The Viall Files: Reality Recap Edition

Episode E1061 – Greta Titelman Recaps the Golden Globes, Traitors w/ Rob Cesternino, RHOBH and Valley Persian Style
Air Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Nick Viall
Guests/Panel: Greta Titelman, Natalie Joy, Mary, Justin, Sierra, Amanda
Special Segment Guest: Rob Cesternino

Episode Overview

This episode of The Viall Files features comedian and actress Greta Titelman joining Nick and the crew for a vibrant Reality Recap. The discussion covers:

• Golden Globes highlights and celebrity gossip
• “Traitors” with Rob Cesternino (Survivor / RHAP)
• Housewives drama (RHOBH recap)
• The new “Valley Persian Style” show Throughout, the cast riffs on pop culture, shares personal anecdotes, and explores deeper meanings behind reality TV moments—all with their signature candid and humorous tone.

Greta Titelman Joins the Recap

[05:52 – 18:31]

Greta’s TV Preferences and Jazz Discussions

• Greta admits she doesn’t watch much reality TV, but stays updated through friends and the queer community (06:10).
• She’s more into scripted shows, shares a love for John Coltrane, and discusses the power of music and memory—relating a touching story about Nick’s grandmother recalling jazz tunes (07:52).

“I feel like I watch reality TV by proxy because I hang out with…99% gay men.” – Greta Titelman [06:14]

Group Chat Ruckuses & Handling Drama

• Greta is “very Mary J. Blige—no more drama” and avoids online group drama for her mental health.
• Exercise (“Barry’s Bootcamp with my trainer, Kyle K.”) is her anxiety outlet (09:29).
• She loves the spectacle of “nasty Valley moms” and childhood icons like Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff, Ashley Tisdale, referencing recent real-life “mom group” drama among them (10:11).

“The cattiest people that we live with are straight cis men.” – Greta Titelman [10:56]

The Hilary Duff/Ashley Tisdale Feud, Social Media & Celebrity Husbands

• The podcast riffs on Hilary Duff’s husband’s viral (fake) clapback and how “boredom in LA” warps people to engage in petty feuds.
• Greta floats the idea: “What if it’s all a PR stunt for Duff’s new music?” [12:07]
• They discuss how celebrity husbands like Daryl Sabara (Meghan Trainor’s husband) weirdly insert themselves in social feuds.

Golden Globes Recap

[14:24 – 18:20]

Nikki Glaser Hosting & Memorable Moments

• Greta praises Nikki Glaser’s Golden Globes performance: “She killed it” [14:29]. They loved the music choices, even the “middle school dance” vibes.
• Notable: the actor Stephen Graham’s win and the timing oddities of award qualifications.
• Standout joke: Glaser’s Leo DiCaprio bit—first the “low-hanging fruit” then the “but we know nothing else about you,” which everyone agrees was sharp:

“I kind of admired him for it…and Leo, if you want someone to make fun of you on things outside of the women you date, come on the show.” – Nick Viall [17:03]

• Discussion of Leo’s avoidance of any real interviews (esp. with Jennifer Lawrence), his child actor roots, and reticence to reveal personal stories; Greta laments, “He’s not gonna give us the Pussy Posse stories we want.” [18:03]

Other Awards Show Talk

• Nikki’s hidden “Easter eggs” in jokes, the audience not always catching her vaping digs.
• Sean Penn’s on-stage cigarette: “Bring it back!” and the power dynamic of who could tell him to stop (18:36).

Celebrity Couples and Parasocial Culture

[19:22 – 22:50]

• Deep-dive into Timothy Chalamet & Kylie Jenner’s relationship and the way “Club Chalamet”—his fan club—reacts to public displays.
• Group dissects the choice of “partner” vs. “girlfriend” in speeches, Greta says: “Say her name, my love. We know who you’re talking about. Say ‘I love you, Kylie.’” (20:50)
• Parasocial “Club Chalamet” tension and maintaining privacy while still being a tabloid focal point.

Tabloids, Internet Bullying, and Fame

[22:30 – 26:22]

• The Daily Mail’s sensational headlines (“Nick Viall runs nearly naked”), Perez Hilton nostalgia (“there used to be just one bully”), and the explosion of gossip industry.
• The perils of having viral “bad nickname” personas and comparing past vs. present internet haters.

Golden Globes & Pop Culture Game

[31:41 – 39:04]

Amanda brings a “rejected Golden Globes categories” game—everyone debates:

• “Best Wig” (winner: “The Hunting Wives”—with behind-the-scenes wig debacle stories)
• “Best TV Show Your Boyfriend’s Coworker Loves but You’ll Never Watch”
  Greta: “I’m the only non-septuagenarian woman who watches Slow Horses—Gary Oldman, break me in half.” [35:24]
• “Best Homoerotic Subtext”
  Winner: Housewives’ Bronwyn & Whitney: “They’re kissing!” – Greta [37:18]
• “Best Movie Not From This Year but On Your Mind”
  Group ends up quoting and loving “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” [39:00]

Winter Olympics Banter

[39:07 – 47:54]

• The crew geeks out over upcoming Winter Olympics:
  • Greta would compete in figure skating or (for the “psychotic” side) “skeleton”—face-first sledding.
  • Anecdotes about competitive spouses and working out (“creatine gummies don’t cut it!” – Greta).
• Ribbing Nick about his “nearly naked” running headline, family ski history, and competitive spirit.
• Whisper tennis commentary impressions, Olympics event dreams (basketball, archery, biathlon).

True Crime, Scammer Podcasts, and Dark Docs

[49:05 – 52:54]

• Greta’s true crime obsession:
  • Discusses the Karen Read case (“hit the cop in Boston, corrupt police—100p.”)
  • Current listening: scammer podcasts (including “Unicorn Girl,” about an elaborate CIA/government contract scam and the psychology of compulsive liars).
• Reflection: The difference between dark and “entertaining” true crime, and why scammer stories fascinate people.

“Sometimes people lie, but because they’re lying, they get the thing they’re lying about.” – Greta Titelman [51:55]

Traitors with Rob Cesternino (Survivor/RHAP)

[55:25 – 77:50]

Rob’s Experience & Strategic Breakdown

• Rob describes his “murder in plain sight” on Traitors, catching onto a suspicious conga line and nearly outing a Traitor (62:02).
• He reflects on gameplay:
  • The effectiveness of keeping Michael Rapaport (“the ultimate distraction”) to shield Traitors (74:04).
  • His guesses on other Traitors (thought Dorinda and Jam Jam, was shocked it wasn’t a CBS “gamer”).
  • On the challenge of Traitors not having each other as allies (Donna Kelsey’s secret Traitor role backfiring).
  • Strongest faithfuls: Tiffany (Big Brother), Monet, Mark Ballas.

“To me, I just thought for the faithful, it was such a win-win to get rid of Michael Rappaport. But the Traitors loved Michael—he’s a secret Traitor in his own way.” – Rob Cesternino [74:36]

• On the season’s innovation: No “gamers” in the Traitor’s turret, which forces new strategies and keeps the show fresh.

Production Tidbits

• Scotland weather—filming’s unpredictable (hot castle rooms, freezing outdoors).
• Rob’s podcast: “Rob Has a Podcast” covers competition TV extensively.

Reality TV Rapid Recaps

Beverly Hills
[83:24 – 93:19]

• Sutton plans a girls’ trip to Sedona, tries rebranding.
• Dorit’s marital drama and tardiness (private jet etiquette rants!).
• Rachel Zoe’s glam and missing luggage saga, Kathy Hilton’s iconic pillow packing.
• Amanda, the new Housewife, psychoanalyzes Erika Jayne and is compared to historical Beverly Hills “one-uppers.”
• Erika’s new relationship brings vulnerability (“as we get older, we lower our expectations of love… very heartwarming” – Nick [89:55]).

Household Quotes:

“I would have left her behind! See you—and see you next Tuesday, in a good way.” – Amanda, about Dorit’s lateness [94:11]

Valley Persian Style
[94:56 – 102:41]

• The “Valley” spinoff features familiar Shahs of Sunset faces (MJ, Reza, Gigi). Themes: Gigi’s financial struggles, friendship fallouts, and MJ stuck between her husband and old friends.
• Hilarious rapid recap: “MJ’s boobs are like weeds, they grow and grow. Gol Neza has kids, is divorced, and broke...Sky stole Gol Neza’s ring and brings it to her son’s birthday...everyone is talking about Gol Neza’s debt the second she walks in.”
• Emphasis on authentic connections and established histories between cast.

Notable Quotes

• “The cattiest people that we live with are straight CIS men.” – Greta Titelman [10:56]
• “I am very Mary J. Blige—no more drama.” – Greta Titelman [09:05]
• “Say her name, my love. We know who you’re talking about. Say ‘I love you, Kylie.’ Say it with your chest, King.” – Greta Titelman [20:50]
• “If you want someone to make fun of you about something outside the women you date, come on the show, Leo!” – Nick Viall [17:03]
• “He’s a secret Traitor—in his own way.” – Rob Cesternino (about Michael Rapaport) [74:36]
• “Are you putting creatine gummies in your coffee? Sweetie, you need the powder.” – Greta Titelman [41:40]
• “Sometimes people lie, but because they’re lying, they get the thing they’re lying about.” – Greta Titelman [51:55]
• “I would have left her behind! See you—and see you next Tuesday, in a good way.” – Amanda, about Dorit [94:11]

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------|------------------| | Greta joins, TV prefs, jazz conversation | 05:52–08:47 | | Hill Duff/Tisdale & Mom group drama | 10:13–14:14 | | Golden Globes reactions/Jokes | 14:24–18:20 | | Chalamet/Jenner, Club Chalamet analysis | 19:22–22:50 | | Tabloid culture, Perez Hilton, memes | 22:30–26:22 | | Game: Golden Globes rejected categories | 31:41–39:04 | | Winter/Summer Olympics banter | 39:07–47:54 | | True crime & scammer stories | 49:05–52:54 | | Traitors with Rob Cesternino | 55:25–77:50 | | RHOBH recap and hot takes | 83:24–93:19 | | Valley Persian Style summary & reactions | 94:56–102:41 |

Final Thoughts & Episode Tone

The Viall Files' Reality Recap shines in its chaotic camaraderie, driven by quick-witted banter, deep TV and pop culture references, and Greta Titelman’s infectious energy. Whether diving into Hollywood drama or dissecting the mechanics of reality game shows, the episode balances sharp observations and lighthearted fun, making it perfect for both die-hard fans and casual listeners.

Outro:
Catch Greta on tour at the San Francisco Comedy Festival, January 23rd—tickets on her website. The crew’s back next time with celebrity stylist Chris Appleton for more deep dives.

End of Summary.