DWTS Semi-Final Preview w/ Alix & Val, Robert & Witney + Whitney & Mark

Summary

Chicks in the Office: DWTS Semi-Final Preview

Hosts: Ria & Fran (Barstool Sports)
Episode Date: November 17, 2025
Main Guests:

• Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy
• Robert Irwin & Whitney Carson
• Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas

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Episode Overview

This episode of Chicks in the Office brings listeners right to the heart of pop culture’s current hottest topics—Dancing with the Stars semi-finals and post-BravoCon chaos. Ria and Fran share behind-the-scenes stories from their whirlwind week: traveling for shows, visiting DWTS rehearsals, catching BravoCon drama, and recapping the latest in TV. The highlight: exclusive in-studio interviews with the top Dancing with the Stars semi-final pairs.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up: Life On The Road

• Ria and Fran are finally back in the studio after a hectic week of live events from Cincinnati to LA and Vegas, involving a live show, exclusive DWTS studio interviews, BravoCon, and wedding travel.
• Both express exhaustion but also excitement about reconnecting with fans and listeners across the country.
  • “It was like, mile 23, 24 of a marathon week.” – Ria (03:35)

2. Dancing With the Stars: The Inside Scoop

Studio Access & TikTok Antics

• The hosts scored 15-minute interview slots with DWTS semi-finalists amid their rehearsal schedules, capturing candid moments and TikToks with the celebs and their partners.
  • “I felt like I was seeing how the sauce is made. I am not supposed to be here.” – Fran (05:05)
• Lots of laughter as Fran describes Val and Alix Earle filming a TikTok:
  • “Val was like, nah, let's do this. And I was like, okay.” – Fran (08:03)
• Mark Ballas gets praised for his TikTok cinematography, and some shenanigans are recounted (Noah, their producer, almost knocks over an expensive camera).

Robert Irwin Praised for Sweetness

• Both hosts are charmed by Robert Irwin’s kindness and enthusiasm, especially seeing him organize a group tribute for Steve Irwin Day.
  • “He’s the cutest human being. So, so freaking cute.” – Ria (08:31)

The DWTS Family Dynamic

• Positive vibes radiate from all the DWTS pairs; the environment is collaborative, familial, and encouraging, even in a high-stress phase.
  • “They really are like one big family over at Dancing with the Stars.” – Fran (10:42)

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Exclusive Interviews: Dancing with the Stars Semi-Finalists

Robert Irwin & Whitney Carson ([101:35]–[116:09])

Highlights:

• Robert shares the emotional impact of incorporating footage of his late father, Steve Irwin, on the show, and how DWTS has helped him process his grief:
  • “For the first time ever, this experience has been a way...to feel and express emotions from my own grief journey that I've never been able to truly embrace before, and I certainly haven't embraced publicly.” – Robert (104:30)
• Whitney describes Robert as a “fast learner” who brings an infectious enthusiasm to practice.
• Both gush about the family-like support, Bindi’s (Robert’s sister) involvement, and the importance of gratitude and vulnerability on the dance floor.
• Humorous bit about Robert’s “old man” phone case:
  • “He might be 21, but he's an old man.” – Whitney Carson (115:15)

Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas ([116:15]–[130:08])

Highlights:

• Whitney reflects on the bittersweet feeling of reaching the semi-finals, the nerves before every elimination, and the excitement for Prince week dances.
• Mark describes his love for Prince’s music, the creative freedom in arranging songs, and technical strategies for re-performing the cha-cha:
  • “She has something I can't teach. She has this dynamic performance quality.” – Mark (121:04)
• Both discuss balancing Whitney’s modern dance background with learning ballroom from scratch, and setting the record straight that a “modern dance degree” doesn’t equal ballroom experience.
• Mark teases his upcoming appearance on The Traitors:
  • “There is literally a moment...full body goosebumps. Like, no idea how to navigate. It is explosive.” – Mark (127:34)
• Addressing online criticism about contestants’ previous dance experience, Mark emphasizes DWTS has always had a mix, and it’s the audience’s favorite that matters.

Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy ([132:30]–[149:13])

Highlights:

• Alix describes how grounding the DWTS experience has been after her usual “living out of a suitcase” lifestyle. She credits the show for encouraging self-reflection and emotional growth.
• Val gets vulnerable about the pressure and gratitude of having Alix as a partner given her huge following, emphasizing how her genuine commitment transformed his initial skepticism:
  • “I was expecting someone to be a little too cool for things...but immediately I realized, she’s game...not a lot of people would do that.” – Val (148:02)
• The duo discuss the challenge of preparing the iconic “Purple Rain” Viennese waltz for semi-finals and the nerves of tackling such a big song and emotional performance.
• Alix and Val share that early interactions were “awkward,” with both taking time to warm up (“We were just cooking for a second. Now, we’re eating.” – Alix [140:44]), but now have real camaraderie.
• Sweet update on Alix’s dog, Asia, who is recovering from surgery.

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BravoCon Recap & Pop Culture Hot Topics

The Wild Energy at BravoCon ([12:56]–[21:08])

• Ria shares the intense atmosphere and “fanatical” behavior at BravoCon, from screaming super-fans to heated panels (“People are ready for whatever. By the way, the amount of screams you hear…” – Ria [13:10]).
• Notable panel moments:
  • Dorit and Kyle’s tension at the Beverly Hills panel (“They do not seem to be on good terms…” – Ria [13:25])
  • Kathy Hilton doing her “labubu” voice (“I felt my soul leave my body.” – Ria [13:20])
• Shocking reunion: Melissa & Joe Gorga and Teresa Giudice (“There was a lot of kissing and hugging and smooching and da, da, da. And a lot of sucking up…” – Ria [38:57])

Real Housewives Relationships & Drama ([39:07]–[47:55])

• The hosts are skeptical about the authenticity of the Jersey Housewives’ reconciliation (“Is not real to me...Just immediately jumping into ‘I adore my sister-in-law.’” – Ria [41:47])
• Amanda and Kyle's rumored separation: hosts debate if relationship drama is hyped up for the show.

Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Recap ([63:16]–[88:32])

• Deep dive into the latest season, the fallout from the Marciano drama, Jesse’s marital struggles, Demi’s vilified status, and questions around motivations for doing the show.
• Ria and Fran both praise Taylor as a grounded presence but question if she’s ready to be Bachelorette.

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Weekly Watch Report ([63:10]–[99:44])

• Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Season 3 – Both hosts give it an "A" for binge-worthiness and drama (“These girls certainly bring the drama.” – Fran [88:42])
• All Her Fault – Early episodes praised for strong casting and intrigue.
• Squid Game – Slight dip in engagement as interesting contestants go home.
• Dancing With the Stars – Attending live, both rave about the current season.
• Max and Hall – Addictive German drama; Fran admits to using screeners in German just to keep up.
• Freaky Friday (Lindsay Lohan remake) – Sweet, enjoyable, “a B.”
• Salt Lake City – “The best show on Bravo right now.” – Fran (95:24)
• Jonas Brothers Movie – “It was so funny. I think people are gonna love it. It’s an A.” – Fran (99:44)

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I felt like I was seeing how the sauce is made. I am not supposed to be here.” – Fran (05:05)
• “He’s the cutest human being. So, so freaking cute.” – Ria (08:31)
• “For the first time ever, this experience has been a way...to feel and express emotions from my own grief journey that I've never been able to truly embrace before, and I certainly haven't embraced publicly.” – Robert Irwin (104:30)
• “She has something I can't teach. She has this dynamic performance quality.” – Mark Ballas (121:04)
• “We were just cooking for a second. Now, we’re eating. We cook now.” – Alix Earle (140:44)
• “I was expecting someone to be a little too cool for things...but immediately I realized, she’s game...not a lot of people would do that.” – Val Szpakovsky (148:02)
• “There is literally a moment...full body goosebumps. Like, no idea how to navigate. It is explosive.” (On The Traitors) – Mark Ballas (127:34)
• “Salt Lake City is the best show on Bravo right now. It’s not even close.” – Fran (95:24)
• “These girls certainly bring. They certainly bring the drama. That is for sure.” (Secret Lives of Mormon Wives) – Fran (88:42)

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Additional Highlights

• Behind-the-scenes chaos of live shows, red carpets, and juggling podcasting with attending TV premieres.
• Ria’s run-in with listeners at BravoCon, including a supportive Southern Charm dad.
• The fatigue of constant travel and “marathon” weeks, but appreciation for connecting with fans and fellow podcasters.
• Updates on upcoming reality TV (e.g., RHONY cast shakeups, next season of The Traitors, and Ashley Iaconetti’s debut on Real Housewives of Rhode Island).

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:10] – Catching Up: Hectic week recap
• [04:24] – How the DWTS interviews came together
• [08:31] – Meeting DWTS semi-finalists, studio hijinks
• [12:56] – BravoCon in Vegas: First impressions
• [39:07] – Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion
• [63:10] – Weekly Watch Report (TV Talk)
• [101:35] – Robert Irwin & Whitney Carson Interview
• [116:15] – Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas Interview
• [132:30] – Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy Interview

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Tone & Vibe

The episode is fun, friendly, and highly candid—full of the signature Chicks in the Office blend of pop-culture obsession, lightly chaotic storytelling, and genuine warmth toward their guests and listeners. The interviews strike a balance between light-hearted fun and sincere, emotional moments, especially around topics of loss, vulnerability, and self-improvement.

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In Summary

For anyone who missed the episode, this is a must-listen for fans of reality TV, DWTS, or Bravo news. The behind-the-scenes DWTS content is particularly rich and personal, and the pop culture/chat segments are packed with sharp takes, relatable anxieties, and all the drama you expect from the Chicks—plus laughs and heart.

Transcript

[Fran]

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[Ria]

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[Podcast Intro Voice]

Yeah, chicks in the office. Longtime listener, first time caller. Look at the charts. Who does it the best? Two chicks getting paid in reality checks. You can find them at the gym. It's not even a flex. Last minute red carpet flew them out on the jet. Yeah, they're who you want to be. They're always on your screen. Two queens and they might be spilling royalty. A lot of topics that are popping here to get into. I know a show that you probably want to listen to. Turn the heat up turn the beat up record the pod made a bag put their feet up the ones that leave no crumbs when they clean up. Who's the pod that they all want to meet up? Who turned the heat up Turn the beat up record the pod made a bag put their feet up the ones that leave no crumbs when they clean up who's the pod that they all want to meet up?

[Fran]

What's up everyone?

[Ria]

It's chicks in the office with Ria and Fran giving you that Friday energy on a Monday. Happy Monday, everybody. We are back in studio and I am so happy to be back in here. I feel at home. I feel like I'm ready for, you know, just, just some time without some travel and I am ready to go this week. How are you feeling?

[Fran]

Yeah, definitely excited to be home and be in the same place for a little bit, which is gonna be good. And then we have Our Philly live show, which will be our holiday show December 9th.

[Ria]

I am so excited for that show. If you haven't gotten tickets yet, please do. I already have my outfit. I'm so excited.

[Fran]

Really?

[Ria]

I showed you the dress.

[Fran]

Oh, yes, you did show me. Yeah, yeah.

[Ria]

It's very Christmas.

[Fran]

It is, it is.

[Ria]

And I am so excited.

[Fran]

It is a really pretty dress. I got to find something else. I had an option and then I wore it.

[Ria]

Oh, yes. Already wore it.

[Fran]

Like, I wore it. I wore it yesterday. But I also was not like, there's no evidence of me wearing it.

[Ria]

Oh, so you can wear it again.

[Fran]

Yeah, but. But you know, like when you wear something, you put it on. And I was like, it's perfect actually for what I wore it to yesterday, but I don't think it's. I don't know if it's perfect for the holiday show.

[Ria]

You have a tough time, huh?

[Fran]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not that much, but yes, yes.

[Ria]

But it's around the corner.

[Fran]

I'm very excited. That's going to be so much fun.

[Ria]

So much fun. We love a holiday show. So if you haven't gotten tickets yet and you want to come, come see us in Philly. We are super excited. Cannot wait. We had, we had kind of a marathon of a week. I would call it like I was calling things like mile 23, 24. Like, I learned a lot of lingo from following along with the New York City Marathon, in which I was describing my week of last week. So we had our Cincinnati show, which we talked about, which was so much fun. Loved it. So we went from Cincinnati to la, which then we, in the middle of the week, I went back to New York. Yeah. Fran went back to New York for Jonas Broshmeer, came back to la. And then in the middle of the week, out of nowhere, surprise. You guys get to interview some of the pairs of Dancing with the Stars.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

So that happened midweek. Yeah.

[Fran]

We were really trying to get them all for a lot, like, long sit down interviews, but they're, they're, they're in the thick of rehearsals right now. So we were like, we'll take what we can get. And when they were like, hey, you guys, this is. We can get you into the rehearsal studio. You can have 15 minutes with each pair. We're like, we'll take it, we'll take it.

[Ria]

And we didn't find out until that we were interviewing anybody until Tuesday night after the show.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

So it was like Tuesday night after the show. Boom. You guys can have this interview that Interview A lot of moving parts.

[Fran]

Yes.

[Ria]

Um, so on Thursday, we got to interview Robert and Whitney and Whitney and Mark, which was so much fun because it was the first time stepping into the Dancing with the Stars rehearsal studio, which was just like, we're here.

[Fran]

I felt like I was like, not really not supposed to be there. I was like, I am seeing how the sauce is made. I am not supposed to be here.

[Ria]

No. And then we were filming a TikTok in one of the studios, and Elaine popped her head in while we were recording the TikTok. And Fran was like, oh, uh, sorry, Elaine.

[Fran]

She's probably like, who are these two freaks running around like, filming bad dances in a mirror in the Dance with the Stars studio.

[Ria]

Yeah. They're like, who did these girls just break in? Like, that's what we looked like running around that place.

[Fran]

Yeah. They were like, going up to the front. Probably going up to the front desk, being like, did you let them in here?

[Ria]

You let them in. They're. They're okay to be in here. We were so excited to be in there. And then, unfortunately, but fortunately. Cause it was exciting, I committed to another work obligation at BravoCon with a hair brand weeks ago. So I had to leave right after that straight from the Dancing with Stars rehearsal studio to Vegas. But then we got another opportunity to interview Alex and Val on Friday, which unfortunately, I could not be a part of because I already committed to another work obligation. But all exciting because, friend, you got to hang out with Alex and Val, which was so fun.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Crossing. I gotta go. I.

[Fran]

We gotta get the content.

[Ria]

Have to get the content. And was I taken aback by your TikTok? Yes. You sent over that TikTok with Alex and Val. And I was like, now, how did you.

[Fran]

Raising my eyebrows into the camera.

[Ria]

Yeah, I was like, how did you end up doing a TikTok where Giggle.

[Alex Earle]

My wife.

[Ria]

Val holding you having him.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

Well, let me walk you through it. No, no, I was talking to them about. I think it was before we started the interview. I was talking to them about just, like, being so excited to be there. And, you know, Val came on the show years ago.

[Ria]

Twice.

[Fran]

Twice. And you. And sadly, you've missed him twice.

[Ria]

No, I was on the second one.

[Fran]

The second one.

[Ria]

The first one was a SiriusXM interview.

[Fran]

Oh, he's twice.

[Ria]

He's been on twice. Then we interviewed him over Zoom in our other old studio.

[Fran]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Alex Earle]

Over.

[Fran]

Okay.

[Ria]

Yes.

[Fran]

I forgot about the zoom one because I found the old picture from 2018 that I was showing Them. Because I was like, oh, my God. And it's actually Kelly Keys is in the picture with us. And that was the deep side part. I was like, whoa. And, you know, we're just talking about how much I love the show. And he was like, oh, I gotta, like, I'll. I gotta, like, show you a move. And I was like, I got a TikTok in my mind for after. And in my head, I was like, well, I'll do.

[Ria]

In my.

[Fran]

In my mind, the vision was. Because it's like. The sound is like, that's my purse. And then she say it with some energy. And so in my mind, it was like, I'm bad at dancing. And then I'm. And then I yell, and he's teaching me I'm better at dancing, you know? So my vision was we're, like, in a. Like, in, like, a classic frame. And I'm, like, slouchy and, like, bad posture, and I'm like, that's my purse. And then Alex comes in, and she's like, you know, like, stand up straight. Like, get it right.

[Ria]

I'm like, okay.

[Fran]

And then I yell it, and then I stand up. And he was like, nah, let's do this. And I was like, okay.

[Ria]

Let me tell you, when that video came into my phone, I said, what? But I loved it. It was so cute, so fun. And we filmed some other TikToks with Robert Irwin and Whitney and Robert.

[Fran]

I straight up had on repeat for, like. I was the classic comment on TikTok. When people are like, why is this video four hours long? I'm like, that was me. I just was watching it on YouTube.

[Ria]

Me too. It was so cute. He's the cutest. He was such cutest human being. So, so freaking cute. They were all so nice and so nice of them to let us come in and take the time out of their day, because semifinals around the corner.

[Fran]

I know, exactly. I felt bad, like, being. I was like, guys, start dance, dance, dancing. Like, this is. This is the time Noah almost took out one of our, you know, expensive cameras in the studio when we were filming the TikTok with Whitney and Mark and Mark, like, first of all, Mark, incredible cinematographer because very talented guy. We did one take. Noah filmed it. Mark was like, mmm, not that good. He took the phone. Was like, trying to coach Noah into how to do it. So Mark filmed one of the three of us. That's just me, you, and Whitney. And he crushed it. Like, it was one take. We were like, oh, my God, that was so good. So then Mark's like, try and do that to Noah. Noah's did not do what Mark did. And then we tried to do it again, and Noah's walking backwards. He walked straight into a camera. We all screamed. We were like, ah.

[Ria]

No, it was.

[Fran]

I kind of like, I half grabbed the leg. I saved it. We were like, what? It was so funny.

[Ria]

It was so funny. We have the footage from that. We're gonna put it out because it was hilarious. But it was so fun being able to be at the studio and just be like, I just want to dance. Like, I just wanted to put on. I just wanted to put on a workout set, Like, a cute workout set, like Alex, and just run around and be taught how to dance and, like, sweat and just, like, be there for hours.

[Fran]

I had. I had shivers up my spine because Val was like, okay, like, bend your knee here. Like, point your toe here. And I was like, it's all happening. It's all happening.

[Ria]

It's amazing. Like, I just wanted to dance. And, you know, you just get that itch walking into the studio, which was. It was so cool to be there. So much fun. So we're so excited for everyone to hear those interviews. They were short, 15 minutes each, but we got what we could. And, you know, maybe in the future we'll have a longer interview. But just being able to have those.

[Fran]

Would love to.

[Ria]

Was incredible.

[Fran]

You better believe. I was like, alex, next time you're in New York, we'd love to have you on.

[Ria]

Come, come.

[Fran]

She was so sweet. I'm like. I was like, so. She thought we had all met before. I was like, no. She's like, that's so shocking. I guess I just, like, hear you guys, like, all the time.

[Ria]

Oh, my gosh. You know? Yeah. So fun.

[Fran]

No, she was very.

[Ria]

So.

[Fran]

Everyone is so nice if they really are. I know they say it so much, but they really are like one big family. Over at Dancing with the Stars. They're all chatting, they're all rooting for each other, all excited to see each other. On Friday, Robert was getting everybody together to make a video for Steve Irwin Day. And he got everybody T shirts. They were all in the lobby of the rehearsal studio, and I was like, fuck, I want that shirt so bad. It was like a teacher that they all said, crikey on the front, now what happens?

[Ria]

What happens if I take it?

[Fran]

And he was so cute. He came into the studio, he's telling everyone.

[Whitney Carson]

He's like, aw.

[Fran]

Like, to everybody that worked at Dancing with the Stars and all the other dancers and pros to be like, I just, like, want to make a quick video. Like, do you think you could come in? Like, I bought. I got these shirts, and everyone was like, yeah, obviously.

[Ria]

Oh, such a dog.

[Fran]

Oh, my God.

[Ria]

Really? Such an angel. So cute. Even, like, after meeting him, I'm rooting for him even harder now because I was like, oh, my God. They're all just so nice and so kind. I know.

[Fran]

I'm so torn now. They're all so.

[Ria]

They're all working so hard. I'm ready for them all, which is so obnoxious.

[Fran]

But I know they. I know.

[Ria]

I feel like at this point, I'll be happy with, like, whoever wins, truly, just because they're all working.

[Fran]

They all deserve it.

[Ria]

They all do.

[Fran]

They all really deserve it.

[Ria]

It was madness, though. So then I went from Dancing with the stars to BravoCon, got on a quick flight to Vegas, immediately dropped my bags off, got ready, had a welcome dinner, which was so fun. I met a lot of other people that I follow online that I've never met in real life that I'm a fan of, which was really cool. And I was there alone, so I was, like, a little bit nervous, and I was like, am I being so awkward right now? You know what I mean? But shortly, that went away, and I had so much fun hanging, eating good food, having some drinks. At the welcome dinner, we went to Delilah in Vegas, which I think is, like, you know, considered a hot spot there of some sort. And then I only had, like, one real day at Bravocon because I had to leave Bravocon on Saturday morning to go back to LA for a wedding. So I was, like, quickly in and out of there. So I only had one day at BravoCon, but let me tell you, we've never been to BravoCon before. So this was the first time witnessing BravoCon in real life.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Wow. Wow, the energy that is in that place. People are ready for whatever. By the way, the amount of screams that you hear just from, like, somebody getting a glimpse of a Bravo web.

[Fran]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ria]

Or they're, like, shrieking. Oh, my God.

[Fran]

I'm, like, so jealous. Cause I really do. I want us to go.

[Ria]

We. No, we should go. Well, the next time they're doing it, I think is 2027. I saw something like that.

[Alex Earle]

Oh, perfect.

[Ria]

So a lot of times we should.

[Fran]

Like, host a panel. I would love. I know we gotta start pitching.

[Ria]

We do. Because it was. I didn't get to see as much as I wanted to see, but I got to see enough to get a real feel for It. And I saw the Beverly hills panel, so I saw a big chunk of the premiere of the new season. So Rachel Zo was on here. Let me tell you, Dorit and Kyle are no good watching that panel. They are. They do not. They do not seem to be on good terms. Damn. Which it is. I think Dorit gets on a lot of people's nerves this season just from, like, the reaction of the castell. Yeah. Kathy Hilton is always a freaking treat, let me tell you. She did her labubu voice on stage. I felt my soul leave my body. I was like, what is happening right now? Also, like, I'm sitting next to people who are just, like, screaming at the top of their lungs, like, liar, liar. At whatever the women are saying. I'm like, oh, my God, this is so intense. Like, you know, at some points I felt kind of bad because I'm like, you know, these are, like, real, but these are real people.

[Whitney Carson]

Yeah.

[Fran]

That's how bravo it really is. Even in these panels, when they take questions from the audience. Oh, yeah. And these people walk up to that microphone with no shame and they ask their question, and if they don't get the answer, they let. They're like, you're not telling. Like, they're like, tell the truth. No, that's like. It's crazy.

[Alex Earle]

It is.

[Ria]

And I. And I felt sort of bad at times. I'm like, you know, these are real people.

[Fran]

Like, yeah.

[Ria]

Like, they have. When you're screaming at them on stage, like, they have emotion.

[Fran]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ria]

But on the other side of it, you're like, ooh, juicy.

[Fran]

Crazy.

[Ria]

And yeah, if somebody didn't answer a question, like, Beverly hills. Because, you know, Beverly hills is so. Yeah, they are, like, they really, like, like the most.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Like, they'll bounce around the question. And the. The girls in the audience, they were like, you didn't answer. And I'm like, oh, my God. Like, I am sitting next. I'm like, oh, my God. It is, like, uncomfortable but thrilling at the same time. Y. All at once, huge moments were happening. Like, a lot of rumblings were being spread, you know, through bravocon of, like, oh, my God. Joe. Joe just hugged and kissed Teresa and Louie. Like, Joe just hugged Teresa. Like, everyone's, like, scrambling. Like, I missed it. I missed it.

[Fran]

I missed it.

[Ria]

I wasn't there. I wasn't at the booth.

[Fran]

I didn't get to see the kiss.

[Ria]

Like, that's how I felt. I was like. I was like, you're telling me they just made up in front of people at the Fucking booth. And I wasn't there. Like, I was so upset to have not witnessed that.

[Fran]

Cause I was like, wait, maybe I.

[Ria]

Could have gotten the family photo. Like, in my delusional brain, I was like, if I was around Melissa and Joe and Theresa and Louie, Melissa and Jill would have roped me in to get into a group pic.

[Fran]

It would have been like, chia Rhea, get in here. Like, ah, come on, it's our nieces.

[Ria]

Like, I just. I was like, fuck, I missed it. But that was. That was such a big thing. But so I only got to spend, like, a little bit of time at BravoCon and got my hair done. And I have a video of doing that, which was awesome. And it was just a lot of hair stuff, which, you know, did you see.

[Fran]

Get to really see any actual Bravo, like, any talk to anybody or just go, go, go.

[Ria]

I was just, go, go, go. I didn't get to talk to anybody, really. Sent a couple texts out to some. Some Bravo people we're friends with, but they were all like, it's so crazy. Security and all that. And it was a whole. It was a whole thing. And they are being rushed everywhere, and it's madness, let me tell you. Madness. It is madness. I had a couple of our listeners come up to me, which was awesome, because some people had just been at some of our live shows recently, which was really cool. I had a father and daughter come up to me, which was so funny because she was like, yeah, I'm here with my dad. And my dad was like, not my dad. The dad was like, I love Southern charm. I was like, this is amazing. And he was really sweet. He was like, you and Fran? Like, it was really nice. So I loved running, actually, because I was alone for the most part. Well, I was with a couple people on this brand trip, but a lot of, like, when I was at BravoCon, I met up with Emma, who Comments by celebs. Yeah, for a little bit. And then I had to escape and go back to get ready for something else. And I was walking alone at one point, and I was like, oh, my God, I'm. I'm. I'm fully alone right now. I'm nervous. I'm scared. But then when our listeners were coming up, I was like, oh, my God, I feel at home. I'm like, yay, you're right here. I'm like, I feel safe. Like, oh, my God. Thank you so much for talking to me. Like, it was. It was so cool and so fun, but I had a blast. I had some great outfits That I loved and, you know, just quickly got out of there. The next morning after getting my hair done, which I'm excited to share that video with everybody as well. A lot of hair stuff, you know, people, they talked to me about my hair. So I was excited to get into the hair game. I was very excited about that. And then I was back to LA for a wedding. And that was madness because I was like, am I gonna make this wedding? Am I not gonna make it? The weather was not good.

[Fran]

It was raining in it.

[Ria]

It was raining all weekend.

[Fran]

There was like a flood watch at one point.

[Ria]

I was like, is my flight gonna land? But I was so excited when Matt picked me up from the airport. I was like, ah, like, you know, I was like, I made it. Like the marathon. I did it. And that was. That was exciting. And then we were just. We had an Airbnb with a couple of other friends from work, which was gorgeous. It was. It was. Would have been really beautiful if it.

[Fran]

Wasn'T in the backyard. It was. I mean, backyard. You can't even really call it a backyard.

[Ria]

It was just the ocean, it was. It was stunning.

[Fran]

Like, the house was just on the beach.

[Ria]

It was stunning. And so that was fun. And then quickly, the next day, back. Back to Jersey, which felt like a whirlwind. I was on six different. Cause I had a connecting flight at one point. I was on six different flights in the span of one week, which is a new personal record. And let me tell you, my body's feeling it a bit. Right.

[Fran]

I'm with you on that.

[Ria]

I have multiple canker sores in my mouth from the lack of sleep and travel and probably just like, stress, stress on my brain of like, am I gonna make each thing? Because of, you know, the flight situation this week obviously was very hectic. So I. In the back of my brain, I'm like, am I gonna make each thing? Am I gonna make it? Not really sleeping. Cause I'm like, excited to do it. You know, when the adrenaline kicks in and you're excited and you're like, ah, like, am I gonna. Like, I don't wanna go to sleep. Cause I'm excited for the next day. But then. So not a ton of sleep and all that. So I think it. I think it caught up to me. Yesterday on the plane, everything started to hit and I was like, oh, my God, my body, you know, and these canker sores. So if it sounds like, yes, but my mind. Yeah, that type of thing. But if it sounds like I have a lisp, it's because I have multiple canker sores.

[Fran]

Yeah. Let me tell you guys, she showed me. You don't wanna see them.

[Ria]

You do not. I won't.

[Fran]

They are some N buggers in there. They're nasty.

[Ria]

They are not cute. They're really not cute, but all worth it. Such an amazing week. So many exciting opportunities and so glad we got to meet a lot of our listeners in the past week, too. From the tour, the Cincinnati show, to running into people at BravoCon. I love. You know, just like meeting everybody in person, chatting. We all love the same thing. So, like, we're at Bravo Con. We're like, did you see Teresa and Louie? And I'm like, oh, my God, I wish I saw. I'm like, you know, we all love it.

[Fran]

Yeah, you're all there for the same Bravo.

[Ria]

Yeah. So it's like Bravo. Exactly. So it was. It was very exciting, but I'm happy to also. I haven't, if you haven't noticed, coffee, I'm talking a mile a minute. But I'm happy to be home for a little bit and just get back into routine. You know, Matt and I woke up this morning and had our little espresso on the couch because we love doing that in the morning before, you know, going to work or something. So woke up, had a little espresso on the couch. Just chill a little bit, get back in the routine of things. And, yeah, I mean, I'm just. I'm excited. Thanksgiving's next week and. Yeah, that's. I think that's it. I think that's all the things that we did in the past week. I mean, yesterday you went to go see Cursed Child with Tom Felton, which was very exciting.

[Fran]

I did, I did, yeah. It is. It's. It's starting to catch up on. Catch up with me, too. I'm like. You know when you're like, I'm. And I had a feeling last week, I was like, oh, the end of next week, I'm definitely gonna get sick. You know, you're just like, there's just no way I get out of this just without some damage done.

[Ria]

Sorry, my voice had cracked there, too.

[Fran]

And I am. I am definitely feeling that a little bit. But I went to go see. It was the official premiere of Tom Felton on Broadway in Cursed Child, he is reprising his role as Draco Malfoy. And that was really, really cool. I haven't seen the show since it was in two parts, so you used have to go, like, two separate nights. It's like you would go if you had a Joe. And I went years ago, he got me tickets as a gift and it was like we went like a Wednesday night and a Thursday night or something, you know. So now you.

[Ria]

I remember that. Yeah.

[Fran]

So now it's. They condensed it so they, you know, shortened it a little bit, which is very impressive that they were really. They do a good job of still telling the story with, you know, cutting out pretty big chunks of it. Unfortunately, some of the characters like don't. Rose, who's Hermione and Ron's daughter, is just like really not in it that much because she's.

[Ria]

Wait, what do you mean?

[Fran]

Cursed Child? You know, the plot of Cursed Child is the children of Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione are now at Hogwarts and they get.

[Ria]

Is this a big time jump?

[Fran]

It's. It's. I mean, the kids are teenagers, so. Yeah, like they're at Hogwarts, so they're. It's like them going to Hogwarts. They're 11. So that's. Why the hair. That's. No, I have a question. But that's why Draco is playing. Draco's an adult.

[Ria]

No. Yes. Yes.

[Fran]

Like he has a kid.

[Ria]

I don't want to be Scorpius, silly.

[Fran]

You ask a question.

[Ria]

I kind of forgetting the end of Harry Potter.

[Fran]

No, that's fine.

[Ria]

Do. Are they pregnant at the end of Harry Potter?

[Fran]

No, they're not. But they're all. Well, they show the. The end of Harry Potter is.

[Ria]

An.

[Fran]

Epilogue time jump where they're saying goodbye. Remember they made Daniel Radcliffe. They made them all look older.

[Ria]

Yeah, yeah.

[Fran]

And their kids are getting on the Hogwarts Express.

[Ria]

This is ringing a bell for me because I was like, wait, does Harry Potter end in the same way like Twilight does, where then they show like Renesmee. Getting older glimpses of that.

[Fran]

Yeah. So it's like the kids are getting on the train. So like, this is at that point where the kids are going to school. And then the kids get all up into. Into some mischief. They find a time. Time Turner and, And they. And you know.

[Ria]

Do you like it?

[Fran]

They make bad decisions.

[Ria]

Is it really good?

[Fran]

It's a. I think it's a great show. It's a little. I think the condensed version has changed. Has changed it a little bit because there's just not as much like character development as when you're seeing it with hours more into the. Into the show. But it's good, it's. It's cute, it's funny. Like, there's good, like, LOL moments and the young kids are so great. Like, the actors are so good. This kid right now that's playing Scorpius is fantastic. He's really, really good. And it's so cool to see Tom Felton back as Draco. And he. He is protecting his son.

[Ria]

How long is he gonna be?

[Fran]

That's a good question. I'm not sure. On Broadway, months. I'm not sure what exactly. If he has a set. I don't know the exact timing. I forget. But it was like the Year 7 premiere was Sunday. Because now the show has been on Broadway for seven years. This is the seventh year that it's.

[Ria]

I mean, what.

[Fran]

It's been on.

[Ria]

What a score by that to get the original.

[Fran]

Yeah. Certainly gets the juices flowing because everybody there was so excited. Everyone's in their Harry Potter gear. It was very funny because I went with. I went with. I went with Claire and we both had like, such boomer takes because we like walking to the theater and it's a Sunday afternoon, so it's not like, you know, I wasn't expecting everybody to be in evening gowns and they had asked me to take. They asked me if I wanted to walk the carpet. So I was more dressed up.

[Ria]

And so what you said, there's no evidence of you wearing.

[Fran]

Well, there's no pic. I don't know where the pictures are. They're like, not on anything. You know, I can't find. I can't find them. I don't know where they are.

[Ria]

We gotta find them.

[Fran]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know where they are. And we looked at each other. We were like, you know, nobody dresses up for the theater these days, but, like, look at all the like. And granted, it is like, I know people love to Shrub to Cursed Child, very much in Harry Potter gear and. And merch and all those things. But, you know, I'm seeing jeans and sneakers and I'm like, this is Broadway.

[Ria]

You can't wear jeans and sneakers. Or Broadway.

[Fran]

This is Broadway. No, but there was a lot. The theater. So cool. I forgot the Lyric Theater where they do Cursed Child is so cool because it's very, like, Harry Potter themed. You can get, you know, butterbeer. You can get a chocolate frog.

[Ria]

Have you had butter?

[Fran]

You can get beans.

[Ria]

I have. What's your thoughts?

[Fran]

It's. It's sweet.

[Ria]

What does it taste like? Like a popcorn kettle?

[Fran]

Yeah, like. Like a cream soda. Have you ever had a cream soda?

[Ria]

Of course.

[Fran]

Yeah. Like, kind of like that.

[Ria]

That's how. Is there alcohol in it?

[Alex Earle]

No.

[Ria]

Huh.

[Fran]

I'm imagine I've been drinking butterbeers thinking they're not. I'm pretty sure they're not. That's a great question, though.

[Ria]

Non alcoholic butterbeer sold at Universal Studios is non alcoholic.

[Fran]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what they serve everywhere.

[Ria]

While the original Harry Potter books is. Suggests a very slight alcoholic content.

[Fran]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ria]

Oh, yeah. It's just a sweet butterscotch flavored soda.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Okay.

[Fran]

That makes like a cream. It really does have like a very. Yeah.

[Ria]

Cream.

[Fran]

It's good. But they had. At the theater, they had frozen butterbeer. Oh, lots of. And you know what? They know what they do now. They deliver concessions right to your seat in that theater, which is very cool. You sit right down, you scan a little QR code, Bam. Two minutes.

[Ria]

All.

[Fran]

All the stuff's right there.

[Ria]

Boom.

[Fran]

I know, but it was really. It was fun because there's a lot of people there. Jason Isaacs was there. He was sitting a section over from me.

[Ria]

Did you think about saying hi?

[Fran]

I did, but I watched a couple people approach him and he was very much like, so, nice to meet you. Move along. You know, not in a rude way, but I think they were maybe asking for pictures. Yeah, I think he was like, I'm not, you know, not doing that. Which is fair because he was sitting and it's like if he were to stand up and take a picture, would have drawn a lot more attention to him because I think a lot of people don't even realize he was sitting right there. Like, it was very. Like, I didn't notice until intermission that he was sitting right there. When I turned around and went to go to the bathroom, I was like, oh, Jason Isaacs. Which I just thought was so sweet. Like, he's there to support Tom. And Tom was on the carpet talking about now he feels that relationship with the young actor that plays Scorpius of like having that father son relationship, which was so sweet. And Tom did a great job. Got his Scared Potter line in there, which was amazing. Everybody freaked out. Everyone was so happy to see him. He was very teary eyed at the end when they were all doing their bows. I think he's just like, you know, it's just very exciting and it was fun. I don't know. And I know I showed it to you and you have not seen them, but everybody's algorithm is different. There's like the show Rhesus therapy on. On TikTok that they have all these, like, really adorable little kids, and Miles is one of them. And he has this little voice and he's so cute. And he interviews, like, massive celebrities. Like, massive celebrities. And he's gotten to talk to some, some very famous people. But he was maybe with friends or siblings and mom. I don't know who he was with, but, like, he walked down the aisle and literally Claire and I went like.

[Ria]

I was like, big celeb.

[Fran]

I think we reacted more to seeing him than we did Jason Isaacs. That was like, so funny. Like, I was like, oh, my God, it's Miles from recess Therap. And then we heard his little voice in person. We're like, oh, my God, his little voice. And then we were like, oh, my God, we are so chronically online.

[Ria]

Oh, my God. No, it's so cute, though.

[Fran]

But no, he was adorable. So it was so much fun. A lot of fun. People there. So excited for Tom. And yeah, it was just like the, the week continued. The week continued. Then the Eagles won on Sunday night. It was a slow game. I mean, the Eagles defense looks fantastic. Offense, not so much. But it was a big win regardless. Very windy in Philadelphia, so, I mean, things just keep on coming up. Fran, if I could get rid of this sore throw, man, we'd be really unstoppable. I am going to see the Jones Brothers Prudential center tonight.

[Ria]

Dude, you literally, just before we started, you were like, I'm. I'm really getting sick. I know. My throat really hurts.

[Fran]

Well, now the problem is, is I.

[Ria]

Like, only just looking out for you.

[Fran]

Is I, like, have to.

[Ria]

Literally right before we started, you were like, I know, I'm getting really sick.

[Fran]

Like, I know. I could tell.

[Ria]

I really don't feel well.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

And then you're just gonna go to the concert.

[Fran]

Yeah, yeah, I have.

[Ria]

I, I. Well, I mean, you gotta top off the week in some way, I guess. I mean, you started the week with the Jonas bars. It's only right that you end it with the Jonas Bros. But at the same time, I'm worried. I'm worried. You were literally just talking about how sick you were. Right.

[Fran]

We're going with game time, so it's like, I have to go. It's commitment, right?

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

Tell yourself, well, I'm bringing other people that if I don't like, then, then.

[Ria]

Right.

[Fran]

You have screwing them out ago, you.

[Ria]

Know, letting other people.

[Fran]

Yeah, I'm excited anyway, because they announced that five seconds of summer is playing with them tonight, which, I don't know, they pulled that one together. Really Last minute. It's. It's a little bit of a scramble because I think All American Rejects backed. Yeah, his voice is. And he needed. He needs a bit of a break. So I think that they have been.

[Ria]

Which is gonna happen to you if you don't.

[Fran]

Yeah, no, I. Yeah, yeah. No, that's probably true. That's probably true. I'll just be humming tonight at the Jones Brothers. Yeah, that'll be me. I'm very excited to see all the signs that people make because people have been making some dirty. Dirty.

[Ria]

Let me tell you. They're very dirty.

[Fran]

We have fantastic seats. So I'm assuming there'll be a lot of. Of signs around me, but yeah, five seconds of summer. I'm excited to hear them saying, you know, she looks so perfect standing there in her.

[Ria]

Perfect.

[Fran]

She looks so pretty. What's the word? She looks so pretty. She looks so pretty.

[Ria]

I don't know.

[Fran]

Standing there. I think it might be pretty apparel. Underwear.

[Ria]

I think it's pretty. Perfect. Perfect. Nevermind. It's perfect.

[Fran]

I was right the first time.

[Ria]

Should not.

[Fran]

Should have trusted my guy.

[Ria]

Yeah, you should have trusted yourself there. Snooki was there last night, I saw. Which was a big. That's a big New Jersey get. If you can get Snooki to show up at Jersey event, that's a big get.

[Fran]

Yeah, I think that's everybody's dream. You know, if they're. It's like you're doing an event in Jersey. We gotta get Snooki to come. I also love. They brought this tiktoker to one of the other shows that they did, maybe The Mohegan Sun 1. This kid who's been doing Nick impersonation. So he's been doing Nick and Joe, and they've been very funny and very spot on.

[Ria]

I saw.

[Fran]

Yeah, very spot on. They brought him to one of the shows as well. They made a video with him as well. And in my mind, I'm like, you guys don't wanna. You guys don't want to make a backwards video with me in the dressing room before the show. Like, big reveals. Fran.

[Ria]

Hey, you never know.

[Fran]

Hey, it's Fran. Yeah, they'd be like, well, how'd this girl get in here anyway? I'm excited for that. And then. And then. Yeah, that's the last plan I have. Let's just hope you never know what comes.

[Ria]

You don't wake up tomorrow with a fever.

[Fran]

Yeah. Yeah. You never know what comes up. No, no, no. I'm gonna take a nice nap and.

[Ria]

A New Jersey quilt. Yeah. Don't get anyone around you sick.

[Fran]

No, no, no. I don't feel like that kind of sick.

[Ria]

Okay.

[Fran]

I just have an itchy throat. All right.

[Ria]

Yeah, we're rooting for you. Yep, yep.

[Fran]

You know, that's just like.

[Ria]

Remember when.

[Fran]

Sorry. Cutting you off for one second. The shame. I think people will care less about me going than. Did you see Madeline White on her birthday get pink eye? And then everybody freaked the fuck out that she went out with Pink Guy?

[Whitney Levitt]

Yeah.

[Ria]

But I. But I agree.

[Fran]

Yeah, I. I understand. Like, I just own it.

[Ria]

I wouldn't go somewhere if I had major pink eyes.

[Fran]

It just shocked me that it made, like, national news.

[Ria]

It did.

[Fran]

I understood that people were upset, and clearly she was like, look, I guess we handle pink eye differently in the UK than you do here. Growing up, it, like, wasn't that big of a deal, but it was, like, on, like, national news that they're like, tick Tocker goes out with conjunctivitis. Like, it was like, whoa, bigger news.

[Ria]

Than I think I should have.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Like, I. I don't think it should have made that big of news. My thought was like, okay, yeah, you don't want to spread pink eye. I get that portion of it.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

But, like, for myself, if I had pink eye, I'd be like, I'm not going anywhere.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Just because, like, pink eye can hurt. It could be gross. Like, I'm gonna sit. I think I'm just gonna sit this one out because I got pink eye. I don't feel like putting makeup on. I don't feel like getting dressed. Yeah. If you get pink, knock on wood. Have not had in, I don't even know, years.

[Fran]

You only have 30th birthday, though, you know?

[Ria]

Yeah. But you just get celebrated, like, a different weekend.

[Fran]

Yeah, but it was a con. It was a whole concert. It was, like loud luxury. It was the whole thing.

[Ria]

Yeah, that's true.

[Fran]

It was, like, one night. I think it was edc. It was like, something kind of, like, sick that I don't think she wanted to miss. But, yeah, fair. You slap some sunglasses on, you go about your day. But.

[Ria]

Right. You just gotta be real careful.

[Podcast Intro Voice]

Yeah.

[Fran]

You gotta be very careful. Not touch your face.

[Ria]

Can't touch your eyes. Yeah.

[Fran]

You really can't touch anything. Don't touch anyone. Don't touch anything.

[Ria]

But it was funny because they were like. I saw people being like, everyone's mad at Madeline. What about Andrew getting pink eye in the first place and then spreading it, which is her husband.

[Fran]

So obviously it's Hard to not.

[Ria]

It's hard to not spread something from your husband to your wife. But, yeah, that made bigger news. Yeah.

[Fran]

There's, like, made national news that I was like, oh, I understand people on Tick Tock being like, ah, what's happening? But what I saw, like, Fox 5 reporting on it. I was like, what's it? Why?

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

Slow day.

[Ria]

Yeah. This has been like. This is big, big news right now. Yeah. But yes. I mean, Jonas Brothers in Jersey does get better than that.

[Fran]

No, exactly.

[Ria]

You got to see it. All right.

[Fran]

He's from my Greens. From our hometown.

[Ria]

Yeah, it's true. This is the Greens from our hometown tour. So you got to be at the hometown show. All right, let's get into the rest of the episode. We're going to be talking about things that happened at BravoCon that were big news in the Bravo world. We also have the weekly Watch Report, and we have our great interviews with the Dancing with the Stars pairs.

[Fran]

Um, you know what we forgot to mention, we've just been having, like, such a lovely time catching up. Is Noah's not here.

[Ria]

Yeah. I honestly totally forgot, which now I feel bad about. Noah is not here. Cause he's had jury duty. So if we went through that whole.

[Fran]

Thing, I was like, we just didn't mention that Noah's not here. And honestly was thinking about Weekly Watch Report. That reminded me.

[Ria]

Thank you for. Yes. Yeah, we have to address it.

[Fran]

Yes. Noah's at jury duty.

[Whitney Levitt]

No.

[Ria]

Is that jury duty?

[Fran]

He tried to get out of it, and apparently the lady laughed straight in his face.

[Ria]

Yes. Which I think makes sense after the long debacle is he's had with jury duty of getting out with it where they were like, you better fucking show up the next time. And now he went and tried to get out again, and they were like, absolutely not, kid. So he's got to do jury duty. So he will not be on Weekly Watch Report. But you just got Fran and I. Yep. Just a girl's day.

[Fran]

Yep. Yep. Just a girl's day.

[Ria]

Just a girl's day. All right, let's get into it. Like I said, Bravicon, Weekly Watch Report, and a great interview that we combine all together. So it's like 45 minutes, 15 minutes with each pair with the Dancing with the Stars pair. So let's get into it. Head home for the holidays with Abercrombie. Their latest winter collection has all the pieces to keep you put together through your busiest season. Their new matching sweat sets are the perfect travel outfit. I had a matching sweat on, too, today. Matching sweatset. And they're just absolutely perfect. Throw on on a Monday morning when you're traveling. A lot of travel this past week, so a lot of Abercrombie sweat sets in the rotation. And then when that hometown calendar fills up, you got the cozy sweaters and Abercrombie denim fit for every occasion. And then we're working out in style with the ypb, AKA your personal best brand of activewear. My favorite brand of activewear to work out in. It's so comfortable. It has that amazing sculpt luxe fabric that just makes working out comfortable and fashionable, which I love. So from family dinners to festive night outs, keep the chaos cute. This season in Abercrombie. Shop in the app online and in stores. Abercrombie drops new arrivals every week. Shop the latest in their app online and in stores. There was a lot happening at BravoCon this past weekend, but the main story that we were excited about or want to talk about was the reuniting of Melissa and Joe Gorga and Teresa Giudice and Louie. Yep. Now, here's the thing. There was a lot of kissing and hugging and smooching and da, da, da. And a lot of sucking up going on. I still can't believe I wasn't at that fucking booth. Like, that will. That will haunt me.

[Fran]

Okay.

[Ria]

I had aunt texting me, like, did you witness this? And I was like, unfortunately, I did not witness it. But if you were there to witness it.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Then brava to you, seriously. And I am insanely jealous. But they were asked multiple questions about them reuniting. Originally they were gonna, you know, meet up, the four of them, and have a discussion. Then Teresa was like, what if, you know, I just want to meet with my brother. Teresa and Joe, they met up at where their parents were buried. So it was very emotional. And then from then on, we got Theresa saying, Melissa's the best dress of the New Jersey cast.

[Fran]

Always, always the most beautiful at the.

[Ria]

Reunions that she adores and loves her sister in law. You know, they're talking. They were asked if they're gonna do holidays together. Melissa a little bit more real on this front. Like, Melissa was like, you know, we haven't discussed holidays yet. Maybe we'll do a dinner. Melissa posted pictures of them and being like, don't. Don't judge.

[Fran]

Yeah, just like, just like, literally just like, shh.

[Ria]

Don't question it. Don't question it. Just support. Just let it happen, I think. And Andy was asked about this and he talked about it where he said, he told them as a group, they need to do this off camera. Not for the show, not for the cameras. So that's what they did.

[Fran]

Yeah. Now.

[Mark Ballas]

But it.

[Fran]

It's still.

[Ria]

Do I.

[Fran]

It's like, right?

[Ria]

They. They.

[Fran]

Something they had to do if they do want to be on the show.

[Ria]

They unveiled it at Bravo Con. Yeah. Which to me do. I want this family to just want to reunite for the sake of being family. Like, this is a brother and sister we're talking about, whose parents have passed. And it's in a very. It's a very emotional date to then hear that Andy was like, you guys gotta make up off camera to be on camera.

[Fran]

I'm like, it's like, you need to be doing this and it needs to stick. It's not even like you need to do it. And then we'll pick up cameras right after. It's like, you need to do this, and we need to see it stick.

[Ria]

And I'm just like, wondering how that lunch goes. Cause it's like, all right, guys, we wanna get paid and we wanna be on tv. You better suck it up and smile as brother and sister, because. What do you mean? Teresa is up there going, my. You know, Melissa always looks the best. And I love and adore my sister in law. Since when? Since when do you love and adore your sister in law? Like, just immediately jumping into that. I'm like, is not real to me. Because you can be like, you know what? I'm happy to be reunited. And it's one step at a time, and we're getting there. That's real.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

The immediate. I adore my sister in law.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Yeah. No, you fucking don't. No, you don't. I'm sorry. And I'm. Listen, do I love this crazy lunatic family? Yeah, I do. I eat it up every time. I want to fucking watch this family who. Who are the core of Jersey Housewives. I want to see this mess. I do. I'll eat it up. You know, an Italian family who gets into fights and comes back together. I've seen this film before in my own life. You know what I mean? You root for it, but you just know. You just know that something could just be around the corner once again for sure.

[Fran]

And it does feel like it's like, oh, this is all good, objectively, all good. And we want this to happen. And I always felt like this way, especially for the kids, like all the cousins, you know, for, like, the cousins to be able to have each other and be in that space together. But right now it does feel like, you know, reunion with a little asterisk on it. It's like, reunion. But, you know, there's been a lot of back and forth with Jersey. I actually love what Dolores. Like, Dolores was like, this better be the last. Like, Dolores was like, we can't do this again. Like, just like.

[Ria]

But then what have the show? You know what I mean? Like, what is Jersey Housewives if we don't have them bickering a little bit?

[Fran]

Or can we have difference between them bickering and, like, still being family? Then it got to the point where, like, they wouldn't even be in the same room together. And if that's the case, you don't have a show. But if, like, if there's. Because. Sorry, I. No matter what, that I will. Louie, to me, just Bad news bears. So wherever that guy goes, I think trouble follows. So if they're back on the show, like, something's gonna happen with him.

[Ria]

I also could see maybe there's a world where Theresa, Melissa team up on somebody else together. You know, that would be entertaining.

[Fran]

That would be if we can get.

[Ria]

Theresa on each other's side and then they're fighting with other people.

[Mark Ballas]

Right?

[Ria]

Like, all right, then we got a show there, right?

[Fran]

All of a sudden, they're. They're the two united fronts.

[Ria]

But, like, for family's sake, I do want them to be reunited, and I want this all to be real. And, you know, we can pretend to be naive for a little bit and be like, oh, this is a great reunion. But to be. To tell people, like, don't ask questions. We're going to ask questions. Because this came out of nowhere. You didn't go to the wedding. You guys fucking hate each other. You don't even want to be in the same room.

[Mark Ballas]

Right, right, right.

[Ria]

All of a sudden, you love and adore your sister in law. So I just have a couple questions about it. I mean, we got Joe and Gia posing together, which is. Which is nice. I actually am really happy to see that, you know, Joe with his niece and like, that. That to me is important. I. I feel like that is really nice to see, especially because I feel like Gia carries a lot on herself, and we saw it on Special Forces this past season that, like, she puts a lot on herself because her parents went to jail and she's the oldest sibling. She had to grow up fast and take care of her family and, like, always be, like, looking out for her mom or whatever it is. So I think that's really nice for. For Gia and Joe. But, you know, you just raise your eyebrows a little bit. Was it amazing? Was it, like, watching, like, WWE at BravoCon? Absolutely. Like, the storylines to be getting at BravoCon, like, is just fucking incredible. You got Craig running around with different hairdos every night. You know, one night he's got a slick back. The other night's all, you know, tousled, sexy, tussled. It's like, what the fuck? Like, is happening? You got Austin and Shep Miles behind him. I'm like, are these people friends at this point? Amanda and Kyle, I want to talk about that. Yeah. So news hit last week right before Bravo Con, right before.

[Fran]

Obviously, very suspicious timing that.

[Ria]

And I really want to apologize for. For maybe the mouth going on right now. I really, sincerely apologize. I am battling these canker sores.

[Fran]

So once again, you really do sound fine.

[Ria]

Okay. Yeah, I just. I'm hyper aware of it right now, and I want to make sure that everyone listening is okay. This came out right before BravoCon, and they said that Amanda and Kyle were not living together. They're living separate lives.

[Fran]

Sources said that they spoke to Page Six, that they've been living separately, but they're together. But, like, things are, you know, Rocky.

[Ria]

And here's the thing. They can lie to us all they want at Bravicon and be like, yeah, we're still together. Oh, we're. We're the same. Amanda and Kyle. We just have a lot of problems that. It's always Rocky and, like, is there, you know, doesn't the spark go get. Please get a divorce? Like, I'm sorry I have to be so real with how I feel about the two of them. If it's always hard for you two to be together, don't be together. There's more to life than that, you know, like, why are you both suffering in a marriage that does not fulfill you? That, to me, is bizarre. A lot of it probably is the fact that they're on the show together. They have a business together. Why is it, like, it's not normal for you to be like, you know, it's just us. Our marriage is always hard and Rocky. Okay, then split up. Like, I just. Why are you forcing yourselves to be together then if it's always hard and Rocky?

[Fran]

My conspiracy now that I don't really know if it has any legs, is that they, on their own, come into some kind of agreement that they're gonna let the world think that they're Rocky in order to have storylines on the show.

[Ria]

That's bizarre. That's a bizarre way to Live, then if that's real. I know.

[Fran]

I don't believe that.

[Ria]

I believe that they are rocky, and.

[Fran]

I believe that they just, like, they just so happen to be filming this New New York City show. And it's like, the timing of all that, that's a crazy way for them. It 100% is. But I just, like, kind of think that that's how Kyle's been living his life for, like, the last 10 years is like. But, like, via. Like, do you want to be on reality TV? No, I. 100% even. I think so.

[Ria]

If it's that or even if it is the fact that they are rocky all the time and their marriage is super hard. Like, I just don't understand. Like, you guys have been trying to figure this out for years. Like, let it. Let be free, Amanda. Be free. You would thrive without Kyle. You would thrive. I just want her to know that. And maybe she does know it. I hope she knows it. And maybe she does.

[Fran]

She does know it. I think she just loves Kyle that much, you know? And it's like, but is it worth.

[Ria]

Like, living your life, like, in a marriage that's like, that? Like, I don't.

[Mark Ballas]

Like.

[Fran]

Yeah, I know. I. It's. It's very.

[Ria]

It's not supposed to be that way.

[Fran]

It is very concerning for 100% and, like. Like, we could not be bigger fans of Amanda. So it's such a big fan of Amanda. Just, like, really, it's. It's crazy to watch all happen. Even in the summer house panel. I'm like, they're sitting on it for there. I'm looking at their. I know everyone was doing this too. It's like. Like, look at their body language, watching them on the couch. I mean, they're sitting so far apart from each other. I'm like, Sierra and Carl sitting closer together than Amanda and Kyle are on their. On their couch.

[Ria]

And even in the interviews.

[Fran]

And they're like. But then Amanda said all Kyle's events, they're DJing, like, she's supporting him. She's there for everything. So I don't know.

[Ria]

I don't know. But then you got, like, the cast interviews, and they're like, this is the Amanda and Kyle we always know. And it's like, is that okay?

[Fran]

Like, Lindsay sells that story. So I saw the video. Lindsay on the carpet. Like, she can. She could sell anything. Like, Lindsay is very convincing. She's good. And, like, so she's like, oh, they're fine, these Amanda, Kyle. Like, they'll work it out. Like, it's this is, you know, they have their. It's fine. And then, like, you get Wes and Jesse and they're like, yeah, it's. I don't know.

[Ria]

Right.

[Fran]

And you're like, ooh.

[Ria]

Even if they are together still, but living separately, that to me, just don't be. What do you mean? You're. You're still married, but you're living separately?

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

If that story is real, it's like, well, that's fucking weird. Weird arrangements. People are married and they live in different apartments. I don't know.

[Fran]

People have weird arrangements. They stay. Want to stay married. They want to. But they, like, are okay with being. Living. Living their own lives. I don't know. People are weird. It's like, people who. Sorry, that is like, a very different comparison. But it's like people have their own bedrooms and they're, you know, I mean, I.

[Ria]

Okay. Still, like, I don't under. I wouldn't do that. I don't understand that. But I don't judge people as hard for that. Like, with different bedrooms. But you're in the same house. Like, like, whatever you do, you. Not for me, but if you want to do that. But if you are living in totally separate homes.

[Fran]

Yeah, no, I know, I know.

[Ria]

That's not marriage. What do you. What, Like, I don't get it. Maybe I'm being a harsh, but I don't think I am. Like, I, I, I think it's weird.

[Fran]

No, I, I don't. I certainly don't.

[Ria]

Like, I would love for a subway.

[Fran]

Either, but I feel like it's one of our.

[Ria]

Work. Yeah. I'm married and my husband and I live in different houses. Like, if that's the case, like, DM us and let us know. I would love to know how that arrangement works out.

[Fran]

Right. I just feel like they're exhausting all their options before they. Yeah. Like, it's like, let's see if this works.

[Ria]

Right?

[Fran]

Like, let's go back in time where it's like kind of like we're dating and like, let you know and, like, see if that can save our marriage. I don't know.

[Ria]

I just don't know if you two really want to be together at that point.

[Fran]

Yeah, you know, I know. It is. It's. It is interesting for sure. And that I do feel bad for them because the timing of that story coming out was obviously, like, on purpose by whoever source or whatever insider.

[Ria]

Yeah. I wonder who did that.

[Fran]

Decided to speak to Page Six.

[Ria]

Oh, that was a funny one. When Lisa Barlow was like, who's giving stories to the media, and the crowd just yelled, you.

[Fran]

Oh, God. Poor. You know, Lisa Barlow gets skin hit.

[Ria]

In a lot of directions right now.

[Fran]

She is. Salt Lake City's so good right now, though.

[Mark Ballas]

It is.

[Fran]

But, yeah, no, they. No, there's a lot of funny moments, for sure, that drama is always like. The younger people always seem to have a little bit more drama. The actual housewives are so funny because it always feels like their drama. Bravicon is like, which housewife wasn't nice to them? It's like, oh, well, I met Kyle and she was kind of rude. And like, that's their drama. Like, Stacy from Potomac was like, kyle wasn't that friendly. And Kyle's like, I don't know who you are. Like, that's like, that's. It's. And that's, like, always our drama. And the same with Stephanie from Miami said about Rachel Zoe. It's like, yeah, Rachel Zoe has no fucking clue. You are like, you know, it's. But it's just. It's just that's their drama. And that's always so funny when that's, like, their back and forth of like, well, I met this person that wasn't nice. And then the younger people, it's like, Lala and Tom Schwartz are now on the Valley full time.

[Ria]

Yo.

[Fran]

Which was very interesting to me that Sheena was not Sheena.

[Ria]

Lala was like, don't even get me started about that one about Sheena. So I don't know what happened there. And then there were rumors that Sheena got into a physical altercation with somebody from southern far.

[Fran]

Yeah, I know. That was on Dubois. And then she very quickly commented and said that wasn't true, which, like, I 100% believe that that is not true. I don't know. For someone that knows Sheena, and I feel like I've hung out with Sheena enough times to know. Like, I cannot imagine Sheena, like, physically getting into a fight with.

[Ria]

She did it with Raquel.

[Fran]

Yeah, but that. I mean, warranted there.

[Ria]

No, definitely, like, it was wor.

[Fran]

Yeah, like. Like some little argument in Bravicon. I don't see her, like, throwing a punch backstage.

[Ria]

Listen, you never know what can happen at BravoCon. You never know what can happen at Bravo Con.

[Fran]

You never know what would happen.

[Ria]

But that was. That was a weird rumor that was going.

[Fran]

That was a. That was definitely a weird one.

[Ria]

Na. Not being on the Valley. But Lala and Tom Schwartz are. I'm like, why?

[Fran]

Kristen was trying to say that maybe she was talking to production about it.

[Ria]

I'm so hot, I have to take my sweatshirt.

[Fran]

Was talking to production and things, like, just didn't work out with that. I don't know. It was very confusing. I would love to have a firmer answer from. From Sheena on that also feels like maybe there's a little bit of drama between Southern hospitality and Southern Charm. Like, Brett, Brad. Brad. Brad from Southern Hospitality was saying that maybe, like, Austin has some animosity towards them because, like, their show is becoming successful. And then Leva was also asked about how, like, at the end of one season of Southern Charm, when Craig was all pissed off at Leva, like, and then. And then Southern hospitality was announced, and Craig was like, you're making this party about you. Is like, is it? Was it because Leva was, you know, talking about Southern hospitality, and she was like, damn, you guys are good. Like, Morgan, who's big on TikTok, and, you know, Entertainment reporter on TikTok, she asked the question Love was like, you guys are good. And then she was like, you should be a real reporter. And I was like, she is a real reporter. It's her job. Like, that's literally what she does. And then. Oh, my God. One guy asked Emma from Southern Hospitality, like, about Will cheating or if, like. Cause I guess Will's off the show now. But I also thought Emma was maybe off the show, but she was at. I don't know. It was very confusing to me. And she answered was like, well, let me just say, like, Will's, like, never cheated on me. And literally, the guy was like, girl, Literally, the audience, the guy asked me the question was like, honey, be for fucking real. Like, it was like. It was like, oh, my God. It's just. It's just crazy. Carl said, like, maybe he had some interest in Vanita.

[Ria]

Mm.

[Fran]

Which actually makes a lot of sense to me. Like, I thought about it for a second and was like, these two really could maybe work.

[Ria]

He has said that before. He has. So I think that they maybe hung out a little bit.

[Fran]

And it seems like Carl and Lindsey are in a good place, which is nice. A lot of people, the comments rooting for them to get back together. I was like, I don't know about that one.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

But it's nice that they can, like, be friendly and support each other and, like, have and have. That. That was nice. West was asked if he was, like, interested in anybody at Bravo Con, and he said, are in a Biermann, Right? And I was like, damn, did we do that?

[Ria]

We did at our live show. We Put her up on the. Yeah.

[Fran]

And he was like, who is that? And we're like, I was. And now. Now he was like, now he's interested. He was like, I met her in real life. She's gorgeous. And then he did the same thing. He was like, how old is she, though? I was like, she's. She's like 25 at least, I think. Yeah.

[Ria]

That whole thing happened at our last.

[Fran]

I was like, we did the whole thing at our live show. But you're welcome for that.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

For that answer. Because that's a good. Like, that's a. That's a good answer.

[Ria]

I think she did look gorgeous.

[Fran]

You know, she's 20. Oh, she's 24. Which is not too crazy in the grand scheme of things. And like, whatever, being in New York and dating and whatnot. And I feel like she and her boyfriend just broke up, so it's like she's single. Lot of love for Next Gen. They got another season. Charlie was back. Lot of love for Next Gen. Listen, Rookies of the year, they won at the. At the awards.

[Ria]

One of the worst shows I've ever seen. But, you know, if they can really keep it going, then good, then good for them.

[Fran]

Yeah. I'm intrigued to see how. How that continues. Trying to think of any other big moments I saw on Social. I feel like those were really the big ones.

[Ria]

Those were the standout ones. Those were what people were talking about the most.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Obviously you get little side comments here and there from a lot of the panels, but yeah, you know, I'm sure more will come out in days to come as well because there's always stuff that happened at a late night party or behind the scenes or backstage or the green rooms and things like that. So we'll have to be on the lookout for more gossip being spread. Right. About BravoCon.

[Fran]

Andy said also said that good news is on the way for old Roni.

[Ria]

Mm.

[Fran]

Which is interesting because they also just announced today that. Or I saw this morning it was Jessel, Sy, and Aaron coming back for Roni. So I'm like, I wonder if they're gonna split it up, maybe do something with the old cast and then the new. And then bring in new people again for the new one. I know he said they were finalizing that cast and all that Portia, Sonia and Heather Gay are gonna do. Love Hotel Season two.

[Ria]

Mm.

[Fran]

And the trailer for Rhode island island just came out, which I was so excited to see Ashley on there.

[Ria]

Ashley from the Bachelor?

[Fran]

Yes. Because there were rumors that she was joining there Were some, like, videos of her and Jared filming. And I think they weren't sure if she was, like, official cast member or friend of. Or what her involved. It was. She's very much in the trailer. And it's like, these girls that have probably known each other for a long time. Looks like there's some. A lot of family dynamics as well with these. Looks like we got some Rhode Island Italians in the mix.

[Ria]

Oh, yeah, big time.

[Fran]

I was getting major Jersey vibes from. From this cast, and. And then they were like, ashley's the new girl. She's not from here, but she's gonna be involved in it too. Which I was so excited. Cause I saw her at the Dormouse premiere, and we were talking about all this shit. And then as me and Gia were leaving, I was like, oh, my God, I didn't even fucking ask you about Rhode Island. And she was like, you'll see something soon. And I was like, I know, it's very exciting.

[Ria]

And this came out. Big shout out to Haley, our girl, our makeup artist and dear friend. Did Dolores makeup for a lot of Rhode Island. So excited to see that beautiful work.

[Fran]

Yep.

[Ria]

On our television screens.

[Fran]

The girl that Dolores is friends with, they could be sisters. They look very similar.

[Ria]

That makes sense.

[Fran]

They look very similar. So, yeah, so many, like, fun announcements. Big news. I'm excited for Rhode island and Beverly Hills is soon. And that was that. I feel like that was it. So good. Andy hated his panel. The first day with Jeff Lewis.

[Ria]

Oh, yeah. Because.

[Fran]

Which is fair. Jeff was being annoying.

[Ria]

Jeff Lewis can sometimes be a little out of control.

[Fran]

The comment that Jeff Lewis made about Monica.

[Ria]

No, insane.

[Fran]

Was saying so out of line and so inappropriate.

[Ria]

Insane.

[Fran]

And, like, I was truly shocked with just, like. With everything in the world and him saying that, like, that was just crazy. Really fucked up. Really inappropriate. I'm sure Andy was not happy with.

[Ria]

Him behind the scenes. I would be so pissed at him. I'd be like, what the fuck is wrong with you?

[Fran]

Yeah. He alluded to his interview with Call Her Daddy, where Alex had asked, like, who would succeed him? And he was like, well, one. I'm not going anywhere. So, you know, but if I had to. He mentioned Jeff and then he mentioned Jerry o'.

[Ria]

Connell.

[Fran]

And when Jerry asked a question from the audience to Andy and he brought that up, and he was like, but now Jeff's out, so you're. So you're in. Very fair, but. Yeah. No, no. And I'm trying to think of Andy. If Andy, like, kind of teased anything else, really feel like The Jersey stuff was the. Was the bigger thing that they're, like, not in a rush to get cameras back up. He was like, look, there's certain shows. You be like, be grateful they went for so long. He's like, you know, the old Roni. Like, we had 13amazing seasons. Be so grateful that that happened. That doesn't mean it has to continue forever. And I think we're gonna see that with whatever new things that they have going on with Roni. And same with Jersey. It's like we would rather keep the cameras down for a little bit and try and get it right. And hold on.

[Ria]

Cause I want to get real stuff. I don't want to get fake, you know?

[Alex Earle]

Oh, we reunited.

[Ria]

Dah, dah. Like, give us the real shit.

[Fran]

Exactly, Exactly.

[Ria]

All right, that wraps up Bravocom. Batiste is the award winning number one dry shampoo. Number one in the US and in the world. You can instantly refresh your hair with Batiste. It absorbs oil and grease for cleaner looking and feeling hair with added volume and texture. After we record today, I'm gonna go head out and get a blowout for the week. And I will be refreshing my blowout all week with Batiste dry Shampoo. It's great on your hair. It's easy on your wallet, and you can get the blowout look with. Without the blowout price. Batiste works better than the next leading competitor and brands that cost up to two times more. It's a cult classic for a reason. When you step into your friend's home, you say, hey, you got some dry shampoo? They're pulling out that Batiste. Buy Batiste dry shampoo online or in store at your nearest retailer. All right, let's get into the weekly watch report where we talk about the things we watch this week. Weekly watch report on Monday. Weekly watch report on Monday. Weekly watch report on Monday. Weekly watch report on Monday. Well, it's a little deeper than usual.

[Fran]

Yeah, I feel like the cake of swords.

[Alex Earle]

You gotta get to.

[Ria]

It's gotta get deep.

[Fran]

If you move your tongue.

[Alex Earle]

Lost.

[Fran]

It just goes deep.

[Ria]

Very deep. Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Season 3. Season 3. Watch. The entire thing shows. So how about you?

[Fran]

I actually have one episode left. It's all right. I. I'm. I don't care if you want, like, all right.

[Ria]

Because the finale, like a weird thing.

[Fran]

Spoiler alert.

[Ria]

If anybody.

[Fran]

Yeah, I was gonna say spoiler, because we're. That was all 10 episodes came out this weekend. Yeah.

[Ria]

And I watched them all on the plane yesterday. Spoiler. Spoiler. Spoiler.

[Fran]

I can't believe you made it. I can't believe you watched all of them yesterday. I'm so impressed.

[Ria]

I did. I watched them all, and then, like, I didn't watch them all in the play.

[Fran]

Yeah, no. Yeah.

[Ria]

I just felt like I had to, because when I posted on my story that I was watching, people responded like, please watch them all. Okay, well, now I feel like I have to watch them all.

[Fran]

No, I. I made it all the way to Truly. I made it all the way to nine, and then it was like, I watched the end of nine last night after the Eagles game, and then I was like, I need to go to bed.

[Ria]

Did you see the weird thing in the finale with Taylor and Chase?

[Fran]

No. Oh, I haven't seen that on TikTok.

[Ria]

Weird. Did you see that on TikTok? No.

[Fran]

I think maybe I saw it, but I think I scrolled past it because I was like, oh, I didn't see.

[Ria]

Yeah, it's a weird. The finale had a weird, like, a romantic thing. It was, like, flirty. It was definitely, like. It felt. It felt flirty.

[Fran]

Well, it's always funny because it's like, even when that stuff happens, we know nothing.

[Ria]

And I sort of fell asleep, like, right after that. Now I'm like. I'm in a daze about what happened.

[Mark Ballas]

Right.

[Ria]

Well, I saw a lot of it on TikTok.

[Fran]

We also, like, know nothing happens because she's the Bachelorette, you know? Like, it's like, yeah, maybe they would. Maybe something happened at the time, but not now.

[Ria]

Like you said, she's. She's gonna be the Bachelorette, so we know that. Right. You know, like, nothing is coming out happening. But if I have to hear Marciano's name.

[Fran]

Oh, and. Yeah.

[Ria]

One more fucking time. Holy shit.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

I can't stand this guy.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

First of all, what do they even see in him? Why is he breaking mom talk apart? You know what I mean? I know. I. I don't understand it. We don't have to harp on that. But I don't. Like, he's a douchebag, like, on. You know what I mean? Like, he just. He doesn't even have an appealing personality, in my opinion. I feel like he so douchey. But it was revealed that Jesse had exchanged two kisses with Marciano and what she calls an emotional affair with their texting and. And whatnot. And on top of that, Marciano saying him and Demi shared a kiss as well. Or Demi. Sorry. Demi shared a kiss as well. And this whole season is taken up by this drama.

[Mark Ballas]

Yeah.

[Ria]

All right, first of all, I wasn't expecting this from Jesse. We. We got to address that. Like, we. I think everyone was shocked. Everyone was shocked by this with Jesse, because Jesse just does not seem like she would do this.

[Fran]

No.

[Ria]

So everyone was shocked by this. On top of that, Demi.

[Fran]

Demi.

[Ria]

Demi is so vile and mean, but I can't wrap my head around it. And by the way, on top of that, fucking beautiful. Like, that. That's like. You're like, oh, my God, she is so pretty. Beautifully evil, but seemingly evil, in my opinion.

[Fran]

Yeah, yeah, you're. Yeah, it's. It's crazy because they really share, like, the inner workings of the show, and they do keep, like. They refer to mom talk as, like, mom talk, but it's like the stars of the Hulu show, the Secret lives of Mormon wives, like, that's what they're talking about.

[Ria]

Mm.

[Fran]

It's like, oh, do we let her stay on the show? Do we not let her stay on the show? She doesn't want to be on the show. Does she want to be on the show? Does she not want to be on the show? And it's been that, I feel like is also such a big conversation because when they're talking about contracts, and Demi wanted to be paid more than everybody else, so she wasn't going to go back to the show. And Whitney wanted Oscar tickets and to be on a scripted show, but she says the Oscar. Oscar tickets wasn't part of it. The scripted show was part of it. And whatever. We'll get to that part. We'll talk about. We'll talk about Whitney. But I do think Jesse has tried to be the one that, like, puts on a happy face and can be friends with everybody and, like, tries to hold the group together. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, her marriage was not in a good place. She definitely opens up about that a lot in this season, more so than seasons past, which I'm sure she was very nervous to do. But talking about how, you know, Jordan would talk to her and treat her, and you're never like, obviously, no one's excusing the cheating and it doesn't have to get to that point. But hearing about how Jordan was talking to her for years, and then when they have that sit down on the couch and they're talking to each other, and he, you know, I'm not gonna say the exact words right, but, you know, along the lines of, like, this is why I treated you the way that I treated you. I was like, oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, Put my foot down right here. We're not talking to her like that.

[Ria]

No.

[Fran]

And that was a perfect glimpse because, you know, he tries to keep it buttoned up on camera. I always feel like guys that are like, mean to their wives behind the scenes that are on reality tv, they put on a happy smiley face when the camera's on. And this guy is the whole barbecue, I'm the victim, the whole thing. And then you, you just catch a glimpse. Yeah, sometimes you just catch a glimpse of what they really are. And it was that one sentence where I was like, ooh, yeah, I know he is nasty to her when the cameras aren't rolling more and you see her, like, physically crumble like she is in a ball. Her body language is terrible. You know that this is like, not the first time that he's talked to her like this. And I, I did not like that at all. And I'm not, you know, very confused on where they stand currently because it was like they took this separation, they were on a break meanwhile, like they, she that they were separated even when she was with Marciano. And then they tried to make it work and they do this 90 day separation on the show and it's like, oh, he does seem to be getting better. And I don't know. And then he's on social saying that this has been like, so hard for him, like posting pictures, family, and they've been doing stuff together, but she changed all of her social names off from his last name. So I'm not, I'm like kind of confused on where, on where they're at. But, you know, I'm sure that was really, really hard for Jesse to open up about. And once again, it's like, I think all the girls felt this way too. It's like we're not condoning her cheating on him, but she's now finally telling us how messed up their marriage was. And it sounds like it was something she maybe should have gotten out of in the first place.

[Ria]

Because here's the thing. Obviously what Jesse did was so wrong. Like, cheating. So not okay. But then when you watch the conversation that she had with Jordan and she's opening up to her friends about, like, the emotional abuse that Jordan puts her through, and for him to be like, this is why I treat you that way. So, like, what do you mean? Because you're, you're not treating her a certain way because she cheated. You're cheating because. Because then how did you. The way you treated her. But you know what I'm saying, like, the way he treated her before she cheated was because of why, like, the way. What he's saying, like, this is why I treat this way. And it's like, oh, because. Because you don't do the laundry the right way. Like. Cause she was saying that, you know, whatever.

[Fran]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We really just. Her continuing to see Marciano or whatever you want to call it, like, I just feel like she actually was. So. She was doing that. Cuz she was so determined to prove that they did not sleep together. And I think she really wanted to, like, clear her name and be honest about everything. And. And I also think Jesse is just like a very kind person. And I don't think she's someone that would be like, outwardly rude or like, whatever.

[Ria]

But on top of that, like, it's like, yeah. Did Marciano have to go to dinner with all them?

[Fran]

Probably not.

[Ria]

Then Jesse being like, I can't say I'll never talk to him again. It's like, you probably. After you guys get, you know, get through the lie detector and all that.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

And, you know, get. The truth comes out. You probably should not be talking with.

[Fran]

The person for so many reasons. Marciano should. No one should talk to Marciano.

[Ria]

No one should be talking to him in the, in the first. The. The fact he's even involved with this group in the first place shouldn't be happening. But on top of that, like, understand where Jordan's coming from with being like, I don't want you to be talking to this guy all the time. You cheated on me with him. And I do think that Jesse and the friend said this too, seemed a little bit giddy to be like, talking to Marciano. You know, like when Marciano shows up and she's like, oh, I don't look like. Look like. He's like, you look beautiful, so I don't look good. And then like the next scene when. When she's meeting up with him, she's like, I look better than the last time.

[Fran]

And it's like, yeah, you shouldn't really be. You shouldn't really be caring no one. I think she's looking for validation.

[Ria]

She is 1,000%. But like, you shouldn't be like, caring about, like, what you look like whatever in front of the guy. In front of this guy you cheated with. So to me, I'm like, is there. Is there unresolved feelings there?

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Which then, if there is, then like, that's where she's got to have that conversation with Jordan. I don't even.

[Fran]

I don't think there is I think it's more of a. Like, from what she was talking about in therapy. Like, I think she is very hard on herself, appearance wise. I think she really, like. I think she got attention from a guy and they didn't quite know. Like, it. Like, it validated her in a way that she wasn't feeling validated in her marriage or. Or herself. Or herself, like, looking in the mirror. She wasn't. You know, she basically was like, I don't like anything about my appearance and that.

[Ria]

And that makes me. That my heart breaks for her for that because she is so beautiful and she is so kind from what, you know, we've seen from her. And so that really sucks that she feels that way about herself. I do feel like there's a conversation as a whole about a lot of these women who settle down at a very young age, and they're in this Mormon community, and then they get older and they're like, wait, fuck. Like, do I want to be married? Do I want to be married before.

[Fran]

Their frontal lobes have been rubbed and.

[Ria]

They'Re like, you know, Even at, like, 16 years old, you know, like, it's a lot of. It's a lot to do with that, and it's like, a lot happening at a young age. And then they're like, oh, shit, like, is this the life I want? Or what life do I want? So they end up in a little bit of like, a, you know, who am I? What do I want? And I think we're seeing that unfold. I feel like Jesse has been so honest this season, and to come forward with all of that must have been extremely hard because, you know, you're gonna have judgment from everybody, and everyone's gonna be like, what the fuck? Like, you shouldn't be doing that. That. On the other side of it, we're seeing her open up about their marriage, which we. We didn't know about and her friends didn't know about. So all of it is. Is very open and honest. And then you got Demi, who.

[Fran]

Yeah, I don't.

[Ria]

I don't know. Like, I just don't know.

[Fran]

I'm so confused.

[Ria]

I'm so confused by her. I'm so confused about her. Marciano, like, what happened there? And obviously, all the women are having, like, that reaction where they're like, like, okay, well, if. If Demi does feel like she was taken advantage of, we don't want to take that away from her. Of course, like, that is all valid if. If you had unwanted touch from a man, 100%, that's not okay. And then on the other side of that, they're like. But we don't know what is adding up, because she was sending pictures of her daughter to Marciano, and there was all these, like, long text messages with him. And then Demi tried to use, like, Macy. Michaela's situation.

[Fran]

Yeah, I did. That's what really rubbed me the wrong way of, like, you guys know how. You guys know what it feels like, right? Like, it's like, well, hold on. Like, let's.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

Slowly roll here. And I don't know. Like, sometimes I feel like she. Like, Demi just really gets in her own way, and it's like this verbal, like, warfare that she almost spits at people, and it does not help her case. And I feel like she's trying to be honest about some things, but then she's like, it isn't. It's manipulative. There's. There's things that she is twisting to benefit her. And I did like, the way her and Brett were talking about everybody on the phone. I'm like, they just kind of seem like nasty people.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

Like, they're just, like, talking about everybody in a nasty way and, you know, calling Miranda, like, white trash.

[Ria]

Wow. And I like Miranda.

[Fran]

I like Miranda a lot.

[Ria]

Miranda is, like, got her head on.

[Fran]

Straight in the room, and she's like, I'm not gonna let anything blow up unless it's. It's coming to me now. It's affecting me personally. And that's what she was saying. She's like. She's using her position as a woman to, like, make. Take something that was this. This big and making it this big. And even, like, I do think it kind of is detrimental to Demi when she's, like, blowing these things up. Like the thing with Chase where she's like, he shoved me. And she's like, you weren't shoved. I felt like even I was confused. I'm like, I straight up Googled. I'm like, what is the definition of shove?

[Ria]

I felt like they were like a lightly push. Like, they kept. They kept from jumping from over push to shove. And I'm interested. What other word would I use?

[Fran]

But then she's like, what else would you call it? It was a sh. And it was like, well. Well, you. You want.

[Ria]

Shove is like a forceful push.

[Fran]

You want. Like, by using the term shove, you are very much trying to sound like there was a, like, rough nature to it. Like, it was an aggressive nature. I did like, a good definition of shovel verb. Push someone or something roughly. Or the noun. A strong Push. And yes, while. Yes, he did put her hands on her. And that's.

[Ria]

Which should not happen.

[Fran]

Which should not happen. I almost feel like she just pushes it to try and, like, push her narrative of, like, I am being attacked in all directions.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

And it's just. It's.

[Whitney Levitt]

It's.

[Fran]

I don't know, it's tough. And then, like we said, and you saw the season two reunion, and you're reading the text messages, and you're reading the messages that were sent, and. And Jen's got the voice note of her kind of, like, trying to tell her what to do. And Jen saying Demi's manager called her manager, like, kind of threatening her. It's all very. It's all very fishy, by the way. I think the timeline of this show can be very confusing.

[Ria]

Very, very confusing. I don't know when anything is.

[Fran]

I don't know when she's.

[Ria]

Jeanne and Del Rey talking about season two. Season two hadn't even aired yet when.

[Fran]

They were filming this. Like, we're watching season three. They're filming the season two reunion. They're talking about that they don't have, like, them still filming the show while they're doing so much press for season two. Obviously makes sense, because that's when they're all together and you can't get all of them in the same room because they don't. There aren't. They aren't friends.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

So it's like they have to be filming during those times because that's when they're all together. And then you're like, well, wait, when was this happening? Wait, so they're still promoting season two, so they're still talking about this, but we're already moved on to this because all this shit has already happened. So it's all. It's all very confusing. And even, like, I think, like, with Whitney coming back into the mix, which, by the way, I know Whitney is getting shit for online of, like, this is why she shouldn't be on Dancing with the Stars, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, honestly, I very much see, like, after season two, when she tried so hard to be back in the group and everyone was like, fine, like, she can be back in, like, so clearly no one really wanted to be her friend. And that's a hard feeling. So she was like, these people aren't really my friends. I don't have a good relationship with them, but I could get an opportunity to be on Dancing with the Stars. That I'm gonna take that, and I'm not gonna fault her for that. I'm really not. And she was honest about it. She was like, look, yes. Am I here because of the Dancing with the stars thing? 100%. I want to be on Dancing with the Stars.

[Ria]

What I don't understand is when. When Jen is like, is she here for the right reasons or just fame and fortune? What would be. What would be the right reasons to be on TikTok and on reality TV?

[Fran]

Yep.

[Ria]

I want to know what the answer is.

[Fran]

Imagine they were like, we just want to be friends.

[Ria]

No, no. You could be friends.

[Fran]

Not on tv.

[Ria]

Yeah. Then. Then just be friends. Not on reality tv. Like, what do you mean, for the right reasons? Like, this isn't the Bachelor. Like, finding love. Like, this is like, you guys are.

[Fran]

All in it for all using it as a stepping stool to something else.

[Ria]

For. For Jesse's hair salon or this business or that business. Like, you want to grow your businesses, and in some ways, you are your own. Like, you as a person are a business. So Whitney sees herself as a business. She's like, I want to get these opportunities. I want to be on date to. And she's. She's honest about it. She's like, yeah, I came back to be on Disney with stars. So I don't understand the argument of here for the right reasons when it comes to mom talk. Because they're making tiktoks and being on reality TV for money.

[Fran]

Yeah, 100%. I agree. It's like, when they're.

[Ria]

And you could. And here's the thing. I don't want to. Like, now this is becoming, like, a deeper conversation. But, like, yes, of course you can make TikToks if you want to, you know, just. Just spread love and cheer and joy and all those things. Of course, that's. That's part of the fun of it. Like, entertain. You want to entertain people? Of course.

[Fran]

Yeah. This is reality tv. They're getting paychecks.

[Ria]

Reality. Like, why are you guys signing up to reveal your entire lives? Because you. Just for the love of the game, you want to reveal your whole life, your affairs, your this, you're that. Just because you fucking want to. No, because they're paying you and you're getting other opportunities to grow your life from this. So I don't agree with that sentiment. And it's like, whatever.

[Fran]

As for, like, best friends, like, too. Like, some of them really are best friends, and that's so great for them, but you're not gonna be best friends with everybody. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Shorter days. Don't have to be so dismal. It's time to reach out and check in with those you care about and to remind ourselves that we're not alone. As seasons change and days grow darker sooner, it can be a tough time for many. This November, Better Help is encouraging everyone to reach out, check in on friends, reconnect with loved ones and remind the people in your life that you are there. Just as it can take a little courage to send that message or grab coffee with someone you haven't seen in a while, reaching out for therapy can feel difficult too, but it's worth it. BetterHelp does the initial matching for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. All you have to do is take a short questionnaire that helps identify your needs and preferences and their 12 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate means that they'll typically get it right the first time. If you aren't happy with your match, switch to a different therapist at any time. From their tailored recs this month, don't wait to reach out. Whether you're checking in on a friend or reaching out to a therapist yourself, BetterHelp makes it easier to take that first step. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com office. That's betterhelp h e l p.com office.

[Ria]

But as for Whitney being friends with Demi. Yeah, I, I don't understand that and I, I don't. Something about that doesn't feel right to me.

[Fran]

I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt because she had no like, right.

[Ria]

And I'm, I'm wondering if it's because she has nobody else in that group that she's befriending Demi because I can't understand being her friend. And maybe Demi is manipulating Whitney to believe her like lies as well.

[Fran]

And 100%, I think Demi, like, she did it to everybody. She's like, now I can next. My next target is Whitney so I can get someone on my side, right?

[Ria]

Because whit isolated from the group so it's like, oh perfect, I'll have Whitney on my side. I feel like Whitney is lost in that aspect of like who she's friends with, who likes or who doesn't like or whatever. But when it comes to like the business stuff and Dancing with the Stars, like who fucking cares? Like, yes. Oh, she's open and honest about her goals of wanting to like be a star.

[Fran]

I mean like any other reality TV show. Like think about next gen. Like all those girl, all those kids, like knew each other but some. Some more than others. Some are just meeting on the show. Why are they on reality tv is because they're getting an opportunity to be on tv. They want to use it. So it's like, yes, granted, mom talk. They all were making videos together beforehand. So it's like, yeah, they were all friendly and all friends, but now they are on a show that is a business and it's a massive show. And they're getting these insane opportunities. And not everybody is gonna get the same opportunities. Some people are gonna get picked. Like, Taylor's gonna be the Bachelorette. You know, like, they clearly, ABC and Disney, you know, unscripted as a whole, loves the Mormon wives. They love what they're doing. They want to put them on other things and they're gonna get other opportunities. And, like, it is kind of the whole show. While, yes, you do want everybody to be. To be. To be friends and to be able to talk, but those girls haven't exactly been like, the best to Whitney. So it's like, I don't really know why they have to pretend like they need to be great friends.

[Ria]

So, yeah, when it comes to the friendship stuff, I'm like, I, you know, you don't know what's going on behind the scenes and who's saying what to whom when the friends. And like, I don't. I don't like the fact that, like, just Demi just really rubs me the wrong way. So, yeah, that does not help Whitney's case. But when it comes to wanting to be on Dancing with Stars all four, no.

[Fran]

I'm kind of hoping maybe she has a. Has a realization with that because even it seemed like Connor, her husband, was kind of like, mm, this doesn't.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

Seem like it's all adding up, you know, like, it just seemed like everybody was having that feeling. So I don't know. I do appreciate Whitney, like, being the friend that's like, hey, like, I'm gonna be there for my friend and she is my friend and I'm gonna try and be there for her. But at the same time, it's. It's a. It's a tough go for whatever. How I'm also like, why was Demi asking for three times more money than everybody else?

[Ria]

How about Demi being like, what was it like?

[Fran]

Like, yeah, I did not like that. I did not like that. Once again, this is another. That's another person where it was like very Jordan esque, where it's like they. They put on this reality TV face and then there's certain. Certain glimpses you get of how they talk to people. And you're like that. Oh, you showed your real face there for a second.

[Ria]

I was like, oh, my God. Like genuinely watching. I was. I was shocked. And then to sort of wrap up the Mormon conversation. And Taylor was. Has been lovely this season, in my opinion. Like, I think she's 100% really very level head, genuine. Do I think she's ready to be the Bachelorette? Absolutely not. Yeah, I think she has a lot of unresolved feelings with Dakota. Yeah, there was a little, you know, flirty with Chase at the end there. I don't think she's ready to be the Bachelorette. But. But that's. But that's okay. We're going to watch it and we are going to be in for the messy drama that's going to happen. But I felt like she was pretty level headed this season and really tried to, like, help out because she's been through a lot. Yeah. I feel like she was just like trying to. Even when it came to the Jesse Marciano dinner. Like, Taylor was like, I've been in this situation. Like, I don't think Marciano should be at this dinner. Yeah. And like, she was honest about that. So great season. Dramatic. I don't want to hear Marciano's name ever again. But I will give this season an A because it had everybody locked in on top of that. Not much else. I watched the first episode of All Her Fault. Very, very good. Great cast. Really locked into. I'm very excited to get home and watch the second episode tonight. But I will give that first episode an A minus. I think it's gonna be a really good show and I really want to know what's happening. I'm locked into that. Amazing cast, really great actors on that show Squid Game. I'm now I have a lot to catch up on, but I watched episodes six and seven last night. I'll give that like a B minus. Not as I wasn't as locked in as I was the first couple episodes. Cause a lot of people went home that I found to be like interesting characters and whatnot. And then Dancing with the Stars, we were there. So obviously I'm gonna give that an A. And that is everything I watched. Haven't watched the Jonas Brothers movie. I'm saving that for Friday night when I'm home and cozy and me and Matt are just gonna cuddle up on the couch and watch some TV and we're gonna thoroughly enjoy the Jonas Brothers movie, which you told Matt that you specifically think he is going to like.

[Fran]

I think he's gonna. I think he's gonna really like it.

[Ria]

Yeah, I'm excited.

[Fran]

I think he's gonna think it's really funny.

[Ria]

I am. I am excited for his reaction, and I'm excited to just cozy up on the couch after a lot of travel time and catch up on all the TV that I want to catch up on this week.

[Fran]

Yes. I will give Mormon Wives an A as well. I mean, it had me locked in. These girls certainly bring. They certainly bring the drama. That is for sure. I really want to know what happened is what's going on with Whitney and Jen, too. Like, Jen's had some, like, to. To paparazzi, like about Dancing with the Stars.

[Ria]

I want to know, too, because I think the other girls have been supporting Whitney a lot.

[Fran]

Yeah. Layla was in the comments being like. Because they. Somebody asked her outside the event, the plaza being like, who do you want to win? And I think Jen said she was rooting for Robert, and Layla in the comments was like, whitney's my winner. So it was just like.

[Mark Ballas]

I don't know.

[Fran]

It's just. It's. It is.

[Ria]

Even Michaela made a shirt with Whitney, like, a couple weeks ago.

[Fran]

Yeah. So it's all very interesting. What else did I watch? Okay, so Maxon hall is back, which I did not realize, and I watched, so, so sorry, everyone. You're gonna be mad at me, but the first four episodes. It's only six episodes. First four out. I realized that we actually got screeners for Max and Hall, honestly, a while ago, and I forgot about it because when I saw the release date, like, when the email came in about the screeners and I saw the release date, I was like. And it was only the first three episodes. I was like, I don't want to watch this now so far ahead of when they actually come out, because then I'll. I'll either forget or I'm like, it's such a cliffhanger to watch. Not have it week to week and have it be, like, almost a month plus. So I kind of forgot about it. Then when I saw the season was out, I was like, oh, my God. So I watched everything that was out. And then after I watched that, I was like, I have to know what happens. So I watched 5 and 6 via screener, which I will obviously not talk about. I can't. But it's so good. And the problem also was the screeners were actually in. The screeners were actually in German.

[Ria]

I died when you told me this.

[Fran]

The screeners were actually in German, which Is like the English subtitles. And I was like, fuck it, I'm watching. And, and everyone has their preferred way. Some people do like to watch it in German and, and have the subtitles because it is also dubbed over in English, which is what people watch. And let me tell you, it's also interesting to watch it with dubbed over in English with the subtitles because they're, they're different and obviously the D, like when you dub it over, you need it to be condensed to where it's like the same amount of time that the people are talking.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

So it's not like probably full accurate translation, but God, these two have some serious chemistry, let me tell you. And I was deep on TikTok being like, are these two together? Like what's going on? Because, God, if they're not, they should be. And I know I'm not the only one that, that thinks that. And I asked. I honestly saw one blind on it blind item. It could be the most made up thing ever. That was like he broke up with his long term girlfriend in June and she was also dating some German rapper and they broke up and now they've been seen around a lot together in like the last couple months. And I was like, yes, maybe. It's happening so fucking hot. It's insane. He's so hot. She's so hot. Their chemistry is out of this world. Won't be giving away any spoilers or anything, but this fucking dad is as evil as it gets. Nothing like an evil dad in a TV show. This guy is fucking evil. Evil. He's ready to ruin this poor girl's life. And I am proud of James for getting up there. He's at this event, he's talking about his mental health. It's like, like the elements of it are very like they don't really dig too deep into it but like he's up there talking about his mental health. His mom has died and he's, he went through. He's trying to process all of it. And the dad's like. And all these old white men are like, his little outburst is gonna cause problems for the business. Like the business is plummeting because he shared his feelings. So. So sometimes a lot of the storylines will outdated. Granted it is based on a, on a book and I'm not even sure when the book came out. The book like just was released in English because people wanted to read the books and they were not in English. I think they just came out with them in English. So it's a little like outdated of like, ah, man opens up about mental health, business plummets. Like, but it's, it has, it has me absolutely locked in, truly locked in. And his. The really just top notch, top notch chemistry between these two. I don't have much else to say about that. And they, they did confirm a third season already because there's three books. I think they just have that coming. Hopefully sooner rather than later. I will give. I mean it's a B plus. It's solid. I'm locked in these two, like make it the show that it is because they're so good. But the other like storylines are pretty, pretty nuts, I will say. And I watched Freaker Friday on the plane. I thought it was so cute. Loved it. Yeah, I thought it was adorable. Loved. Like that was a first, I will say. And I've watched some of like the Lindsay Lohan, you know, Christmas movies and things like that. That was, this was really the first one where I was like, this is my Lindsay Lohan, you know, like, I thought she did a great job. Funny. Her and Jamie Lee Curtis are so fucking funny together. It was really cute. I'll give it a B. I really, I thought it was adorable. I liked the premise of it and very sweet. Not as like I wasn't blown away by any means, but it was cute and I thought it was well written and well done. The. I watched Step up on the Plane as well, which I just haven't seen in a while.

[Ria]

Classic.

[Fran]

God, is that just a fucking phenomenal movie? It's just such. It's an A movie. It's Step up is an A. Every single. Every single time I tear up at, you know, the park, you know, every single time it gets me. But. And now you watch in a different lens because I'm like, wow, these two really did fall in love watching filming this movie.

[Ria]

Same chemistry between.

[Fran]

They really do. It's such a good movie. Okay. And then honestly, I caught up on Salt Lake City, which Salt Lake City is like the best show on Bravo right now. It's like not even close. These ladies are so fucking funny without really being funny.

[Ria]

That might be my Friday like day binge.

[Fran]

You got to get back into it. Because they like these storylines are so like the, the words that come out of these girls mouths are so fucking funny. Like even when they're fighting, it's just, it's so good. So they, they're just getting off the. They're just getting off the yacht. Brittany. They got all this drama with Brittany. The fact that nobody filmed this flight that apparently they were on that Meredith lost her shit on this flight and no one filmed it is mind blowing to me like that none of them pulled out their phones or anything. But there were no cameras in it. It is what's causing the drama because Meredith's like really trying to downplay it. And it's so funny because all the other girls were like, Meredith, we were, we were there. Like you're lot like you're trying to spin something that it wasn't that big of a deal. We were there. Like Mary has a very sit down conversation with her at the end of the episode where she's like, Meredith, like I'm trying to be your friend here. Like I, I heard you. And she's like, I don't know. You were on the other side of the plane. And they showed the, the seating chart. It was just like they were in first class where it was just the two double seats seats and Mary was a row ahead on the window and they were, they were a row apart and just Mary was at the window. It was like somebody's yelling.

[Ria]

You can hear that for sure.

[Fran]

You can hear them. And she's like, I thought Brittany had her headphones and I didn't know she could hear me at all. It's like, oh my God. It's absolutely nuts. It's ludicrous. Obviously they could all hear Meredith screaming about Britney. Brittany was in shambles about it. Absolutely nuts. So Salt Lake City is an a, like it is so good. These last few episodes have been fantastic. And at Bravicon, Andy teased that this episode on Tuesday is like his favorite ever.

[Ria]

Yeah. His favorite franchise right now.

[Fran]

Yeah. So I'm really excited to watch that. I caught up on all the Chicago's because now we're heading into our fall hiatus. A little bit of. A little bit of a break now. PD is like a c. It's just like been okay for me. I haven't felt connected to any of these, any of these new people. I don't know what it is is. It's not doing it for me as much. But Med and fire. I'll give Bees. Very good. They always kind of like leave you being like, ooh, something, something juicy is going to happen here before the, the fall break. Little fall break.

[Ria]

And then.

[Fran]

I don't think I've really watched anything else, honestly. Mormon Wives, once that came out was.

[Ria]

Like, takes up a lot of time.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

All 10 episodes at once.

[Fran]

I've been watching Love Island Australia, which I have not talked about. I'm on episode seven. I think I Want to say seven? I'll give it a. I'll give it a C plus something. I'm kind of just like turning it on, like to have it on. I was watching it at night before bed in LA just to put something on. The Austrian, the Aussies are always a little nice. There was a little jumping around. They brought. They brought some girl's ex boyfriend on. They love doing that now. Oh, yeah, that's always causing drama. So that's kind of what where I'm at right now. And Australia's always also kind of different because it's very. I don't think they film it in real time. I might be wrong about that, but I don't think I am because it's less like voting no.

[Ria]

That's true.

[Fran]

I'm pretty sure it's like they all decide on their own, like who they're sending home and all those things, which is obviously like a different element than the other shows. But yeah, I mean, they're certainly mingling. Like nobody. There's only one couple that's like, seems pretty locked in, so. Yeah, that's everything I watched.

[Ria]

All right.

[Fran]

Yeah, I gotta.

[Ria]

I got a lot to catch up on this week. I'm excited to have some. Some downtime and catch up on a lot of things. I want to get back into Salt Lake City. Need to watch the Jonas Brothers.

[Fran]

Oh, I did great. Jonas Brothers.

[Ria]

Oh, yeah. You have to.

[Fran]

I mean, it's an A. Not even A. I was debating A, but. But it's an A, A. It's an A.

[Ria]

It's still very solid.

[Fran]

It's an A. It was so funny. I think people are gonna love it. It came out this weekend, so now everybody hopefully has seen it or can watch it. Great cameos, great performances, new songs, everything. It was fantastic. So loved it.

[Ria]

I can't wait to watch. I saw a lot of people talking about it.

[Fran]

No, I think it's. It's really very.

[Ria]

Oh, my God.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Ready to get into the Christmas spirit because Thanksgiving's around the corner. All the holidays.

[Fran]

Exactly.

[Ria]

Cannot wait. All right, that wraps up everything we watched this week.

[Fran]

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[Ria]

All right, everyone. We are reporting live from the Dancing with the Stars rehearsal studio. We are here with Robert Irwin and Whitney Carson.

[Fran]

We are so excited.

[Ria]

Thank you guys for joining us.

[Robert Irwin]

Oh, my gosh.

[Ria]

How good is this? We're huggers.

[Robert Irwin]

We're all huggers.

[Ria]

So are we.

[Fran]

Yes.

[Mark Ballas]

I love it.

[Fran]

Thanks for having us. Us guys, we're so excited. I feel like we have broken into the loof. Like, I feel like I'm like, who let us in here? Who let us in here? And so we're so excited to be here. So excited to talk to you guys. We were at the show on Tuesday night and you guys were amazing.

[Ria]

Thank you. So good.

[Fran]

I want to talk about that dance a little bit quickly before we. We get into everything else. But it was an emotional one. Bindi was there as well in the audience. She got to come out and dance with you guys. What's it been like having Bindi with you through all of this?

[Robert Irwin]

It's been really cool. Like, when I first signed up for this show, it was a real just trust fall. Like I've got no idea what I'm doing. And so having her guidance was really cool. Just to say, lean into it, give it everything. Don't get in your own head about it. I mean, you're not going to be perfect. You gotta just go for it. And then as soon as we found out that it was gonna be Whitney as my partner, I just took this sigh of relief. I was like, oh, my God. I just feel so, you know, protected and supported. And then we just went for it. I mean, we just jumped into it and it's been the most beautiful experience ever. And my family have stayed with me here in LA the whole time. You know, I'm an Aussie. I'm so new to this world, but I just feel like I've got this community with me and I've gained a new family member in Whitney. So it's. It's been amazing. It's been so supportive.

[Whitney Carson]

It was really special to have her and Grace in the rehearsal space with us too, because they just brought another light and life to the studio. And you could just tell how much she loves you and how much she's proud of you. Like, it was just sweet to see their dynamic as well, and they're just.

[Robert Irwin]

I love was funny having Bindi and Whitney in the same room because it's like both my older siblings now are, like, ganging up on me.

[Ria]

But that's the best way. That's how you know you're close, too.

[Fran]

Exactly, exactly.

[Ria]

Oh, I love it. Robert, you have brought all of us to tears many times throughout this journey. Dedication night was so beautiful. The dance on Tuesday night was gorgeous as well. And you were surprised at the end with the visuals of you and your dad. Can you talk about that? What was that moment like? Because people have been wondering, you know, he was taken aback by this. How did you feel?

[Robert Irwin]

Yeah, well, it was interesting because they. I had word that there was going to be something at the end, and they said, you know, how. How much do you want to know? What do you.

[Val Szpakovsky]

What's.

[Robert Irwin]

I said, like, I need to know. Sort of the vibe of what. What it is I'm going into. But I said, I want to let it happen. I want to let it just. Just happen naturally. Because for the first time ever, this experience has been a way, I think, to find this avenue to feel and express emotions from my own grief journey that I've never been able to truly embrace before, and I certainly haven't embraced publicly. But I really, really strongly wanted to make this an opportunity to let everything go, let the guard down completely and sit in that sense of vulnerability. Because I think particularly my mum showed me what it is to be strong and how much strength there is in vulnerability and the fact that it's okay to cry, to let it all out. And I just hope for anyone, particularly any young people watching who have experienced that loss, to see. To see that and to see I'm not alone. And it's really hard sometimes. But what defines you is how you just keep moving forward. And for me, that dance that we did on Tuesday night was very healing. And I'm so grateful that I had my sister and my family there. I'm grateful I could represent what my dad was about, because really, I'm here to continue his legacy. But I was also very grateful that Whitney created this choreography and created an avenue to truly heal a part of myself that I think wanted to be healed for a long time.

[Alex Earle]

Yeah, it was.

[Fran]

It was really. It was beautiful. Did you know it was happening, Whitney?

[Whitney Carson]

I did know it was happening, and I. And Robert had an idea, like, he said, so.

[Robert Irwin]

And it was good. Like, everyone said, how much do you want to know?

[Whitney Carson]

Yeah, exactly.

[Robert Irwin]

I was involved in the conversation, and I said, I want to know enough.

[Fran]

Yep.

[Robert Irwin]

But I. I want it to. I want it to happen naturally.

[Fran]

Yeah. One of my favorite things, and we've gone a whopping two times now to be in the ballroom and see it, but it's such a different experience. And I love watching the pairings and the couples, like, have that moment when the package is playing and they hype themselves up for the dance. And I grabbed Ria's arm because before you guys dance, I was like, look at Robert, like, locked in with Whitney. And normally it's the pro being like, like, all right, we got this, like, let's go. And I'm like. I'm seeing Robert be like, we got this. Like, let's go. What is he saying to you before you guys start dancing? He.

[Whitney Carson]

I mean, every single time we have an unspoken connection before we dance, it's just very much locked in on each other. And I think specifically for that package, we didn't know if it was going to be emotional or not, especially because he was talking about his dad and so very much. He was just. You know, we got this, like, I am so proud of us and proud of all the heart. I mean, honestly, everything that I would be saying to him, he was saying to. It was, like, reverse. But it was so refreshing because I feel like usually I am the one being that support system, but he was kind of like that for me and for you as well, so it was really nice. I was like, okay, I'm just gonna sit here and listen to you and nod and be with you.

[Robert Irwin]

You know, we both kind of hype each other up for most dances, but then for that dance, it wasn't about hyping each other up. It was about just trying to get into this zone where, like, I know for me, when that music starts, I'm just thinking about my. My sister's dance. I'm thinking about her freestyle. She did the footprints in the sand. I'm thinking about the lyrics. I'm thinking about my dad. I'm thinking about all of the emotion that you draw on from the crowd, and it's very easy to be taken out of it. Like, I don't have any experience to lean on, so I have to think about every single movement so hard. But when it comes down to the actual performance, you have. You have to just let go, trust your body, and let the emotion move you. And so that's why I'm just, like, locked in. And we talk a lot about gratitude. Like, when I'm, like, with her and I'm just, like, eye to eye, I'm like, how amazing that we're here. I am so grateful we're here. Thank you for taking me to this point. Let's just feel the gratitude in the room. Let's take people with us. That's kind of the vibe.

[Ria]

And you can feel that through every single dance that you guys, guys do. Whitney, you have such incredible choreography. We love watching you dance. We get so excited every week to see what you come up with. How do you think Robert took to your choreography at first?

[Fran]

I think.

[Whitney Carson]

I think it was, like, very overwhelming. And you were like. You were like, can I even do this? Is this possible? But, you know, he's such a fast learner, and he was so excited. Like, each step it was like, oh, that's so cool. Oh, my gosh. I'm so excited about that. Which gets me really excited. So the fact that, like, you know, we have this camaraderie and we have this team together where we're both really excited about what we're doing, I think that's what you guys see is, like, our true passion and our hearts in those dances every single week.

[Ria]

And Robert seems to be very excited about the jive coming up. I feel like he has been waiting for the jive. He is a ball of energy. He just wants to jump up and down. How are you?

[Robert Irwin]

I just want to kick him.

[Fran]

But yeah. Do you think it's because of last week and dancing with Soshi and having, you know, the jive? You're like, I want to do that again.

[Robert Irwin]

Yeah, let's go.

[Fran]

Let's go.

[Ria]

Yeah. How are you going to control him?

[Whitney Carson]

Oh, I can't. I don't control him. I just let him do his thing.

[Alex Earle]

But we call him.

[Whitney Carson]

We call him the jive guy because he's very much like, if he were a dance style, it would be jive. Just, like, his energy and fast kicks and flicks. And I think that first one that we did was so special because it was, like, his debut, and there was so much pressure and so much, you know, anticipation and the fact that we had so much fun and we just nailed it, I think will always, like, stay with us. And now we just. We've been waiting to do the jive again. So now that it's finally come around, we're.

[Fran]

Yeah. There was no question, no debate when it was like, what dance do we want to do again? It was like, it must be jive.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Whitney Carson]

And I think it's nice too, because you can see how far he's come from week one to now. I mean, he's learned so much. And even how great the drive was at the, you know, at the start, I still see things that we can really improve on. And so I think it'll be nice for people to see how much of a dancer he's become.

[Robert Irwin]

And now that's the pressure is because you've got something to directly compare to. And it felt like a fun, strong performance to start with. Now we gotta top it. It's gotta be better. And we have to show that, like, eight weeks later, you know, I've learned a thing or two. That's the point.

[Ria]

Fran brought up you dancing with Sochi this week, which was so fun. And you went against Alex and Joey, who we love as well. And that was a hard one to decide who was better. We were like, Robert could take it, Alex could take it. It's a toss up. How'd you feel about Derek calling you and Sochi's chemistry out like that in front of everybody? Like, dude, don't blow up my spot like that.

[Fran]

Such a, like, older brother move.

[Robert Irwin]

Derek is so like that. It's so funny. But it feels like that in the ballroom. It's like this little family vibe. It's like, I've got my older sister and then I've got Derek there. Cause, I mean, I met Derek when I was 10, you know, when I came over when Bindi did the show. And it's just. Yeah, it's very full circle. But that was fun. And you're right. Like, it was so. It was such a fine line. It totally could have gone either way. Like, we finished our jive and it was just so much fun. And I remember just looking at Joey and looking at Alex. Alex is amazing. And I'm just like, oh, my gosh, no. I don't know what's gonna happen here. But we were very grateful that we could win that. But honestly, like, the competition this year, everybody is giving it every ounce and we're all, like, looking out for each other. I know it's A competition. But it really doesn't feel like that. It feels like we all just want each other to succeed. And when we do succeed, we're all.

[Ria]

Just really happy for each other. You do give off that energy, Valley.

[Fran]

We're all just having fun.

[Ria]

Wendy's like, I want to win.

[Fran]

I was like, literally on the shoulder, It's a competition.

[Robert Irwin]

Alex and Joey, before we went out, I'm like, alex, you got this. You're taking this.

[Whitney Carson]

Yeah, we always support. Yeah.

[Robert Irwin]

And I was like, it's not a competition. Let's just have fun. And then Whitney's like, it is a competition.

[Alex Earle]

I know.

[Whitney Carson]

I was, like, watching their every move, like, come on, you guys.

[Mark Ballas]

Come on.

[Whitney Carson]

You got this. So they did win. I was like, yes.

[Robert Irwin]

Was that hard? You, like, just letting a little fledgling fly?

[Whitney Carson]

It was one of the hardest things ever, because I love to be in control and, like, you know, making sure that you're doing the right steps. So just to have you two just go off on your own, I was just like. I was also very proud, though, because you led her very well.

[Robert Irwin]

She's an incredible dancer.

[Fran]

You guys were.

[Whitney Carson]

You guys were amazing. So I was very proud.

[Ria]

You did.

[Fran]

Did, yeah.

[Whitney Carson]

You won, which was great. I mean, how amazing is that?

[Ria]

And you remembered it's a competition. Yes.

[Fran]

Whitney, you got to talk to Prince William. Which was, like, crazy. They were watching this on Dance with Stars. How'd you feel after that?

[Whitney Carson]

I was in pure shock. Like, I just kept saying, like, did I even say anything of worth? Like, I don't even know what I said. Like, I can't believe that he. He spoke to me. Like, he actually said my name. And I was. Just. For a second, I didn't. I was like, is this Prince William?

[Fran]

Because it was such an.

[Ria]

It's just a guy that looks a lot like AI.

[Whitney Carson]

Like, someone who looks really so much like him. But it was just in a casual setting, so it didn't feel like it was actually Prince William, but I was in pure shock, obviously.

[Robert Irwin]

It was really funny, though, because, like, I said to him in the Earthshot prize team, because he's over in Brazil, the Earthshot prize is, like, the biggest prize in environmentalism. And I said, oh, I'll see you in Rio, because I'm doing Dancing with the Stars, but there's no way I'm making it to week nine. Like, I can't dance. There's no way. So I'll see you there. And then I had to be like, I'm still in the competition. I can't make It. So it was very nice of him to zoom and say hi. But like, that week, it felt so fitting to have that conversation with him because it felt like that week it was a dance dedicated to my dad and, like, who I am and what I do is I'm a conservationist. Like, you gotta like, I'm. Yeah, I say this to Whitney all the time. When I keep messing up my steps, I'm like, whitney, don't forget I'm a zookeeper. This is not what I do. Like, I jump on crocodiles. Like, this is very different. And. But really, I felt like I could represent, you know, my charity, Wildlife Warriors. You know, our work that we do at Australia Zoo. I could kind of work that in that week. It was like that way of saying, this. This is me and my story and this legacy that I continue. It was very special to have him involved in that.

[Ria]

Very cool.

[Fran]

We do have to wrap up. I have one last question because I've been dying over from the beginning. The TikTok content. And Robert, you filming on your phone. That is like. You have maybe the oldest man phone case I've ever seen in my life. It flips in real time and I'm like, he might be 21. What is this?

[Whitney Carson]

But he is an old man.

[Fran]

He's an old man. Can it even.

[Ria]

And you open it like this.

[Fran]

This.

[Ria]

You're like, yeah, hang on.

[Fran]

I know.

[Robert Irwin]

Hold my.

[Whitney Carson]

Hold my mic.

[Mark Ballas]

Here it is.

[Fran]

Yeah, while it's in there.

[Robert Irwin]

Yeah, but it's got. It's got my. It's got all of that in there. It's got. It's got. Okay, and then you need three people.

[Ria]

To hold your phone.

[Mark Ballas]

A video.

[Robert Irwin]

Look, when I film a video, I can set it like that and you can watch tv. I can watch tv.

[Whitney Carson]

And you can also put it on his wrist fit.

[Robert Irwin]

But you know, guys, he might be.

[Whitney Carson]

21, but he's an old man.

[Robert Irwin]

He's an old blocks EMF radiation. It's very.

[Ria]

It's got everything you need.

[Alex Earle]

It does.

[Fran]

Extremely.

[Ria]

Whoever makes that phone case is very happy that you.

[Alex Earle]

Yeah, right.

[Ria]

You gave them a free app.

[Mark Ballas]

Wow.

[Whitney Carson]

Hang on, hang on.

[Fran]

Leather bound phone cases should call you up. Okay, thank you guys so much for talking to us. We're so excited. We can't wait to watch you in the semi finals for you.

[Robert Irwin]

Thank you.

[Whitney Carson]

Thank you guys so much.

[Robert Irwin]

See you soon.

[Ria]

All right, everyone. Once again, we are reporting live from the Dancing with the Stars rehearsal studio. We are joined by Whitney Levitt and Mark Ballas. We are so excited to have you guys here with us today, thank you so much for making time for us.

[Mark Ballas]

Thank you for having us.

[Ria]

You guys are just phenomenal. We just gotta. We just gotta start off by saying you two are just phenomenal.

[Whitney Levitt]

Thanks, Maria.

[Mark Ballas]

Thank you.

[Fran]

How are you feeling going into the semi final?

[Whitney Levitt]

Know, I. I'm Be honest, like, I'm so grateful to have made it this far.

[Ria]

Like, I.

[Whitney Levitt]

You just never know because the end is inevitable. But every single Tuesday, I'm like, just give it my all. Because you don't know when it's gonna end. It's like bittersweet. It's like you're so excited to perform, but then elimination comes around. You're like, this could be the end or we could be going into next week. So I'm stoked. I'm stoked for the semifinals.

[Fran]

We are. I'm. We were there on Tuesday night.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

Which we were so excited. I'm so glad I didn't get to see.

[Alex Earle]

I saw your story and I was.

[Ria]

Like, what the hell were. We were just throwing us up on the balcony this time with me. We can't let them on the floor again.

[Fran]

We're waving down to everybody. Yeah. No, but the balcony's a good view, though.

[Ria]

It was great.

[Mark Ballas]

You can see better.

[Fran]

Yeah, we felt like we could see all the dances better. Honestly, seeing the opening number from above, too, was so cool. Yeah, that opening number was incredible. Really so good. What was it like having Tom back, Mark, the best?

[Mark Ballas]

I mean, you know, Tom's been such an instrumental part of the show for so long, and I don't know, there's just something like when we were doing the opening number, we hit that pose and then we had to set up a new position and we had to stay focused forward. But then, because we can't see Tom when we're doing it. So when you hear his. His, like, his voice, his signature live, like, that was like.

[Ria]

Yeah. Goosebumps.

[Mark Ballas]

Oh, wow. It, like, takes you back.

[Ria]

We've been crying every week. Kind of just a common theme where I end every night watching with a headache, and I'm like, oh, my gosh. But we have loved watching you guys. We are always like, Whitney, Mark are almost too good. Like, you guys are just incredible. Mark, this upcoming week is Prince week, and so this is a lot of music detail. How excited are you for people to hear what you've been working up here?

[Mark Ballas]

I mean, I'm excited because I love Prince. I grew up listening to Prince with my dad. Like, I have memories of, like, car rides with my dad. Listening to old records like Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson, Prince. So Prince was in heavy rotation in our household. And we got some really cool songs. We got one that's one of my favorite Prince songs of all time. And then we got one that I'd actually never heard before. So that was kind of interesting to, like, hear a Prince song that I wasn't familiar with at all. But, yeah, just Prince is an icon, virtuoso. I think on his first couple records, he played, played everything. Guitar, bass, drums, keys, horns, mixed engineered. Like, he's a hundred percenter artist.

[Ria]

And I've been loving your TikTok responses to people being like, I stopped doing it. Well, we're, you know, semifinals, finals right around the corner. You're like, I gotta, you know, I gotta pay. I gotta focus. But I love when you responded and you said, we can all do this. We all have the option to play around with the music. And you're just fantastic at your job.

[Alex Earle]

Job.

[Mark Ballas]

Thank you. I appreciate that. You know, it's true. It's like. And loads of people are doing it. I just don't know if it's been documented before. Like, coming into this season, I was like, well, it might be fun to show a little bit more of the process. I guess I've never really done that because social wasn't as big as it is now. And then I also was like, this might be, like, really boring for people. It's fun for me. But I started sharing a little bit more of that. But, yeah, because I make music and produce and stuff like that. I have a studio at home, so I'm able to, like, throw my song into pro tools myself versus sending notes, you know, so. But yeah, everybody's allowed to change it as much as they want. Unless you have a master track. Like, if it's a master track, like, you can splice it how you want, but it is what it is.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

When you guys get to pick a dance to repeat.

[Ria]

Yes.

[Fran]

Why did you pick the dance you chose?

[Whitney Levitt]

Because I get to shake my butt again.

[Ria]

Yes. Which I love.

[Mark Ballas]

That's not why.

[Fran]

Maybe a little.

[Mark Ballas]

A little bit.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Maybe a little.

[Fran]

No.

[Whitney Levitt]

I feel like the cha cha. Because that was week two. I feel like from then till now, like, I've improved so much and that I just feel like there was so.

[Ria]

Much bad technique shown in that dance.

[Whitney Levitt]

That hopefully people get to see improvement when we do it again.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Mark Ballas]

I think the thing too, it's like.

[Whitney Levitt]

And I gotta shake my butt.

[Mark Ballas]

And you get shake. As someone who's been Doing this for so long, like, it's hard sometimes to like, because I've seen that's been some of the narrative. It's like, oh, you started good. I haven't really seen improvement. And, like, to an untrained eye, I can see why someone would be like, oh, you know. But what you're seeing with, like, with someone like Whitney is that she's a dynamic performer. She has something I can't teach. I can't teach you how to be.

[Ria]

Like, yeah, like, get some.

[Mark Ballas]

Yeah, you either have that or you.

[Ria]

Don'T, which she has.

[Mark Ballas]

You can develop it. But, like, you know, when she gets out there, all that. That stuff is coming from here. So when I watched the cha, you've.

[Ria]

Seen it on the show, right.

[Mark Ballas]

So, you know, it's sassy, it's fun, and for a dance like cha cha, it's super appropriate. But when I watched the first cha cha back, like, literally first move fell out of her turns. Turns were wide, wasn't tight on its base. And then if you watch her turns in her Argentine tango last week, how she entered in stuff on a dime, on a pin. Now, to the average person, they might not notice that, but, like, I thought with the cha cha, but when I watch it back, it was a little chaotic. It was a hair clunky. We were talking about that yesterday. But you were able to kind of hide some of that with the, like.

[Alex Earle]

Right.

[Mark Ballas]

Get some of it, you know. So this week, we'd love to, like, dial in all those things, tighten up the turns, make the technique really good and still have the like.

[Ria]

Also, when I said they've seen it.

[Whitney Levitt]

On the show, I didn't mean Dancing with the Stars.

[Ria]

I meant secrets. Yeah, no, for sure.

[Fran]

I move past that. So as someone who has watched the show for a very long time.

[Mark Ballas]

Oh, you're an og. Og.

[Fran]

Deep og. I find it very interesting because there's a whole new audience to the show now these last couple seasons, which is amazing. But one thing that I'm seeing an audience kind of critique or take it as a knock to the people that may have some dance experience coming into the show, when basically from the beginning, there's been people who have had dance experience come on to the show.

[Mark Ballas]

Right.

[Fran]

How do you deal with that, that criticism?

[Whitney Levitt]

Well, I will say, yeah, a lot of people have come on and even people who are on right now have had dance experience. But I think, like, people saw modern dance degree and I think took that as like, oh, my God, like, she's a professional, which isn't the case at all?

[Fran]

No, I. I actually been joking that my husband has a dance minor. And I was like, my husband. Husband cannot dance.

[Ria]

That's how Fran has been coming to your defense.

[Mark Ballas]

I went to musical theater college, and part of the. Getting the, you know, the degree was dance dancing. And one of my best friends, Chris, got the degree, and he's a. He's terrible.

[Fran]

Yeah. College athletes. It was like, we'll do dance. Like, that's how, you know.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Whitney Levitt]

But I think people took that as like, oh, my gosh, she's a professional.

[Ria]

I'm like, whoa. Like, no, no, no, no. You look like a professional out there.

[Mark Ballas]

I think also it's like, like, again, this is from the pro point of view. Like, I could take, for instance, a couple seasons ago. I did a. Was last season, actually, I did a tango with Derek. Right. Where we dance together. Like, I can watch that and pick it apart. Like, I can see things where. Oh, that could be better. That can improve. And even for me, like, I've been doing this for 30 years, and I still feel like I'm improving. I'm still learning things. I'm still, like, looking for new angles or ways to. Like, we're. We're never done. She'll tell you, like, I'm always, like, making changes and trying to. Trying to find ways to make it improve and showcase her journey on the technique and stuff like that. But it's the same for professionals. Like, when you get to a place in life where you're like, oh, I can't improve, then what's the point? That's the pursuit of constant improvement is what makes it fun, I think, you know?

[Fran]

Definitely. Definitely.

[Ria]

And each week, we are so excited to see what you guys are going to do out there. So we are so excited for this week, especially Loving Prince. It's just going to be so much fun.

[Mark Ballas]

Is there a song you're looking forward to?

[Ria]

I am looking. There was one that didn't make the list. I love Darling Nikki by Prince, which was not on there, but all of the good ones. I like 1999. That's a great one. When doves cry, I like, I would die for you. You don't need me to sing everyone, but I'm a big Prince fan, so I'm excited for all of this. But on top of that, you guys both are on other shows.

[Mark Ballas]

All right.

[Ria]

We got Secret, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. New season just dropped.

[Whitney Levitt]

Yeah.

[Ria]

How do you feel about what's been happening in the headlines about this new season? Whitmi?

[Whitney Levitt]

I haven't had a chance to see all the headlines yet, but this is the first season that we got to watch before it premiered because we had a reunion.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Whitney Levitt]

I mean, I like this season. I think it's a great season. I mean, there's a lot of drama.

[Ria]

When you put mom talk together, but. Yeah.

[Whitney Levitt]

What are the headlines saying?

[Ria]

Is it good? Yeah. No.

[Fran]

Well, seems like some relationships have been revealed, but we can talk about that. We can talk about it after. How has it been filming Double Duty? Like, doing that and this at the same time? Yeah, it's a lot.

[Whitney Levitt]

I don't recommend it, but I'm excited. I'm excited for when that one comes out because then I get to, like, relive this journey again, so.

[Ria]

That is very true.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Mark Traders.

[Mark Ballas]

Yeah.

[Ria]

Coming back in January. It's been announced. We are so excited. Can you tease anything about the upcoming season?

[Mark Ballas]

It's carnage.

[Fran]

I love it. One word.

[Ria]

I'll leave it a heavy word.

[Mark Ballas]

It's just like, you know, my wife and I love games. We love game shows. We've watched during COVID We, like, fell down a Survivor hole and we were just like. We just. We watched pretty much, I think, over 40 seasons of Survivor. We watched, like, you know, what's it. The. The. The game with balls. Have you seen that? Where they need the balls?

[Robert Irwin]

Love that.

[Fran]

Yes.

[Ria]

Yes.

[Fran]

And then that's one that comes on TV and you're like, I'm sorry, what is this?

[Mark Ballas]

I die laughing watching the show. And then the Traders, like, I stumbled on it by accident. Seemed like fun. And then we were like, oh, this is like Mafia meets Survivor Murder Mystery. So we became big fans. And then when I got the call to be on it, I was like, no, no, no, no.

[Fran]

It's one thing too close to home, maybe. I'm such a big fan.

[Mark Ballas]

It's one thing to sit home and, like, chat at the TV and be like. And then to actually go do it. And then I hung up the phone and my wife was like, you're going.

[Fran]

Yeah. Your bags are going. Scotland.

[Ria]

Yeah. So amazing.

[Mark Ballas]

Yeah.

[Ria]

It was an incredible experience seeing the other seasons. How do you think your season matches up with those?

[Mark Ballas]

So I've seen every season the American and the British version and Australian and New Zealand. So I would say they did a really good job this time around of just mixing it up, like how games are played, scenarios that you end up in. I think I can share this with you because Alan Cumming already said this on an interview, but there's a moment I'm not going to tell you when, because that would give things away, but there is literally a moment where all of us just, like. Like, I've been on this show a long time. I've seen some things.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Mark Ballas]

Like, literally could not. Could not believe what was happening in front of us. Full body goosebumps. Like, no idea how to navigate. Like, it is just. It's explosive.

[Ria]

I have pure joy listening to you describe this season. Like, literally, like, I was just like, I really do. Oh, my gosh. We unfortunately need to wrap up shortly.

[Mark Ballas]

No worries.

[Ria]

Do you guys have a message to the haters out there?

[Fran]

A message to the haters?

[Mark Ballas]

No, it's.

[Fran]

It's.

[Mark Ballas]

It's fine. Like, look, I. I love that the show has. Like, you said, you've been watching a long time, so, you know, I started in season five and you. And to echo what you said, like, we've had people with dance experience. Season two, I think first person we had was, like, Mario Lopez. There's no. Like, we've had so many.

[Fran]

I mean, like, Nicole Scherzinger.

[Mark Ballas]

Nicole Scherzinger, Jordan Fisher. Like, and even people are like, oh, what about Charli d'? Amelio? Like, want to remind people that on Charli d' Amelio finale, she had Gabby Wendy, who is a Broncos cheerleader. She had Wayne Brady, who's arguably one of our. The entertainers of our generation. He's on Broadway right now. And Shangela.

[Fran]

Like, that was a stacked.

[Mark Ballas]

That was such a stacked final, you know? And, you know, the great thing about the show is that they do a great job at giving you. Seeing someone with no experience or seeing someone with a little bit experience or someone with a extensive experience. You just get to vote for your favorite. Like, that's. That's it. So. So, you know, I love that the show has found a new fan base. It's great. And I appreciate the passion.

[Fran]

Yeah. And everybody is passionate. The last thing I'm gonna ask quickly, Whitney, will Connor be dressed as Prince in the audience?

[Mark Ballas]

Oh, my God.

[Fran]

I just gave him an idea.

[Ria]

Oh, my God.

[Whitney Levitt]

What if he shaved his beard?

[Ria]

Like, Prince, please. Yeah.

[Alex Earle]

Okay.

[Ria]

Well, now we're gonna be like, honestly, same.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Ria]

But we're expecting.

[Fran]

Yes.

[Ria]

Connor to dress up and for you to shake your ass. That's right. Exactly.

[Alex Earle]

That's right.

[Fran]

Well, we are so excited to watch you guys in the semifinals. It's going to be amazing. You have been fantastic. So good.

[Ria]

I go back and watch your dances over and over again. Seriously, they are phenomenal.

[Fran]

So we're ruining for you guys, what.

[Ria]

Was your favorite things?

[Whitney Levitt]

Samba.

[Ria]

Shake your ass. Watch yourself. Shake. You know, amount of times I'm in the mirror trying to do. I'm like, I don't have the funky pants. I don't have the funky pants dance.

[Fran]

I'm a sucker for an RG tango. This past week was that one was.

[Ria]

No.

[Mark Ballas]

When we got the mystical song, I was like, never. I'm never surprised on the show. I was like, wow. Still, after all these years, they find a way to surprise me.

[Ria]

And that's what you were talking about with that she's doing it. I've watched that a million times, so.

[Podcast Intro Voice]

Well, look, when.

[Mark Ballas]

When traders comes out, we'll have to.

[Ria]

Yeah, we'll wrap.

[Mark Ballas]

Wrap it up about that.

[Fran]

We'll connect.

[Alex Earle]

All right.

[Ria]

Thank you guys so much for having us.

[Mark Ballas]

Appreciate it. It.

[Fran]

You guys know we have been busy, busy, busy. We are on the go. We're traveling. We're in la, Dancing with the stars home, bro. We got so much. And the last thing that I feel like I have time to worry about right now, it's like the life stuff. All these other things that are obviously very important like managing your money. And it's easier just to keep things simple. That's why Acorns is so great. Acorns lets you save and invest your money without even thinking about it. And all you have to do is start using some of that spare change. That's because acorn rounds every purchase you make to the nearest dollar and automatically invest your spare change. It's that easy. Really. You know, all those in between things, especially when you're traveling, like in the airport or you're grabbing that water and that snack, you just round up. You can save that spare change. You guys know I have a dog. Maybe you're in that dog food. You can be investing then too. Maybe a new hat getting into the winter season. Invest in that too. All you have to do is swipe in. Acorns gives your money the chance to grow. It will make you feel like you have your life together. So sign up now and Acorns will boost your new account with a $20 bonus. Investment. Head to acorns.com chicks to download the Acorns app. App to get started. Pay non client endorsement compensation provides incentive to positively promote acorns. Tier 2 compensation provided potential subject to various factors such as customers accounts, age and investment settings. Does not include Acorns fees. Results do not predict or represent the performance of any Acorns portfolio. Investment results will vary. Investing involves risk. Acorns Advisors, LLC and SEC registered investment advisor. View important [e-mail] chicks. All right, everyone, we are back in the rehearsal studio at Dancing with the Stars with Alex Earle and Val Szpakovsky. We're so excited. Sadly, I don't have Rhea with me today, but she is rooting for you guys. She is so excited for the semifinal, as are we. We were both in the audience for Tuesday show for the 20th anniversary, and you crushed it.

[Alex Earle]

Thank you. That was a fun show to be at.

[Fran]

It really was.

[Alex Earle]

It was a good night.

[Fran]

It was. And we were crying non stop. Like, we were like, non. It was just tears on and off the whole time. As soon, honestly, from Tom's opening intro, I was like, oh, waterworks.

[Alex Earle]

We lost her.

[Fran]

Yeah. Yeah. How did you guys enjoy the night?

[Alex Earle]

Tuesday?

[Fran]

Yeah, I loved it.

[Alex Earle]

I was.

[Fran]

You're like, Tuesday's gone.

[Ria]

I've already forgotten.

[Alex Earle]

You literally have to. You. It's crazy. You prep this dance, you know, it's everything for your week. And then, like, you. Yeah, you do it, you leave it, and you're like, okay, moving on to the next. But I was so nervous going into that night. I think more than any other night. I don't know what was going on. Val was like, alex, are you good? And I was so stressed, I guess, about it getting to week. Well, that was week nine.

[Fran]

So.

[Alex Earle]

Yeah. I don't know. It's like, feel so serious now.

[Fran]

And I'm like, once anybody starts talking about finals.

[Alex Earle]

Yeah. So I guess the stakes are higher now. So I was really nervous going into the night. And then once we got through dress rehearsal, I calmed down a little bit. And then it's just fun. Like when the show's live and it starts, like, there's just this, like, rush that comes over you. And I'm like, I can't believe that I'm standing here right now, like, filming this show. It's crazy. So it's always a fun night on show nights.

[Fran]

Yeah. Val, we noticed after the relay, when I forget who had said it specifically.

[Alex Earle]

One of the judges was like.

[Fran]

Like, this was such a fun idea. We should do this all the time. And I caught you going, no. How did you feel about the relays?

[Val Szpakovsky]

I thought it was fun. I thought Joey did a great job. It was not awkward, but it was strange for me to see Sochi and not really attend to her.

[Ria]

Right.

[Val Szpakovsky]

Because that's my partner for only two seasons ago, and that's my little sis. And I felt compelled to. I think there was a few times she Looked at me like, so. So what did you.

[Mark Ballas]

And I'm like.

[Val Szpakovsky]

You know, I'm trying to take care of Joey right here and make sure he doesn't break Alex's face.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Val Szpakovsky]

But, no, it was a lot of fun. I thought they did great. I thought that he was a great partner in her. I mean, again, Dancing with the Stars has all these fun challenges. I was slightly sarcastic when I went like that, but, yeah, I mean, I. You know, you build a certain energy for nine weeks, and then you kind of, like, surrender this moment to someone else who's not a professional. So it was a little nerve wracking.

[Fran]

Yeah. When. When we all saw the move in question, it was like, okay, did that.

[Ria]

What was.

[Fran]

What is. Is there a name to that move? Because we've seen it in dances before. And everyone was like, did they have to do it if it was causing so many issues?

[Val Szpakovsky]

I mean, typically, it's like it's done in the salsa. It's like a salsa trick. But, yeah, Al could answer that. You know, Alex every week looks at the routine and is like, well, what is it that I can do that can put my life in danger? And I was like, all right, well, perfect. Let's find something.

[Alex Earle]

Well, we actually were good on the trick. Day one, we were gonna do a backflip. Then I got kicked in the face. And Val was like, we're not even doing this. And I was like, it's fine. Like, I can do it. I swear I could get it down. And he was like, we're just taking this out of the routine. Not worth it.

[Fran]

You don't need you in a face mask and Dylan in a face mask.

[Alex Earle]

Yeah. So then we tried this move, and it was fun, and we got it. And then it was the day Val wasn't here for rehearsals. Like, I think Joey and I are both very, like, competitive people. So he's like, okay, so I'm gonna jump higher. And I was like, and I'll wait even longer to go back so that we can make it more dramatic. And we were. That's how things ended up happening. He flattened me. I got hit.

[Val Szpakovsky]

Freaking brace.

[Alex Earle]

That was the problem is he just came at me too fast before I fell back.

[Mark Ballas]

So.

[Alex Earle]

So it was just.

[Fran]

Yeah, well, it was extremely relatable, like, seeing you immediately be like, is my nose okay? Like, what?

[Alex Earle]

Just.

[Fran]

What just happened? And, yeah, seeing people, like, try and do it on TikTok or whatever they're trying to do, I was like, this feels like, maybe don't try and do this.

[Alex Earle]

Don't try it at home. Don't try and do it this one. Don't try at home.

[Fran]

And I was crying, laughing, being. What did you call you, like, Joey's pooch in my face or something?

[Alex Earle]

Did I say that?

[Fran]

I think so.

[Val Szpakovsky]

I don't know. But she had her face and his shirt.

[Alex Earle]

Like, every single day, Joey went through, like, five different tank tops. At least, because every day it was like my orange makeup, like, splattered on his shirt. So.

[Fran]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, now we're headed into Prince night for semifinals, and I think you guys have maybe two of, like, the best songs that you can get for Prince. Why did you pick the repeat for the.

[Ria]

The.

[Fran]

For the Viennese Waltz?

[Val Szpakovsky]

Well, first of all, we don't really get to pick the songs in, like, theme nights like this, especially with Princess catalog and. And his estate and just, like, what the show wanted. So they, you know, they have their dream songs. And as. As what she's mentioned, like, not all songs fit certain styles well, you know, and so this was a tough one because we were like, okay, we want the epic song, but, like, what can we dance to it? And so Purple Rain was actually a song that wasn't given to us, but nobody wanted it either. Yeah, it was just such a massive song. And just like you said, you know, you got the best ones, but that comes with an incredible responsibility. And so we're looking. Okay, you know, I want to take the song. Let's figure out the dance after.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Val Szpakovsky]

And so we, you know, we have Purple Rain and we're doing a Vinnie's Waltz. I thought Vinnie's Waltz is something that we could recreate because the first time we did it, it was. Was Disney Night. We, like, kind of hid behind a character this time. It's just, you know, it's us. And I, you know, the movement, I know, is going to be beautiful, but it's more about kind of, like, her emotional performance throughout, whether she can fill out that song.

[Alex Earle]

Yes. Yeah. It'll be a little scary because it is such a big song. But that's the other thing, too, is you get these songs and you can't, like, do whatever style you want to song. Like, I don't know. But Val listens to a song and he's like, no, this is a waltz. No, this is a cha cha. So I think, like, we went into it, we, you know, decided on doing that song in the Viennese Waltz because that was week four. And was that. That was week four, I think. Yeah.

[Fran]

Yeah.

[Alex Earle]

I was still, like, very Nervous at that point in the competition. I still am, but I think in a different way. Like, I think just stepping on the stage every time, I felt like my feet were trembling and. And that was. I feel, like, a breakthrough moment for me because I got to play this character, and it was really fun. But this one is very, like, stripped down and just raw emotions. And I think that's gonna be the challenge for me this week is like, can I, you know, I guess bring the emotions, make people feel a certain way when they watch the dance. And it is such a big song, so a lot of hype to live up to and, like, filling that out, But I think it'll be really fun, and I want to show my improvement and growth from, like, doing it in week four.

[Fran]

Yeah, I think. I think you're a beautiful ballroom dancer first. We saw it on Tuesday, too, because the way that. And from watching the show for so long, I feel like there has been a little bit of a shift in the dances the audience loves to see. It's. It's the tricks. It's the fun. It's like, you know, when you throw a little more curve stuff in it, and then when you watch, like, a beautiful foxtrot or beautiful Viennese waltz, people, like, that was nice, but, like, they don't fully understand, but you are. I think you do it so well. So I think you will crush the Viennese waltz. It's gonna be. It's gonna be great. And you guys have been such a fun partnership to watch. What were your first impressions of each other when you met for the first time?

[Alex Earle]

I was so awkward. I was like, they had to redo my walking in here, like, three times. Times, because I was literally just, like, I was so nervous. But I feel like we hit it off right away. But everyone thought we hated each other at first, and I think it's just, like, we were very. I don't know. I guess we're both, like, human.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Val Szpakovsky]

Like, I mean, you just met. For me to put on this, like, show, it would just be authentic, you know, And I. And sometimes there. There are personalities that do have that authentically. I'm not one of them, you know? And she also happens to not be one of them.

[Alex Earle]

Take me a minute, too. Like, you know, day one of meeting him. Oh, day one of meeting him. I'm not, like, you know, like, we just met, and, like, we did hit it off right away, but at the same time, like, we're not that close yet. Like, I don't know you that well. Yet. So it just took us a minute. We were just cooking for a second.

[Val Szpakovsky]

We were just cooking.

[Alex Earle]

Yeah.

[Val Szpakovsky]

Now we're eating. We cook now.

[Fran]

Exactly. Exactly. What did you know about Alex's career before she came in?

[Val Szpakovsky]

That's the thing. It's like my first impression is, you know, I had no idea, really. I. I mean, I. I knew the name, obviously. There was so much hype with her signing on. Even when she came to visit last year. They were like, yo, Alex Earl is here. Alex Earl. I was like, who's. You know, obviously I heard that watching.

[Alex Earle]

Get Ready with Me on the day.

[Ria]

Don't blame her.

[Fran]

My algorithm's a little different.

[Val Szpakovsky]

No, it's totally different. And even with the show, like, off season, reason, the last thing I'm doing is really this. This type of stuff. I'm watching football or other things. Anyway, the point is that obviously I knew the name. Obviously I knew the gravity of this person. I knew the importance that is now in front of me. So I was excited. My Tick Tock journey really wasn't on point until, you know, yeah, she. She came along. Now I'm popping on Tick Tock.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

But before that, again, another career, a second career.

[Val Szpakovsky]

You know, like, I'll. Can I be just completely frank? Like, I obviously pass judgment. You know, this is not my vibe. And. And what does she have to say that I'm going to really be so compelled by? You know, so I didn't even really pay attention until I got to know her. And then, yeah, I mean, she's dope. And I understand why millions of people really love her very, very much. You know, because I'm like, how do you love somebody that you just know vaguely on. On social media just how authentic and how personable and how honest and how frequent she shows up as herself, I think is the reason why people gravitate. And I kind of. I was like, okay, I see it and then I saw it and then more and more. And now I just, you know, I have so much love for what she was able to give me this season as my partner, as now a friend, hopefully for a long time. I just, Yeah, I have an incredible amount of gratitude that she said yes. Incredible amount of gratitude to the show for letting me be her partner. Right. Because there's a lot of pros that would have loved to be Alex's partner. So I really hope that I do that justice. I know what a big opportunity that is for me, and I've done it for a long time. So I know these opportunities don't Come. Come around that often, so I feel very grateful, too.

[Fran]

So sweet. That was very nice. We. So we spoke to Danielle a couple days ago, and she obviously was paired with Pasha. We have married to Daniella. There's, you know, fellow married pros, you being one of them with. With Jenna, and she kind of talked about how great it was to have be paired with somebody that is married to another pro. Have you been able to utilize Jenna?

[Alex Earle]

Yes, of course. Have you utilized.

[Fran]

Have you utilized her talents and skills?

[Alex Earle]

Jenna's the best. She is, like, my hype woman. I mean, Val is obviously great and whatever, but, you know, Jenna comes in with more of, like, you got this girl. And, like, especially in, like, show days, too, she's always there and giving me just little pointers that, like, is different, I guess, for Val, like, with, I don't know, having a girl. Can you help me, like, make this look a little, like, sexier? I don't know what I'm doing here.

[Val Szpakovsky]

I'm limited. I'm like, touch yourself here. You can touch yourself here.

[Ria]

That's it. Yeah, yeah.

[Alex Earle]

I'm like, put your arm up.

[Val Szpakovsky]

I can't put it up. Up that high, but you should.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Alex Earle]

So she's definitely helped in that way, and then just, like, being someone to go to and being another friend and support system. And she's also so brilliant and smart with everything, so it's been great to have her. Yeah, Yeah.

[Fran]

I think.

[Val Szpakovsky]

I think it's more like I've, you know, capitalized on Jenna because she's a part of, I would say, most, if not all of my, you know, creatives. And then she assists me in choreography and helps me. And a lot of times, you know, the. There's, like, I said, so much pressure with this responsibility. Like, I'm, like, curled up in a corner of absolute insecurity and uncertainty of any sort of creative decision. And, you know, you need somebody to, like, kick you out of it and be like, bro, breathe you good. You're just losing perspective. And so, yeah, she's been very, very helpful.

[Ria]

Yeah.

[Fran]

There's been so many voices, I feel like, around this season because it's been so popular, so everyone's got an opinion. I love what you said, Val, about your brother, because you're like, look, he's my brother, but he's. I have my own opinion. He has his own opinion. What has it been like for you to have some of these new pros in the mix? And I know Ezra's rel, like, not new this season, but relatively new. And he's doing so well and having Jan in the mix, too.

[Val Szpakovsky]

How do I feel about it?

[Mark Ballas]

Yeah.

[Fran]

Yeah. Having some new young guns in.

[Val Szpakovsky]

I hate it. They can't afford my job. No, I. No, I love it. Listen, I mean, this show is not mine. It's a thing that has. Has given me so much joy, and I want to continue to grow it, and if I could still be of service to the show, then great. But there's so much talent out there, and to have it kind of arrive on Dancing with the Stars and flourish like Ezra Yan, you know, hopefully again next season and so on, it's a beautiful thing. You know, I love this show, regardless of whether I'm on it or not. You know, it's good for the world. It's good for my life, even. Like I said, outside of participating on Dancing with the Stars, I have dance studios that I. That I own around the country. There's, you know, I teach dance. I preach the gospel of dance. That is my life, you know, And Dancing with the Stars just gave me a platform to do so. But I want to see everybody shine.

[Fran]

Yeah, definitely. Alex, what's it been like, kind of having boots on the ground in one place for this amount of time? I feel like just from watching she's on the Go constantly, always traveling around the world.

[Ria]

World.

[Fran]

And you've had to be here throughout this whole process. What's it been like to kind of settle a little?

[Alex Earle]

Yeah, it was something that I was honestly pretty scared about at first, because since, I don't know, since I was in college, I guess in my senior year, like, there's not, like, a week that I'm not at the airport, leaving, packing, Like, I live out of a suitcase, and I've never really had, like, a stable home. Like, I just. I'm always everywhere. So I think for me, getting to be in one place and kind of, like, put everything else aside and just, you know, I don't know, hone in on this and make this my. Everything has been really cool and really grounding. And I think that's part of the reason I've had such, like, a emotional experience throughout this. Cause I've gotten to spend time, like, alone with myself. Like, I don't necessarily have, like, my bigger friend group here. I come home and I'm, you know, alone and that honestly, just, like, those moments of quiet don't happen for me a lot. And I've loved it. So I think I've just been, like, able to do a lot more thinking and reflecting, and it's been really nice. It's made me think, like, you know, maybe we don't have to get up and leave every three days. There you go.

[Fran]

That is nice. We have to wrap the Wrap up. The last thing I want to ask you, because I'm obsessed with her, is how is little miss Asia girl doing?

[Alex Earle]

She's the best. She is still recovering from her surgery, but, you know, she's starting to put a little bit more weight on the leg, and she's amazing. I have to bring her in here one day. Day. I don't know why I haven't done the show. I don't know. Am I allowed to bring a dog in here?

[Val Szpakovsky]

I mean, yeah, I guess. I don't. I don't ask for permission.

[Ria]

I was.

[Fran]

Yeah, I was going to say that. That's definitely one. You just show up with her and see what happens.

[Alex Earle]

We'll just see what happens. But, I mean, she could, like, chill on the couch or something in here. That would be great, and everyone would.

[Ria]

Love to see her.

[Fran]

I just wanted the update.

[Val Szpakovsky]

I do want to say, though, and I kind of wanted to say that earlier, I just really appreciate that she said yes to the show and then committed herself to doing it all the way. Because a lot of times in these situations, you know, especially in a position that she's in, she only has something to lose. You know, you're looking at something that may or may not further your career. But if I just appreciate that she didn't do that for that, because I don't. I think she had a lot of really important people in her life telling her potentially not to do it. So I appreciate that she said yes. Guess. And she treated herself to this experience and she dove in because again, I. I was expecting someone to be a little too cool for things and not to get a little too, you know. But immediately I realized, like, she's game. And I just, again, want to say thank you for that because, yeah, you know, not a lot of people would do that.

[Fran]

No, it's amazing. It's so fun to watch. And we feel that as the audience, we're like, she's committed to this. She's loving it. She's having fun doing it. So we love watching you, and we are rooting for you.

[Alex Earle]

Thank you.

[Fran]

Hope to see you guys in the finals. I think you guys would do an insane freestyle, so I'm really.

[Alex Earle]

Fingers crossed.

[Fran]

Thank you guys so much.

[Val Szpakovsky]

Of course. Thanks.

[Fran]

All right, that wraps up today's episode.

[Ria]

Of Chicks in the Office. Thank you so much for watching and listening. We love you guys so very much. We hope you have a wonderful day. Reminder, those Philly tickets are still on sale, so come to our holiday show. We can't wait. And we love you guys. And we'll talk to you on Wednesday.

[Podcast Intro Voice]

Yeah, chicks in the office.

[Ria]

Longtime listener, first time caller.

[Podcast Intro Voice]

Look at the charts. Who does it the best? Two chicks getting paid in reality checks you can find them at the gym it's not even a flex Last minute red carpet flew them out on the jet. Yeah, they're who you want to be. They're always on your screen. Two queens and they might be spilling royalty. A lot of topics that are popping here to get into. I know a show that you probably want to listen to. Turn the heat up, turn the beat up record the pod made a bag put their feet up the ones that leave no crumbs when they clean up who's the pod that they all want to meet up? Who turned the heat up turned the beat up record the pod made a bag put their feet up the ones that leave no crumbs when they clean up who's the pod that they all want to meet up?

[Alex Earle]

It.