Mention It All - Who Won This Season Of RHUGT? Ft. Jared Alexander

Episode Date: April 24, 2023

Today, Dylan is joined by Jared Alexander, an entertainment writer at The Grio and rational Bravo thinker. They chat through the final episodes of RHUGT, and debate the merits of casting current Housewives on the spinoff. They also weigh who’s in the best position coming out of this season, before pivoting to a conversation about RHONJ. They talk through the show’s casting trajectory, and how other shows can adapt to changing tides. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ready to soundtrack your summer? With Red Bull Summer All Day Play, you choose a playlist that fits your summer vibe the best. Are you a festival fanatic, a deep end DJ, a road dog, or a trail mixer? Just add a song to your chosen playlist and put your summer on track. Red Bull Summer All Day Play.

Red Bull gives you wings. Visit redbull.com slash bright summer ahead to learn more. See you this summer. 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.

We're going to check me, both. Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the Mention at All podcast. I'm Dylan Hafer, and I am so excited to start off a new week with one of my good friends and a returning podcast guest. You know him as an entertainment writer at the Griot. Please welcome Jared Alexander. Hi, Jared.

Hi, Dylan. Welcome back to the show. So excited to have you back. How are you? I'm so good. I mean, I feel like we were just catching up. I'm like in between apartments. I'm like kind of all over the place, but also there's so much bravo for us to keep up with.

There is so much bravo for us to keep up with. I'm excited to chat with you about Real Housewives ultimate girls trip, especially today. Because this season kind of flew by. I was out of town for a little bit. And so I had a couple episodes to catch up on when I got back. And then all of a sudden it was the finale. And I'm like, wait, I feel like I've only talked about this like one time on the podcast. and not on purpose, just because there's been other fish to fry,

Vanderpump-shaped, you know, Chile and sea bass. But now we got to talk about girls' trip. I mean, Dylan, you're being a little generous. I feel like you were on your own ultimate girls' trip on your stories. Your trip was amazing. I, there was no Class Azzul. I think that tequila I was drinking was probably much cheaper. But, you know, at least there was no PowerPoint presentation about who stole the bottle

at the end of the night. We're going to have their run to staples. The kinkos of Thailand, whatever. I don't think Pepsi was actually handling any of those requests. I think he was a very well-cast go between production and the women. But boy, did he really, did he put up with a lot that week? He absolutely did. So, okay, so we can start just kind of like top level and then work our way down a little bit.

what did you think of this season of Ultimate Girls Trip? I really enjoyed it. I feel like what's so hard with these shows is that like we wait so long for them. We hear these cast, especially with this one. Like I almost feel like this, we talked about this on your podcast, like when this cast was first announced. And it never makes sense. And then like the first three episodes drop and you love them, especially when you see house size you haven't seen in a long time. And then everything just kind of falters.

and I feel like this season really showed me just like how the format works and does it work. Like I feel like there's only so much you can talk about with people that you've only known for seven days, you know? I think, yeah, I think what you say about Housewives that you haven't seen in a long time is a key difference between last season and this season. Because season two, X Wives Club is the thing. Some of these women haven't been on the show for years. some of them are a little more recent, but in one form or another, they're all former housewives, whereas this season was quite the opposite, where aside from Portia and Leah, these women had all just finished seasons of their main shows. When they filmed, they had just finished filming.

When the show aired, they had just finished airing. So we really were getting, for Potomac, Miami, and Salt Lake, especially, it felt like we were getting kind of an extent. extension of what we just watched. And I don't actually know if that is the best route for this spin-off to take. Because part of, for me, what worked so well about the season at the Berkshires was it felt like we were revisiting and unearthing and kind of recontextualizing things from Housewives past. And that was exciting.

No, 1,000%. I think especially you could just feel from, again, the Miami Patrol. comic Salt Lake Girls, a little bit of burnout from them. Naturally so, I mean, they all have really 10 seasons, especially with each other. You know, if you have Candace and Giselle, Heather and Whitney, that made it, A, confusing for us as the viewer, because we've already seen reunions for this. And then, B, I feel like it just kind of took the air out of everything. And you're right.

I think, like, with when it was all ex-wives, you were kind of just, like, going back and, like, really looking through like old feuds and like old experiences. But what I did appreciate about this season is that it did feel a lot like one and that I feel like there was a, there were a lot of really fun like fourth wall breaking conversations in terms of how they feel now being on the show. I feel like grappling with fame and social media or whatever and all those things. Like I find those conversations kind of interesting. And I feel like we got a little bit more of those, but then we also got a whole lot of nonsense. to fill the face. Right. I agree. Like, I think girls' trip doesn't need to just be intensity and fighting the whole time. I think obviously we want those moments of tension on housewives in any

form. But like, it was almost that the arguments and the feuds on this trip were like a little too grounded in the real world. Like we didn't need, like you said, they had just finished filming Salt Lake. like Whitney and Heather didn't need to be fighting more at that moment in time. What usually happens when you finish filming the season is then you can kind of go away and, you know, live your life, feel how you feel. And then you come back at a certain point and it's like, okay, maybe the chess pieces are moving now. But it's like Whitney and Heather were not going to come out of this trip to Thailand with any real progress between them.

I mean, there were some glimmers of bad weather being back together. but it's like, that's not real. I literally was thinking back down to that Salt Lake City panel at BravoCon because I remember at the time Whitney was like, we made up during ultimate girl shit. We cried and the pool, like all these things that like we didn't know anything about. And I think that is what's so frustrating too is that we know by now that a big process on the show is not only filming it but then watching it and then you see their confessions

and then you do press and it kind of creates like a whole storyline in its own in terms of the tension between the women. So again, it felt like, especially when this season started, like, it was weird to see like Candace and Giselle like FaceTiming about going to the trip and like getting there and like kind of being fine. But then we know where they wound up at the end of this last reunion. It just made for a bit of a disjointed experience. Yeah.

In Candace and Giselle and Whitney and Heather, it felt like maybe there was kind of a pressure or a directive. I don't know if this is coming from production or just from themselves to be like, yeah, we're Potomac, we're Salt Lake, like, we're here to represent and kind of be a team. But then at the same time, Candace so explicitly doesn't fuck with Giselle. And so it's like, okay, but if we're going to pretend to be a team, but that's going to fall apart the absolute first second, anything is kind of tense, then it's like, why were we pretending to be a team in the first place? like girls trip doesn't have to be teams of two. And in fact, maybe it works better when it's not.

I think Leah and Portia this season is kind of a really interesting thing, specifically because they were the two women who didn't have like a designated partner on the trip. And I mean, can you imagine if Portia wasn't there? She was a last minute addition because Tinsley couldn't go for whatever reason. Porsche, this season would have been almost unwatchable to me with. how Porsche there. And no offense to Tinsley. Like, I really do love Tinsley. Yeah. Yes, same. Thank gosh you going to go because I just think like it was so nice how like Portia was like the viewer's entry point because she's kind of like, you know, she's kind of disconnected from

the housewives world now. So we're kind of able to look through her lens. And not that I agreed with everything Portia did. Oh, no. But it was just so she's just so funny. It was honestly fun to see her dynamic. I thought she brought out such a fun side of Giselle that I think after the past, just in Giselle's dynamic and Potomac, that's just kind of hard to see. I thought that the drama she brought was fun. I think it just kind of helped. And honestly, I'm going to say here on the record, too, with Leah as well. Like, I think Leah did bring a lot to the show for better or for worse, how you feel about how she handled it, if she had an attitude or not. Of course, she got sick and missed some of it. But I do think that she brought a unique perspective to the show that created

a lot of tension and just a lot of interesting conversations in the group. Yeah, I definitely, I would say with both of them, I don't always see eye to eye with them. And certainly on this trip, I think there were points where Leo was kind of her own worst enemy in terms of actually forming bonds with people in the group, kind of bringing down the vibe a little bit. People aren't going to respond well to that, either in the group or watching the show. I can't imagine what her DMs and comments look like right now because people just love to be like, you're a miserable bitch.

Like, why are you acting like that? But I do, I do think her, the flavor that she brought to the group was something different that kind of added to the overall vibe of the trip. And especially considering that she's one of the only people on this show that we're probably not going to on a further

housewives season or installment or whatever Portia's future to me feels a little more up in the air for Leah it's kind of like this is probably it so I wasn't mad about having her even if she was kind of a downer sometimes I'm like yeah sometimes on the girls trip there's somebody who's a little bit of a downer I feel like we've seen that every single time

I mean unfortunately I feel like it was Cynthia in one just like there's always someone who just kind of feels like you know a little bit out of the loop and a lot depending on their own dynamics and I think with Roney too, there are still so many question marks. We know what the plan is now. There are still so many question marks in terms of that last season and just so much conversation around what worked, what didn't work, you know, who's quote unquote to blame for Rony failing. And I think that like there was a lot of, there were a lot of loose ends there that a part of me is like really happy that they did offer this to Leah and that they were

willing to kind of go there just because I think, again, that's just such a, it was a rough time for us all that last season of Rony. Totally. And again, like, I am not Leah's biggest fan in the world, but I also see her side in a lot of things. And I think the way that that last season of Roney panned out really, I think she got like an unfair level of hatred from a lot of people because it was like, this woman did not come in here and tear down this dynasty of a show all by herself. And the same was true of Ebony that I think the Ebony and Leah, I mean, Ebony for reasons that are racism, but they were both kind of like easy scapegoats for an audience who really just wants to see Luann and Sonia and Ramona terrorized at the Upper East Side. But it was kind of nice to see Leah like at least get to do something else. Right. It wasn't the fact that it was like, you know, shooting through COVID and New York or the three OGs had been there for.

over 10 you know it's like but we've talked about this so much it is just so it was again nice to kind of like reopen that and and to what you were saying about about Porsche too i feel like similar to tamara and ex-wives club like i just think that like in my mind i'm like it's a no-brainer porc's coming back like it just like and i think the break was needed obviously there was so much that went on with Porsche especially that last season and in between and i think Porsche's family matters was depending on how you look at it, maybe not the best look for Portia? So I think that this was so nice

to just kind of like, remember what you missed a little bit. I was thinking of the spinoff a lot because I think that spinoff really did kind of the opposite of what Portia maybe expected it to do, that it felt like she was kind of graduating from Housewives,

and the spinoff was supposed to kind of like anoint her as this, you know, Queen Bee major draw, you know, favorite from the franchise who kind of had moved on to her own empire a little bit. And it just, I mean, first of all, the show was not, I think, that big of a hit, but also the content wise, it just didn't make her look very good. And I think this was kind of the perfect palette cleanser in terms of Portia.

If you hadn't seen her on your TV in a couple seasons, a couple years, to kind of just be like, she still is that girl. She's going to come in. She's going to be fun. She's going to be shady. She's going to be kind of the life of the party, but also can be real. And I think with Atlanta, the new season comes back soon. And I definitely am excited to have you back to talk about it when it's on because I'm excited for this season.

But the way the group has gone in the couple of years since Portia left, she could slot right back in tomorrow. There's no, that group has not evolved to a place where it wouldn't make sense to have Portia in there. She and Drew are still good friends outside the show. She was on the show forever with Candy, Kenya, Marlowe, even Shire. So like, Portia coming back to Atlanta Housewives is not a stretch of the imagination at all. It's just a question of whether she wants to do it, whether Bravo wants her, whether the timing is right. And I could see that happening next year. Yeah, I mean, I think too, I think she's one of the ones that Andy said, you know, the door is always open or actually said pause or whatever.

But I do think that Yeah, I think it's really helpful In both ways And this is where every single time For the most part, like Fans, like we are in casting at Bravo for a reason Like they know what they're doing

And I think it was mutually beneficial Like I think taking Portia out of Atlanta In the place we were in In her last season Really helped the group kind of move forward Because her and Kenya I think were just out of place Or they were just never really gonna get along

I feel like it's really helped Kenya We've seen so many different sides of her and she's blossom that like should she come back, I feel like it would be different in that like the show, Atlanta really has, we obviously still need to see this season, but I think we're going to look back

and say that it's a show that really was able to bounce back from some pretty low lows. Totally. And they've been doing a great job with the promo for Atlanta this season. The TikToks are great. The ladies, their promo photo shoot, like everyone looks 10 out of 10.

It looks expensive as it shows. Yeah. Your summer starts now with Memorial Day deals at the Home Depot. It's time to fire up summer cookouts with the next grill, four-burner gas grill on special buy for only $199. And entertain all season with the Hampton Bay West Grove seven-piece outdoor dining set for only $49. This Memorial Day get low prices guaranteed at the Home Depot.

While supplies last, price invalid May 14th or May 27th. U.S. only exclusions apply. See Home Depot.com slash price match. for details. 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 Norty 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. Another show that is now filming a new season is Real Hostages of Miami and we have heard that everyone's coming back and this uh this girl's trip

finale especially a little bit rough for Marisol and Alexia I think I it's it's so it's so hard because I feel like coming out of the first reboot season of Atlanta Alexa was like on top of the world like she had gone through all of this these like personal you know struggles and family stuff and she had kind of come out as like the, you know, unofficial Queen B, I think a little bit of the show. And from the most recent season to some of the stuff on girls trip, it's like, girl, just keep it, just keep it tight. Come on. Yes. Keep your mouth shut sometimes. And I almost feel like Alexia and Marisol kind of, I feel like how season two ended, I, I hasn't to say soured, but I definitely had certain types of feelings towards Alexia

and Marisol a little bit, but Alexia, but then I feel like the first big chunks of Ultima Girl's trip, they were kind of fine. And in this last episode, someone tweeted this. It did feel a little like there were some nudges, like, you guys haven't really given us much, or like you guys have been a little quiet this trip. Like, it's the last night, like,

what's going on with Alexia and Marisol? Because it just felt like it was out of nowhere between their feud with each other and the Whitney stuff. And, like, correct me of my wrong, Dylan. but like I feel like no one more than Marisol had Alexia's side with Adriana last season. Like, look, that it's tough because I like to see the two of them have tension with each other. I think that's interesting because sometimes they can be a little bit too much like fricking frack. Nothing interesting is happening there.

It's just like the buddy buddy routine. But that situation with Adriana and this guy who Alexia thought was married and she didn't scroll to the bottom of, of the thing and she refuses to apologize to this day. That is never going to be a winning scenario for Alexia to be bringing up and hammering in. Like, I don't understand, like, I understand that Alexia culturally is very different than me. I understand that she has different views on things, is set in her ways on certain things. That I can, I can understand. It's like with the specific situation with Adriana and this guy, it's like, why do you?

do you think this is going to go well for you? You don't look like the truth teller in this situation. You look like the one who tried to stir up some shit and was wrong and got too deep and won't admit it. And so if anything, I think Marisol did have her back for the most part. But if she didn't, it would be perfectly understandable because you were wrong. Absolutely makes sense. And that's the thing too, I think what we were talking about earlier about how this season

filmed right after other seasons wrapped, like, to be fair, like, they didn't see how that scene would even play out at Nicole's party, right? So, like, they're just going off their memory, and maybe Alexia did feel in that moment, like, from what she remembered, like, everyone was getting up on her

and she didn't know that Marisol didn't have her back, sure. But even still, to bring it up after you know how it ended where, like, you said you didn't scroll to the bottom. But I feel like it just speaks to a larger thing with Alexia. There's just, there's, like, a zero,

remorse, never apologizing thing that I know people compare it to Teresa a lot and they do have a lot of similar qualities, but there's something missing, I think. I think Teresa can get away with a little bit more. There's almost like a little more charm or like, I can't really pinpoint it, but there's just something missing where like I'm quicker to judge Alexia than like with Teresa, I'm judging her, but I still love her and give her the benefit a little bit. I'll pinpoint it for you. People think Teresa's dumb.

Like, I mean, whatever. Say what you will. Teresa gives off an impression sometimes that things are kind of at a level a little above her head. And so she'll say things or do things that are like, ah, well, Teresa, she just, come on. You're like, whatever. Whereas Alexia, like, she feels like she's a little more in control of her faculties. I don't know. And so there feels like there's.

should be a little bit more of a gut instinct that it's like, okay, that was wrong. I'll say it was wrong, and then we can move on. I don't actually know if Teresa is like less smart than Alexia. That's not, it doesn't matter really. I just think that's kind of like where people give Teresa a pass sometimes. But yeah, I mean, it's, it's tough. And this is after the whole Bahamas situation where Adriana said the thing about Alexia's son, like that would be a way stronger thing to bring up in this case than like, when Nicole's engagement party, you didn't say that you had my back.

It's like, come on. Who cares? I know. It's just like, all, for favor. And then she does that thing that Teresa also does. And you're right,

by the way. That is absolutely what it is. And it maybe has been the secret to Teresa's longevity and success is that you could always kind of lean on that. And there is like a, there's a, there's a charm to that. But I think that Alexia does that thing too.

We're like, she isn't really someone who spars well. She just goes below the belt immediately. She just like gets loud and then we'll be like, you don't need to stop with the pills, bro. You just like, it's just like, also the amount of, we need like a bro tracker. Bro, your brain is fried. Literally. Like, A, they see bro so much, but also like she was throwing out stuff like really hurtful things that like you just don't.

Right. Like the conversation about Whitney is separate and also really really rough. But like Whitney is this woman that they bear. know. It's, you know, they're saying shit, whatever. With, when she's saying that stuff about Marisol, it's like, that's your best friend. And then tomorrow you guys are going to have to like, go back home together and film another season. Okay. And I, listen, I also do get like, when you're on a vacation, especially when you're sharing a room with someone, like, you always hit that last day. Yeah. And you're just done. And you less like, you need a break. I totally get that.

But the, it would have been maybe a little more interesting if it was just about the, way Marisol was for the trip instead of like bringing up that thing at Nicole's engagement party because I think it just it just fell flat. And then like you said, later on that conversation with Whitney was rich. Yeah, I think you made a good point though about Alexia kind of going below the belt because I think on this trip especially seeing her juxtaposed with someone like Portia, someone like Candice, even even Giselle sometimes like the way they just have that quick wit and will say things that can be really cutting, but aren't actually about anything really that deep, that it's like, oh, yeah, like, you know, Candace calling Chazelle like neck rolls. It's like,

is that a nice thing to say? No, but it's not saying that she's like a bad mom or, you know, addicted to pills or something like that. Right. It definitely, and that's one thing I do like about these shows is that you kind of see the different styles in which these shows and these women navigate and how they translate or don't. And like, one thing that I was meeting to talk to you about too is like, the whole conversation around shade and this season and

what it means and how you can't, like, there was a whole part where they were like, well, no, that's passive aggressive shade. I think shade in and of itself is a little passive aggressive. Like, you're literally being shady. So it just like turned it to this whole thing

where like they were kind of like going through the, it was fun to see like Alexia be like, oh, that's what it is. When it's like, I've seen Alexia say some like pretty passive-aggressive, aggressive, pretty shady things. Right. Yeah. It's, it's, again, like, those parts are fun, but also it's just like a very interesting.

Yeah. It's like watching the Twitter discourse over like, what is camp? It's like, I can't. That's exactly. We need notes on shade, literally. It's like, no, that's just, that's just you being like a horrible bitch. Right. And then it's, yeah, it, yeah.

Well, I think that's why the, the conversation about Whitney that really Alexia and Marisol were kind of tag teaming, shaming Whitney, even though they claim they weren't about smoking pot and dancing on the pole. It's like, those are things where they sort of frame it in a way of like, no, I'm just trying to ask questions because it's different than me. And I want to understand. And it's like, yeah, but there's a way to bring something up. It's the same thing. It's the exact same vibe we had with Larsa's only fan stuff in season four of Miami where it's like, oh, no, no, no. I'm not judging. I just am like, you really send pictures to guys. That's crazy to me. But not judging. It's like, no, this whole conversation is like rooted in judgment. You're right. That literally is her MO. I mean, that's what she did with the only fans thing. Also, Alexia did that. I felt like the whole conversation with Nicole and her dad being like, for me, I'm old school. And, like, And my father is my father. He's in my life. Like, I'm not judging you, but like, he's your father, bro.

It's like, no. Like, it just always comes from that place of if you say you're not judging, then it isn't rude or even condescending sometimes. And I just think it was, it was interesting to see everyone at that table, even Giselle, like, Porsche, like everyone be like, um, what are you saying? Like, let's not judge her as a mother on the show. Yeah. And I think that's, that says a lot.

when it's somebody like Whitney who, I mean, Whitney was not like the the bottom of the barrel of this trip. Like she got along for the most part with everyone. But for people to really be like, no, you can't say that. Like, you know you've gone wrong when like even Porsche's like, that's a fucked up thing to say.

And it does come into the thing of like almost, almost all of the women, I think, except for Marisol and, Leah, I guess, and Candace. Okay, so half the women have kids on this trip. But, like, you really just don't critique someone's parenting, especially when it's somebody who you've never experienced as a parent. You only know them from this week-long thing where their kids aren't there.

And it's like, yeah, like, that's another situation where it's like, that's just not going to be a winning argument for you. So why are you even going down the road? Right. And then it really felt like Marisol then too, like, did she really care or did Alexia just like bite her head off or not defending her? And then she just came in being like tripling down on this thing. And honestly, again, this is where like I think Leo, she got us in the quiet part out loud when she talked about Alexia's X. I mean, she just kind of put it out there. And it was nice to see someone just say it because the hypocrisy was very clear. Right. And Leah kind of posing the question of what. It's like, okay, maybe that had nothing to do with her as a parent. Maybe that was a separate situation. Maybe we're not going to talk about the stuff, you know, with her son's allegations and whatever that they're denying and that got dropped or whatever.

Like there's, it's just kind of like, you know, your front porch might not be that, uh, that clean either. So I don't know why we're really going after Whitney for like legally smoking a joint. Also, like just the whole conversation. Like at this point, I just feel like, we have again, and we're going to be talking about Jersey. but like I feel like we're talking a lot just about weed usage lately. And it feels like a five-year-late conversation on Housewives. A five-year-late conversation, though, I don't know if you have heard this story. I feel like you probably maybe have.

But when I think it was Tamara's one of Tamara's last couple of seasons before her pause, when she filmed a whole event for her CBD company, and then they like planned it for the show. It was filmed. People attended. And then they cut it from the season because, like, CBD didn't clear the legal standards or whatever of NBCU. And it's like, wait, so that wasn't even like weed weed. That was like CBD gummies to go to sleep.

And then now it's, it really has changed so much in just a few years that on Peacock, we're literally smoking a blunt on camera. You know, Jennifer Aiden is, Jennifer Aiden's getting blazed every night in the pool house or whatever. I love it. I think it's a really interesting conversation. And to think of over the years, like, all of the women on these shows who likely have been, you know, partaking. And that just is something that we couldn't ever acknowledge before, which feels dumb. But it's kind of nice to feel like we have a little bit more of an accurate depiction of, like, oh, yeah, like, Jennifer Aiden, you wouldn't necessarily picture her as, like, a stoner who, you know, smokes to unwind at night. but that's like a fun little flavor of her.

Absolutely. And I think, I mean, even in the last couple seasons of Beverly Hills, like the running gag is like Maricio is just like always high whenever they're feeling green. And I think it does. I mean, listen, we see these women get blasted and drunk on almost every event. And we just know how reality TV works. Like they're probably drinking for free and they get to drink as much as they want. So it kind of is like it feels like it is a long time coming.

But you are right that I'm sure there have been so many just like television. rules and regulations that kind of kept those conversations from happening. Yeah. And that even we're wondering how to talk about weed, Margaret had to apologize for calling Jennifer Aiden and a drug addict. It's like, yeah, okay, that was, I respected that apology because I was like, you know, it's not a helpful addition to the conversation. He's not going to apologize for calling her disheveled.

She's like, I mean, look at her, but. Did you, you, oh, I know you watched the jersey after show last week because you texted me about it, but when they were talking about Bougal Wolf, and that it means like a washed up club rat or something. Margaret was like, I look great in the club. I look great in the clubs. Jennifer looks disheveled. Have you seen her hair? We literally, I mean, yeah, we're going to get into it, but there's so much. Oh my God, Bougal Wolf.

It's just like it's so ridiculous But in a way that I am kind of delighted by I am delighted by it I will say I kind of want to put a nationwide band on like Really quick turnarounds on merch for like Logos Oh is there Boogelwolf merch?

It's merch but at the you know Jersey reunion was last week which I'm like already so nervous for But Jen after was like filming her Instagram story And she was on her way to get pizza And she had a t-shirt and like got milk campaign Paine font that said like Boog a Wolf for I'm a Book of Wolf. No. Listen, Margaret did the same thing with Endores, but like I do think just like the turnaround

time is a little too fast now. Yeah, I think Scandival was kind of a watershed moment for the reactive merch community. Because look, I love a good piece of reactive merch here at Betches every now and then. We'll turn something around quick. But it is kind of like, it's a little. little too meta in a way that it's like obviously we've pulled back the fourth wall enough times that it's like we know you know that you're on TV and that what things you say can have this kind of like lasting impact or whatever but when you are like the one directly playing into

it it starts to feel a little bit less fun a little less real and I guess with scandival like the stuff that was happening was real in the sense that it was like not when they were filming the season and it was playing out in real time. But it's like the fact that Lala can say on her Instagram story, send it to Daryl, and then immediately turn around and make a shirt out of it, you then almost start to question, like, did Lala already have that shirt mocked up before she posted the Instagram story? Or like, did it, how many tweets did it even take for her to be like, and that's a catch for because it's like I don't begrudge these people kind of like profiting off of their TV, you know, endeavors.

But like I did the other day have to stop myself from purchasing the Every Night is VPR Night Hoodie. Because I was like, it's so cute and it's like kind of iconic, but then also like where in the hell am I going to wear this? That is the thing with the merch too. Where are we going to wear these things outside of like maybe a BravoCon or something? But you're right. I think it's all about the timing and the. turn around too because it's one thing if like the season airs the dust settles and then it's one of those lines that like like if like a year later there's like oh it's like your husband's in the pool

mug like that's different because it's something that feels like it was lasting and that like but it's another thing if like the next day after you said it on instagram not even on the show that it like becomes a thing when like sometimes especially now like memes come and go like things it's really hard to like have moments that are like really lasting in the bravo a fandom. One of my favorites, I think, for a long time will be Meredith Marks's LGBTQ rights. I'm engaging. The best pride content that has ever existed. I can literally see that exact Instagram post. All of that's, that first year, year and a half, like every Instagram is seared into my brain. There's something about it. Yeah, there's like an iconic language of Meredith Marks.

that I feel like really for the first like two seasons of Salt Lake was just like so strong and so recognizable. Like her like I don't know. It's just like oh my god, her little like her little laugh or I'm disengaging her in that bathtub the day that Jen Shaw got arrested. Like love you baby. Bye. Love you baby. Bye. I still enjoy Meredith. Like I think she's a a great piece of the puzzle in Salt Lake. But it's like those early days. It was like, who is this creature? Right. I know. I mean,

here's a thing, Dylan. I feel like we always have these conversations and I'm always sick and tired of these shows and these women at the end of their seasons. And now,

like, I'm seeing little blurbs of them filming and I'm like, I can't wait. Yeah, so Heather Guy had a book event in Salt Lake. And Lisa and Whitney were participants

in the book event. And so it's like, we're filming another season. Everybody has to get along now or at least pretend to. It's like, sure, Okay.

Right. I feel like we're in a like a lot of shows are in production at once right now. Like it's like Salt Lake is pretty production. We have Beverly Hills, Potomac apparently start like we. Miami's filming. Yeah. Miami. It's a lot.

I mean, if we ever are going to get an Orange County trailer, like that's ready. I know the New York ladies are, you know, getting ready to go. So I mean, there's a lot to be done. Dubai is filming too. Yes, Dubai. Oh, God. I like keep forgetting that Dubai is the thing that we have to pay attention to. Again, I hope season two is great.

I am definitely going to check it out. But it's like, I'm like, oh, right, right, right. It's not just we have a whole other continent to think about. We have to remember Caroline Stamberry again. Oh, my God. Although we are going to see Chanel on probably at Teresa's wedding. That's true. That's true.

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

It's time for a little in-person spring treat. It's time for a trip to Ross. Work your magic. All new drinks are now at McDonald's. With refreshers like the strawberry watermelon refresher, and the mango pineapple refresher with popping boba to crafted sodas like the Spriteberry blast with berry flavors and cold foam. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire? 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. Speaking of Teresa's wedding, as we are getting toward the end of this season of Jersey, I feel like one thing that I kind of appreciate this season is that there doesn't seem to be kind of a forced friendship quality to it, that it feels like people are kind of comfortable just like being friends with who they're friends with and not fucking with the other people. but then also it's like where do we where do we really go from here how have you been enjoying the last kind of few episodes of this season i have to say dylan i'm going to put it on the record here i think that this is a great season of housewives and i think what the thing with jersey every year is at the conversation online honestly it just like two particular apps is so like team melissa team teresa that you kind of like can't even like look at what you're actually seeing because it's just like at the end of every episode people are just like posting receipts and like texts that they found and like random things but like I think the actual bones of the season is so refreshing and fun I think every episode has been good I think everyone is bringing it in their own way I think there's a lot of women but it's really working like this is one of the biggest cast we've had in housewives period and it makes sense I think Jen and Jackie as

friends are so fun Jen Fessler and Jackie I think again Marge and Jen like I think they're probably going to be sparring for the rest of their time on Housewives and every time it's still entertaining. I think that the Teresa and Melissa stuff, it is intense, but it has reached a point where it's nice to see them not fake it anymore and just, like, say exactly how they feel. Who else am I missing? Danielle and Rachel, I think are such good fits, too. Like, I think they both are very different, but are good fits.

So I think that people who are kind of hard on this season, it has a lot more to do with, like, how they feel with the Teresa and Melissa. Melissa dynamic or Teresa Melissa versus like I think the actual season is one of the best of Jersey for sure and one of the best we've had this year so far. Yeah, I think this season is especially notable

due to the three new women who are all I think contributing a lot to the show and it's maybe one of the most successful kind of like soft refreshes that a show has had without losing anyone from the prior season.

The fact that they brought three new women on to the show and all three of them, I think, are doing a great job is kind of remarkable, considering the casting the last couple seasons in Jersey has kind of been struggling. So it is kind of funny because I've seen people on both sides. Obviously, it's like the newbies have sort of picked sides in the group because how could you not? But I'm really enjoying all three of them as Housewives' characters. and I've seen some people kind of either disparage Danielle or disparage Rachel and Jen

depending on what side of the Teresa Melissa dynamic they kind of fall on. And I just got to say it's like I understand if you're like a diehard Teresa fan, Rachel Fuda is not going to be like your personal fave. But in terms of saying that she's bringing nothing to the show, saying that she's boring, saying that Jen. Fessler is cringe or try hard or whatever. It's like, what do you want? Like, because if they had cast three new women that saw things the exact same way as Danielle, that wouldn't work. That wouldn't, it wouldn't make sense. It wouldn't further the cast dynamic at all. It wouldn't

create new storylines for new seasons in the future. So I think what they did was like super smart and maybe worked out even better than they would have expected, which is that you've added really great fresh life to both sides of the equation. Yes, that's exactly it. And I feel like we have this conversation, Dylan, about you can like insert city name here, but I feel like it's the same with this. It's like, what I want in my housewife shows are like dynamic. I want it to be entertaining.

And you need foil, like you need like two sides of the equation every single time. and you can't just take, like, get rid of, you know, made antagonists or protagonist or whatever way you look at it. It's just not going to work. And, like, for example, like, there was, like, a tweet under, it was like a tree hugger account or something. And it was like, oh, my gosh, next season, at Andy. It was like, fire.

Margaret, Jen Fessler, Rachel Buda, Melissa, Jackie. It's their time to go. I'm like, there's no air in the show. Like, as entertaining as Jen, Danielle and Teresa are, like, you need people for them to engage with and not get along with or get along with. Like, you just need that or else. Right.

Really how the show works. Right. It's like if you were to fire that whole side of the cast, you're going to have to find three more new women next season. And, like, respectfully, respectfully, there's not that many more bougie mamas in North Jersey that are ready to do this. It's like the pool is only so big. And, like, I definitely think the idea that kind of,

If Melissa or Teresa, one of them might have to go after this season, I think there's a chance that that is real. Like, I, who knows what they're thinking? They just filmed the reunion. So we'll have to see kind of like where things are, let's say, a month or two from now. But like, whether, you know, if they decide that it's Melissa's time to go, that's one decision, but that isn't going to just like reset the whole cast in and of itself. Like they're not going to fire four people.

No. And start fresh because this season, like you said, has had a lot of good pieces going on and a lot of interesting things. And I've really been enjoying it. And so it's like, I think next season, like, we might be looking at a Melissa or Teresa leaving. But I don't think there are going to be a lot of changes aside from that because they just, they don't actually need them. They don't. And I think, again, we're like really used to looking at like the. live ratings on like Twitter when they come out or whatever, but like there was like a big

deadline report about the premiere. Like the ratings are actually really up with like delayed numbers and on peacock and everything. Like Jersey is really doing well. So why would you mess with outside of again, we need to figure out what they're going to do with Teresa and Melissa. But like we've learned now it's really hard to cast on that show. Like if for us to get to the place or even in now, it was like you had to slowly add Siggy and Dolores and then you kind of had to drop Siggy and then add Margaret.

it. And then we introduced Jackie and Jen Aden and then like the show finally became, it took like four years transition from like post-Theresa camp to this. Right. I think that like we really have found and these are, I think you said this in one of your

other episodes like this is a group I can firmly say out of like any other city, these women hang out with each other all the time. All the time. They're in each other's lives. And like Rachel, who knows what the capacity is, but like her son, is really close with Melissa's son.

Like, they are in each other's lives. And, like, I just think it's, that is the secret to this show that, like, you can't just throw someone like a Michelle Realtor or Tracy, even though Tracy was friends with Melissa. Yeah. You kind of just can't do that. And it just doesn't work. Right.

There's, like, a secret sauce that you can't just, you can't pretend it's there when it's not. Speaking of casting for upcoming seasons, I'm wondering how you feel about Deborah, the Sesame Street character. maybe being in the mix on Potomac next season, because apparently she was, she's been spotted filming. If it's a like guest, and I don't even want a friend of,

I want like a guest. Like if she shows up at a party or two and we tie up some loose ends and maybe it's a really funny callback, sure. We talked about this last time too. I didn't hate last season of Potomac. I didn't think it was a flop season. I thought every episode is entertaining.

I think some of the dynamics were, frustrating and obviously with the Robin reasonably shady of it all. It was kind of a disjointed watch, but like it was so funny even towards the end of that season, so many accounts were like Robin's done, fire Robin, she's done, she's never coming back. And it seems like we don't have a confirm. She is coming back. But why would you take out the element that like everyone is talking about? Like something that would be like an immediate shift in the dynamics in the group,

something that like everyone wants answers from her. Like, I think it's going to be exciting. Well, and if you think about, like, I know the Wendy Williams show is no longer with us, sadly, but this is kind of what popped into my head. Like, if you think about hot topics on Wendy Williams, what is the thing that she would be talking about from Potomac? It would be whatever's going on with Robin. And it would be, did Candace's husband, Chris, you know, cop a feel on Jaze or something like that? Like those types of storylines and now, you know, you would see it with like what is being pulled out on shade room.

What is getting the page six coverage? Like all of this stuff. Those are the kind of key inflection points in the group at this point. Like I think other stuff that's interesting is going on, but it's like it's not in their best interest to, you know, jettison the things that are creating the most conversation around the show. And I think, you know, similarly on Jersey, I think that's going to be the. a big question mark with Teresa and Melissa is that it's like, yeah, it's toxic, but also it's still getting the most tabloid coverage. So it's like, it's a tough question. I do think there's some soul searching to be done within the production companies and stuff. But yeah, I mean,

like Fire Robin is like a fun thing to make trend on Twitter or whatever, but that's not like a casting strategy. Right. And again, I think it's great that casting doesn't usually. They're very good at their jobs. But even from what you're saying, like, I feel like we talked about this. I think it's really easy to be, like, obviously, Teresa's one of the biggest reality stars, period, to ever do it. But I think it's really easy to also discredit, like, the Gorgas and their value at Bravo. Like, we talked about this, like, at BravoCon in that Javid Center, like, Melissa and Joe could not get through the convention, like, I mean, through the entire center. Like, they were being pulled left and right. They're really popular faces of the network. And, like, even though Twitter

may sound one way. I feel like it's a lot, I think that the decision is a lot heavier than people want to say like, oh, obviously, just drop Melissa and Joe. Like, they're a big piece of this equation of the success of a show for the past 12 years. Yeah. And when you think about, I mean, Jersey for a long time has been unique in how involved the husbands are and the husbands having solo scenes and having their own contracts and things like that. And like that, I think in a, a certain way. I don't know like contractually factually, but like that stems more from like Joe

Gorga and kind of that group is built around him. I mean, Joe Judeyce was of course on the show at one point. Louis is now, you know, a pretty consistent presence as of last season, this season. But like when that group of guys is getting together, which is a key piece of Real Housewives of New Jersey,

it's Joe Gorga kind of the ringleader a little bit. So I think that's another thing where it's like, it doesn't just boil down to like, well, who's more iconic? Because I think, I don't think Melissa would even really argue that Teresa is, it's like less iconic than her. I don't think that's the, that's not the issue here. So, yeah, I think it'll be a very interesting few months in the Jersey rumor mill. It will be a lot. And I don't know if you caught two. I think it was like around lunch, like before they brought the husbands out.

I think what will be really interesting moving forward to, it seemed like kind of a divide in the husbands because it was like Joe Gorga, Joe B, John Fuda and Frank Catania. But then it was like Louis, Bill and Nate Cabral. Nate Cabrault. They were not hanging out with them. They were not driving drinks with them or anything. And I feel like that makes for an, again, a kind of interesting dynamic because it just seemed, yeah. This, I think this reunion is going to be so stressful. Like, I can't wait, but also, like, it's going to be so intense.

Nate Cabral, he's the Donis. Oh, God. Yeah, no, I mean, overall, I think this season of Jersey has been really entertaining. So I know some people are having trouble with it, but I just, I can't relate. I don't know. I'm here for it. I can't get enough of them. I can't get enough of the endorsements.

I can't get enough of violence. I can't get enough of all the bugle wolves. Of Teresa asking, what's 80 euros in English? Oh, my God. But again, that is the thing. What's talking about Teresa and Alexia. Like, there is something about Teresa again. She says stuff and you're like, oh, my God.

What did she say? Like, she said at the Rachel food of brunch, like, trying to make a mountain out of a mole hall or something. Look, Mountain Out of a Mole Hill should be permanently retired as a Housewives thing to say because the amount of times that that figure of speech has been dragged through the mud, Ramona did it. I think everyone's done it at one point or another. Is it the whole premise of Real Housewives is to do that?

That's fair. That's fair. We got to get some different idioms to mess up, though. You know, we can't get too complacent with our Mountain Out of a Whole Mill. But Jared, thank you so much for being here. I'm so glad we got to chat through all of these things bouncing around my brain today. Thank you so much. This was so fun.

We have some good bravo food to talk about. Yes. Tell everyone where they can read your stuff, follow you, and everything. Yes. You can read all my things at The Griot, and there should be some fun, like Atlanta interviews and stuff coming up, which will be fun. And then you can follow me on Instagram at The Jared Alex. And then on Twitter at H-E-Y-Y-Y. It's Jared. Hey, it's Jared.

Amazing. Thank you so much. And thank you everyone for listening. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow the show wherever you listen. You can follow us on Instagram at Bravo by Betches. You can follow me at Dylan Hafer. And until next time, be cool. Don't be all like uncool.

Mention It All is produced by Dylan Hafer, Sean Kilby, Jorge Morales Pico, and Rebecca Sousma-Kat. Editing by Jorge Morales 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. All. Pay off your home, travel for life, drive a Ferrari. In celebration of the world premiere of the Monopoly

Big Board Buckslot machine by Aristocrat Gaming, Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is giving one person a $1.6 million dream package. The biggest prize in Yamava's history. Club Serrano members can earn daily instant prizes and secure a spot in the finale May 29th. Don't pass go and own it all. Only at Yamava, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You win?

Calms at Yamavad.com must be 21-20. Please gamble responsibly. Monopoly is a trademark of Hasbro. Hasbro is not a sponsor of this promotion. Betches