← Bravo's Hot Mic
Loading summary
Transcript175 lines
- [00:05]
Kyle Richards
Well, welcome back to Hot Mic. You were the first guest on this show and feels like forever ago. Not that long ago at this point.
- [00:13]
Teddi Mellencamp
How long ago was that?
- [00:14]
Kyle Richards
I think it wasn't early last year. I think it might have been, like, late 2023, I want to say. Is that when it was late 2023?
- [00:23]
Teddi Mellencamp
Two years ago?
- [00:23]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [00:24]
Teddi Mellencamp
Oh, no. Oh, yeah.
- [00:25]
Kyle Richards
Well, like a year and a half, I want to say, or something. Or like 15 months or something.
- [00:29]
Teddi Mellencamp
I don't know, 10 years ago?
- [00:31]
Kyle Richards
Well, that's. That's kind of what I was thinking about this morning, because there's always so much to talk about. But I think the thing that's been hard for you is just the amount of change in your life, because your life, for the most part, has been so stable.
- [00:47]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yes, that has been the hardest part. To always feel like you have, you know, such stability and, you know, your life feels and looks very mapped out to you, and then all of a sudden, that all changes, and you have no idea where it's going or what is happening next.
- [01:04]
Kyle Richards
And I think the other thing, too, is there's a lot of really positive things which we'll talk about, and it's great to see that Alexia is getting married, and that's really exciting. And in so many ways, you're doing really well. Your career is great, so you're doing a lot of producing, and I love seeing that for you. But on the other side of things, it doesn't look the way that you might have thought that it would have a couple years ago. And I think it really started with your friend's death. I mean, and that sort of, I think, changed your world and sort of rocked you to your core.
- [01:46]
Teddi Mellencamp
It definitely started there. And I actually had a conversation with Mo not that long ago, and we were talking about, you know, what happened with us and, you know, what got us here. And, you know, of course, there were underlying things there. But I said, you know, when Laureen took her life May 1, like, everything, my whole world changed. And then right after that, you know, the stuff with Mo, and then I think he was kind of thinking, wait a minute. He said, what month was that again? And we're looking at our problems. And I just started looking at things very differently. But then it was just, like, one thing after the next. You know, it was my marriage unfolding. I don't know if that's the right word, but crumbling. I lost another one to suicide that I didn't talk about. I mean, people. People close to me know. And then it was just Like, I don't know. I was like, I don't know. I don't recognize this life, this place that I'm in at all. I felt like I was, you know, looking at somebody else's life. And, like, that was not. This is not the way it's supposed to be. This is not how I saw my life, you know, playing out.
- [03:07]
Kyle Richards
Yeah, no, I mean, it was a procession of things and in some ways has continued to be. And I think everyone around you, you know, felt terribly about it. And you're also someone who is, like, such a caretaker of everyone else and sort of, you know, continue to be. And so I know it's also not easy for you to be on the other side of that. And how do you think that it's changed you?
- [03:34]
Teddi Mellencamp
Oh, my gosh, so many ways. So many ways. I just look at everything so differently now. I've learned that, you know, I'm not someone who asks for help, like you said. And I think because I've been a mom Since I'm 19, you're always taking care of somebody else. But I have had to learn to say, I'm not okay right now and I need a little help, which felt very foreign to me, and it actually took a while for me to even get there. I'm still working on that. It's also taught me that I am a lot stronger than I realized I was. Even though I saw myself crumbling during these times, often I'm still okay. And I made it through some times that I actually thought, how am I going to get through this? I don't know if I can get through this. It's taught me that my daughters are just the most incredible people, and they continue to make me so proud every day. And when I see them and how they've handled all this and how they have allowed me to lean on them just makes me not only so proud of them, but I think, wow, maybe we really did do a good job with them. So that makes me feel good, too.
- [04:56]
Kyle Richards
Well, you did. And to your point about being comfortable enough and secure enough to be supported by other people, I know that it did take a bit for you to feel okay actually going to your daughters for help and realizing that that's what they want to give you, and that is really what family is there for. And so you can see sort of, you know, how strong that foundation is and even extending beyond that with Mo as well. And so obviously, we'll sort of talk about, you know, what the latest is with you guys, where things stand. But you Guys, you know, throughout all of it, even at the worst of sort of the disillusion of things, still have the core of a loving relationship intact. That raised those girls.
- [05:43]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yes. And I do believe that is why, you know, we have such a close family. And the way that they've handled this really does speak to, you know, how much love Mo and I do have for each other. And they were raised in that environment, and that shines through to me.
- [06:01]
Kyle Richards
So you recently went with the family to Aspen over the holidays. What was it like to all spend time together?
- [06:09]
Teddi Mellencamp
You know, a lot of it. Like, you wouldn't know anything had changed.
- [06:14]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [06:15]
Teddi Mellencamp
You know, the only difference was he went there ahead of time and that there were, you know, pictures on TMZ that we all had to see before we got there. But other than that, once we were there, it was like, you know, cooking at home and playing games, karaoke. Sometimes we'd all go out together, the family. Sometimes I would just go with the girls. But it was pretty much like, no different, honestly.
- [06:44]
Kyle Richards
So not awkward.
- [06:46]
Teddi Mellencamp
No. I mean, there were a couple times where I was like, okay. I mean, we sleep in different bedrooms now, and, you know, waking up in the morning, like, having coffee, you know, we're always the first ones up, so we would talk, you know, and sometimes it was a little bit like, oh, there's so much to talk about, but I don't really want to talk about that right now.
- [07:09]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [07:11]
Teddi Mellencamp
And I think he didn't either. So a lot of times I did feel a little bit like, okay, there's this, like, you know, for lack of a better word, elephant in the room that we're not discussing, but. Which is probably what got us in this position in the first place. Not communicating enough, but other than that, no. It's like, oh, let's go skiing. We skied together.
- [07:33]
Kyle Richards
But it's kind of interesting because as much as, yeah, there would be something constructive about talking about all of that stuff, on the other hand, you sort of don't want to ruin the family time. And if you guys were to talk about that, that that's what the. It wouldn't be a vacation. It wouldn't be the family together. You know, it feels like there's like a different, like, forum for you guys to have those conversations.
- [07:54]
Teddi Mellencamp
Exactly. And, you know, I don't think that we. That's the problem. We don't, you know, say we should do this another time.
- [08:01]
Kyle Richards
Right. And actually do it.
- [08:01]
Teddi Mellencamp
We do, but then we don't end up doing it. So, yes, of course. I Don't want to do that. When we're the family there and, you know, we're all having fun, the kids will make jokes sometimes. You know, everyone's gotten to that place. I am in a much better place than I was.
- [08:13]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [08:14]
Teddi Mellencamp
Last year. My gosh, I was in a terrible place last year.
- [08:18]
Kyle Richards
But you seem sturdier than I. Than I think you were.
- [08:24]
Teddi Mellencamp
I certainly hope so.
- [08:26]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [08:26]
Teddi Mellencamp
I mean, I don't know how much worse it could have been. No, I mean, it could have been, obviously.
- [08:30]
Kyle Richards
Yeah. No, it. It's. But. But it just seems like, you know, the only way through it is to. To just keep going. And. And do you think kind of zooming out for a second? When Mo and PK Were here on Hot Mic, we talked a lot about the impact that the show has on marriages. Mo just said, you know, like, look, we had a great marriage, but, you know, what happened to us and us going in different directions was totally unrelated to being, you know, on television, in the public eye, all of it. What do you think?
- [09:07]
Teddi Mellencamp
I agree with Mo. For us, yeah. Every situation, every marriage is different for us. It had nothing to do with the show. You know, we did the show together for many years, and we were fine through it. You know, I was very happily married, and we were. The show did not affect us in that way at all. He was very supportive of me, and I was able to lean on him during, you know, difficult times during the show. What I do think is that money and the attention that comes with fame and all that does affect a marriage. Absolutely.
- [09:47]
Kyle Richards
Yeah. I mean, I think everything affects a marriage. And so I think, you know, and those are big inputs once your life becomes bigger and more complicated, like, I mean, I would imagine it would.
- [09:58]
Teddi Mellencamp
Well, but, I mean, you know, so many say the reality show curse, but it definitely was not that. And I've always said people who do come into the show with cracks in their marriage and they think this show is gonna be my, you know, my out. It's gonna give me something of my own. I have my own income. It'll give me something to do. You know, those are the marriages that crack under pressure of reality television.
- [10:23]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [10:24]
Teddi Mellencamp
I, you know, when I felt pressured, you know, I had him to lean on. So. But, you know, as, you know, the agency grew and, you know, remember, we started out with nothing.
- [10:37]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [10:37]
Teddi Mellencamp
You know, I had three kids in a two bedroom apartment, and those are some of the best times of my life, you know, And I always said, you know, if we don't have any money, it's fine. We don't need to live here. I don't want to live in LA with no money. But, you know, let's go somewhere. Let's go to Vail, you know, but with that comes, you know, it opens up a whole other world. You know, you're traveling, you're going places. You know, he's getting attention that he didn't get before. There's more people looking at him. All of a sudden, you know, he's a rich man and people are, you know, it's a very different situation. I think even looking and seeing him as a. A great husband, a great dad is appealing to some of these women out there that don't care if someone's married. And just having that, I think, thrown in your face all the time. And, of course, me being busy and traveling and, you know, I think all of that just did not help.
- [11:40]
Kyle Richards
Yeah. I mean, I think it's almost like you looked up and then realized how much had changed, because it had changed over a period of time, and you guys were still so busy together, making the life that you had together and raising the girls. And then at a certain point, it just seemed like you were in different places in life.
- [12:02]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah. No, I mean, when we were first married, you know, we didn't do girls night out or guys night out, anything like that. And partially because I was so scared of losing what we had.
- [12:15]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [12:15]
Teddi Mellencamp
Honestly, it was just a fear of mine holding on too tight because I was so afraid something would ruin and take away that, you know, what I loved so much, I had built. But then, you know, it's like, you know, I'm looking. All of a sudden, it's like, I. Traveling. You know, I'm shooting the show, I'm traveling. You know, he's going on, you know, work trips, guys trips, and. Yeah. Next thing you know, you're like, wait, what happened to the things that we used to live by before? And it's just everything's different now. The agency grew, you know, my career grew. His career grew. But, you know, it also was, you know, we would go to, like, work events for him, and there would be a lot of fans from the show, and it wouldn't be. It would be harder to go to those events. And so I would often say. He would say to me, well, do you want to come to this event? I'd love you to be there. You're just gonna be taking pictures all night. Just know that. Or something like that. So then I wouldn't go. So there was, like, little things like that. You know, and, like, they add up. And, like, he had a trip to go on. And I'm like, well, I have. I'm gonna be filming, so one of us has to be here with, you know, the girls. So I'll stay and then you go and, you know, just not making our marriage a priority because there were so many things going on.
- [13:44]
Kyle Richards
This has been a tough season for you on the show, and when you were filming it, by and large, you had a tough time. And I know your hope going into it was that it would be easier than it was the season before. And it was in the sense that, you know, you're in a different place with your marriage and you're a little bit further along and it's a little bit more clear to you that, you know, the road ahead will look different than the road behind it. But it still was tough for you. Why do you. Where does this sort of place in all of the seasons you've done the show, and why do you think that it was so particularly difficult?
- [14:21]
Teddi Mellencamp
Well, it places for me anxiety wise. Maybe the end of season one that bad? Mm, yeah. Season five and season. Was it ten? There was parts of season ten that have bothered you.
- [14:43]
Kyle Richards
See, when you've done the show for 14 seasons, you have rankings and you have choices.
- [14:47]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah, well, I'm gonna just say one and five, because while season. Was it 12. 12. No, 13. Sorry, season 13.
- [14:57]
Kyle Richards
Season 13 was season 13.
- [14:59]
Teddi Mellencamp
While that was difficult time for me because that's when the stuff with Mo, I mean, it was just starting and people thought I was hiding it. We didn't really know where things were going.
- [15:13]
Kyle Richards
Right.
- [15:13]
Teddi Mellencamp
And I'm in a much better place with him now than I was then. I was also. I had still not processed Laureen taking her life. I worked with Nami, but I originally had reached out to another organization, and I was going to do this event, and they said to me, we can't do this with you because you have not processed Loreen's death yet. And I was like, what do you mean? And it all came later. So last year is when, even though things were better with Mo and me, the realization that I don't think we're going to be together was, you know, very painful. And him moving out was so strange when you've lived with somebody more than half your life. And I think all of a sudden, you know, Laureen's death hit me. It's like it all was just coming at me at once. And I think I told you this, but I went through this really weird Thing where. You know, this is gonna sound weird for a second, but I'm very, very ticklish. Like, crazy ticklish. Like, if you tickle me, I will get violent. I lose my marbles. And all of a sudden, I wasn't ticklish. And I was like, what is going on? And I was getting a facial, and the girl's like, that's so weird. I could never go back here before. And I said, do that again. I felt nothing. So then I was like, well, that's weird. So then I had, like, one of my girls, like, will you tickle my feet? I felt nothing. And I realized I had just something in my brain to shut off. I was feeling nothing. And it was like the stuff talking about Mo and me not being together or Lorene taking her life, it was so painful to think about that. I just. Something in my brain allowed me to shut that part off.
- [17:06]
Kyle Richards
Just to survive.
- [17:08]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yes. And then last year, it was like it all came alive in me. And all of a sudden, I was like, oh, my God. Oh, my gosh. I can't. This has really happened. This is not. You know, it felt so surreal.
- [17:19]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [17:19]
Teddi Mellencamp
But then all of a sudden, it was very real to me. So going into this season, I was like, oh, my gosh. I'm very vulnerable right now. And, you know, I knew I was already kind of going in with my hands behind my back a little bit because I had to tell the women there were certain things that, you know, I couldn't talk about, and I was hoping they were going to give me a little grace because I am very open and I'm happy to share about myself. In fact, I find it to be therapeutic. But there's certain things that, you know, either my kids didn't want me to say or, you know, and you have to be a little, like, at the end of the day, you know, I have to think about that stuff, too.
- [17:59]
Kyle Richards
And I think there's a difference between not being honest and not being able to talk about something.
- [18:06]
Teddi Mellencamp
Right.
- [18:06]
Kyle Richards
And sometimes I don't think that that difference is appreciated because there might be certain things that usually for the consideration of other people, you do not want to talk about. And that's different from saying things that just aren't true.
- [18:21]
Teddi Mellencamp
Exactly. And I think that with. With the audience and, you know, with the ladies, too, sometimes it can be they just kind of are mixed together, and they're just seen as, you know, not being honest.
- [18:33]
Kyle Richards
And it's hard because you are, in a lot of ways, you've been just. In general, you're the juxtaposition of different qualities. And so you've always been a super fun person, but also, on the other hand, really introspective. And so. And I almost think that the extroverted side of you isn't active right now. And where usually it would be, and you'd be really fun, and you'd be like, okay, but now I'm not going out for a week, you know, and now you're so introspective and so on your own that I think that probably was also hard to do the show this season, because it probably was hard to get up, get dressed, be in the middle of all of this. It probably, like, took a lot of energy.
- [19:13]
Teddi Mellencamp
I mean, I don't know. I feel like I've been doing this a long time. Almost 15 years. We've known each other 15 years now.
- [19:22]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [19:22]
Teddi Mellencamp
And I feel like, you know, for as long as I've been doing this show, what you see me say to the girls on camera is reflected in my interviews, or confessionals, as some people like to call them, and what I would say off camera as well. And I have found where, like, I'm not seeing that as much as some of the newer people. And you kind of feel like, wow, I really did go into this thinking, okay, these are my friends, and I'm gonna have. They know that I'm going through this, and I'm gonna have some support, I think. And then when you're let down and you're already feeling so down, it's that much more devastating. I'm sorry to use such a dramatic word, but it felt like that to me at times.
- [20:05]
Kyle Richards
Oh, that's how it hit you.
- [20:06]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah.
- [20:07]
Kyle Richards
So talking about the season a little bit more, and we're sort of intentionally staying away from too much of it because the reunion is in a few weeks. And so we're trying not to preempt that, but it's hard.
- [20:16]
Teddi Mellencamp
It's gave me, like, the Sunday scaries, but for the reunion.
- [20:21]
Kyle Richards
Get ready. But it's hard to completely avoid talking about it because it informs kind of your state and what you're going through in life. You felt like you've told me that this season, you really didn't have anyone to lean on, and you really felt alone. Tell me about that.
- [20:41]
Teddi Mellencamp
Well, you know, episode one, you know, shooting right away, I wanted to talk with all the women right away. I wanted to share with Garcelle and Sutton, which we saw in that scene at Sutton's party, kind of where I was at. And I wanted to open up, especially with Garcelle, because I really like her, and I always. I know there's so much more there. And I was trying to get to that place of, like, where, you know, we can share and, you know, I want to get to the next level with her. And then with Dorit, I wanted to just, like, tackle things right away and try to get past it, try to move on. Yeah. But I found that. So I actually thought I was going to have support, which is what made it so much harder. And, you know, like, Bose's spa day, which I have not seen. I know that airs tonight. Tonight. I haven't seen it. And I'm just not watching because of my anxiety. My friend watched it and then said, don't watch. It's just gonna make you feel bad. So then I was like, that may be a worse anxiety. Like, thanks. But I. In that moment, especially because I've. I thought, well, at least I have my friends. And I got there, and I was like, I really did feel. And I hate to overuse this word, but I really felt ambushed. Every time I went to go shoot, it was like, Dorit's party. It was the Viper Room. It was like, every single time. And I'm thinking, we're all here to show our lives. You know, why do I have to feel like this every time? Like, you guys know that I'm struggling, and I know, you know, Dorit was also going through a hard time. Her situation was newer, but Mo had just moved out, and Alexia just moved out. And like I said, I think everything that I'd been, you know, holding onto for the last year and a half just, you know, all of a sudden was coming to the forefront for me. So I was just really let down, and I was like, I just don't feel like I can trust anyone right now. And that made it so much harder to shoot. And I was really grateful for Erica, that day especially. I mean, Garcelle and Sutton were being so sweet with me and so supportive when we would talk and then we would shoot and I would. Now I'm. Now I'm seeing things in interviews, and I'm like, this is not matching up. And, I mean, I know I've been doing this a long time, and I should know better, but it hurts. It hurts me.
- [23:01]
Kyle Richards
That was the first time in 14 years that you've walked off.
- [23:06]
Teddi Mellencamp
A friend of mine watched tonight's episode, and they were telling me, like, Sutton's reaction to me walking out and that she was really upset that I'd walked off, and I Thought, you have to be kidding me. I have been on this show for 14 years, and that is the first time I've ever walked off. First time. How many times has she walked off on how many seasons has she been on? And this woman has walked off so many times. I'm like, she walked out of Magic Mike. She walked up, you know, the ugly leather pants. She stormed out with a dinner at Kathy's house with Erica. I'm like, what gives you the right to do that? And only that. Like, we were in such a great place, and you're telling me that you want to be a better friend to me this season, and you were sorry, and I accepted it, and that you love me and that you know you're going to be a better friend moving forward. I'm like, that's what you got mad that I walked off? Like, it just didn't even make sense to me. And I'm thinking to myself, you and Dori don't even like each other. I don't understand any of this right now.
- [24:08]
Kyle Richards
Where do you think that comes from?
- [24:10]
Teddi Mellencamp
Sutton can be dramatic, and, I don't know, maybe she wanted to make a moment there for herself.
- [24:18]
Kyle Richards
One thing I do want to talk about, which is specific to this season, because it's a point that we've talked about in conversation, is. And that sort of made on the show. But you wanted to make more clear, which is that you texted both PK and Dorit upon their separation.
- [24:37]
Teddi Mellencamp
That is why I have not been able to watch right there. Well, that's one of the reasons, but that's one of the main things that's made me really crazy. So, you know, I've made a lot of mistakes over the years, but I'm. I'm honest, you know, And I know I had no bad intentions at all, obviously, with pk. I mean, even saying that sounds so stupid to me, but when I was saying, you know, that our relationship is mainly sending each other memes, I mean that. Like, that. I mean, you're friends with pk. Do you not just get inundated with memes by him? Yeah, exactly. So. And I have a few friends, husbands that will send me funny things like that that they know that I think is funny. Do I have some texts on my phone from over the 10 years with our friends? Of course. I mean, stupid things like, are you guys making it to Vegas? Like, you know, whatever. So when I said. When I read that text, it was the text I sent PK when their separation was announced, when they put it on their Instagram. I also texted dorit, and everybody knows that I texted both of them. So here I'm watching the show and I'm seeing them saying, wait a minute. Kyle said it was only memes, so this is a lie. I told you all. I texted pk. That's what I think is the right thing to do. And I texted dorit, which is the right thing to do. And the funny thing is, not one of them is talking about or acknowledging that. I also texted dorit a text of support and letting her know I was there for her. And it just. Honestly, to watch that is so incredibly frustrating. I actually, you know that obviously you're the executive producer here. You know that not everything we shot gets used. But I shot something with Erica, and Erica shared with me that none of the women had reached out to dorit. None of them. And I said, I feel so bad about that. I said, I texted both PK and dorit, and I'm holding onto this and I'm ready to send, but I'm scared that she's going to think I'm manipulating her like she said last time, right?
- [26:43]
Kyle Richards
Based on the reunion.
- [26:44]
Teddi Mellencamp
Based on the reunion, what she said reading my text out loud. But I don't care. I'm going to send it to her anyway because I feel terrible. No one's reached out to her, and at the end of the day, I have to live with myself. So I sent the text. So instead of them being the ones in the wrong for not reaching out to dorit and not sending a text to support, I'm the asshole because I texted pk. But they're not saying that I texted Dorit too. Do you understand how frustrating that is for me? I mean, and then I just. Look, I'm like, I can't even look at any of you right now.
- [27:16]
Kyle Richards
Well, I think that's why you just lost it, because I think you were at the point where you felt very attacked, and you're like, I can't get together with you guys time after time and have you give me just the absolute, you know, worst read on everything that had happened. What am I doing?
- [27:34]
Teddi Mellencamp
Well, I think it's also a way. Part of that is them just not wanting to talk about their own lives. I mean, if they're talking about this problem with Dorit me, they don't have to talk about themselves, do they? So that is the only thing I can think of. I expected Dorit to come into the season hot. I knew she was going to be coming for me. You know, everyone said that to me, I knew that, but I didn't expect the other people. You know, when I say other people, honestly, it's just really Sutton and Garcelle because we had had such great conversations, and I felt I did feel supported by them. So that's why I was like, why are you running back and saying these things, trying to create a problem? And why is no one saying, none of these women texted Dorit? That wasn't very supportive. No, it's Kyle again. And that's why I was like, I've had it. I have had it. I just can't. I mean, they're looking for things to try to make me look bad. I mean, this is not my first rodeo, and I know who I am, and I know I had only good intentions texting Dorit and PK and obviously, I had also said to the women over and over again, listen, if she had a problem with me sending memes with pk, I wouldn't. But we weren't even speaking Dorit and I didn't speak at all. And she said, well, I don't know why you didn't say anything to me. We weren't speaking. We hadn't spoken for I don't know how many months and months and months. So it would be a weird thing to be like, hey, by the way, I know we haven't spoken, but do you care if, you know, PK sent.
- [29:02]
Kyle Richards
Me some memes, now you can block me again or whatever. Yeah.
- [29:05]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah. So I just. That's the really frustrating part of reality television. And, you know, I just. I do obviously still have fun doing the show, and I, you know, I don't want, you know, that to get lost in all of this. I wouldn't be here this many years if we didn't also have fun. And I just want to get back to that. And I so badly did this season, too. I needed that. I needed the fun. I needed the distraction.
- [29:34]
Kyle Richards
An escape.
- [29:35]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah.
- [29:36]
Kyle Richards
You know, here's the million dollar question, and you have to answer right now, and I'm going to hold you to your answer. If you do next season of the show, you will be the longest tenured housewife in the history of the franchise, because other people have gotten to 14 years, including Teresa from New Jersey. No one has gotten to 15 years, much less 15 consecutively. How could you possibly not pass that up? Your 15th season?
- [30:06]
Teddi Mellencamp
How could I pass that up?
- [30:09]
Kyle Richards
You're a record setter.
- [30:10]
Teddi Mellencamp
I'm not going to lie. I mean, I do like to break a record now. I'm not gonna Lie. When, you know, I was. I saw someone posted something like that on Instagram and I saw that and I didn't even know that. And I was like, oh, well, obviously I would want to see that, you know, and just be able to. I don't know. And I don't even know the why of that, because I've asked myself, why? Why, Kyle, if you're being tortured, why would you do that? But I mean, if I could be there and have fun again. And of course there's always gonna be drama, I know that.
- [30:46]
Kyle Richards
But I think it is an achievement. I think it is a testament to how much you've put into this and how much you've been through and you're such a professional. So to do it day after day and to set a really good example, and we joke about what that really means and it's not a real job and all of that stuff. And that's true on the one hand, but I also do think that it's an achievement to do it for that long.
- [31:14]
Teddi Mellencamp
It's not on one hand.
- [31:18]
Kyle Richards
Well, because I think it's silly. But at the same time, it's showing up every day and doing it and going through it is a real thing.
- [31:28]
Teddi Mellencamp
Realize it's very time consuming doing this.
- [31:31]
Kyle Richards
That's hard.
- [31:31]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah. I mean, it is a year round job.
- [31:33]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [31:33]
Teddi Mellencamp
I mean, I say you're filming our lives, but it's year round. Even though we're filming, really film, like six months and then the interviews and stuff. Right. How many months?
- [31:42]
Kyle Richards
Fewer than that.
- [31:43]
Teddi Mellencamp
Until like up until the reunion and then we have like a month downtime. But yeah, it is, it is. It's a lot. And opening your life to people to judge and especially in moments like this season where I want to scream from a mountaintop. I texted both PK and Dorit. Why are none of them saying that? And why is no one saying that these women did not reach out to Dorit? I just, you know, and then I think, okay, okay, take a breath. You can do this. You can hang in there.
- [32:13]
Kyle Richards
Well, at least it seems like your relationship with Kathy is really strong, so that has to help.
- [32:19]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yes. No, it does help, for sure. Actually, I was on the phone with her for like an hour yesterday, as sisters can do. But yeah, that definitely helps. And having someone like Erica, you know, because she has never ever given me a reason not to trust her.
- [32:42]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [32:43]
Teddi Mellencamp
And you know, I am someone who forgives and forgets, as you know, Alex. But there's some people that just repeatedly test you and you think, okay, well, you've given me many reasons not to trust you. I will forgive you, and I will move on, but you continuously give me reasons not to trust you. So having someone like Erica there who has actually never once done that, we're put in very difficult situations. And, you know, which is why, you know, I appreciate Erica so much. And like. And Teddy, too. Like, Teddi never did that to me. Never was. Never like, you know, talk about marriage curse. The friendship curse in reality television. Now, that is. That is a real problem.
- [33:26]
Kyle Richards
No, that's really. Well, so speaking of Teddi, I wanted to stop. So tell me. So you're supporting her now?
- [33:32]
Teddi Mellencamp
Oh, I thought. I thought you were saying, like, I have. I share custody.
- [33:36]
Kyle Richards
You share custody of Teddi? Yeah. Well, you kind of do. Tell me about that.
- [33:41]
Teddi Mellencamp
I have shared custody with Teddi Mellencamp. She lives with me on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Does she?
- [33:50]
Kyle Richards
So she has her own room at the house, and has she. Has. She decorated her room?
- [33:56]
Teddi Mellencamp
So what happened was she was having to go look for a place, and, you know, she's. You know, I have. I'm walking distance to both Dorit and Teddy, and she was looking for someplace, and I said, well, that before she was. Could find a place, she said, can I stay at your house Tuesday and Wednesday? I need to find someplace. And I said, why wouldn't you just stay here? Why would you go spend the money? I mean, I have a big house. I have a guest house. That's silly. So that's how that started. Although the other night, she called me from upstairs, which is the room I stayed in when Mo and I were sleeping in different rooms.
- [34:28]
Kyle Richards
It's the divorce room.
- [34:29]
Teddi Mellencamp
It's the divorce room. It was supposed to be like, oh, one day there's gonna be babies up there. We're like, no, it's the divorce room.
- [34:34]
Kyle Richards
Every rich person has one.
- [34:36]
Teddi Mellencamp
So the other night, she calls me and she goes, can I come to your room? I'm scared. And I'm sorry to share that, Teddy, but she literally sounded like a little girl crying. And it was the night that the winds were so scary and the fires were starting. And I think it was just everything for her. It was her marriage, the fires, what was going on, being on edge with evacuations. So she came down and we literally sat there, and we could not stop laughing. I mean, people could see us in our, like, our little, basically, footsie pajamas.
- [35:09]
Kyle Richards
Just about the absurdity of the situation.
- [35:11]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yes, the absurdity of the situation. And then we were dying laughing because, I mean, you know, she is like a sister to me, you know, and we were dying laughing because someone told me, you know, to try this lip flip where you put a little, like, Botox right here. And it's just supposed to make your lip go up like here, so people don't want to do filler. So I was like, okay, well, she had done it, too. And we realized. I went to go blow out a candle, and the air does not go this way. It goes this way. So we were, like, trying to blow out the candle, and we were crying, laughing, and we were trying to whistle. And I was like, whistling is not an option anymore. Now I call my dogs. I just like a horse. We were just up laughing all night. And, you know, and just to have those moments when we're going through what we're going through right now is just, you know, it really is helpful.
- [36:00]
Kyle Richards
Well, I know you've always.
- [36:02]
Teddi Mellencamp
And, sorry, Teddy, about throwing you under the bus about the lip flip.
- [36:07]
Kyle Richards
You've always had a million friends, and it was always fun to go to your parties because you would have friends from different walks of life. So there would be, you know, people from your kids, schools, and their friends, parents, and then people that you'd known through acting and also from growing up in LA and a great, like, collection of people. And I know that you've sort of shrunk that core. And so people like Teddy become even more important because you lean on the people that are close to you.
- [36:38]
Teddi Mellencamp
Oh, absolutely. You know, I joke that my circle's gotten so small it's a dot now. But, you know, a lot of that isn't even, like, I have to say, all of my friends across the board and most friends, our friends collectively have stood by both of us. No one has felt like, oh, I have to choose a side. So they've all really been there for me. I just, you know, when you're struggling, you know, I'm like, I'm not good company. I'm not gonna go out tonight. Plus, you do start, you know, certain people, you start trusting a little less. I don't want to share as much with them or, I don't know, you do definitely become a little less trusting of people.
- [37:16]
Kyle Richards
And, you know, you also know people in certain contexts. So if there's people that you knew because you would go out to a bunch of dinners or go to events together and stuff, if you're doing less of that, then, you know, sometimes your life changes.
- [37:30]
Teddi Mellencamp
Exactly. But, like, our couple friends, like, when I say our mo's, our couple friends, they will still invite us both out.
- [37:37]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [37:38]
Teddi Mellencamp
And there's times we go and times only one of us can go, but it's not like anybody's, you know, so. And I'm. I only share that because I'm very grateful for that and that Mo and I are in a place that we can have that. And I want people to check on him, you know, and, you know, not consider us like, you know, you know, enemies where they, you know, they have to exclude one or the other.
- [38:03]
Kyle Richards
I think it's amusing. Not that you guys ever didn't appreciate each other. Cause you always did. But you guys had such defined duties. So there's, you know, things that he would do and things that you would do. Like you each had your domain.
- [38:15]
Teddi Mellencamp
And I need to hear more about this. Tell me more.
- [38:18]
Kyle Richards
Well, I would say, for example, it was not your domain to pay the bills.
- [38:24]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah, that's true.
- [38:27]
Kyle Richards
So, like, that's funny to me. Or to, I don't know, turn on the electronics.
- [38:33]
Teddi Mellencamp
Let me tell you something. I mean, I have laughed at myself so many times recently because when I did American Woman, it was a lot of it. You know, my mom's character, Alicia Silverstone, playing my mom, her character, I talked about how my mom was like such an old fashioned housewife. She didn't know anything, that she didn't have her own checkbook. And when she got separated, she was clueless. And I'm like, who are you to have even talked about this when you are no different? I mean, first of all, everything's on autopay. But he would say to me, we have a lot of overhead. We have a lot of overhead. And I would be like, oh, that's the worst. Anyway. And I mean, you know, we have a lot of daughters and tuitions and, you know, cars and, you know, we have different homes. And I can't even imagine, you know, doing that now. And the reason I'm saying this, because all of a sudden I'm thinking about these things, because I'm thinking, okay, so, you know, we're not divorced. We have not filed for divorce or anything. But if it comes to that, that is going to be my reality.
- [39:41]
Kyle Richards
Yeah.
- [39:42]
Teddi Mellencamp
And all of a sudden I am thinking about things like that. So we've been thinking about, you know, what would we do? We have talked more about that now. You know, like, what will we do? You know, would we, you know, sell the house? Will we lease the house out? Because it's such a great house. It's really hard to part with, you know, that beautiful property. So we thought, we said we would lease the house out was the decision we made. So I thought, okay, so when that time comes, I would, you know, go buy my own home. And then I'm like, well, wait, what is gonna wait, What? I have to pay all these things all of a sudden?
- [40:13]
Kyle Richards
So, yeah, because they were free before.
- [40:17]
Teddi Mellencamp
They were free before, so. And by the way, we worked and did everything together, but I just. He was in charge of that. It was a very, like, you know, old fashioned, traditional, you know, relationship. I cooked and did the kids stuff. And he, you know, you know, I then. I have been working these, you know, however many years now and actually been working since I'm a little girl. But anyway, so someone said. We went to go look at a property, and my friend said, you know, the water bill's gonna be crazy here. It's like an acre. And I was like, well, we're like, I think, like under two acres where I'm at now. I'm like, well, what is my water bill now? I have no idea.
- [40:53]
Kyle Richards
You don't even wanna know.
- [40:54]
Teddi Mellencamp
So I asked, and I was shook. I mean, when I tell you, and that's just the water bill, I'm not even now, but now I'm so obsessed with water bills, I had to ask the people selling the house, what is their water bill? I don't know if that's a normal question or not.
- [41:09]
Kyle Richards
You're also overrun by houses and dogs.
- [41:12]
Teddi Mellencamp
Houses and dogs and daughters. And now I'm like, you know what, my girls, you take too long of showers. But all of a sudden I'm thinking like that. And Mo was laughing. He's like, I love how you're just so fixated on the water bill. You know, there's a lot of bills. I'm like, no, I know, but that one really has me shook.
- [41:30]
Kyle Richards
My dad used to tell me that he would give my brother and me shit for taking long showers. And he'd be like, I can see the meter running.
- [41:37]
Teddi Mellencamp
Well, my mom, by the way, I was raised with a mom who would say, turn the lights off when you leave the room. And, you know, she made us very aware of those things. I don't know what happened once I got married that all of a sudden I am good about turning the lights off when I leave a room. But when you start thinking about, oh, my gosh, okay, so I'm looking at these houses, I'm like, so my mortgage was being like, that much money. That's ridiculous. So, yeah, it's weird. And all of a sudden I'M like, okay, I'm definitely gonna be. I've already started thinking to be smarter. Because if it were me paying all those bills, I don't know if I'd be alive by now because it would give me so much I had.
- [42:17]
Kyle Richards
And I mean, obviously the funny thing about that is it has been you paying it and earning money. You just weren't aware of it.
- [42:26]
Teddi Mellencamp
Right. I mean, he just took over that role and he would say to me, you should sit down with me and so we can go over these things. But I was like, that is boring for me. I don't want to know about.
- [42:35]
Kyle Richards
I don't speak that language.
- [42:36]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah. First of all, it would give me anxiety, you know, that's why I don't like to open my mail. And you're willing to do that? Hello. I carry these children. I gave birth to these children. I take them to school. Pick them. I do the home. Do your part. You do that. I don't want to be a modern family here.
- [42:56]
Kyle Richards
One thing I think is exciting is that your career is going really well. Not just on camera, but off camera. And I know that there's a bunch of projects in the work. Tell me a little bit about what you're working on.
- [43:10]
Teddi Mellencamp
Well, one of the things is a one hour drama thriller that I think I'll be able to announce soon, but with a big network and a big production company that I'm just so excited about. And they're so excited about it, which, you know, to have everyone on board and have such enthusiasm just is very exciting. Another one is a something that, with another big network that, you know, right now we're meeting with writers also, but more of a dramedy. And then of course, I, you know.
- [43:51]
Kyle Richards
We have a bunch of stuff in the hopper as well.
- [43:53]
Teddi Mellencamp
Exactly.
- [43:54]
Kyle Richards
So that's very cool. And then I don't like that I.
- [43:56]
Teddi Mellencamp
Can'T talk about all these things that, you know, you're. You're one of these people that makes these roles. When you do project, we're not allowed to until it's announced. Right. So I don't know what those rules are about.
- [44:04]
Kyle Richards
But yeah, I mean, some of it is just not wanting to let the cat out of the bag or there's a protocol to it. But it is really annoying because it feels like if you can't talk about it, that it doesn't really exist and you're just, you're dying to do it. It also is so much work to get it to the point where it's ready to be announced. You're just dying to tell someone about it, so. Very.
- [44:26]
Teddi Mellencamp
Exactly. I am. I'm really excited.
- [44:28]
Kyle Richards
Very annoying. But, yeah, no, I think it's great and very cool. And I know that that's what you love doing. I know the creative process well.
- [44:38]
Teddi Mellencamp
You know, also, when you're going through a hard time, too, it's like, I just want to get back to a Having fun and having my head clear enough where I can be creative. Because that's what I like to do. Like coming up with the stories. I like making stories and then seeing them come to life. And that's what's so exciting about this. I can't wait for this.
- [45:00]
Kyle Richards
Yeah, I know. That's the exciting part of it, because the rest of it is a whole lot of meetings, a lot of delays, stop and go, and then it's very cool to focus on the creative and then. And then bring it to fruition.
- [45:12]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yes.
- [45:12]
Kyle Richards
Also have the most exciting news, which is that Alexia is getting married.
- [45:18]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yep. She is getting married September 6th.
- [45:20]
Kyle Richards
Wow.
- [45:21]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah. In Aspen. So that I'm very excited for her. And, you know, she is the easiest going. I don't know. I guess Portia would be probably the easiest going, but she's just like, easy Alexia. But all of a sudden, she has very, very clear and very big ideas about her wedding. I mean, she is like, I met with a wedding planner. I've got this, I've got that, you know, and she's just like, ta, da, da, da, da. And I want to do a big party in LA for the people who can't make it to Aspen. And I know I want to have the engagement dinner. And, like, she's. I mean, she really knows what she wants. She's very clear. So I guess basically we just had to pay for it.
- [46:00]
Kyle Richards
Yeah, pretty much. That's what you're there for.
- [46:02]
Teddi Mellencamp
Exactly.
- [46:02]
Kyle Richards
Yeah. No, that's cool. Thank you for coming by today.
- [46:06]
Teddi Mellencamp
Thank you.
- [46:07]
Kyle Richards
It was good to talk to you. And I'm glad that you got those flyaways.
- [46:10]
Teddi Mellencamp
Thank you.
- [46:11]
Kyle Richards
Handled.
- [46:12]
Teddi Mellencamp
So thanks for the candle and the Diet Coke.
- [46:14]
Kyle Richards
Well done. We do what we can around here.
- [46:16]
Teddi Mellencamp
Thank you. Please. Thank you for acknowledging them. So people don't think that I sat here not knowing I had these.
- [46:20]
Kyle Richards
No, no, no. I want you to be completely validated. We covered the text. The flyaways.
- [46:27]
Teddi Mellencamp
Yeah, exactly.
- [46:28]
Kyle Richards
All of it.
- [46:30]
Teddi Mellencamp
Thank you.
- [46:32]
Kyle Richards
For more of my conversation, go to bravotv. Com.