Justin Baldoni’s 2am Voice Note to Blake Lively + The Bachelor Premiere

Summary

Podcast Summary: Chicks in the Office - "Justin Baldoni’s 2am Voice Note to Blake Lively + The Bachelor Premiere" Release Date: January 29, 2025

---

1. Unexpected Bartending Experience on "Watch What Happens Live"

Ria and Fran kick off the episode by sharing their surprise involvement with the popular talk show "Watch What Happens Live." Initially invited to attend as audience members, a last-minute request changed their plans, leading them to bartend during the second show.

• Fran (02:09): "But now we're listening to this post tense. But currently I'm freaking out."
• Ria (02:29): "Yeah. We thought we were just hanging out back."

The duo humorously recount their preparation mishaps, from inappropriate outfits to makeup concerns, highlighting their unanticipated leap from audience members to on-air bartenders.

• Fran (04:01): "This time we should just show up in Chicks in the office merch if we had any here to put on."
• Ria (05:08): "Watch what happens live."

Despite initial jitters, they embrace the opportunity, expressing excitement and a willingness to adapt on the fly.

---

2. Justin Baldoni’s 2am Voice Note to Blake Lively

A significant portion of the episode delves into the controversy surrounding Justin Baldoni's voice note to co-star Blake Lively. The voice note, sent at 2 AM, has sparked widespread discussion regarding its content and implications.

• Ria (22:03): "We could not, like, they just don't mix in any way."
• Fran (22:17): "I was reading it from our Instagram and I see March 9, 2026..."

Key Points Discussed:

• Content of the Voice Note: Baldoni's lengthy apology addressing a rooftop scene and expressing a desire to work collaboratively.

  • Ria (23:21): "It's like, he could never play a lame president. Look at him. He's a JFK type."

• Public Perception: The hosts express skepticism over the internet's glorification of Baldoni's emotional intelligence, questioning the sincerity behind his apology.

  • Fran (25:36): "Why does that mean we have to worship the ground Justin Baldoni walks on?"

• Legal Implications: While the voice note itself isn't indicative of harassment or assault, it has fueled narratives that may influence public opinion prior to the upcoming trial in 2026.

  • Ria (27:04): "Maybe that's just how Justin Baldoni talks, and some people like that and appreciate that, and Blake Lively doesn't."

The conversation underscores the complexities of interpreting personal communications within professional settings, especially under public scrutiny.

---

3. ASAP Rocky’s Trial and Rihanna’s Attendance

The hosts shift focus to the high-profile trial of ASAP Rocky, detailing the charges and the involvement of Rihanna.

• Fran (37:46): "And Rihanna will be there because a part of the trial..."
• Ria (38:32): "The gun was actually a prop gun."

Case Overview:

• Charges: ASAP Rocky faces up to 30 years in prison for alleged felony assault involving the shooting of former friend ASAP Relly.

• Rihanna’s Role: As a significant figure associated with Rocky, Rihanna's attendance is expected to influence jury perceptions, given her popularity and brand affiliations.

  • Ria (42:44): "He is working because everybody... he's really trying to be kind and supportive."

• Defense vs. Prosecution: The prosecution relies heavily on Relly's testimony, while the defense casts doubts on Relly's credibility, suggesting motives of jealousy and deceit.

  • Fran (44:08): "But I don't think Justin's team is... being wrongfully accused..."

The hosts debate the potential outcomes, the evidence presented, and the broader implications for those involved, highlighting the intense media coverage surrounding the case.

---

4. The Bachelor Premiere Recap

Fran and Ria provide a detailed overview of the latest episode of "The Bachelor," focusing on the first impressions and interactions among the contestants.

• Ria (45:29): "Honestly, Stunning."
• Fran (47:58): "Yep."

Highlights:

• Contestant Introductions: The premiere showcases a diverse group of women, each bringing unique personalities and gimmicks to the mansion.

  • Fran (49:32): "One girl, Alex, came in with a llama."

• First Impressions: The host, Grant, engages in various activities, including meeting the contestants' families and experiencing unexpected surprises like a llama in the mansion.

  • Ria (50:57): "Cruising right along. Grant season, baby."

• Contestant Dynamics: The episode emphasizes the balance between authenticity and dramatics, with contestants bringing props and engaging in playful antics to stand out.

The hosts express optimism about the season’s potential, noting the promising start and the captivating interactions that set the stage for future episodes.

---

5. Popcorner: Listener Voicemails and Hot Takes

In the "Popcorner" segment, the hosts respond to listener voicemails, offering their perspectives on various pop culture topics.

Featured Voicemails:

1. "The Traitors" Debate:

   • Kelly from Atlanta asks whether the hosts would prefer to be a traitor or a faithful in the show.

     • Fran (55:01): "I'd want to be a traitor for sure."
     • Ria (55:18): "I think you want to be in the mix, but not trying too hard."

2. Austin Butler’s Acting Skills:

   • Lauren from Philly critiques Austin Butler as an overrated actor, questioning his performances and comparing him to Drew Starkey.

     • Fran (56:40): "I would be a horrible jury member for this case."
     • Ria (57:20): "I didn't see him enough in enough things."

3. Cameron Diaz’s A-List Status:

   • Kat from Canada debates whether Cameron Diaz remains an A-list celebrity despite stepping back from acting.

     • Fran (65:43): "Absolutely. Not even a question in my mind."
     • Ria (66:31): "Cameron Diaz is part of that for sure."

4. Executive Producers as Cast Members:

   • Katy from Maryland questions the fairness of executive producers also being cast members in reality shows like "Southern Charm."

     • Ria (72:46): "I don't know how much Whitney is involved in what is aired."
     • Fran (72:46): "It was in the Thomas years... but I'm not too familiar."

Discussion Points:

• Authenticity vs. Strategy: The hosts weigh the benefits and downsides of participating strategies in reality shows.

• Celebrity Relevance: Debates focus on the longevity of celebrities' statuses and their impact on public perception.

• Fairness in Production Roles: Ethical considerations of having executive producers as part of the show's cast, potentially influencing dynamics and fairness.

---

Conclusion

In this episode of "Chicks in the Office," Ria and Fran navigate unexpected live opportunities, dissect high-profile celebrity controversies, and engage with their audience's hot takes. Their candid discussions offer listeners a blend of humor, insight, and critical analysis of contemporary pop culture phenomena.

Notable Quotes:

• Fran (02:09): "But now we're listening to this post tense. But currently I'm freaking out."
• Ria (22:03): "We could not, like, they just don't mix in any way."
• Fran (55:01): "I'd want to be a traitor for sure."
• Ria (65:45): "Cameron Diaz is part of that for sure."

Listeners can find every episode of "Chicks in the Office" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Prime Members can enjoy ad-free listening on Amazon Music. For more information, visit barstool.link/chicks-in-the-office.

Transcript

[Ria Ciuffo]

Hey, Chicks in the Office listeners. You can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. It's tailgate time at Raising Cane's.

[Fran Mariano]

Whether you're rooting for your squad or that other team, Cane's craveable combos rally.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Every fan for the greatest game day ever. Make some epic memories with cook to order chicken fingers, crispy crinkle cut fries, buttery Texas toast, and the reigning mvp.

[Fran Mariano]

That signature Cane sauce. So grab your crew and make your next table gate a touchdown. Game days are better together.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Game days are better with Canes raising Kane's chicken fingers.

[Fran Mariano]

One love.

[Ria Ciuffo]

What's up everyone?

[Fran Mariano]

It's chicks in the office with Ria and Fran giving you that Friday energy on a Wednesday. Happy whimsical Wednesday, everybody. Happy. Watch what happens live Wednesday. Because by the time this comes out, your girls would have just bartended again on Watch what happens live randomly.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep. Not planned.

[Fran Mariano]

Not planned.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Couldn't. Didn't really. Just came out of nowhere. That was.

[Fran Mariano]

We got.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, we got the call up. We got called up from the bench.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, come on down, ladies.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, they took us, brought us down. So we. We're recording. This is recording Tuesday afternoon. We hopefully, it appears we'll be spending our entire evening over at Watch what happens live. The initial plan was Austin is on this week and Austin is also gonna be on our show this week. And he asked if we wanted to go to watch what happens live. We're like, oh, fun. Yeah. Like, you know, it's. It was like a Tuesday afternoon. Like, love to go.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. We've never sat in the audience before. We were like, okay, we'll sit in the audience.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Exactly. Sounds fun. And I don't know. So it must have, must have had a last minute dropout because they got a. They got a time for the second.

[Fran Mariano]

Show and they said you girls want to bartend the second show.

[Ria Ciuffo]

They need some bartenders.

[Fran Mariano]

But now we're listening to this post. You know, post tense. But currently I'm freaking out.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Right, right.

[Fran Mariano]

Because it's 3:30 right now. We're recording. We're supposed to be there at around 5:30. I'm wearing a black T shirt and jeans.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. We thought we were just hanging out back.

[Fran Mariano]

We thought we were hanging out. I brought a leather jacket, you know, calm, cool, collected. I'm in no bartending outfit.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Right.

[Fran Mariano]

My makeup is not TV ready.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Right. We didn't think we needed to be TV ready today.

[Fran Mariano]

We didn't think we were gonna be tv. Television Ready?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, my God. Doesn't it go to show we should be TV ready every day?

[Fran Mariano]

Honey, we should. And you know what? We could thank God for that we didn't show up in sweatpants and a fucking hat.

[Ria Ciuffo]

God.

[Fran Mariano]

Like, you know, a lot of daisies do.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I did. Yeah. No, I was like, oh, at least I'll put on, like, a semi cute outfit to go see the show.

[Fran Mariano]

You're dressed like a teacher. I would have thought was really cool.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I felt that way as I got dressed, to be honest.

[Fran Mariano]

You're dressed like a teacher. I would have been like, oh, I want to be here when I grow up.

[Ria Ciuffo]

You know, I thought, like, ooh, this is, like a cute, cute, like, librarian outfit for sure.

[Fran Mariano]

You know, you're like the sexy librarian.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. 100% like the middle school librarian that, like, all the little boys are having a crush on. Yes.

[Fran Mariano]

Yes.

[Noah]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

So you have that going for you.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, yeah. Total teacher vibe for me today.

[Fran Mariano]

I mean, like, you know, this isn't. Watch what happens. Like, bartender outfit ready.

[Ria Ciuffo]

No.

[Fran Mariano]

And I also don't want to try too hard, so I'm just like, we.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Have to find something in between. Because the first time we did it, we went, like, all out.

[Fran Mariano]

Right. We got our makeup.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. We did fall and the outfits and everything. We were so ready to go. So it just. It's like. It actually is funnier if the second time we were just, like, in our pajamas, like, opposite. Like, ah, been here.

[Fran Mariano]

Right. And we dressed up like we were the guests sitting in the chair.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. Time. Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

That's our first time.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

This time we should just show up in Chicks in the office merch if we had any here to put on.

[Ria Ciuffo]

You know what I mean?

[Fran Mariano]

Like, we don't even have chicks in the office sweatshirts to throw on.

[Ria Ciuffo]

In my mind, I was like, should I just, like, fudgeing, Throw on an Eagle sweatshirt and go. And yes, yes, you should make it about football.

[Fran Mariano]

Fuck it. I'll throw on an Eagles jersey. I'm running a fight. I'm running in a Saquon jersey. As fast as you could fucking blink your eyes.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Imagine I just hijack. Watch what happens live to look, like, directly in the mic and be like, does somebody have super bowl tickets? Somebody please get me super bowl tickets. You know?

[Fran Mariano]

You know what we should do? E L, G, S E, S. Eagles. I hope they give us a little slot to say something. That's exactly what I'm going with. Mark my words.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Maybe I do run home and just grab a fucking Eagle sweatshirt. Fuck.

[Fran Mariano]

Well, then I'll just do it too. I guess I'll just put on Eagles gear. Fuck it. Why not? Not. Well, anyways, now my. Now my thoughts are unfortunately on I don't have an outfit. My armpits are smelly. I didn't put deodorant on this morning. We're going to watch what happens live. You know what I mean? Thank God I shaved my body. Not that anybody would be see you.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Watch what happens live.

[Fran Mariano]

But I had, you know, I had one of those nice everything showers. Yeah, yeah, get it all done. But I forgot to put deodorant on, so there we go. I'm gonna be stinking up the Joy. Andy Cohen's gonna pull my ass out of there and say, let's get Smelly McGee out of here because she's stinking up the Joy with no deodorant. Who asked her to bartend?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Sorry.

[Fran Mariano]

I'm all hyped up. I'm excited we got asked. I'm excited.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, no, I know. It's like, damn, we got a whole. A whole evening in the studio.

[Fran Mariano]

You know what's really funny? Us even debating for a second if we were gonna do it.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

We were like. We got the text.

[Ria Ciuffo]

We're like.

[Fran Mariano]

We looked at each other, we said.

[Ria Ciuffo]

We'Re gonna be there.

[Fran Mariano]

And then we were like, what are we doing? What are we doing? Why wouldn't we fucking do it? Like, what's. What's wrong with us?

[Ria Ciuffo]

I know. And then we were like, oh, do we go to the first taping then? But literally the only reason we'd been asked to replace them is because they saw that we were going the first taping if we just said, austin, thanks. Thanks so much for, like, putting our names on the guest list as how they thought, like, ooh, maybe Rhea and Fran can bartend the second show. And we were like, ah, we're not.

[Fran Mariano]

Coming if we didn't go to see. Austin invited us. We were like, thanks for the invite.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Bro, but actually we're going to show up for the later show.

[Fran Mariano]

Should we ask Austin to stay for our show then? Hey, Austin, want to be our guest?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yes. Do a little switch.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, we do a little switcheroonie. Little. Little guest spot.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, that's funny.

[Fran Mariano]

Well, yeah. I mean, pumped up, ready to go, and that'll be exciting. Hopefully nothing crazy happens on air. Everyone will be listening to this after the fact.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I know, right? Or, like, it's just so boring. And they're like, damn, they were really going to hype. They really hyped that up more than it was.

[Fran Mariano]

They didn't show us. Yeah, they just. They acted like they didn't have bartenders that night.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, gosh.

[Fran Mariano]

Shite. Well, anyways, how you doing?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Fun. Good. Lovely. You know, headed into the week. Nice. Nothing crazy going on. Just kind of solidified my New Orleans plans. I will be in New Orleans all week. Weekend flights have been moved, accommodations have been. Been accommodated nicely. My family comes. We're like borderline. We're like kind of like, fuck it. Even if we don't get tickets to the game. Well, I'm gonna get tickets to the game. Even if we all, as a family don't get tickets to the game, they're like, oh, like, maybe we'll just. They'll all go to New Orleans anyway. Do a whole weekend. Fun trip. I was like, I am. I'm. I'm. I'm just trying to be positive about it. Like, I keep saying, I'm gonna go to the game, gonna figure it out. So that's the energy I'm putting out there right now that hopefully. I mean, I moved my flight to Monday, so regardless, I'll be watching in New Orleans.

[Fran Mariano]

Well, so I guess that means we can warn everybody that episodes will be over Zoom.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Next week.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. Not Monday. Just not Monday. Just Wednesday.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Thursday. Mine's Wednesday. Friday, probably Monday.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. But we'll make sure. We'll make sure the audio is working good. I'll make sure my mic doesn't make me sound like I have a lisp.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And I'm going to be like, they have the whole setup down there, so that'll be good. It's not just going to be like me talking into my computer in the hotel room.

[Fran Mariano]

Well, that'll be me on a microphone.

[Ria Ciuffo]

In Florida, but at least it's not both of us. No.

[Fran Mariano]

Right.

[Ria Ciuffo]

That's what it's really.

[Noah]

We could set you up with a mic.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, we're gonna get some good, solid audio going so that people don't get upset with us. But, yeah, I'm gonna go head to set up. I'm gonna help my sister, who is. She wants to take Luke on the plane for the first time. And my parents are down in Florida right now. And she said, hey, sis, you want to come to Florida and help me on the plane with Luca? I said, I wouldn't want to do anything else. I'm there. Although, you know, am I worried about my sister and I taking a baby on the plane for the first time? Yes, it is. It is Luca's mother.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

She know. She Knows what she's doing.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep.

[Fran Mariano]

I'm there for assistance. Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

But also, like, she's never done it before.

[Fran Mariano]

Neither of us have brought a baby on a plane before, so that'll be some.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Maybe on a plane.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. That'll be some experience.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

And. Yeah. So I'm going to.

[Ria Ciuffo]

He'll be a little perfect.

[Fran Mariano]

No, he's so cute. He's got his first haircut. I'm so excited to get some sunshine, though. Like, damn, these cold winter months.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, I know. I know. It takes a toll.

[Fran Mariano]

It really.

[Ria Ciuffo]

It's just. Depression is real, folks.

[Fran Mariano]

It's more just like when I look in the mirror.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

I'm horrified. Not when I have makeup on or anything. Like, when I do, you know, when I do my hair, my makeup, I'm like.

[Ria Ciuffo]

But it's like waking up in the morning and you look in the mirror and you're like, yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

When you. It's like, ah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

You know, it's like you're blinded by, like, the paleness of winter when you look at yourself in the mirror in these cold winter months, for sure. You know, and the dry skin comes out from the winter.

[Ria Ciuffo]

It's like, all right, preaching to the choir.

[Fran Mariano]

I know. I'm just rambling at this point, but I know everyone can relate to that. If you're not in a sunny sunshine state right now, cold winter months get brutal.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I'm hoping it's nice down in New Orleans, but it's.

[Fran Mariano]

I checked the weather. It looked like it was gonna be, like, 70 degrees.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, fantastic. I mean, it snowed there like last weeks.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. I did look at the. What the weather was going to be like.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, thank you for doing that. I haven't looked.

[Fran Mariano]

I've been looking up everything.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Everything for you. Yeah. You're like, what. What about these?

[Fran Mariano]

I'm like, what about these tickets, honey? Like, I've been studying. I was sending Fran tickets yesterday. I was like, these look good. I don't know.

[Ria Ciuffo]

You're just as nervous as I am.

[Fran Mariano]

I am. Like, I'm just excited. I'm excited. I'm invested. I got. Listen, I got no dog in the fight when it comes to the Super Bowl.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

So super bowl week for me is kind of like vacation. Vacation's all I ever wanted. Vacation, having some fun, you know?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Love it.

[Fran Mariano]

I don't know if that's the words, but I think it's.

[Ria Ciuffo]

It is.

[Fran Mariano]

It's like when the whole company is, like, so into the super bowl and, you know, you got your team, it's like a Root from the sidelines, you know?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep. So, yeah, appreciate the support.

[Fran Mariano]

Always. And I'll keep sending you ticket updates.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

[Fran Mariano]

Um, all right, let's get into the rest of the show. Noah, how you doing today?

[Noah]

I'm good.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Good, good. Moving on.

[Noah]

I had nothing to add.

[Fran Mariano]

So anyways, rest of the show, like.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I really thought you just, like, kind of threw him a bone there. Just be like, hey, just. Let's just check in with you. You know what? Good. All right, moving on.

[Noah]

What if I was like, I'm actually really not doing.

[Fran Mariano]

I would open the conversation about supported.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Let's talk about it.

[Fran Mariano]

Let's talk about it.

[Ria Ciuffo]

No, no, but I just kind of assumed you were gonna be like, no.

[Noah]

I had nothing else. I started that new James Morrison show last night. I was telling them. Good, I recommend it.

[Fran Mariano]

All right, moving on.

[Ria Ciuffo]

What show is it?

[Noah]

It's called Paradise. It's like where he's playing the president.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, and the guy from It's Sterling K. Brown.

[Noah]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

Sterling K. Knight.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Sterling K. Knight.

[Fran Mariano]

Which is what I said.

[Noah]

That's good. I would recommend it.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

I wasn't even on the show. I know the inside jokes from. I've been here.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I had Sterling Knight with a Sterling K Night.

[Fran Mariano]

Speaking of Sterling Knight, I actually didn't put this on my weekly watch report. Sorry to cut you off, Noah. What do you think of the show so far?

[Noah]

No, I would. I don't really, like, want to give stuff away because I went in kind of not knowing what it's about, and then it's like.

[Ria Ciuffo]

It's like a network show, right? Like it's on Hulu.

[Noah]

It's on Hulu, but it doesn't feel like network.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, but I think it's like on FX or.

[Fran Mariano]

What is it?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, maybe. Is it? I don't know if it was that.

[Noah]

Or like, I would be shocked if it was.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. Who knows?

[Noah]

Because the episodes are pretty. Like, they're longer than 30 minutes.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Well, they have hour long shows.

[Noah]

To me, cable TV isn't like even a real thing anymore.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Paradise.

[Fran Mariano]

I mean, we're literally going on a cable television show.

[Noah]

No, no, not like. But you know what I mean. Not like talk shows released.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, maybe it's Hulu exclusive.

[Noah]

I think it is a Hulu exclusive.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, it just says Hulu.

[Noah]

The first three episodes came out today.

[Ria Ciuffo]

So the poster for the show says Hulu. So.

[Noah]

But I love me some James Marston. His character in this is amazing.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Don't we both you and Francesca.

[Fran Mariano]

Both.

[Noah]

He's like a. He's the president, but he's like a badass president. Like, he's smoking, drinking. He doesn't give a fuck. Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

He could never play a lame president. Look at him. He's a JFK type.

[Fran Mariano]

Oh, shit. You're gonna open up your phone to another James Marsden, dm. We did talk about that on the podcast. I feel like we didn't. Now I'm saying too much.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Probably didn't.

[Fran Mariano]

All right, well, moving on. That was a couple of years ago. Anyways, I was watching the Disney Channel games. They put them on the Disney Network. They put them on the Disney app on the tv, and I was Disney plus Disney plus.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I couldn't think. I don't know where you just went with that. The Disney app on the tv. I could not think, okay, so Disney.

[Fran Mariano]

I couldn't think of the name Disney. I watched she brought the dozen two this weekend.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

And I was scrolling around after, and I saw they put the Disney Channel games on there, and I was like, oh, my God, I have to watch. I have to watch the first episode.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

Jason Dolly. You remember him?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep.

[Fran Mariano]

Where is he now?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep, yep. You know? Yep.

[Fran Mariano]

One of those, like, where is he?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Which show was he on? He was. I could picture his face. And he had some of those.

[Fran Mariano]

Why am I. He was in movies.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. And there was also. I feel like he was in a lot of Disney Channel movies.

[Fran Mariano]

Jason Dolly. He was in a lot of movies. He's 33 now. His birthday's July 5th.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Okay.

[Noah]

Oh, minutemen. Great.

[Fran Mariano]

Oh, he was.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And he was in.

[Fran Mariano]

Good Luck, Charlie.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Good Luck Charlie.

[Fran Mariano]

Yes. Minuteman. Good luck Charlie Hatching. Pete.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep. Corey in the house. Oh, duh.

[Fran Mariano]

Read it. And weed.

[Ria Ciuffo]

His best friend.

[Fran Mariano]

Where is Jason Dolly?

[Ria Ciuffo]

His best friend?

[Noah]

Wow. Guess what Minuteman has on Rotten Tomatoes. I mean, that was, like, one of my favorite Disney movies.

[Ria Ciuffo]

From the way you just said that, I can't tell if it's going to be shockingly high or shockingly low.

[Fran Mariano]

77.

[Noah]

1267. That's a good.

[Fran Mariano]

That's really good. Dang. All right, well, good for them.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Nicholas Braun, did you. Did you see the promo this morning that they dropped Jonas Brothers for the Disney movie? For the Disney plus Christmas movie.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I'm sure it's gonna be cute. It's just like, porque, where's the book? But no, I think it's. It'll Jonas Brothers Christmas movie. Sounds like my dream. Like, cozy up. Get the. Maybe I'm home. Get the fireplace going. Light a nice Candle. You have a fireplace? No, I said maybe if I'm home.

[Fran Mariano]

Oh.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And like not my apartment. Right. In a house that has a fireplace. I was like, you got a fireplace? I was just there on Friday. No, I mean like my in laws house. Like. Right, right, right. And get. Getting all cozy in the Christmas season and throwing on a Jonas Brothers Christmas movie.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Delightful.

[Fran Mariano]

That does sound delightful.

[Ria Ciuffo]

They did the whole. If you didn't see it, they did the whole of actually poster board. You know, with Jones brothers, we have a Christmas movie coming out on Disney plus and you know, they're really working overtime when they're promo and the Christmas movie that, you know, it's end of January, it'll be out in a, in a year. Basically. It's like coming this holiday season.

[Fran Mariano]

They kind of missed the mark.

[Ria Ciuffo]

About 10 months away.

[Fran Mariano]

Right? Missed the mark. Like just. It was literally just Christmas.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. But I will say this is, I mean you have, this is the time you have to film a Christmas movie. Like you can't film a Christmas movie at Christmas because then it's not, you know, there's no time for it to come out.

[Fran Mariano]

No, but why didn't they just start promoing it like in next September?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

You know what I mean? This, this coming holiday, the children, I.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Think that they had to say something because it like came out online that they were filming in. There was like behind the scenes paparazzi pictures and stuff and people were kind of confused.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

So this was the right call, I think, to just like publicly watch it.

[Noah]

Not even come out. You'll be like, what happened to that Christmas movie? Like, this will be like November.

[Ria Ciuffo]

No, it'll come out. It'll come out. I trust Disney plus for sure. Disney, Disney's a well oiled machine. That movie will come out.

[Fran Mariano]

That Disney app, that Disney app on the tv. My brain just can't stop thinking about the fact that I want to do something crazy on watch what happens live to get like noticed. You know what I mean? Like we gotta do something like when they pan to us, like we gotta do something like, you know, chug your drink. No, like, just like not to get. But I just mean like something where it's like we didn't just smile and wave, you know, like, what are we gonna do?

[Ria Ciuffo]

I don't know. I don't.

[Fran Mariano]

It will probably just smile and wave.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, I mean that's gonna be the case.

[Fran Mariano]

And then it'll be a clip of us talking about this, then a shot.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Of us going, yeah, we're gonna be yeah, exactly. Completely.

[Fran Mariano]

We're here with the chicks in the office.

[Ria Ciuffo]

What are we gonna do? Like. Yeah, should I do that?

[Fran Mariano]

No, I dare me to do something.

[Noah]

I'm trying to. I'm actually.

[Ria Ciuffo]

No, we're all drawing a blank.

[Noah]

What could they do?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

Should I go like this to the camera?

[Noah]

Yeah, double like back to back.

[Fran Mariano]

Oh, we can do back to back. We could do that.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Just a little finger gun. Yeah, gotcha.

[Fran Mariano]

We gotta do something different.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I, I, yeah, we can think about it.

[Fran Mariano]

We'll have to have a couple drinks before.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, we'll brainstorm, you know, right now. Otherwise, right now it's not gonna come to us.

[Fran Mariano]

No, we're just gonna be like.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Exactly.

[Caller]

Hey.

[Fran Mariano]

All right, moving on. Oh, by the way, Rachel Kirkano went on Call Her Daddy.

[Ria Ciuffo]

She did.

[Fran Mariano]

And it's not out yet while we're recording this.

[Ria Ciuffo]

So you're, you have all, probably all seen what she said already, right?

[Fran Mariano]

And we'll talk about it on Friday.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, exactly. And we'll see. Well, we'll see what she said.

[Fran Mariano]

We'll give our taste.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I feel like emotional. She looked like.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

She had been crying in the promo perhaps. You know, probably emotional.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. So we'll give a takes on that.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep.

[Fran Mariano]

All right. Topics, topics.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Topics. Topic Train. It's coming right to you. Eric T's Topic Train. Yep. Shout out Greg T. Thank you from z100.

[Fran Mariano]

Thank you.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Almost ran in the Morning Zoo.

[Fran Mariano]

Morning Zoo or Morning Show?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Morning Zoo. Isn't that what they called it?

[Fran Mariano]

Fire up the old Google machine.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Elvis Duran in the Morning Zoo. I could I. There's no way. I just made up Zoo in my mind.

[Noah]

I mean this, this is all saying Morning Show.

[Ria Ciuffo]

What zoo from? Is there something else? Am I just thinking of Zootopia?

[Fran Mariano]

You might just be like, there has to be some. Maybe in Jersey you guys had a morning zoo show, but Elvis joined in the morning show.

[Noah]

That doesn't even like sound good Morning Zoo.

[Ria Ciuffo]

No, it doesn't.

[Fran Mariano]

It threw me off guard.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. But I'm. You know what? Maybe I'm just thinking of Z100 Zootopia. That was a good time. I don't think they do Zootopia anymore. Z100 Zootopia concerts. It's like jingle ball, but different point. All right, anyway, anyway, time to get.

[Fran Mariano]

Into Greg T. Top of Train. We're going to be talking about the voice note that was.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I just like would like to not talk about.

[Fran Mariano]

I know. I would really love to stop talking about both Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. I'm actually but we're in a vortex. No, we are. It's nonstop. The voice note has been released. We're gonna be talking about a dollar AP Rocky's trial has begun. Rihanna will be attending on Wednesday. We'll get into the details of that. The Bachelor is back with Bachelor rant. We will be episode one. We got Lady Gaga releasing a new album. Get Ready Little Monsters March 7th and Little Monsters Assemble. Me being the leader and voice rails Popcorner. Yeah, Popcorner. Let's get into it. Starting off the topics. If you are looking for your way to a healthy scalp, look no further than ouai. I have the Ouai scalp serum in my hand and this stuff is the best. You can use it in the morning, at night, whenever you wash your hair. It is amazing and it helps you get on your way to a healthy scalp. I've been using OUAI products for years now. The leave in conditioner has been an absolute sick staple of mine. I've never strayed away from it as soon as I started using it. It is the absolute best and way knows their stuff when it comes to hair products. Their hair and body products are made to be effortless and work for you and your routine. I love the body products as well. The exfoliating body scrub. Love to use that especially in these winter dry months. The body cream. Oh my God, it all smells so good too. And this scalp serum hydrates you and balances your scalp, which is what we need right now. 100 soft, thick, fuller looking strands using the scalp serum. And like I said, you can use it day or night. So the way to a healthy scalp starts here. Go to T-E-O-U-A I.com and use code chicks for 15% off any product. Once again, that's t h e o u a I.com code chicks here go again with this topic.

[Ria Ciuffo]

So we're just on the train, we're on the ride and I want to get off.

[Fran Mariano]

I want to get off.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I want to get off the ride bad.

[Fran Mariano]

I want to get off. I'm sick of hearing about these two. I'm not going to lie. Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, both of them. The trial will begin next year. 2026. I saw the information pop up on chicks in the office.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I was so excited. Rhea looked at me, she sat down, she went oh, the trial starts March 9th. And I said, yeah, 2026.

[Fran Mariano]

I was reading it from our Instagram and I see March 9, 2026, the whole over a year from now. So we're gonna wait for that but of course that's how the courts work. But yeah, this, this voice note was released and here's what the. Now the conversation can begin with. This was Blake Lively, you know, maybe uncomfortable with Justin Baldoni's the way he talks, whatever. Yes, that does not equal sexual assault. And now that's the conversation. That or sexual harassment or sexual assault. That's like where the conver conversation comes into play. Right? Because it's like his voice note could be weird and uncomfortable, but that does not equal he is guilty of, you know, sexual harassment. So a lot of people are talking about that.

[Ria Ciuffo]

There's just 9 million things to go through is the problem. And it's just going to be. We're just going to be stuck in this spiral for the next year of them like releasing text messages or recordings or scenes that have been cut or whatever. And for everybody to put their, put their opinion into. And everybody's diving into this, that everything, all these other theories and blah, blah, blah. And so it's like a six minute, six and a half minute voice note that he sent Blake Lively at like sent at 2 in the morning. And it was, hey, basically in like he told her in an apology is this post them having the meeting about the rooftop scene and everything that happened there. And I guess, you know, Blake didn't feel like she was completely heard at that time. And so now he's like really honing in on apologizing. And I really want to like, work with you. I want all of you. Like, I just, there's just these two clearly have very different boundaries. And I've said this so many times, but they, these two could not, like, they just don't mix in any way. And like everything that I feel like Blake is okay with just his and vice versa. Like, Justin's like living his life. He's talking the way he talks, blah, blah, blah. And I just don't know if Blake really has, has had an experience with a guy like Justin and that can make somebody uncomfortable. I personally listening to this voice note, I was like, mm, this is kinda creeping me out a little bit. Which is funny because if you go on the Internet, it's he. Oh my God, his voice is so sexy. Read me a bedtime story, daddy. Like, it's like, what. I don't know what's happening.

[Fran Mariano]

Let me tell you, this is what I don't understand.

[Ria Ciuffo]

He does have a sexy voice. I will give him that. But right. It's like it was the what he was saying and the way he was saying it to Somebody that, like, is an actress working on his movie. I don't. Weird.

[Fran Mariano]

And this is what I don't understand with the Internet. Like, Blake Lively could be wrong.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yes. Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

100. But why does that mean we have to worship the ground Justin Baldoni walks on?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Like, I don't. Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

I don't understand. Like, people will just, like, because they're against somebody else, they will prop the other person up to be, like, the most amazing person in the entire world, and it's like, well, no. Like, yeah, Blake Lively is wrong, But I. Justin Baldoni. I'm not, like, worshiping and bowing down in front of him. Like, I. I also listened to that voice note and was like, what the fuck is going? Like, like, people are like, oh, he's so emotionally intelligent, mature. Like, okay, but, like, this voice note is seven minutes long, and I think he's saying too much at this point.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Like, it's like, over.

[Fran Mariano]

You know, like, over compensating. And, like, maybe that's just how he talks, and maybe he did feel really bad, and that's why it was, like, on and on. But at the end, and nobody's talking about this, right? Everyone's like, oh, my God, he's so emotionally intelligent. He's so. Oh, my God, he's saying apology right away. Oh, and then at the end where he's like, you know, you probably got kids all over. You probably got a baby on your boob. Like, why was that necessary to say no? Why. Why was that necessary to throw in at the end of the voice note? Which is why I think it goes back to the point of, like, I think these two are just two totally different people that are not on the safe wave.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Different set of boundaries, and they have.

[Fran Mariano]

A different set of boundaries, and maybe that's just how Justin Baldoni talks, and some people like that and appreciate that, and Blake Lively doesn't. But then that comes into the legal aspect of it, where it's like, okay, well, that is not.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

You know, that doesn't qualify as, like, sexual harassment or assault, but I don't.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Was this listed in her complaint? Like, was this voice note specifically listed in her complaint? I don't know. I don't remember seeing this, because if I did, I feel like I would have remembered the baby on the boob line when I was reading through it. But I don't. I don't. It may have. It may have been. But no, Justin's the kind of guy that's like, I'm.

[Fran Mariano]

I'm. I'm.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I'm A flawed human. You know, I make mistakes. I'm. And I'll. I'll work to be better and, like, all these things, and sometimes, like, those kinds of guys are like, a red flag to me. I. I don't know. It's. It's working. What he's doing.

[Fran Mariano]

It's hard to even talk about because.

[Ria Ciuffo]

People, like, are so. It's so.

[Fran Mariano]

So just worked out.

[Noah]

Don't.

[Ria Ciuffo]

He is working because everybody, like, every comment, everything I see online is just so pro. Him and, like, oh, my God, he was so forgiving, and he's bending over backwards for her, and he is. He is doing too much for her and is too kind to her and all this. Like, she's taking advantage of his kindness. And I just. I don't know. I. I do believe that he was trying to be kind and supportive for sure. And be helpful.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And do all those things. I think that was his intention.

[Fran Mariano]

Yes.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And that is where. Where his heart is coming from. But I think that he was probably crossing some boundaries that Blake had that could be interpreted as being inappropriate. I'm sorry. Like, if somebody I work for and I, you know, work for. I never was like, oh, the power distribution. Like, she's more famous. She has more power. He was the director of the movie. His studio owned the rights. His studio was producing the movie. She's the actress on the movie. Yes. She fought for the PGA title, all those things. The producer title. But he's the director. He is running the show as of right now. Before you got, you know, bulldozed, so to. So say. But, like, if I'm getting a message from somebody like that, in that situation, I'm playing. It is two in the morning, and he's like, you probably have a baby on your boob. I'm like, ugh. What are you visualizing me sitting here with my boob out? Like, yeah. You know, I don't know. I.

[Fran Mariano]

Friend. I don't know why. Like, I feel like we seem crazy that we're, like, not so. Like, my God, Justin Baldoni, the greatest man to walk this earth.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I know.

[Fran Mariano]

I don't know.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And I want to be very, very clear. Like, I am not so crazy. Like, team Blake. She's. She's so right. Go, Blake. Go, Blake. Like, the whole thing, like, there is. I. I see others, both sides to it, really. And it's just, like, there's certain things that, like, his team is putting out that I'm just like, I don't. I mean, like I said, it seems to be working. There's so many different wrinkles into this now, too, because the Internet has run wild, and it's come from the voice of Candace Owens, which is, like, the last person that I thought I would be talking about in this situation.

[Fran Mariano]

Right.

[Ria Ciuffo]

But Candace Owens is, like, on social media, being like, I got the inside source. This person's talking to me. This person's talked to me. She's saying she's talked to people that have been to Blake's, like, within Blake's family or have been to Blake's father's home and, like, all these things. And I'm just one. I'm like, who from Blake's family is speaking to you? I'm sorry. Like, that. You're just not gonna get me on that.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

But she is full steam ahead on Ryan Reynolds being the issue here, and something happened, and Ryan's decided to, like, go. Like, Ryan's the one that wanted to take over the movie. He wanted all this to happen. He wanted to go at Wayfair Studios. And Wayfair Studios is also run by this guy who's a billionaire. And, like, she keeps mentioning, like, you're gonna lose that battle. Like, I know Ryan Reynolds. Like, they say his net worth, 300 million. Like, this guy's billion. Like, this guy wants to give away a billion dollars. He's got so much money. So she's really pulling it all to Ryan Reynolds, which is now starting to become a conversation where everyone's really honing in on Ryan Reynolds of, like, this jealousy factor. Of, like, what did he see during the dailies? Did he go and he watched something and saw that there was chemistry and he got pissed off or uncomfortable or all these things like, that he got angry. They've gone to the past of him and, like, relationships that he's been in where exes have coded him, is, like, kind of being a controlling guy, you know? He also met Blake Lively on the set of a movie, and now that is a whole narrative that's coming out of this as well. People are talking about. And Candace has been leading this lead in the fight on that one. So honestly, strategically smart. Ish from Candace, maybe, Because now it's like, there's, like, this whole young generation of people that are so team Justin that they're like, wow, Candace never thought I'd be on your side for this, but you got me. And she's probably like, yes.

[Fran Mariano]

I mean, it's. It's crazy. But the. The thing with. With Justin is, like, obviously, totally understand why his team is fighting back so hard because Being wrongfully accused of something so serious is extremely damaging to somebody's entire image and career. Like their entire life. It's extremely damaging. So I understand why they're fighting back really hard and they're like, no, this is the proof that those things did not happen. I think that what I'm gathering is I just think they're weirdo actors. Like, they're artsy, they talk in all these terms. They, they have, you know, this self importance of, of, you know, I don't.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Feel, I don't think Blake and Riley have. Blake and Blake and Ryan have come across a guy that they've had to deal with in their day to day life that is like Justin.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. And it's just like. But you do, like, you do have to understand the part of being accused of something so damaging, like you're gonna be pissed. You're gonna want to fight back. And that does suck for Justin because it's like, okay, well there is a difference between like not understanding his artistic vision and view versus what he's like being accused of.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

So that does suck. Just from like an opinion of like watching this all unfold. I think they're all weirdos. Like, I think just like, I think just actors are fucking weird.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Like, I think there's totally some crazy like power dynamic going on with this too. Of like Blake and Blake and Ryan want to put Justin in his place kind of thing. It's like they're like just ego wise. Like let's, you know.

[Fran Mariano]

Right. But even just putting someone in their place and accusing them of something as serious as like completely.

[Ria Ciuffo]

That's what I'm saying. It doesn't add up.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, it's no good.

[Ria Ciuffo]

So I don't know. But they is going to continue. I mean, like you said, the court date isn't till mark like the first date, March 9, 2026. Which is crazy.

[Fran Mariano]

And I'm sure they both have more to reveal about each other. Like every day something else is going to come out. Blake's team about Justin, Justin, about Blake. It's going to be back and forth. This movie was not worth it.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

You know, this movie was not worth all this.

[Ria Ciuffo]

They've sent Colleen Hoover straight off the Internet. She's like deactivated her social.

[Fran Mariano]

I mean, I don't blame her.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

I would be like, oh, yeah, if I'm calling her Hoover, I'm canceling Verity.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Right.

[Fran Mariano]

I'm like, listen, yeah. All my, all my book to film adaptations. Got them.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

Because of this again, this is, this is this is wild. No, it's really crazy. It's really, it's really wild.

[Ria Ciuffo]

But it's actually.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, it just, yeah, it's, it's, you know, it is, it is crazy.

[Ria Ciuffo]

It's just, yeah, even just like, just like we said, all the language that has been used in the examples and the text messages and the things that Blake sent him. Bizarre. The things that he's saying back. Bizarre. It's just, that's why like Ryan being more involved potentially does not shock me and can be very believable to me too. Cause I'm thinking like, Blake plays this voice note out loud and if Ryan's there listening to it, I'd imagine Ryan would be like, what the, what the hell is this guy? Like, what is happening? You know, like, why is this guy sending you a voice note? Like talking about how amazing your chemistry is? And yes, the actors are working together for sure. Like, it makes. It's just, I just think that I could see Ryan. I just think I could see anybody and even just Ryan. But like naturally there's a little bit of a jealousy that comes there or like a little bit of like a what's going on, you know?

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, well, that's. They're both actors though, so if you're gonna have the jealousy bug, you can't be doing that when you're both acting.

[Ria Ciuffo]

With different people 100%, you know what I mean? There's no way that that doesn't still happen sometimes.

[Fran Mariano]

Right. But it's like then, then you're in the wrong field, I guess, you know?

[Ria Ciuffo]

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[Fran Mariano]

Moving on, another trial. A$AP Rocky's trial is. Is unfolding now, and Rihanna will be in attendance on Wednesday. And the A. Rocky is facing up to 30 years in jail for this situation in which he shot former friend ASAP Relly.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep.

[Fran Mariano]

They. They had disagreements. Relly claims that he was meeting up with ASAP Rocky to squash the, you know, squash the arguments. And ASAP Rocky ended up firing on him asap. Rocky claims that Relly was going after one of his guys and that's why he pulled out the gun. But he also claims the gun was a prop gun.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

And that this was not a real gun. It was a prop gun.

[Ria Ciuffo]

So, yeah, I can. I can read this, too. This was a description in the cut that says Rocky's been charged with two counts of felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm. ASAP Relly, former friend and collaborator accused of accused Rocky firing gun at him near a Hollywood Hotel in 2021. The two went to High school together in New York City, and Relly claims that he brought Rocky into the ASAP group. Over the years, they remained close, but Rocky's career skyrocketed while Relly and other members of ASAP felt that they were left behind. In October of 2021, a member of the group named Asak Josh died, and Rocky said he would help Josh's mother with funeral costs. Relly fell under the impression that Rocky hadn't followed through and sent him a text message that read, you're so fucking fake, it's sad. Relly testified that he later learned that Rocky had actually paid for the funeral. That November, Raleigh agreed to meet with Rocky at the W Hotel in Hollywood. Rocky was allegedly joined by A$APs and ASAP12E.Relly claimed that once they met up, Rocky pulled out a gun and pressed it to his chest. Rocky then began to walk away, and Relly began offloading his feelings towards the rapper. He said in court that he was letting him know how everybody feel because nobody's brave enough to say how they feel about this man at that point. According to Relly, Rocky turned around and shot me. In court. Rally's lawyer showed a picture of Raleigh's injured knuckles, which he claimed came from the shooting. While part of this interaction was caught in security cameras, there is no footage of Rocky actually firing a gun. Prosecutors are banking on Relly as their star witness, while Rocky's lawyer is hoping to cast him as a liar trying to get money. Relly has also sued Rocky for damages related to the shooting in civil court. So in that case, if he's filing it in civil court, he wants, you know, damages to be paid back to him, which is normally, you know, a sum of money, asap. Rocky has not spoken publicly about the charges. Rocky made a big statement when he opted not to take a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for six months. If he is found guilty at trial, Rocky could face up to 24 years in prison. Now it is big that Rihanna is going to be there because a part of the trial, allegedly when they were picking the jury was like, have you listened to ASAP or Rihanna? Like, are you a fan? Like, do you like Fenty Beauty? Like, it's like these things because, you know, you could be swayed if they're a fan of the room. Prosecutors also wanted to know if jurors would be able to render a fair verdict if Rihanna was in the room. It originally seemed like she was not going to be there, that he didn't like that. Rocky's very protective of her and, like, wasn't gonna want her. Didn't want her to be there. But now this TMZ story says that Rihanna is fully throwing her full support behind him and is planning to show up on Wednesday. This says Rihanna will cause quite the stir when she makes her grand entrance at the downtown LA courthouse. With a circus like media atmosphere surrounding the high drama. A source with direct knowledge of the case tells us the plans could change, but right now she is slated to be there on Wednesday. She will likely be sitting in the gallery with all the regular folks, which should be an interesting visual in and of itself. And they mentioned again that it was a key part of picking the jury, of asking them, you know, have you ever purchased a Fenty product? Do you like Rihanna? Do you like asap? All these things. So you'd have to imagine, no matter what there is, even if somebody says, like, there's no. There's no swaying factor at all having Rihanna, and sure, I'm sure some of them really probably have no clue. They don't know who Rihanna is or whatever. Like, there's people out there that probably live under a rock, and that's the people that they have to find for a case like this to be jurors. So but even regardless, it's to have her, there is a strong statement.

[Fran Mariano]

I would be a horrible jury member for this case.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I would say, no, you would actually have been dismissed immediately.

[Fran Mariano]

I would be, your honor. He's too pretty to be in jail, you know, so thankfully I wasn't called for this.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Right.

[Fran Mariano]

But damn, I don't want to see ASAP Rocky go to jail. No, like, I know that he did something wrong. Like, I'm. I'm totally being biased right now. I know he's not.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Where did the prop gun thing come from? Because it sounds like he hasn't even really said anything about the trial.

[Fran Mariano]

He said that it is a prop gun.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Where did he say that? I.

[Fran Mariano]

That's what I read. That's what I read about. I forget which article I read it on, but I did read that he said it was a prop gun.

[Ria Ciuffo]

That's so interesting because this says. He's really not said on complex about it at all.

[Fran Mariano]

I think this was when everything first happened.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

He claimed it was a. It was a prop gun.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, that must be what they're now saying. Trial.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, yeah, he was. It was rated. And his. Rated in April 2022.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

It was loaded with six bullets and it was found, you know, so I don't know if he's gonna get away with saying it's a prop gun.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, that's. You know, he said the gun was actually. His lawyer said the gun was actually starter pistol that only shot blanks which Rocky carried for protection.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, that's why he's saying it's a prop gun. Yeah, yeah. And basically they're saying it's just, you know, extortion. Extortion by rally. It's a whole thing. It's a back and forth. I am not an unbiased member of the jury here. I don't want to see Seb. Rocky go to jail when they have, you know, little babies.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I know. The jurors were shown surveillance videos the prosecutor argued made it clear that Rocky fired a gun. At that point, Rocky's attorney said in the defense opening statement, the video evidence is meaningless without the testimony of the accuser, who he argued is driven by jealousy, lies, and greed. The case falls or rises or falls in his credibility. He said the gun was actually. The first video shown by the prosecution showed a physical struggle between two men with two others intervening when one of them, wearing a black hoodie, pulls out a gun and points it but does not fire. The evidence in this case will show that the man in the black sweatshirt is the defendant. That's what the district deputy district attorney is saying. That evidence will be uncontradicted. So now, of course, that is what they will try and prove over the next coming. Over the next coming days and in this trial and probably weeks of. We'll see how long it goes. But the defense Lawyer argued that ASAP Rally was not scared because he, quote, knew that gun wasn't real. Bloody scrapes on his knuckles. Well, we'll see. Yeah, so we shall see. It's just the beginning. That's going to continue to play out.

[Fran Mariano]

Damn, that's tough.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

Yep, that's tough. Tougher. Rihanna.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, totally.

[Fran Mariano]

She's standing by her man.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Okay.

[Fran Mariano]

You do you. The bachelor's back. Back on Monday. I saw some. Some of it. I didn't watch the full episode. Standard, it seemed. Yes, the ladies are gorgeous.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Honestly, Stunning.

[Fran Mariano]

Gorgeous.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I saw one of the more stunning groups.

[Fran Mariano]

I saw someone say, did they just show up to a modeling agency, say, give us all your women like.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And Grant's a handsome guy for sure. These girls are stunning. And so far, I mean, night one, every. Everybody seems pretty normal, but I mean, that's. It's. It's night one. There wasn't really no crazy antics, granted. Showed up, met him a little bit, talked about his family, met his sister, his mom. He also had a sit down with his dad, who his parents were married for 30 years and then they divorced when he was in high school or college, maybe said, I think maybe high school. And his father has battled addiction problems for a long time. And it seems like they have really tried to work on. On their relationship. And they sat down. His dad was so excited for him to do this whole process and meet somebody. And he got. They went to the mansion, got ready. These ladies came out the limo. One more stunning than the last. Truly. One girl, Alex, came in with a llama. No drama llama. It was a real llama. It stayed in the house all night. Everybody got to. Everybody got. Everybody got to see the llama. And she ended up getting the first impression. Rose. She was really cute, the girl. Like, she was like, funny, quirky. Because at first I thought, oh, no, you're bringing a llama in. This is your. Is not. This is not gonna be good for you. But it ended up being good because they had a cover. They had a lovely conversation. She made him laugh, which I think he really liked. And she's super cute. Um, and it was a big. Cause the first impression. Rose this season also meant that she was getting the first one on one date, which is something that they have not done before. Nobody really went to out of pocket on their. On their limo entrances. I will say, like, you know, couple risks here or there. A couple people tried to do like a little dance. There's some, of course, there's like some puns. Girl from Jersey brought A pizza. Like there's just classic.

[Fran Mariano]

Yep.

[Ria Ciuffo]

The Italian girl brought a cannoli, you know. Hey, yeah. And I'm trying to think if there was anything else that I saw that was like, whoa, it really. Somebody brought a big fat head of just his head. Which was funny, you know. She was like, oh, you know, I'll always make sure you don't get a big head.

[Fran Mariano]

And the girls drop of his new song.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I know he apparently is also artist.

[Noah]

It was pretty good.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. Yeah, it's. It's clearly something else he wants to do. In the preview for the whole season, he is singing at certain points. So pursue your dreams, Grant. Yeah, the. The talent is there from. From. From Grant. He did kiss a decent amount of the ladies. I will say some good connections already, but like no jumping with the girls. Like, nobody was like crying, oh my God, I haven't gotten time yet with him. They. The only drama that they tried to do was they brought grand sister to the mansion and they obviously didn't know was his sister. So like, who's this? Who's this? They're all like freaking out for two seconds and then she's like, I'm his sister.

[Fran Mariano]

They've done it with the brothers before.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep, yep, yep, Exactly. So that's really. That was like the one big thing. And at the end of the night, he sent. Sent a few of them home. Nobody that they really like focused on during the episode, I would say got sent home. But yeah, really not much to say was it seems like a fantastic group of. Group of ladies. So we'll see what happens.

[Fran Mariano]

Season.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. Very, very standard first night. I will say. Does it look good for the end? I know that they always want you to think that.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, never looks good for the end.

[Ria Ciuffo]

But the preview, man, he sat at the finale and he's like saying to like, I got two girls, I love them. I don't know who to pick. And like he's like, the clock is like. The shot clock is like on. And at one point Jesse Palmer's like, you need to tell me like, what girl is showing up first? Like, we need to tell me like, which girl is going to arrive first? He's like, I don't know. Like, it's like he sounds like it was really a down to the wire decision. Yeah, that's not good one. Which I always feel if you do pick someone in that scenario and then they have to watch that back, that is not good because you're like, oh, what did you just fucking flip a coin? Like, you know, you're like. They're both so great. Like, it could be either of them. Okay, well, why'd you pick me? Like, right.

[Fran Mariano]

No. If I'm the girl that comes out of the last wire, I'm like, yeah, well, yeah. Doesn't feel like you wholeheartedly.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Totally. You want the guy to be like, look, I've known it's been you for weeks, you know, like, so I don't know. Well, it's. It should be an interesting season, I guess, to see how that plays out, because that's what they're really teasing at the end. So we shall see. But that was episode one.

[Fran Mariano]

Yep.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Cruising right along. Grant season, baby.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, we'll see. We'll see if it picks up.

[Ria Ciuffo]

What's this song called?

[Noah]

Party Party Girls.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Party Girls.

[Noah]

Like, the whole. The whole song kind of seems like all girls want is, like, to party, blah, blah, blah. So it's like a weird thing to put out right before.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Right.

[Fran Mariano]

Maybe he's taking past inspiration, you know?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Damn. You think he's sending out a subliminal message to everybody.

[Fran Mariano]

It could maybe not be right now.

[Ria Ciuffo]

To be, like, a hint of how the season goes.

[Fran Mariano]

A lot of artists write about past experiences, not only their past.

[Ria Ciuffo]

That's true. That's true.

[Fran Mariano]

Speaking of artists, Lady Gaga new album Mayhem, out March 7. She says she wants to do something for, you know, those OG little monsters out there that were fans of her pop music from the beginning. She knows, you know, it won't be the same, but you can only, you know, it'll be.

[Noah]

Wow. Did you see what she described it as? I feel like it's right up your alley, like, what the music is gonna sound like.

[Fran Mariano]

What did she say again?

[Noah]

I saw 90s alternative electro, grunge, Prince and Bowie melodies, guitar and attitude, funky bass lines, French electronic dance, and analog synths.

[Fran Mariano]

I can't wait.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Amazing. Not quite sure what that all means, but sounds fantastic.

[Noah]

I'm Prince and Bowie, so.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, I mean, I love that. So you got this little monster fired up, right?

[Ria Ciuffo]

I was gonna say that sounds like a direct. A direct shot for you. Really? Yeah, she's been here for the. For the Little Monsters. Yeah, she's been here. And it's true. Because I feel like Lady Gaga has been. There's been so much that she's done, and she's so. She's so amazing and successful in different things, but, like, doing movies and, like, soundtracks and, you know, Joker 2 and then that was, like, the songs from that came out, and I feel like she hasn't done a Full classic Gaga pop album.

[Fran Mariano]

And we need that in our lives.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. May. When is it coming out?

[Fran Mariano]

March 7th.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Okay, soon. Not 2026.

[Fran Mariano]

2026. No. Yeah, yeah, 2025.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Not 2026. You have to clarify. March 2025.

[Fran Mariano]

We will be listening to you, Gaga. And that wraps up the topics.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Ugh. Can't wait.

[Fran Mariano]

Cannot wait.

[Ria Ciuffo]

What a description. I'm still thinking about that. That was like 90 different genres. And one thing she just said.

[Fran Mariano]

And we'll eat it up every time.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Love it.

[Fran Mariano]

We have a brand new partnership with Truly that we are so excited about. I have my favorite flavor in my hand right now. This is the mountain paradise. It's a pear flavor. It is the Truly hard seltzer. There's 5% alcohol in each can, and let me tell you, it says it on the can. And I'll tell you the truth. It is peak refreshment Truly Hard Seltzer. It's surprisingly light, it's refreshing, it's easy to drink. And I'm telling you, this pear flavor is my favorite. But we also have the strawberry, lime, and also wild berry as well. Fantastic flavors. Thanks to Truly. We're super, super excited about this new partnership. It's only 100 calories, it's 1 gram of sugar, and it's 5% alcohol in each can. And it comes in delicious flavors, like I mentioned. So find Truly at a store near you or go to trulyhardsaltzer.com and you can look where to get Truly Hard Seltzer. We're going to be drinking them all seasons long. We're in the winter right now, going into the spring, summer. We got Truly in our hand. So join us with your Truly. All right, let's get into the Popcorner. We'll take your voicemails. What do you guys want to talk about? What are your hot takes?

[Ria Ciuffo]

I can't. I just like, how could these headphones be any more tank? Like, what? How does this even happen?

[Fran Mariano]

Holy. I'm like, oh, that's absurd.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And it's okay. Anyway, first voicemail, please.

[Caller]

Hi, chicks. This is Kelly from Atlanta. Y'all have totally got me obsessed with the show, the Traitors. I binge watched the entire second season, and I'm current on the third season just this weekend. And it had me wondering, if y'all were on there, would you. Do you think you would want to be a traitor or a faithful? And how would you play the first few days of the show? Love y'all so much. Have a good one. Bye.

[Fran Mariano]

Easy. I'd want to be A trader for sure.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Trader for sure for sure. And I think, like, you want to. You want to be in the mix, but not, like, trying too hard those first few.

[Fran Mariano]

You don't want to be calling people out right away.

[Ria Ciuffo]

No. But you also don't want to be, like, a wallflower. Not getting involved at all.

[Fran Mariano]

Right.

[Ria Ciuffo]

But I think you. I think it's kind of like, maybe more of a speak when spoken to type scenario. And, like, and, you know, give opinions and be vocal, but don't go full Danielle crying every second that you get. Like, it's like. Then I feel like you. When you overact and stuff, it, like, doesn't look right.

[Fran Mariano]

Mm.

[Noah]

I feel like you gotta, like, piggyback on people. Like, don't come up with the idea, but then just kind of agree with other people.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. You're like, oh, yeah, yeah, that's a good idea. I agree with that. Yeah. I would want to be a traitor for sure.

[Noah]

Yeah. Okay.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Hey, Rhea.

[Caller]

Hey, Fran. It's Lauren from Philly. I've talked to so many people about this, and I really have to get it off my chest to you guys and hear your opinion. Austin Butler is the most overrated actor in Hollywood. I think he overacts every single role that he's been in. I didn't enjoy him in any of the movies. When I saw him pop on the screen in Dune 2, I audibly laughed out loud. And he just getting handed every role. He's going to be in American Psycho, and he just gets given the role. I just don't think he's a good actor. And I don't know what the hype is about. So either someone needs to convince me or he needs to be downgraded. I think that Drew Starkey could play every role that Austin Butler has played, but better. And that's what I've got.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Go Birds.

[Fran Mariano]

Go Birds. That was supposed to be your thing. I said it.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

That felt like a call directly for Noah, because Noah's had that take. I will say this, though. I don't think Austin Butler is an overrated actor. I feel like maybe I haven't seen him enough in enough things like the things you've mentioned. I didn't see Dune. I didn't see the. The bikers movie that you saw.

[Ria Ciuffo]

He's barely.

[Fran Mariano]

When it comes to Drew Starkey, though. It's like people hype up Drew Starkey without actually having seen him in many things besides Outer Banks. So, like, people are like, just like that one. I don't necessarily agree with Like, Starkey could play.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And I don't know if anybody saying that.

[Fran Mariano]

Well, have we seen Drew Starkie?

[Noah]

That movie with him?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Daniel Craig is supposed to be great. And I. But like, I'm like, I don't. I doubt. Has everyone seen that yet.

[Noah]

Ended up, like, not getting, like, as great reviews.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

So I'm just like, that. Like, I think you maybe. You maybe just have a crush on Starky Fair.

[Noah]

Oh, that one.

[Ria Ciuffo]

My girlfriend Zoe or whatever that one was. It's like. Yeah. I mean, what are we talking about? I'm like, people fuck about Drew Starkey. So if you got a crush on.

[Fran Mariano]

Drew Starkey, love it.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, but he doesn't have the resume to say, like, with 100 confidence, he's better than us.

[Fran Mariano]

No, I. Right. Like, that lost me on that part.

[Ria Ciuffo]

You know, And I. There are some things, sure. Like, maybe he. He does overact, but I really don't have any. Like, I really enjoyed him. Him in Masters of the Air. I liked him. I liked him as Elvis. I thought he was a good Elvis. He was a great Elvis. Yeah. Like, Elvis I did see, like, it never, like, took me out. Like, not nothing that I've watched him in. I've been like, taking out of. Taken out of it and watching, like, oh, God, all I see is awesome.

[Noah]

But, you know, I did see a lot of people saying this. And there were a couple voicemails too, about, like, Austin must have been pissed when he saw Timothee Chalamet do the musical Guest and the double thing on his. No being like, why didn't I get to do this?

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, that is so true. Holy shit. Yeah. I mean, I don't think it's a. It's an awful take. I think. I think many people would agree with you. Yeah. It's just not one. It's just not a take I align with totally.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And I also don't think he was just handed American psychology, you know, because that's been a role that's been talked about for a while, and a lot of different actors names have been thrown around for that. So I don't think it was just like his role from the beginning.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

So, yeah.

[Caller]

Hey, guys, this is Kayla from Maryland. And my hot take is that it's okay to copy people's Instagram captions. So I was wondering how you guys felt about that. And this is also my confession to Fran that I stole your wedding one for my own wedding post. So.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, I just want to get it.

[Caller]

Okay, thank you.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Love you guys.

[Caller]

Bye.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I mean, look like If. If somebody takes yours. I guess it's flattering. You came up with a good caption. But I would never copy somebody else's. No, but it's also, like, a lot of times who's gonna. Who would know?

[Fran Mariano]

Right? No, it, like, it's hard.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Like, if I had the same caption that Kendall Jenner had, like, three years ago, who's gonna be like, oh, my God, like, you copy Kendall Jenner.

[Fran Mariano]

I've probably seen people's captions before and go, oh, that's good. I'll make up a variation of that.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Totally.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, I'll make up a variation of that caption. But I won't copy word for word. I'm awful at Instagram captions, so. You know what I feel the pain of if you feel like you gotta steal a caption.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

Now go for it. Now. If you're gonna steal someone's, like, heart felt caption for. For somebody. You know what I mean? Like a. You know, like a. A heartfelt caption.

[Noah]

Like, like not just a lyric or something.

[Fran Mariano]

Not just a lyric. I think it depends on the kind of caption you're. You're copying. Right. You know what I mean? Like, if it's just like a funny, silly caption, whatever. If it fits the theme. Like, if you felt like Fran's wedding picture caption fit. I'm curious which one.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I'm honestly trying to. I'm. I'm. That's what. I just wanted to go look too. I was kind of just thinking the same thing. Like, what could it possibly have been?

[Fran Mariano]

Because I guess, you know how many variations she would have had to also.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Have gotten married on the 21st night of September for this one.

[Noah]

Maybe she altered that.

[Fran Mariano]

Maybe.

[Ria Ciuffo]

21St night of September calls for two looks.

[Fran Mariano]

Right? That would be 9, 21, 24.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Forever and ever. And I just tagged Joe.

[Noah]

She's like, how did she think of that?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Oh, and then I did write, it's like rain on your wedding day. Oh, maybe that's it. I'm not the first bride to ever use it's like rain on your wedding day. And their caption, if it rained on your wedding day. Right.

[Fran Mariano]

That's a fair one to use as well. So if you. If it rained on your wedding day and you use the caption, it's like rain on your wedding day. That's fair game.

[Ria Ciuffo]

There's millions of brides out there have used that, for sure. That's fair.

[Fran Mariano]

That's fair game.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Song lyrics are fair game.

[Fran Mariano]

Fair. Very fair game.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Song lyrics are fair. Game. Like, we can't be nitpicking on.

[Fran Mariano]

Like, I really think. Honestly, I gotta be honest. I think they're. Now we're talking about it. I think all captions are fair game unless they're super specific, catered to the person. You're like, this is kind of weird that you're copying my heartfelt caption for this person. That's a little bizarre. But if it's a lyric, a emoji, maybe a lot of, you know, like.

[Noah]

When Taylor Swift puts out a new album and then every caption.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Right. It is what it is.

[Fran Mariano]

It's so hard to caption things.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep.

[Fran Mariano]

You know what I mean?

[Ria Ciuffo]

I can't wait. Like, 20 photos at once now.

[Fran Mariano]

Right? Like, here you go. Here's my fucking pictures. That's what I'm captioning. Here's my fucking pictures. Because it's so hard to caption something.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. So you know what?

[Fran Mariano]

You know what? If you.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Fair game.

[Fran Mariano]

Fair game. If you want to steal someone's caption, you steal their caption.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yep.

[Fran Mariano]

If you want to, you know, maybe just make it your own a little bit. Do a little. Judge up to it, do it. Who cares?

[Ria Ciuffo]

Agreed.

[Caller]

Hi, Ria, Fran and Noah. My hot take is that I kind of hate Ekinsu on Love Island. I didn't really like her on her original season, but I loved Davide. And now that I'm watching Love Island All Stars, I have always loved Curtis, and I just really find her annoying. I think she always, like, act. You know, she said she's confident and then she's like. But, you know, I'm really just shy and sensitive, and it's just giving pick me energy. And she's just always stirring the pot. I've heard people say that they think she's a producer plant, and I would not be surprised by that at all. But it's really just, like the energy she gives with the boys. And maybe it's just her way of flirting, but it makes me cringe and I hate it, and I kind of wish she'll. She would get dumped.

[Ria Ciuffo]

So.

[Caller]

Yeah, that's my hot take. Love you guys.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Look, she. She's an acquired taste for sure. Like, and, you know, sometimes she does come across like an actress.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, I, you know, I don't feel one way or the other particularly strongly about Ekinsu. I will say in the Ekinsu and Davide couple, it was more Davide that I think roped me in because of his. He was calling Ekinsu a liar and actress. But it was his theatrics that would make things funny.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. When he.

[Fran Mariano]

Like, that was my line, Natasha. Like. Like, things like that were very funny. And I think that's what kind of roped in, you know, their banter. Akinsu would get mad. Davide would be like, what are you getting mad at? There's a whole thing. So I think I don't feel necessarily strongly one way or the other. I don't dislike her, but I'm not like an Ekinsu Stan. Right.

[Ria Ciuffo]

And look, she does stir the pot, and I do think she does act differently with the guys and the girls sometimes. Yeah, like, she does. She gets, like, a little flirty, pick me. Ish kind of vibes with the boys sometimes and with the other girls. Like, she's stirring up the drama. Like, even just one of the other episodes, she was screaming about screaming Irani. Like, you said this. You said this. I was. I remember. And. And like, Luca was like, ekan, you weren't even here yet. Like, you weren't. Like, you weren't even here. Like, you. She's like, oh, I'm just sticking up for my girl. Sticking up for my girl. But it's like, okay, well, you're just straight up lying because you were not. You weren't present when the conversation even happened. So it's just like, I think you just have to, like, they all know how to navigate around Ekin. Like, they just know what kind of personality she is. I think deep down, like, she means well, but it's like, yeah, you, You. She's. She likes the theatrics.

[Fran Mariano]

Mm.

[Ria Ciuffo]

So I think Curtis likes the theatrics too, a little bit.

[Fran Mariano]

He's a ballroom dancer.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah, exactly.

[Caller]

Hi, Rhea, Fran, and Noah. This is Kat from Canada, and I have a question for you guys. So my family recently got into a debate, and it was over this question. Would you classify Cameron Diaz as an A list celebrity? Now, personally, my sister and I were quite large advocates for the fact that she is for obvious reasons. However, there was a couple few who felt like she didn't based on the fact that she's no longer relevant, which was infuriating. But anyhow, would love to hear your take. Looking forward to hearing it. Thank you.

[Fran Mariano]

Oh, I think.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I think 100%.

[Fran Mariano]

Absolutely.

[Ria Ciuffo]

A list. 100%.

[Fran Mariano]

Not even a question in my mind.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I don't think that she loses her A list status from, like, stepping away from acting when she did to also, like, be with her family and have kids. So, like, yeah, like, I think it's the name recognition Is what? Like, it's still there. Like, that's Cameron Diaz.

[Noah]

Is it once or by the way.

[Ria Ciuffo]

She just made her return.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, I think once you're a list.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I think once you're.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah, I think there's an S tier where you make that and you never go back. Like, Cameron Diaz is a name that. It's like Justin Bieber. Justin Bieber is always going to be an A list celebrity. He hasn't put out music in years.

[Ria Ciuffo]

It's like, yeah, Cameron Diaz. 100% a list. No, I'm trying to think.

[Noah]

I'm trying to think of, like, who is a list. Who, like, now isn't. Like, who would. Who would. Like, what celebrity was like, definitely a list. And okay, well off.

[Fran Mariano]

Like, okay, Pamela Anderson. Right. She's still a list, but yeah, she took a long time off, but her name is so recognizable that she's always gonna be a list.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Some people just have their name. Like, their name is just synonymous with fame. Yeah, like that. Like Cameron Diaz is. Is part of that for sure. 100%.

[Fran Mariano]

I think so too.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I am mad for them that they had to argue with them.

[Fran Mariano]

We would have been riled up in that room.

[Ria Ciuffo]

She's not relevant anymore.

[Fran Mariano]

Oh, please.

[Noah]

I mean, she isn't relevant in that way, but her name is still.

[Ria Ciuffo]

No, but that's not. He's gonna do that. Like, it doesn't matter. I just don't. Yes. And I. Yeah, I just think that's not fair.

[Fran Mariano]

And I don't think Cameron Diaz is irrelevant.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

You know what I mean? No, but if Cameron Diaz.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Excuse me. She just had a movie come out with Jamie Fox.

[Fran Mariano]

And if Cameron returned, I don't know, I guess that's if people heard Cameron Diaz, where Cut was coming, was coming to this office, people would freak the fuck out, be like, oh, my God, fucking Cameron Diaz is coming here. That's insane. Yeah, Just because she's not like, all over the Internet, there's like Jessica Alba kind of.

[Noah]

Yeah, very. In that same realm.

[Ria Ciuffo]

But she's even higher than just Galba.

[Fran Mariano]

Way higher than Jessica Alba.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Way higher.

[Noah]

Yeah, but like, name, name.

[Fran Mariano]

No, but name too. She's higher than Jessica Alba.

[Ria Ciuffo]

More like movies, movies, roles, name recognition. Way higher.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. Cameron Diaz is like Drew Barrymore. Yeah, but Drew Barrymore has the Drew Barrymore show. So that's. You know.

[Noah]

But I think Drew Barrymore. It's like, not because of the show, but like, I don't know. I guess that's a tough one. Like when they were both like.

[Fran Mariano]

Well, they're Best friends.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. Yeah. Hello, Charlie's Angels.

[Fran Mariano]

They're best friends.

[Noah]

Who do you think is more famous right now? This is separate but. Drew Barrymore or Kelly Clarkson. Both very similar.

[Fran Mariano]

Drew Barrymore, I said.

[Noah]

I think that's what I said there.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Noah]

Because I can name. Drew Barrymore's been in so many giant movies. Kelly Clarkson, like, I mean, extremely, extremely similar.

[Ria Ciuffo]

If you follow. Like the fact that now. And they're all also both hosts of their own shows and. Yeah, yeah. I would just like extremely kind. Amazing people it appears, you know. Oh, we know. We, you know, Drew, we've never gotten to meet Kelly, but I would assume she's 100. 100. So.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

But Cameron deserves that. For sure.

[Fran Mariano]

She does.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Forever.

[Fran Mariano]

Forever and ever. One more.

[Caller]

Hi, Re and Fran. I am really curious your thoughts on if executive producers of reality shows, if they should be allowed to also be cast members. We see this a lot with Southern charm. I feel like it's like the worst example of like Whitney being amongst the group and kind of getting to get away with whatever he wants and nobody's gonna call him out on it. Like the whole thing with Catherine, like Craig's the only one that called him out on it. And I just feel like it's really apparent in this recent season where there's just a weird power dynamic between Whitney and Pat and the rest of the cast. So. Yeah, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Love the pod.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Interesting. I've never, I've honestly never really thought about that much because I just feel like while yes, Whitney is an executive producer, he's not really on the show that much and like he's there, he's around, he's at events and he like, you know, is hanging out with the guys and doing stuff, but he's not like in the drama as much. It's like them being like, oh, here comes Whitney again. Oh, look at Whitney showing up with the 24 year old blondes. Like it's like it's not, I don't, I don't feel like there's that much of a conflict. I don't know, maybe I'm being naive to the situation, but Whitney has of course had a way big, like he's played a way bigger role on the show in the earlier years and obviously helped just like establish the show in the first place, but I don't know how much. It's a question that I guess we could ask them and we never asked them. But I wonder how much like Whitney is involved in like what is aired and what is in. Or if he has any involvement in that at all. I think people are afraid of Ms. Pack. She's. Yeah, she's Ms. Pat. Like, you know, she's an icon.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Be respectful.

[Fran Mariano]

I'm. Yeah. I'm not too familiar, like, with the earlier Southern charm seasons, so I feel like I'm a bad judge of this. I could understand your point, though. Like, I understand the conflict of interest for sure, but I'm not too familiar with how involved Whitney is.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Right.

[Fran Mariano]

To be able to say whether I think it has a.

[Ria Ciuffo]

You know, it's a question that I've really never thought of. It's like, do new. Like, our. Are new cast members, like, worried about Whitney liking them or not, like, because he's an ep? I don't know. I don't know. That is very interesting. I just feel like he's so, like, in the background of everything that happens now that I just don't really give him too much thought. When I'm currently watching the show and kind of seeing what's going on, like, I feel like he's just always, like, in the corner, like, watching what everybody's doing.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Or he's fishing with J.T. and Craig and pissing Austin off.

[Fran Mariano]

Oh, he's a weird guy. Yeah. So, I mean, if he just wasn't involved at all, I feel like that would be cool, too.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I mean, that's kind of where it's been. It's like, it's not really his group anymore.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Like, it was in the Thomas years was, like, that's, you know, way more involved, so. Yeah. Okay.

[Fran Mariano]

Question, though.

[Ria Ciuffo]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Fran Mariano]

Makes me want to find out more.

[Ria Ciuffo]

I know. We should ask.

[Fran Mariano]

Yeah. Thanks for all your calls and voicemails. If you want to call in, the number is 914-297-7089. Leave your pop culture questions, your hottest takes, whatever you want to talk about, call in and ask us at that number. Thank you.

[Ria Ciuffo]

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[Fran Mariano]

All right, that wraps up today's episode of Chicks in the Office. Thank you so much for watching and listening. Hopefully we didn't embarrass ourselves too much on Watch what happens live, but who knows because we didn't film it yet. Love you guys very much and we'll talk to you on Friday.