I have enjoyed Jackie on the show before. I've, you know, I've had Jackie on the podcast multiple times. We've met in person a bunch. Like, I think that she is, like, a cool person. Yeah. And I liked her book. I think that her, like, everything she's shared about that side of her life is really interesting.

But I'm like, it just is, it kind of sucks to watch. Like, it's like, what are you doing? I know. What are I doing? That little moment. when she walked into the party and she was like, Gia, like, everyone at the book tour, by the way,

you were a part of a book tour, everyone at the book tour is loving my mom. They're living for me and your mom. Yeah, it's like, it's just cringe. And like you said, I think especially like working in media in New York and covering reality TV, because of how close they are,

like we see the Jersey women a lot, not even just have proper things. Like you'll show up at an event, one of them or two of them are going to be there. And it is kind of a joy to get to know them that way because one thing I've always said about that cast is, and I'm sure maybe people who work in LA know the OC women

similar or more. Yeah. But from what we've seen, it's like, what I always appreciate about that cast is that they genuinely were ingrained in each other's lives. Like, filming or not, they were always together out to dinner, like at each other's houses. Like, they always seemed like genuine friends compared to other talent who you see and, like, they're good co-workers, but. Right.

Even if it's just going to events in the city, going to a charity thing, going to a movie premiere, whatever, like, you're still calling each other up and. Yes. Going together. Like you're hanging out. You're spending time together. 1,000%. Yeah.

And you would see them all the time. Like you would always see Jackie Marge Melissa together all the time. So it is really jarring as a viewer. And then even just like covering it and like even like they're always paired together for interviews, all those things. Yeah. So it is just like really disappointing to kind of watch it unfold. And like it just and I've always enjoyed Jackie too. And I always just appreciated her perspective, I think.

And just how like. headstrong she was and now she like really like defended herself but also seemed like loyal to the people who were obviously kind of loyal to her and it just feels like a complete opposite like it feels like really upside down I do love a housewife who can kind of like be in the moment but then also be like this is this is kind of dumb right and we kind of needed that on jersey and now it just feels like I mean it's like watching she's like everything is slipping like it's really it's like the marching isn't working now and now that with that Teresa revelation it was so hard to watch And the Dolores thing was hard to watch.

It just is like, it's a bummer. You know who I think is like kind of winning this season? Who? Danielle. Oh, duh. Cabral. I'll never forget Dylan after it. Yeah.

I told this before she even came by the show, I remember you were telling me. I was about bushy kids. Yeah, boozy kids. Another boogie mama. Yes. Yeah. I just think like Danielle is one of those people where like she is such a textbook. book Real Housewife in a way that if you saw that she was filming for the show, and probably

I did at the time, it would be so easy to be like, I roll, they cast somebody like this, she's probably going to be obnoxious. And like, you know, if you think she's obnoxious, that is perfectly reasonable. But like, I just love when they cast somebody who could be so like stereotypical try hard housewife. And I'm like, I think it's working. Yeah. I think she. I think she can hang. She really can. It feels like she's a reality star of yesteryear. Like, it really does feel like she could have been on Jersey Shore.

And I think she said she was kind of in the running for that. But like she feels like they plucked her from 2012 to 2015. And she's just kind of here now in the best way. That's like complimentary. Yeah. And I think like she, her family is like not rich and not really pretending to be rich. Like, I mean, not to put down their lifestyle or anything. But I'm like, when you see their house, like it's not, it doesn't look like Teresa's house.

No. And I think that's kind of refreshing in a way. Very. They're not coming on the show like Jen Aiden in her palace in Paramus. Well, she's a multimillionaire. She's one. One. More like one.

But yeah, I mean, her, I mean, the whole thing with Jen and the hair girls and the altercation and the charity and the step and repeat and all of that. Like, it's such a, like, messy, silly breakdown of their friendship. But, like, still feels so intense. and real. It does. And I think that there's, in real time, it's an interesting to watch. I think what it boils down to, at least from what I can gather, is it really is this like fracture after Danielle felt set up. I mean, like at that reunion last year when Andy was like, it sounds to me like you were set up, but like you saw like it was trying to click on her brain. And I feel like this season she's like still kind of try to have her best foot forward. And again, I don't necessarily knock Jen Aden for

this because I think that like the way she has been. in doing this is usually tried and true in housewives. You bring up something that like kind of isn't, doesn't have anything to do with why you're actually mad, but there's something with like some validity to it. Maybe you even bring on this person who isn't even on the show. It's like literally like stripper gate a little bit. It's like you kind of bring something else in.

And then you kind of like plant the seed so that when you do actually, like you can fight about that, but you're really mad about something else. But for some reason, it just is reading very false. And so I feel like I can't help but like side with Danielle a little bit more. Because when, maybe it's Danielle's response.

She genuinely seems confused as to why Jen is this upset with her. Well, I think, right. So it's like she invited Lena to share the story about the VIP. And she was like, I just, I'm so upset that she would do something like that with the VIP. But then too, but then the issue is that Danielle paid herself. And then the issue is that she couldn't put aid in plastic surgery on the step of repeat. And it's like, just say you don't like her. Totally.

I think that's the thing for me that it's like, if you're coming up with three or four different little reasons that you're so. hurt or so put off by someone. It's like, just say you don't like the bitch. Like, she just isn't your cup of tea anymore. You, you've, it's not going to work. And I think almost like throwing out the little specific things of like, why couldn't you put him in the step and repeat? Like, it just makes it feel petty in a way that I'm like, I understand if you guys

aren't seeing eye to eye and just like need to take a break. 1,000%. I think it's like, and I'm trying to think it's like, that's kind of how Jen and Marge have operated for a long time. It just feels like ideologically, there are two different types of women. Like, Jen is a bit more conservative. Marge is a bit more liberal in her thinking. You know what I mean?

It's like, she's very much like I cheated on my ex and now I'm with my new husband. And Jen is like, I wouldn't do that. And that, again, like there's gas in that because they just are very different. I feel like with Jen and Danielle, they kind of bonded because of how similar they kind of were. But I do wonder, too, it does give me a little bit. Obviously, not as intense. Imagine this. But like, remember, like, the seasons where we had like.

Like, it was LVP Kyle Derreet, and there was just like a power struggle of like, who was a bit closer to LVP? And like, who was the better friend? And I feel like there is a bit of, I don't think Jen is that threatened by Danielle, but like they both are close enough to Teresa. And I feel like Jen has had that spot next to Teresa on this show for such a long time. Yeah. That the dynamics shifting, it is a little bit threatening to her position on the show. Yeah. And I think interestingly, this season, the way that it's working out, rather than, you know,

becoming closer to Teresa, Danielle is actually drifting towards the middle of the cast and is really seeing her options kind of bloom before her in terms of like, now she can be friends with Rachel, now she can hang out with Melissa more, now she can play nice with Margaret more than she did last season. And it's like in a cast like this

where there's going to be a shakeup on the horizon, I think being kind of in the middle of the pack is probably a good thing. because you're not, you know, Teresa and Jen are kind of going down this road. I'm not saying that Teresa will be fired because who knows. And I think that that's a whole separate question that we don't have time for today. But I'm like, I think Danielle kind of, Daniel kind of drifting in the middle is like not a bad thing for a second season. At all.

And I think to even, I mean, what did you think? We read the reports about this fight because they were suspended, I think, for a week, both of them for so long. And then finally seeing it, again, I'm not defending what happened. It definitely was still one of the more intense moments. But some of the reports on it were a bit way more dramatic than what actually happened. Well, I sent you that tweet last week that somebody was like if that glass could have like severed an artery and Jen could have died. And it's like, I mean, I guess she could have. I hate those like what about it.

Like it's like, well, if it was a knife, like yes, obviously. If it was anything else, it would have been worse. Yeah, like if Danielle brought a switchblade knife to the party, it would have been worse. Right. And I think like some people just, again, I don't respond in this way, but some people, when you shove them, they just will react in a different way. One thing that I did. So like, yes, Jen pushed her. I did see somebody did like a slow-mo thing on TikTok, I think, where they clocked that like three times during the escalation of the argument.

Danielle, her eye line shifted down to where that cup was sitting on the ledge. And so it's like, oh, she knew that it was there. And she knew that if she needed, because she grew. grabbed it with a quickness. Oh my God, it was so, it was one of the swiftest, and the second that that music cut out, I was like, oh shit. Like, because we never know. The territory's so weird, because sometimes they'll completely cut things out.

Yeah. Sometimes we'll see everything. Again, I still, to this day, say, it's not even fun to rewatch, but like, the season five, Potomac fight was like, one of the wildest things that they showed us that whole thing, no music. Like, I still have, like, charred by it. So the second that the music cut out, I was like,

I think we're actually going to see whatever happened. Yeah. And we did. And also, like, I am so into Nate Cabrubri. now. He was so, the way he swooped it, he was like, come on, Jennifer, you're her friend. Come on, that's not cool. It was just so, like.

And again, to compare, I just remember, no matter which way you felt about it, I'll never forget Monique in the back of that car calling Chris and him going, but I like hanging out with Chris Bassett. Like, that's embarrassing. And like, he didn't have her back at all. And it was nice to see Nate, like, really stand by and support Daniel and not necessarily

be like, you should have hit her heart or something. You don't know what I mean? You don't do that. Yeah. But he was like, no, it's, you know, I got you. And that's, I think we need that. Meanwhile, Bill's in the kitchen. Oh, my God.

I mean, Danielle, it's like, when you go to bed and night, you're sleeping with the devil and he's like, huh? How iconic was that storm out, though? It was so Jersey. Like, the way that she just, like, stormed in. Yeah. And, yeah, I'm like, of course Bill is nowhere to be found. I'm like, honestly.

And I, again, it was eerie. I know that in these moments, again, I don't, I haven't, as I'm knocking on something as if it would ever happen. I don't get into physical altercations, but there are all these like housewives patterns you can't help but make. Again, it's always like, well, I can't remember. I blacked out.

Like, did I push her or not? I think it did feel like with Candice and Monique, there was a lot of seeing red. This, I feel like you can kind of remember if you pushed or not. Like it wasn't like, it was intense, but it wasn't like, yeah. I don't know.

It wasn't, yeah. I know what you mean. But we'll see. I'm glad that they are both like around for the rest of the season, though. I would be, I would be, do we think we're even, Like, I wonder if we're even going to notice, I'm sure at the next event.

Like, you know what I wonder if we're even going to notice that they didn't film or like. I don't think we'll, they might be in an episode less or something, but I don't think we're going to have like, Danielle's not at this dinner party because she was not allowed to come film. Like, we're not going to be like told. No, it's going to, it's, again, I think that this season is Loki good. And I think what sucks is that the reunion announcement took the wind out of its sales a little bit. It made it feel like we're kind of watching like a lame duck season of housewives when I don't think that this season is giving Lame duck. And if it's the end of, I think this has been like the Renaissance era of Jersey, probably since Margaret.

Well, since like Jackie and Jen joined. Yeah, season nineish, yeah. And we've had quite the run. Yeah. And it was crazy if you think about it. It's just as long as like the Caroline and the Wikileys time because Caroline left season five. Right. Like the current era of Jersey is like a long era.

Yeah. So whatever it is, again, there are people who get paid a lot more money to make these decisions, but it is kind of like, I don't know what's going to happen. And like Jersey does feel like one of those, like we were talking about earlier, we don't have a lot of tried and true cities that are still strong. And it's just sad that like the cast is so divided. It's not like it's a divided cast with like talent that isn't working anymore. In my opinion, genuinely, I think all of them are great real housewives. Yeah, it's just the ensemble is kind of broken. Correct. Yeah. Well, whatever happened. I hope that you're here to talk about it with me. It's always so fun. Thanks, Jared. Of course. Tell everyone where they can find you. Yes. You can follow me at the Jared Alex on Instagram and on X, I guess, and Hey, it's Jared.

I mean, I feel like that's still where people post most about Housewives. So that's just where I'm... It's the most, like, in the moment platform still, I think. On TikTok at TikTok. What? On TikTok at the Jared Alexander. You got to get on your Bethany grind. No, I really do.

I'm like freelancing now, which is exciting. So I'll be posting all my interviews and writings on my various social media platforms soon. Amazing. Well, thank you, Jared. Thank you everyone for listening. Don't forget to rate review and follow the show wherever you listen. We'll be back next week. And in the meantime, be cool.

Don't be all like uncool. Mentioned at all is produced by Dylan Hafer, Sean Kilby, Jorge Morales Pico and Rebecca Sousmakat. Editing by Horace Pico. Social media by Dylan Hafer. Guest booking by Dylan Hafer and Ali Friedlander. 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.

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