The Press Box - Ep. 208: 'Jam Session' With Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins

Episode Date: November 16, 2016

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss Prince Harry's new flame, Meghan Markle (6:00), Bruno Mars's new record (16:00), and Mandy Moore's recent run of success (24:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's episode of Jam Session is brought to you by Bose. As the official sound of the NFL, Bose gets players closer to their peak performance and gets you closer to them. How? With powerful products like their quiet comfort 35 wireless headphones. These are Bose's best headphones yet. No noise, no wires, just your music and you. Welcome to Jam Session. I'm Juliet Lippman. I'm Amanda Dobbins.

Very important update to start with today. We're going to talk about the latest with Prince Harry and Megan Markle. Yeah, this happened about a week ago, and, you know, we've worked through some things. It's been a bit. It's been a distracting week. Or I haven't totally worked through them, but for the purposes of this podcast, we've worked through them. Yeah, so we'll get to that. And, yeah, we're going to do that. Bruno Mars album leaked. We'll talk about that.

We're going to do a Mandy Moore update. Yes, always time for Mandy Moore. And lastly, a disturbing cruise development. Not Tom. Oh, right. to cruise as in the water vessel. We'll get there. But first, Harry and Megan, let's talk about them.

First of all, have you taken in any Megan Markle media? Are you familiar with her work at all? Or just her as a celebrity, is she to you? You mean since we last talks? Like, did I go on her Instagram? No, I definitely didn't. Did you watch suits even? No, I didn't.

I'll tell you what I did do, though, is I have been rewatching The Crown, which is in its own way about Prince Harry's life. I'm one up in, just one. Yeah, but it's not for you, right? No, I like it. Oh, you do? I'm not going faster because I think I promised my mom that I'd watch some of her. That's nice.

So I'm trying to wait. So The Crown is a show on Netflix about Queen Elizabeth based on her real life. And it's... Timeout. Yeah. It's so weird that they just are making... There's so many movies and television shows. It's specifically this one about people who are still alive.

It's just really weird. This one is particularly weird because it's by Peter Morgan, who... This is his third piece of like historical fiction or nonfiction, like biography of Queen Elizabeth herself. Like, does she know him? Do they have a personal relationship? No, they've never met. And he said recently that he did not want to meet her. One, because he would feel like he owes her an apology.

Sure. And two, because he would just be really nervous that he got it all wrong. I don't understand. It's just a weird, bizarre relationship. I don't get it. like anytime that like when primary colors came out and it was like kind of about the clinton's it was like it was veiled you know like the change names it was clear what it was about but at least there were some kind of like small attempt to make it not biography but so does that make you

do you just want the nonfiction version like what are you I don't know for me it just makes it it super compelling because it's like basically it's a really really well produced and well-funded form of gossip is what we're watching. for 10 hours. They just like, you want to know what's going on behind the scenes? Someone is more or less, in Peter Morgan's case, I think he is like incredibly well-sourced and talks to a lot of people and does actually know what's going on behind the scenes in Buckingham Palace. So I think the Crown is just like gossip acted out.

That's a great point. Which is fantastic. Yeah, it's a good show. Everyone should watch it. I'm really enjoying it. It is a good like... It's your second go-round, huh? Yeah, I'm watching it.

God bless my husband, who has a good show. has like in a partner support way has agreed to watch it with me. And after like three episodes, like he turned to me and just like really like earnestly and like with great care was just like, can you explain why this is interesting? Like genuinely just does not get it at all. That's interesting. I actually find that surprising. But you know, we've been talking a lot about it on the ringer staff.

I think people are divided, but there is a group of people including Jason Concepcion, Allison Davis, myself, who find it really soothing. Sure. It's good family material in that way as well. Like, no one is, like, there's not going to be an accidental penis on the crown. Like, suddenly, although there is actually some male, like, butt nudity. Which I really enjoy. That's totally acceptable.

Yeah, it's, like, classy, though. It's fine. Yeah, totally fine. Can I recommend another soothing thing to you? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, this is not a surprise, but the last great season, the great British breakoff, It's currently on PBS right now. That's true.

It's my go-to nighttime show. I'm re-watching episodes. It doesn't really matter. Just the voices, the calmness, the focus on just baking. It's great. That's a great suggestion. And obviously, a theme here is British people. So I wanted to pose a question to you and also to listeners of Jam Session.

It occurred to me recently that British podcasts are a thing that exists. But it's really hard to Google British podcast and find British podcasts. because they're all just like British newspapers recommending cereal and it's like, yeah, no, I know about that one. I would love to find like a podcast vehicle for listening to soothing British voices. My mom has a few. She does some BBC history podcasts. She's really into like being told history by British people. Yeah, I'm interested in that.

They have a robust gossip market in the UK. The most robust one I would love like a podcast version of Hello magazine, British Hello, if anyone. You just want to be like, who's talking about Megan Markle in English? right now. I want the British version of us. Frankly, I just want us to be replaced by British people and then I would find that soothing, I guess. I don't know. If anyone has suggestions, please let me

know. The one time you've requested tweets. Please at me. Please at me. At AK Dombins. Okay, and so what you're looking for is someone to talk about what's going on with Prince Harry. Yes, what a fantastic segue. And we'll tell you what's going on in our American voices, which may or may not be annoying.

Yes, that's true. So this happened about a week ago. And I just want to go on the record. I was totally wrong. I, on this last podcast, talked to a really big game about knowing what the royal family would do and how they treat people who wind up in the press and how they deal with, like, relationships that have too much exposure. And I was like, Megan Markle's gone.

She's out. Like, good luck to her. You know, we wish her well. I hope she finds another banana. I was completely wrong. And in sort of an unprecedented move that I really respect, Prince Harry. like through Kensington Palace, which is like his version of Buckingham Palace. Just a fact for you there.

Great Twitter. I mean, great Instagram follow. Yeah, because they also represent Prince William and Kate. And Kate Middleton and the small children. Anyway, they released like a very long statement. Yeah. It was not just like one paragraph. Few paragraphs.

Yeah. Just condemning the treatment that Megan Markle has gotten in the press and specifically kind of the racist coverage that she has gotten in the press. and calls her his girlfriend in the statement, which is incredible. What a DTR, by the way. Like, that's just, wow. That's one for the record books. Does it get better than that?

But shout out to Prince Harry. Totally. I just, it's, they never do this. They never, ever, ever respond to press coverage. They never release statements. They hate the press. It was very Richard Curtis. This is what would happen in the Richard Curtis version of this relationship.

Yeah, totally. It is like, you know, I mean, you're, you're really. Right. It's a total rom-com scene of like the prince like flips out. And it's incredible. I love it. I will also say it does, are you familiar with the book The Royal Wee by the Fug Girls? Yes, I am. Guys, I, listen, if you enjoy this enough to still be listening to this podcast right now, I cannot recommend the Royal We enough.

Like the best airplane, the airplane read is rude. Like it's a really comforting escapist, easy read that I've had a great time with. But I've heard it's the life off. Yeah, it's basically fictionalized Prince William and Kate romance. But really, it's like 500 pages of it. I don't know. They published fan fiction. Shout out to the Fug Girls.

But there is, like, there are some climactic scenes with, like, Prince William. And maybe Prince Harry, like, finally getting their shit together and, like, defending her in the press and being like, enough! I will save you! Which is, like, I guess, a modern white, you know, night situation. Yeah. I like it. Yeah, so they defended her, and then this week she met Prince William. Yeah, you just told me about this.

What are there, where did they meet? She went to visit him in London, and there was a rumor that she was potentially going to attend a rugby match with Prince Harry, but she didn't. It was just a secret meeting in one of their many homes. Oh, wow. This time in London, though. It doesn't. Which is great to me because that just shows that Harry's accommodating of her schedule and her need to be in a city close to an airport, not at one of their stupid country houses that are far away. So he just seems like a really accommodating boyfriend.

That's true. I just also, like, having a boyfriend in London sounds great. I would love to have a boyfriend in London. A boyfriend in London who could also pay to fly me to London, whatever I need to get there, which I have to assume. I guess, you know, Megan Markle is doing well for herself and can also buy her own plane flights. I don't mean to undermine her in any way.

She's an independent woman. But, yeah, that'd be great. All women, independent. Yeah. Apparently, according to us weekly, sources tell us that after Harry completes this 14-day official tour of the Caribbean on December 4th, the Prince has plans to take Markle away on a romantic trip. So they're definitely going to like Maldives or Seychelles or Mauritius, something like that. Yeah, they love those islands. Yeah, I mean, I would love to go there

too. Can I ask like a related question though? Sure. Not to like fast forward their relationship too much, but isn't Zika an ongoing concern there? Yes, it is. Yeah. So you're wondering if they're going to avoid that? Yeah, I mean, should they want to? I don't know. Where should they go then? That's tough, Amanda. It's true. The mountains of Purrish. True? Perhaps. Yeah, the elevation prevents it. I guess it's not really the same type of vacation, but I think Harry is something of an outdoorsman, so maybe they like the hiking. He likes the ruggedness. Also, like, they love to go to a safari in South Africa. That's true. They really do. I hope that's not what they do. That would just be like, lame. Also, Chelsea Davies from South Africa,

so I just feel like they can't go there. I think she's from Zimbabwe. Oh, you're right. But she lived in South Africa? Yeah, possibly. Some kind of connection. Anyway, I'm just please that this relationship carries on. It just also is so big for us suits fans. We're just like, we're on the map. We're here. Do you feel validated as a suits fan? I do. This is the next level for suits? Yeah. You know, I just think this ensures at least one more season because like there's a whole new body of people, the English, who are going to be interested in this show. It definitely helps their syndication options. Yeah, for sure. What if though she doesn't want to do it anymore because she needs to be in London with her boyfriend? I don't know. The suits has like 20,

episodes a year. They film in Toronto. It doesn't seem like that big of commitment for her. 20 episodes of like hour-long television. It's actually less. I think it's 16. They usually do 10 over the summer and like six in the winter. Okay. She can work around that. Harry's busy anyway. What are you going to do is sit in London while he's traveling?

Yeah, that's a great point. She just needs to ask him to time his humanitarian trips with her shooting schedule. That's true. Also, like, who's to say, you know, I'm sorry, that was some like reverse sexist things that she should just give up her job. in order to go live with Harry. I just really want to go to London. I've been missing it. I do too.

I was just like, go to London. Who gives a shit about your job? Megan Merkel, keep doing your job if you want to. I'm going to be honest. Two days ago, I looked up flights to London for February. It was cheap. One of my best friends lives there. And it was $630 from L.A.

That's a really good deal. That is a great deal. I have spent more on L.A. to New York than that, which is embarrassing, but true. How is the pound to dollar right now? It's very good. Everyone's currencies in the toilet, so it's good. Okay, great. What a time.

to go for it. It's cheap to go to lending because of the Brexit. Yeah. No, I mean, I know, but the recent events would suggest that... Still poor. Yeah, okay. Actually, the markets haven't been that affected, which is... Yeah, but that's a whole other...

Like, we're not economists. Let's not. Moving on. So, anyway, I'm happy about this shaking out. Thank you to the royal family for taking a stand for Megan Markle. Yeah, I will say this bodes well about how the royal family is going to, like, exist in the world going forward. It is an acknowledgement that they are at least in the 21st century, if not possibly in 2016. Yeah.

It does take them a little while to catch up. But, you know, I think, like, I applaud them also for addressing, like, the racist aspects of the coverage, like, head on as well. Yeah, 100%. You know, you can imagine a world in which they, like, danced around that, and they absolutely just called it out. Yeah. Shout out to them. Great stuff. Great stuff from Buckingham, Palestine.

these days. A modern monarchy. Who would have thought? They love saying modern on the crown. They really do. And the queen too. They really do. Also, one thing about the crown and then we will move on. It's really helpful in clarifying the family tree of Queen Elizabeth because if you just like, you know, casually read the press, it's easy to forget whose parents are whose and like how the cousins are all related and the fact that Queen Elizabeth is married to her second cousin, just things like that. You know, very useful to keep all those things. mind and it's helpful and clarifying. Is it second cousin?

I believe so. Okay. Actually, they have two relations, like on both sides. Right. I think on one side's second, one side's a little bit more distant. Right, because, like, Queen Victoria through Prince Albert was kind of related to most of the monarchies. Right.

Of Europe, which brought it all home. Anyway. Marriage of Power. I think Matt Smith is very handsome in this. Do you? Which is like a real weird thing for me. How do you feel about John Lithgow? Like, he's annoying.

So, in addition to following Queen Elizabeth, it does also follow the politics of the 50s because of her involvement in them, which means that it involves Winston Churchill, who is played by John Lithgow. I got to be honest. Couldn't they've gotten a British guy? Why do we have to get stuck with John Lithgow? And he's, like, really, really, like, he's playing it big. Yeah. He's like a lot of grunting. Going for an Emmy.

That's for sure. Yeah, you know, I'm always just like, you guys are very annoying, and I'd like to go back to the Royals. I understand that it gives it depths, and I actually do think kind of one of the more interesting aspects of the show is about how she learns to be queen and be respected as a woman and a leader. Sure. So you need Churchill for that because he has to bully her. But other than that, I think Claire Foy is very good. She is good. She is good. She plays as the queen.

Yeah, I enjoy her as well. Okay, moving on, something else in a very passion. about. Yes. You, not quite as much, but you're there with me. No, a great time. New record from Bruno Mars leaked today. Officially comes out Friday. Friday. So one day or two days early, not so bad. And it's nine songs long. And I think it is delightful. I really like it a lot. I know that I'll be listening to it many more times. I love Bruno Mars. I do too. Why would, why would you be angry at Bruno Mars? What purpose does that serve? What are people's chief complaints about him? You know, he does, like his music is so referential.

Yeah. This album included. Yeah, it's like, I mean, it's pastiche to the point of just like being, recreating things. But I do think that the people who complain about that, which include like, you know, I remember locked out of heaven listening to that in the car with my father when I was home on Thanksgiving. And he was just like, he copied this. This is the police.

And I was like, okay, old man, like, calm down. Great song. It's a fantastic song. The thing is, is that, you know, obviously, obviously he is borrowing, like, a lot to the point that it's not even borrowing. But he does something with it that's, like, really unique. He's very, very good in a very, like, technical way that I think makes it irresistible. So I think people complain because it sounds like other stuff. Okay, fine, that's true.

But so much music is derivative. Yeah. And he also, like, freely admits it. He's not like, I'm doing something brand new. hear. He's like, yeah, I wanted to make a record that sounded like the 90s middle school dances that I went to as a kid that made me feel great. You want to know what? I feel great from listening to your music, Bruno. I feel exactly the same way. There was a Rolling Stone cover story about him by Josh Ells a couple weeks ago. There's a really interesting section that's just like

Bruno Marr is talking about how obsessively he puts these songs together and the amount of detail and attention that he is paying to like, you know, this word was wrong and like this beat was totally whatever and I was trying to do this. And like as a technician, like I had a lot of respect for him now. I thought it was great. Totally. He's a great musician. Totally. He's a great performer too. Yeah. He's the whole package. He really is. And like at a time when we don't really have those that much anymore. Beyonce is a great performer. That's why one of the reasons I love him. She's not as comprehensive in her musical talents as far as I can tell. Yeah, I mean, I don't think that she is...

She doesn't sit out the writing process, but she doesn't necessarily, like, drive it the way that Bruno does. Yeah, she's not producing every single, like, line. I mean, he's a studio producer as well. He writes, like, for other people. Some of the really charming stories about him going around are about him collaborating with All I Have, or on All I Have with Adel. Yes. And he just, like, makes her sound, like, he makes her sound stronger and fiercer than pretty much everyone else who talks about her, which I also like makes me really love him because he's

just like, yeah, she knows what she's looking for and she's like scary in the studio. And we were discussing this with some of our writers. Adele is like bossy and competitive in a way that's not really discussed because she's also so charming. And I like when people talk about what she's like in the songwriting process. And he is like, it just sounds that they're like, they work together really well because they both are like really like dialed in on like how to make a hit record, a hit pop record for performing and for radio.

Yeah, it takes a lot of work. And they both are very invested in the work. And I also appreciate that they will just be like, yeah, we have standards and we're going to work hard to reach these standards. And like, nothing else is acceptable. Totally. And like, sorry if your feelings get hurt. You know, this is the big leagues. This is what grownups do.

They both took four years between records, you know? Yeah. I really, really enjoy Bruno Mars. I do too. Have you watched any of his recent performances? I haven't yet. He did 24-Kart Magic at the MTV Europe Awards. Okay.

And he was wearing head-to-toe Tommy Hilfiger, reminded me of our mutual friend, Rember Brown, and his outfit that round would wear. And he just looked like he was having a great time. And if you're having a great time, then the people who are watching you will as well. I think he should be on the Super Bowl halftime show every year. I was just thinking the same thing. Let's get him back. He could do great work with Lady Gaga.

God, remember when then he had, like, no, it was Coldplay hosting it last year. And then they just showed up and totally stole the show. and then like Chris, Chris Martin had to like jump in at the end. Like, wait, I'm still here too. That was a great time. And then Beyonce obviously was there and fantastic. Yeah, he was like a clear, he was a distant third. It was like obviously Beyonce number one.

Like she just was like a force of nature. Bruno really holding his own at the song at that point was quite old. Like he did Uptown Funk. But at the same time, Uptown Funk is a classic. Uptown Funk will never die. I had a great time to see Uptown Funk at my wedding. Yeah, I got to tell you, that shit was real. I was at a wedding in Sicily recently.

and the best thing about a European wedding is it can go really late because they don't have the midnight time restrictions. And so it was like 1 o'clock. And the things were going great, really fun. And we're just like, let's just turn it up a notch with this music. Also jet lags in your favor at that point, right? Yeah, exactly. And I was like, you know what we haven't heard is Uptown Funk? And then we demanded that the Russian DJ put it on.

And it was just like, apparently I was yelling, I love this song so much. But also, everyone had a great time. And I think the bride and groom included, which is the most important thing. And, yeah, it's just a great song. Bruno makes hits and people, and he talks about how, like, now when he writes his music, compared to his first record, which had a lot of ballads, he wants her to be, like, bounce and groove. And his backup dudes have become such a big part of his act, his hooligans, basically his own pips,

that he, like, writes songs to be able to perform them live in a fun way, which I also just, like, really appreciate. There's a real energy and just that sense of this is supposed to be fun in his music that is completely lacking from Top 40 Radio right now. Totally. Which is like an abomination right now. You know, listen, Drake and Beyonce are not included in that. Like, I'm not a monster, but...

I know everything else is really bad. It's... Oh! I hate 21 pilots. An abomination. They're really bad. I don't really care for, like, the sort of, um, kind of European, like, electronic pop that's kind of coming over with like Zara Larson and B.Rexa.

I don't care for them at all. It's tough. It's really. Tough. I'm not here for the chain smokers. I'm not here for... I kind of like closer with Halsey. I'm sorry.

I'm really sorry. Yeah, okay. That's fine. You know what? It's important to find joy where you find it, wherever that is, and I like truly believe that.

You know, again, that's not... That's fine if you like it, but it doesn't have that same, like, lift. Yeah, it doesn't. It's way too, like, angsty without any, like, real repercussion. Yeah.

I totally, I totally agree with you. I think it is nice to have a sort of slice of enthusiasm and joy right now. And like, shout out to Bruno Mars. Bruno Mars' this record is also, like, overtly sexual. But, like, in a way that is, like, fun. The Josh Ells and the Rolling Stone piece compares it to, like, boys to men, which is true. Yeah. It has, like, real vibes of I'll make love to you. Yeah. Versace on the floor is, like, a great song. But, like, the lyrics are, like, he's like, a girl, I love your dress, but you won't have it on for, like, or like, you don't need on, or something like that. And I was just,

like, in some ways, that's like, it could be, like, predatory or, like, heavy-handed. But the way that the song works and then, like, the entire Bruno Mars package, it's just sort of more, like, empowering in a weird way. Yeah. Like, I was just, like, Bruno Mars is emboldening me this morning. I love Versace on the floor. What a great song. I would completely agree.

Can I just, as a side note, because it does, you know, I'll make love to you as, like, the ultimate song for me in that, in that vein. I think that is in part because the first cassette tape, like true cassette tape I ever owned at the age of six, was boys to men that my parents bought for me. That's funny. So I guess it was okay. But it does have that, like, I wouldn't be embarrassed if, like, a six-year-old were listening to Versa-Rathevon. I wouldn't try to explain to them what it was about. Like, if they had some questions, I would be like, you know, you just have to take your clothes off before you go to bed at night and you put pajamas on.

But, yeah, it doesn't have. that CD gross. Well, in that Josh, like I mentioned this, in that Josh L's profile, he was like, yeah, I wanted to make music that made me feel as amazing as I did when I was slow dancing with a girl and in middle school dance. And that is totally Versace on the floor, you know? It's so, it's so good. I love that song. It's just great. I don't know. Thank you, Bruno for a great record. Thank you, Bruno Mars. While we're giving out thanks, let's also talk about and thank our sponsors. And we'd like to thank Bose as the official sound of the NFL, Bose gets players closer to their peak performance and gets you closer to them. How? With

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That's propercloth.com slash jam and gift code jam for, $20 off your first shirt. All right, back to our podcast. I like in the second half of our podcast to get a little random and weird, I think often happens, and I'm only acknowledging it for the first time right now. And I would like to talk about Mandy Moore, who was on James Corden this week, and she's currently starring on This Is Us on NBC. Which is a hit show.

A hit show. How are you feeling about This Is Us? You were excited about it. I was excited about it. I'm going to be honest. I've only watched one episode, which I enjoy, but just really haven't had time. However, I'm planning to catch up. A friend of mine was saying that she basically only watches for Sterling K. Brown, because he's just

incredible. I saw the other guy, the white guy. There's the three siblings, and I saw the white one at the gym on Election Day. So I'll never forget that. It was like 3 p.m. and he was wearing like a lot of extra layers. Oh, God, I remember when you left for the gym election. I was really stressed out.

He needed to work out. And he was wearing like a long, like compression leggings and a long. and a compression shirt, I think, indicating to me, like, it reminded me of the episode of Saved by the Bell, the New Class, where the Zach Morris replacement is, like, wearing, like, basically, like, a tinfoil suit to try to lose extra weight to make,

to meet his, yeah, for wrestling, actually. It reminded me of that. I was like, God, is he, like, is he, like, is he need to lose weight or something? I think he looks great. But anyway, now I'm always going to think of my time with the gym with the guy on Election Day when I watched this as us. But that's okay. I think that's a Mopee show anyway. I was literally about to say it's for crying anyway.

Yeah, I have not, I am aware of the twist. Are we allowed to talk about that twist now? Yeah, I think it's in the pilot. So basically what it is, there's like, there actually is two timelines. I was about to say, it's like, who did it better? I think this is a Jason Gallagher joke that's very true. Who did it better? Two timelines, Westworld, or this is us?

Yeah, I think this is us, actually, because we're still waiting on that confirmation on Westworld. So anyway, there's the story about the parents, Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimilia, raising their two twins and their adopted son who has the same birthday as a twin. So it's three siblings. And then there's the three siblings as adults. Okay. So who plays old Mandy Moore? I don't know.

She wasn't in the pilot. Okay. I'm not sure. Wow. A lot of questions to be answered. Yeah, totally. Sterling Kay Brown is the best part for sure. He's fantastic.

Yeah, he's amazing. I'm glad that he is getting work and steady income and, you know, can, can plot his next moves from there. Bandy Moore is just having like a resurgence right now. Yeah, she's got a hit show. I'm really happy for her. I don't know why. And I actually think that I probably shouldn't be happy for her. Can you tell us about her breakup from Ryan Adams, her former husband?

Of course. This is one of my favorite topics. Though I just want to be clear, I don't think that Manny Moore is at fault in this. I think that Mandy Moore and Ryan Adams were married for like about five years. Mandy Moore was not working a lot. during that time. I think she was like investing in her home life. The only news that I like really heard from Annie Moore during that period was a fantastic interview on the makeup and skincare website into the gloss. Oh yes. They do this thing called the top shelf where they, you just talk to people

about all the products they use, which you will either read every single one or none. And like, again, your mileage may vary. Hers is one of the best. It was very good. I really enjoyed it. made me like her a lot. Only thing I heard about her for five years, until they broke up. And there were some very impassioned Instagrams about shared dog custody and how Ryan Adams was not paying proper. Like, I don't know whether it would be dog support or dog alimony. I think it's dog alimony. I don't know that.

It's a good point. I mean, I think, I guess I am not clear on the, legal custody arrangement for their dogs. Me neither. That was not, like, made 100% clear to me. I do know that Mandy Moore was taking care of all of them, and that Ryan Adams was not paying what he needed to pay, according to Mandy Moore. And she was demanding $35,000 a month.

Right. Also that. So that's the, I have no problem with her wanting Ryan Adams to contribute equally. You know, the shared property and whatnot. But $35,000 a month is like a lot. What are you doing with like how many dogs are there? Also, I just would be shocked if Brian Adams had that kind of money. Does he have that kind of money to spare?

That's a lot. It's a ton of money. I mean, I guess $400,000 a year. He was making records when you still made money off of records. I mean, not that he was like, you know. I just feel, yeah. John Mayer, but like who made a shitload of money, by the way, which is why I brought him up. Not because I'm like.

John Mayer fan. Out here for, his watches seem nice. whatever. $35,000 is a lot. What could you possibly spend? I mean, I would just, that would upgrade my life in a lot of different ways that I can't even fathom. I don't need $35,000 a month, though.

Who needs that? Like, unless you have kids and you're paying for school, I don't understand. Even there. So that's my one misgiving with Mandy Moore. However, whenever she does an interview and in the film, because I said so, and in season two of Entourage, she seems delightful. I don't know. I just really like her.

She seems like well-adjusted for a teen star. I think that's part of it. She absolutely does. And I think part of the Into the Glass interview that I cited was just like, you seem like normal. Right. Because there are ways to talk about all the things you put on your face that don't make you sound normal just for the record. Totally. Like Madonna could not have a normal conversation about all of her products.

Exactly. The real housewives also could not. I think I like, I know exactly why I like me anymore. And it's a really weird of specific reason. I can't wait to hear it. Which is the one time that Annie Rodd. Columbia U.S. O'F.? Oh, yes.

I forgot about that relationship. And he climbs into the stands, and it's like Manny Moore, they're like cheering because they actually dated. I'll never forget that. She looked very happy for him. Yeah, she seems supportive. And, you know, we need more American tennis champions

on the men's side. We have them in Serena. Amanda takes a stand for America. I don't want to diminish Serena, who is like their greatest athlete, in my opinion, currently living. Agreed. Yeah, American men says tennis could use some help.

And Mandy Moore helped, apparently. Yeah, I mean, I think she did. It's a great. Let's give her all that credit. Another reason why I like Mandy Moore now, so I watch her on James Corridan very briefly, and she told this story of how when she was on tour when she was like 15 or 16, she was opening for in sync, which is just like crazy. Oh, right, because. Yeah, she was candy.

Yeah, sure. I remember going to Foot Locker in seventh grade and like hanging out and like talking about sneakers and candy came on. It was really, really big deal. And so anyway, she was on tour and she was talking about how she was the opening act. like no one really cared about her, but like one time Justin Timberlake talked to her. And I bet he talked to her more than once. But she was like, yeah, and he was like, he said to her, like, you have really big feet or something.

And it, like, really upset her. And she was, like, going through puberty. And she's like, she's, like, still scarred from it. And that's just, that's just really funny. And as she was telling the story, I just had a vision. I just, like, saw an alternate timeline in which Taylor Swift had dropped out of music after, like, she turned 18 and became an actress. And, like, what a different world it could have been. I think she could have done that.

Taylor Swift? Yeah. I think she could. I want to go on record and say that I think that Mandy Moore is a better actress than Taylor Swift. For sure. Oh, yeah. Manny Moore's pretty good. But I just feel like, I just feel like Taylor Swift could have ended up normal. And if she had been Mandy Moore, if she'd opted out a little sooner. I actually think that Taylor Swift's, like, particular drive and intensity is both what makes her successful as a pop star and also the reason she never could have been normal. That's a good point. like she is. She's like a Steve Jobs type. She's really in it.

Yeah, that's a good point. You're right. Going back to me anymore for a second, because I remembered another reason that we love her, like in our subconscious, and this is like to bring it back to like OG jam session. Yeah. Do you remember the movie Chasing Liberty? Oh, yeah. Starring me more. Matthew Good.

Yeah, of course. Guys can't recommend chasing Liberty enough. One of his finest performances. Oh, it's so good. It's like maybe the foundational text for him as a handsome guy. He's never worn leather again. Why wear it when you've already done it so well? Stick to the suits.

It's a good strategy, you know? Yeah. Good for him. I would love to watch like a Chasing Liberty, too, like loosely based on Malia Obama or Sasha, you know, either one. That would be great. And it could be at Lollapalooza. Sure, that's where it's their final scene.

Like, I just have to meet it's a Lollapalooza. Yeah, exactly. That would be great. I'm glad that Manny Moore is back. Me too. Because of, like, new television stars, or not new, but, like, people who are doing well on television this season. Great.

It's kind of funny that her and Evan Rachel Wood are, like, both resurging. Yeah, that's a great point. At the same time. That's a great, great point. We've been through a lot with Evan Rachel Wood. When I watch her on Westworld, all I can think about is Marilyn Manson. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

And I like West World a lot, sorry, but I don't like Evan Rachel Wood. Like, I don't know. Was that sorry to me or was it in advance of Evan Rachel Wood? It was to you. Yeah. I find it pretty boring. I'm really, I respect whatever. I don't want to get in a fight about West World.

I'm just like whatever. Okay. Fair enough. The thing that I wanted to say is that, again, it's really interesting. And you made this point before we started recording that the Kardashians are still just like not in the gossip ecosystem. Kendall went off Instagram this week. And there has just been like a real opening in the celebrity market. But it's fascinating how it's just like all the people from.

from 2004. I know they're back. It's like, we just went back like 10 years. That's all we did. And like Evan Rachel Wood, Danny Moore, all of them. It's really interesting. We're in month two of the Kardashian retreat right now.

Yeah. It actually is like pretty surprising to me that's lasted this long. But you don't want to know what? I hope they're taking care of themselves as a family. Yeah. I mean, I think that they don't really have any other choice. Yeah.

Like I think they had to, they have to rethink like the level of exposure that they have after that incident. I know. I feel for them. I hope everyone's okay. Me too. I feel for them,

and I'm also enjoying their absence in the press. Variety is nice. Yeah. There were a lot of them, and they really just had a stronghold on all of the gossip stuff. Absolutely. And like,

if you just like do a, you cruise through us weekly.com, Usmagine.com. It's just like, it's a who's who of people from the last 10 years. It's kind of crazy, actually. I don't know.

It's just a weird moment in general. Last topic of the day for the truly weird and upsetting. There's a new novelty cruise in town. And I do not approve. You couldn't go on a cruise with the teen moms of MTV's teen mom franchise. It's like through Florida and the Caribbean.

Right now they're touting. Again, I have some questions about Zika, but anyway. That's a great point. These are moms after all. They could be moms again. They are touting Macy from season one. Also Amber from season one, who was formerly in jail and is now out and kind of on the straight and narrow, actually.

it's actually a fairly heartening story I would say and Kalin who's from a subskin season and I just don't know like why you would do this why you'd go on this cruise I think about teen mom when it first came out I was like this is great because these women need money they need money to take care of their kids they're young

they don't have big income so I hope they're getting paid a lot by MTV for this but a lot of them just like it just devolved into a lot of sad extra like legal problems, broken relationships, like a lot of just like hardship. And it just, and it was just hard to watch. And like it was kind of, it's hard to not acknowledge the MTV was kind of glorifying it. In this crew situation, it's just a weird twist. Yeah.

I mean, it's like they got, hopefully they got money, though we don't work for MTV. We don't know. And a lot of exposure without any sort of support. Do you ever when Jezebel did like a fundraiser for Tyler to, he was going to college and he didn't like buy textbooks? I did not know that. I donated to that. Yeah.

To Tyler's College Fund, basically. You know, it's always a question of, like, how much are you being exploited versus how much are you, like, participating in your own exploitation? Right. And it's just, I don't know. It's just like novelty cruise has gone too far. I just, I don't understand wanting to be on a cruise with anyone, because it feels like a confined space for, like, a large part of time.

100%. That's a real weird one. Is there any novelty cruise that you would actually go on? The one that is most appealing to me is the Backstreet Boys. However, the other clientele would be too crazy. I've done a deep dive into Backstreet Boys Cruise Twitter. And you have to decorate your door when you were at. You're strongly encouraged to decorate your door to show off who your favorite Backstreet Boy is.

And I decorated my door with Backstreet Boys' clippings and posters when I was 12. And I don't know if that's appropriate for me at 30. Can I ask a question? Yes. Who would you put on your? door. Okay. Very, thank you for asking. Nick Carter was always my one true loss. Yeah, sure. Of course. And I also think that he's hilarious now because he does like really dramatic dance moves. And I don't know. Nick, Nick is just a lot of ups and downs to Nick. However, if you watch the

Backstie Boys documentary, which I have, Kevin just shines. He just seems like a great, great guy. The Voice of Reason, he's an adult. He's a professional. Like in the NBA, whenever they're like, like they're like happy to have like a vetter and on their team who's like savvy. I was like he's a real professional. Like he just, he's a pro, comes to work, does his job, he's a professional. That's Kevin. That's Kevin of the backseat boys. Okay.

And so I guess it would be him now. However, I still just like can't help but giggle when I see Nick Carter do a pelvic thrust. So. Yeah, sure. That's true. I mean, that's a real like teenage Juliet versus Adol Julia. Like what do you value? Totally.

Like for marriage, Kevin. It's really like a cruise romance. It's Nick, let's do it. Mr. Big and Aiden situation, you know? 100%. I love a good cruise romance where I ever to go on a cruise, so I guess it'd be Nick. But anyway, I couldn't go on the Batch Boys cruise because of the clientele. I'm not a joiner like that.

Don't make me decorate my door, don't make you wear a costume. You and I share that. Yeah. Which is why the idea of any sort of cruise. Even a concert, I'm like, do we really have to? Like, I have the album. I'm good. Yeah, I recently went to a concert and only enjoyed it because I was like in like a upstairs section

where I didn't have to be surrounded by people. Yeah. So that was great. Yeah. But I don't know. There's also the Grunt Cruise, which our own Claire McNair went on. She said it was weird. There's a top chef cruise. At least that would have good food. That's the thing about a lot of these. If there's bad food, then you're screwed. Yeah, you're stuck on a boat. This one's from July 31st, Friday, August 4th, and it leaves. Oh, that's over my birthday. Should we go for my birthday? Definitely. It goes to the Miami, then two cities in the Bahamas, Key West, and then back to Miami, which is also kind of lame. Yeah, I do like Key West. Key West. You don't need a cruise for that. I mean, I think that's... that is my general existential. Many people have asked that question about cruises. I just don't get it. The only kind of cruise I'm kind of intrigued by is the Viking River cruises that I see ads for when I watched out Nabi on PBS. Oh yeah. Those do look nice. Also, those are better because worst case scenario, assuming the temperature and the current,

temperature's not too low and the current's not too strong, you're in a river, just jump out. Just swim to the side. What is the worst case scenario? When would you have to jump out into a river? Just get off at the next stop. Didn't you watch the dark night where they were trapped on the boat? Who knows what could happen? Someone takes over. Yeah. No, that's a good point.

I don't know, but all the promos for Viking River Cruises very clearly show land. You're not just in the middle of a body of water. Yeah, that's a great point. So you can escape. Okay. That's good to know that you're like number one concerns. Escaping. Visible landmasses that you can swim to.

Absolutely. Okay. That's totally, that's my number one thought when it comes. to cruises. But this teen mom one is just, it caused a riot in our slack. A lot of people are just blown away by it. It's not okay.

Yeah, you know, I hope they're getting paid. If they're not getting paid. Also, I hope there's like childcare on this cruise so their kids can come. Yeah, I do think that most cruises offer that, but... Yeah, you can like drop your kid off at the kid pool. Can you think of a worse job than supervising children on a cruise while their parents, like, go booze

on a different deck? No. That's literally the worst job in the cruising industry if I had to guess. Not that I know anything about it. You must have to keep them penned in just because there's danger everywhere. Yeah, that seems horrible. Just awful. Don't do it, guys.

The best thing about the teen mom crews, which is VBDUSA.com slash tweenmom 2017. HTML. I know everyone's going to go to that right away. It's like sailing with Amber Portwood, Macy Bookout, and Kailen Lowry asterisk. And then the asterisk is like pending availability of the talent. So, like, they might not even be there. If you're a Macy fan, don't care of your hope. up. That's crazy. That seems like don't give your money to that. Also, don't start publicizing it

until you've locked them in. Yeah. Ridiculous. The Backcountry Boys Cruise would never do that. They're way more professional. All right. This has been Jam session. Thanks for listening. Watch the Crown. I have a feeling we'll be dropping in Crown thoughts for weeks and months to come. Please at me. Please at me about the Crown. I'd love to talk about it. And some British podcasts for Amanda. Yes. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you, Twitter. Thanks for listening. Have a great week.