#2865 The Valley S2E07 Part One The Ring Didn’t Mean a Thing w Guest Lara Schoenhals

Summary

Podcast Summary: Watch What Crappens #2865 – The Valley S2E07 Part One: The Ring Didn’t Mean a Thing

Host: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam
Guest: Lars Shane Hals
Release Date: May 29, 2025

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Introduction

In episode #2865 of "Watch What Crappens," hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam delve into the latest happenings of Bravo's reality landscape, focusing primarily on "The Valley" Season 2 Episode 7, titled "The Ring Didn’t Mean a Thing." Joining them is Lars Shane Hals from the "Sexy Unique" podcast, bringing fresh perspectives and insightful commentary to the discussion.

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Initial Banter and Show Highlights

The episode kicks off with Ronnie discussing Amazon Prime's perks, seamlessly transitioning into their excitement about the current state of "The Valley." Ben humorously mentions his absence due to being on a foodie tour in Norway, setting a lighthearted tone for the episode.

Notable Quote:

Ronnie Karam [02:05]: "Who cares what happens when there's so much that crappens?"

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Guest Introduction and General Thoughts on The Valley

Lars Shane Hals is introduced as a longtime friend and a dedicated podcast host who brings enthusiasm and critical insight to the discussion. The hosts express their anticipation and appreciation for "The Valley," noting its humorous elements and character dynamics.

Notable Quote:

Lars Shane Hals [04:46]: "I am bullish on the Valley. It makes me laugh. There are certain characters that give me the chuckles and make me feel something."

Despite acknowledging that "The Valley" hasn't reached the heights of "Vanderpump Rules," Lars appreciates its unique contributions and remains open to its developments.

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Character Analysis: Jax and Danny

A significant portion of the conversation centers around character behaviors, particularly focusing on Jax and Danny. The hosts critique Jax's return to television, expressing skepticism about his rehabilitation and sobriety, suggesting that his actions are more comedic than genuine.

Notable Quotes:

Lars Shane Hals [06:10]: "He's just such a liar, too, that it kind of is now pure comedy."

Ben Mandelker [06:41]: "I am obsessed with the grift that he thinks he's pulling off."

Danny's struggles with alcohol are also examined. The hosts discuss whether his move to Santa Clarita will aid his sobriety or exacerbate his drinking habits, ultimately doubting the effectiveness of such a relocation.

Notable Quote:

Lars Shane Hals [09:07]: "I think that what Danny did is disgusting. And I do think that he likely has a drinking problem."

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Ethical Concerns: Children on Reality Shows

Ben and Lars express discomfort over the portrayal of children in reality TV, specifically referencing a segment where children are exposed to their parents' tumultuous relationships. They argue that exposing children to such environments on national television is ethically troubling and potentially traumatic.

Notable Quotes:

Lars Shane Hals [23:38]: "The kids on this show take me out of my joy watching it because I'm like, it's sad to me that these kids have to deal with parents who are acting the way that these people do."

Ben Mandelker [25:04]: "I don't like feeling like that. It hurts."

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Plot Developments in "The Valley"

The hosts provide a detailed recap of the episode's main events, highlighting tensions between characters such as Melissa, Jasmine, and Zach. They delve into the complexities of Danny and Jasmine's relationship, discussions about Danny's potential drinking problem, and the dynamics of friendships within the show.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Mandelker [09:24]: "But then he's moving to Santa Clarita when he's sober. So, like, which do you think?"

Lars Shane Hals [12:27]: "We all fucking drink. Everyone has a bottle of wine in their hands at all times."

The conversation also touches upon Kristen's evolving role and her newfound appreciation from the public, contrasting her past struggles with her current status.

Notable Quotes:

Lars Shane Hals [14:23]: "I'm happy for her because she needs this. I don't think that Kristen Doute is to pivot to, like, real estate if everything falls apart."

Ben Mandelker [15:29]: "I have high hopes. Maybe this will do the same for Benji."

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Themes of Manipulation and Relationship Turmoil

A recurring theme in the episode is the manipulation and toxic relationships portrayed in "The Valley." The hosts dissect the interactions between characters like Janet, Danny, and Jasmine, highlighting the psychological games and the impact on personal relationships.

Notable Quotes:

Lars Shane Hals [29:53]: "Jax...has been tested and certified by a mental health institution as a narcissist. He's a three-star narcissist."

Ben Mandelker [34:17]: "Women watch these shows and learn not to be with a man like that, or if they identify that they're in a relationship with a man."

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Character Evolution and Future Predictions

The discussion anticipates future plotlines, predicting darker developments and potential conflicts that may arise in upcoming episodes. The hosts express a belief that the show will continue to escalate in intensity, possibly leading to more dramatic and potentially harmful outcomes for the characters involved.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Mandelker [32:47]: "I said on the first episode of this season, this is going to end up in a murderer. It's a dark show. This is not going to end well."

Lars Shane Hals [48:59]: "I need Janet to ramp it up, up. I need her to step more into the forefront with her machinations."

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Closing Remarks and Teasers for Part Two

As the episode concludes, Ben and Lars summarize their frustrations with the characters' behaviors and set the stage for the next part of their recap. They hint at more intense discussions and deeper dives into character motivations and future plot twists in "The Valley."

Notable Quote:

Ben Mandelker [55:20]: "Danny and Jason ended a stalemate. They've both pissed now. It's time for a commercial. It's time for a crappin's commercial."

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Conclusion

Episode #2865 of "Watch What Crappens" offers an in-depth and critical analysis of "The Valley" Season 2 Episode 7, blending humor with serious commentary on the ethical implications of reality TV portrayals. Hosts Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam, alongside guest Lars Shane Hals, provide listeners with a comprehensive and engaging recap, enriched with notable quotes and timely insights.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, introductions, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions of the podcast episode.

Transcript

[Ronnie Karam]

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[Ben Mandelker]

All right. You know, we have been prime members forever.

[Ronnie Karam]

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[Ben Mandelker]

Oh heck yeah. I just got an espresso machine. It was here by the next day. Prime has incredible deals all year long on pretty much anything you need. In this economy, we need it.

[Ronnie Karam]

Being a Prime subscriber gets you access to a ton of perks. You can stream sports, movies and TV shows with prime video, listen to your favorite songs on Amazon music, and of course get free one day or even same day delivery on thousands of items.

[Ben Mandelker]

It just makes sense. Visit Amazon.comprime to get more out of whatever you're into.

[Misha Brown]

Every big moment starts with a big dream. But what happens when that big dream comes? Turns out to be a big flop. From Wondery and ill Media, I'm Misha Brown and this is the Big Flop. Every week, comedians join me to chronicle the biggest flubs, fails and blunders of all time. Like Quibi.

[Ben Mandelker]

It's kind of like when you give yourself your own nickname and you try to like get other people to do it.

[Misha Brown]

And the 2019 movie adaptation of Cats.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Like, if I'm watching the dancing and I'm noticing the feet aren't touching the ground, there's something wrong with the movie.

[Misha Brown]

Find out what happens when massive hype turns into major fiasco. Enjoy the Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to the Big Flop early and ad free on Wondery. Plus get started with your free trial at wondery.com plus.

[Ronnie Karam]

Who cares what happens when there's so much that crappens?

[Ben Mandelker]

Well, hello and welcome to Watch what Crappens. I'm Ronnie. Ben's out of town this week, sucker. He's in Norway. So today I'm with one of our longtime besties who I haven't spent time with in a while. So I'm super to have her. Super excited to have her here. Ms. Lars Shane Hals from the sexy unique podcast. Hello, Lars.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Hello. Thank you for having me. I'm jealous of Ben, by the way. Norway.

[Ben Mandelker]

My God, Norway. It's amazing. He's on like a foodie tour. He follows some lady on Instagram and he loves her food and she's like, I'M having food tour. I don't know if she talks like that, but I imagine she's like, we're having a jam tour in Norway.

[Lars Shane Hals]

So he's a Norwegian food tour. It's like salted cod.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yes. I'm thinking like salted cod and jams and not a lot of bread or like really hard bread. Do they have good bread in Norway?

[Lars Shane Hals]

I don't know. I actually, like, haven't heard much about Norwegian food, and I feel like my big touchstone is, like, maybe Norwegian, like fashion bloggers or something. And I don't think eating is their main thing.

[Ben Mandelker]

Bread's probably not on the top of their list.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Bread ain't on the menu, so I can't speak to their dietary preferences. But happy for him.

[Ben Mandelker]

I'm so happy for him. He looks like he's having a great time. And guess what? So am I. So Crappens has two final shows on our Mounting Hysteria tour. One in Seattle on June 12, and then the following week, June 19 here in Los Angeles. Also, for sup sexy Unique podcast with Carrie. Tell Carrie hi. That wuss for not coming. Tell him he's a wuss for not. I love that guy. Check out their podcast, obviously, wherever you get podcasts, and also their Patreon where they will be doing. And just like that, when does that start? This week.

[Lars Shane Hals]

So the first episode drops tonight at midnight, and then our recaps are going to be out on Saturdays.

[Ben Mandelker]

Love that for you guys. And you've done all of it, right? You guys have been.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, we've covered the first two seasons and now, you know, we're in season three. And I'm excited to see what's around the corner for our ladies.

[Ben Mandelker]

All right, so tell me, let's before we get into this Valley recap, what are your general thoughts? Because I haven't talked to you on on here, at least since this has even been on the air, which is crazy. So that is crazy. What are your overarching thoughts?

[Lars Shane Hals]

I am happy to get a Vanderpump Rules spin off, slash, anything, any way I can take it. So, yeah, I'm bullish on the Valley. It makes me laugh. And there are certain characters that make me give me the chuckles. They make me feel something. I am liking it. I don't think it's like, it's nowhere near kind of seasons one through six of Vanderpump Rules the Glory Days, but it's still is doing something for me. No, I will never have that again. It was Camelot and now it's Over. Yeah. So I'm open. My heart is open. And I've really opened my home to these people, my spirit to these people. And for better or worse, worse, we're on the ride with them.

[Ben Mandelker]

Opened up the rage gate again, too, at least on my end. I mean, here we've got Jax again and we're like, oh, my God, I can't believe Jax is on tv. What did you think was going to happen? Like, what? What didn't anybody think was going to happen? You put Jax back on the tv.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, I think it's better to have eyes on him and be keeping tabs on him via a TV show than the alternative where he's just, like, left his own devices. Like, I actually think we're all safer if he is on tv.

[Ben Mandelker]

That's a good point. Yeah, that's a good point. It's like the nanny state.

[Lars Shane Hals]

He's just such a liar, too, that it kind of is now pure comedy. Anything he says is a lie. So to see him doing his rehab diaries and, oh, my God, faking like, he's a good dad and even, like, the merch that he wears, like, he wore a shirt in this episode that said tired dad on it, as though he's ever done, like, any sort of significant fatherly thing in his entire life. I'm obsessed with the grift that he thinks he's pulling off.

[Ben Mandelker]

In the same episode, he's literally stealing money from his child. He's like, tired dad. Waa. And his dark dye on his eyebrows now he's got, like, the aging LA guy thing where he's like, I'm just gonna have jet black eyebrows and then he's gonna wear his bar cap in his rehab diary.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Like, yeah, girl, I know. You can always tell, like, where his mental health and sobriety is at based on how much Jax's Studio City merch he's wearing. So when it's like a shirt and a hat fully cooked up, and when it's just the hat, it's like he might have just, you know, cheeked a painkiller at rehab. We have to just accept he's never getting sober. He's never going to be a good father. He's never. He's always going to be, like, pretty abusive to his mother of his child. And once you can get that, then. And realize that it is safer if we have eyes on him, then you're going to have a great time with yourself.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah.

[Lars Shane Hals]

It's going to be hard for you.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, I would think. It's like being In a relationship with Jax himself, where you just really have to learn to disassociate, you know? Like, you really have to learn to compartmentalize and just know what you're getting that day.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I know, but if you're Britney, I mean, you can't even. I think she was trying to dissociate by taking shots, but she couldn't even have that. He was on her case 247 about all her shots and her gerd. So there's just. No, there's not a lot of winning.

[Ben Mandelker]

Talk about hiding your shots. That's, like, a big thing this year is, like, hiding your shots. I'm like, wasn't Britney, like, in a closet literally hiding her shots last year? Because Jax was following her around screaming, what a drunk she was on tv.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Allegedly, she was hiding. But then it's like, you see the clips from last season, and he's asking everyone, how did she take shots on the boat? And they go, no. And then he goes, you're fucking drunk. You're wasted to her. And it's like her friends just said no. So, like, what's true? There's no truth with the Zach. There's no truth with.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, there's no truth. There's no truth.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah.

[Ben Mandelker]

Well, all right, let's get into this season. So Melissa and Jasmine are driving, and Jasmine really needs to get this off her chest with Jason. So what do you think are with Danny? What are you thinking of this? Jasmine and Danny Kerfluff.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I think that what Danny did is disgusting. And I do think that he likely has a drinking problem. He's, like, going to the dark side when he drinks and then glugging in a broom closet.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I don't think it's good for him.

[Ben Mandelker]

But then he's moving to Santa Clarita when he's sober. So, like, which do you think?

[Lars Shane Hals]

I know that's not gonna do much for his, like, drinking.

[Ben Mandelker]

It's not. I think you moved to Santa Clarita and you've decided you're drinking at home. You're drinking alone at home. But, yeah, I agree with you about the Jasmine Dany thing. I think that he could have a drinking problem. I guess my issue with the whole thing is these people coming at somebody for having a drinking problem. It bugs me.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, I mean, everyone does on that show.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, everyone does on that show. And I just don't know that I've ever comment my friends for having a drinking problem. Even when they do. Like, I've had the conversation like, oh, you need to Throw up in cars a little bit less when we go out. Or, like, you can't just drop drinks on the ground in gay bars and expect me to keep taking you. Like, you have to behave yourself. You know, this place already smells like sperm and socks. It doesn't need your added cosmo on the ground, ma' am. You know, like, I've had those conversations, but I don't think I've ever been like, oh, my God, you're sneaking drinks. We need to have a discussion.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I just will talk shit about them to other friends like a normal person.

[Ben Mandelker]

Exactly, Exactly. But having the discussion of, like, you can't be grabbing my ass and having me call you daddy along with my girlfriend. That's separate. So I'm gonna separate that out of my.

[Lars Shane Hals]

If someone was groping me or, like, a friend's husband was groping me, there would be a whole other discussion.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, that would definitely discussion, for sure. Okay, so Melissa and Jasmine are talking, and they're going to LAX to pick up Zach, which is another thing. I don't feel like real friends make each other do. Do you make your friends come pick you up from lax?

[Lars Shane Hals]

Absolutely not. I wouldn't even make an enemy come and pick me up from lax.

[Ben Mandelker]

I wouldn't.

[Lars Shane Hals]

It's a no fly zone. Like, it's. It's one of the worst places in all of America, truly.

[Ben Mandelker]

That's a lot. And it's very far. People don't understand how far it is. It's very far.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Two hours minimum of a errand to run for the pickup person. So, like, you're gonna drive down there for an hour, Drive back home for an hour maybe. I don't even, like, pick up my mom from lax.

[Ben Mandelker]

No, girl, I'll send. I'll send a Venmo before she said.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Oh, yeah, I'll get. I'll get her a car. Like, I will. I. I have gotten family members cars. Like, I'd actually rather die than pick anyone up from lax.

[Ben Mandelker]

Burbank or bust, baby. I'll go to Burbank. That's it. Okay, so they're picking up Zach, and Jasmine's like, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's true love. It's true love with Zach. Cause I, like, literally wouldn't do this for anybody else. So they go get him, and he's like, oh, my God, you guys. But first they have this discussion about Dany and Nia. And Jasmine's kind of on the fence now because she was kind of going hard with the Dani thing. But then Kristen and Luke were like, what's the big deal? I mean, calm down.

[Lars Shane Hals]

We all fucking drink. What? Kristen also has, like, a bottle of wine in her hands at all times. Like, in Santa Barbara. Every time it cut to her, she was also glugging. So I also enjoy how Kristen is now her best friends in the entire world are Dani and Mia.

[Ben Mandelker]

She has no one else. You know, I know. She died for that season. Yeah. She's like, we've been to war together. We are.

[Lars Shane Hals]

We've talked to you three times.

[Ben Mandelker]

I know. But Kristen doesn't have anybody else after last year. So she's like, you know what? I'm gonna nia it up. Because do you think she ever would have hung out with someone like Nia before? Like a beauty queen? Like a prim and proper beauty queen? I don't really see that happening.

[Lars Shane Hals]

No. I mean, the closest that she had to a beauty queen was Britney. But as Brittany said in the after show, she was like, hi. Beauty pageants were more state fairs.

[Ben Mandelker]

They were like the state carnivals. Yeah. I was competing alongside. You know, there were literal pigs in the conference.

[Lars Shane Hals]

There were heifers in competition.

[Ben Mandelker]

There was, like, the pig competition next to the tent or whatever. I grew up from Texas. I've been to plenty of county fair. Lots of ribbons. So. Yeah. So they're talking about this. Oh, and also, I like that Kristen's a folk hero now. What do you think about that? Like, did you ever see the evolution of Kristen becoming, like, a national America? Like, America loves Kristen now. Like, oh, my God. Kristen's a sister.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Kristen's comeback. Yeah. Is pretty incredible. Just knowing where she started and how far she fell and to see her back in the public's good graces. I'm happy for her because she needs this. Like, I don't think that Kristen Doute is to pivot to, like, real estate if everything falls apart. You know what I mean?

[Ben Mandelker]

Even the bus bench would move. It would be like, yeah, call Kristen for real estate.

[Lars Shane Hals]

We need her on television, and she needs to be on television. So I'm happy. I liked there was a moment in the after show, too, where she described herself as a social justice warrior. And I was like, that's interesting. I would disagree. I would disagree with that. Just blatantly. I would disagree based on the facts. But, like, like, you say, it's your life.

[Ben Mandelker]

I'll support you. I'll support you in your decision, even if I don't see where the fuck you're coming from. Kristen. I'm Nero on TV all the time, too. I kind of miss the waiting tables. Kristen. I would kind of like a new version of Alice. You know that old TV show where they were like waitresses in a diner. Did you ever see that? You're too young for that. I don't know, but it was one of my kids. And yeah, it was just waitresses in this really rundown diner and they were just like sad and poor, you know, and I'd like to see that for Kristen working at like, what was that old diner here? Like Joanne's or is it Joanne?

[Lars Shane Hals]

Joanne's or Depars?

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, something like that. Like, just see Kristen in like a full hair net, you know, just still trying to make it work. Like three kids at home.

[Lars Shane Hals]

She's diner energy for sure.

[Ben Mandelker]

I would love that. Yeah. So now they come get Zach from LAX and he's like, for the last week, I've been on a road trip from Texas to Kentucky with my on again, off again boyfriend, Benji. How do you feel about Benji? Do you think that Benji and Zach are real or that Benji is using his citizenship status to possibly dump Zach at any moment?

[Lars Shane Hals]

I was even taking it a step further this week and I was like, does Benji even truly exist? AI has come far, so it could be the FaceTime was just like a chatgpt. And does Benji, Is he real? Like, I'll believe it when he's filming with Zach in Zach's sad apartment.

[Ben Mandelker]

And I feel like it's AI as it would react to Zach. Like, Zach's like, hey, hey, Benji. He's like, your house is disgusting. Okay, well, you know, I'd love to see you. Benji, please wear socks. You get footprints all over the floor. It's disgusting. I won't come over there until you get a carpet.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, I'm curious about the benchy of it all, but I am open to seeing it. I like immigration, like, drama and this high stakes of potentially needing a visa or a green card. And I think that it would play nicely with Zach and he can bring up. He can heighten the drama even more. And any relationship that's predicated on that is high stakes to begin with. So I like where everyone's head's at.

[Ben Mandelker]

And it's current, you know, Like, I like the current events of it all. And I just like what green cards do to, like, romance in media. Like, remember when people really thought Andie MacDowell loved Gerard Depardieu in that Green Card movie? Wasn't that called Green Card? It's a green card.

[Lars Shane Hals]

It was definitely called Green Card where she had to like, fall in love with a literal troll.

[Ben Mandelker]

It made him a sex symbol. So maybe this will do the same for Benji. I don't know.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I have high hopes. I mean, do we know what line of work Benji is in?

[Ben Mandelker]

I don't know. I feel like he works at Sephora. I'm going to just go with that, but I don't know. Well, he doesn't really wear makeup.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, I'd love to see. And I'm curious about the potential of, like, a Vanderpump Rules Valley crossover, if there is any. Are we gonna get any people who are on the Valley also making cameos on Vanderpump Rules? Like, I've just been, like, thinking about that a lot.

[Ben Mandelker]

I don't know, because I think they're so young now. We were looking at the new cast that. Well, like, the rumored cast or whatever, and they're so. They're like little babies. I don't. I just think it would look so weird for any of these people to walk in, you know.

[Lars Shane Hals]

You know who I'm really missing? And let me know if you feel this way. Tom Sandoval.

[Ben Mandelker]

Are you missing Sandoval? He's everywhere.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I'm missing Sandoval.

[Ben Mandelker]

Are you just missing him from this group?

[Lars Shane Hals]

Oh, I don't engage with anything that he does really, outside of the Vanderpump Rules universe. So, like, I just am missing him. I feel like him and his crazy girlfriend could be great.

[Ben Mandelker]

On the Valley, we were robbed of that relationship. Victoria. Is that her name? Victoria.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Victoria Lee Robinson.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, I know, because that was nuts. And then she would, like, come for him on social media, but then be like, my mistake. He wasn't cheating guys. I was like, sorry, what is going on with these people? I kind of need that with them, too. Yeah. I mean, if we're just gonna open the floodgates to shitheads, like, bring them on.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah. Get them in the mix. Also, it's like, we need more, like, childless people on the Valley to kind of even it out. Like, Jodie's about to give birth to, like, the second coming of Christ. So, like, we've got to get. We've got to get Sandoval and Victoria Lee in the mix.

[Ben Mandelker]

I'm actually down for that idea. And I. I'm shocked that I'm down for that idea, because a couple years ago I was, like, this disgusting. But, yeah, that actually sounds pretty good. And mostly for Victoria, because I feel like I still see Tom Sandoval in, Like, Traders or. I don't know. I feel like he's doing stuff and videos on Instagram of people seeing him do his live music. And he'll be in, like, some tiny little bar and still, like, doing his Freddie Mercury, like, shoulders and like, knee popping or whatever the fuck he's doing off key and just being so confident, you know, I feel like that's like enough of a cockroach like that he won't die. It's kind of like Kristen. Like, she should have been done after that cancellation, but she's just kept kicking, you know, so find a way. Yeah, the cream rises to the top, you guys, is what we're saying. So, Benji, so we've talked and we went to see my mom and, you know, he's still with his ex because they're like, yeah, he's still married. You know that, right? So he's like, yeah, but I'm hotter. I'm hotter than the axe.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Good for him.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah. So I guess this is on with Benj. It's time for a commercial. It's time for a crappin's commercial.

[Misha Brown]

Every big moment starts with a big dream. But what happens when that big dream turns out to be a big flop? From Wondery and ill media, I'm Misha Brown and this is the big flop. Every week, comedians join me to chronicle the biggest flubs, fails and blunders of all time. Like quibbing.

[Ben Mandelker]

It's kind of like when you give yourself your own nickname and you try to, like, get other people to do it.

[Misha Brown]

And the 2019 movie adaptation of Cats.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Like, if I'm watching the dancing and I'm noticing the feet aren't touching the ground, there's something wrong with with the movie.

[Misha Brown]

Find out what happens when massive hype turns into major fiasco. Enjoy the big flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to the big flop early and ad free on Wondery Plus. Get started with your free trial at Wondery.com Plus.

[Unknown]

Every successful business starts with an idea. And on the best idea yet, we're obsessed with those light bulb moments. Like how a bored barista invented the frappuccino during his downtime and then it got acquired by Starbucks. Or how Patagonia's iconic fleece was inspired by a toilet seat cover. On the best idea yet, we dive into the untold origin stories behind the products you're obsessed with and the bold risk takers who made them go viral. These are the wild ideas and insights that made Birkenstock the best selling sandals since Jesus and made Super Mario the most played video game in the history of attention spans.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

Nintendo almost became a ramen company until.

[Ben Mandelker]

Super Mario saved it.

[Unknown]

New episodes drop every Tuesday. Follow the best idea yet on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad free right now by joining Wondery. And if this podcast lasts longer than 45 minutes, call your doctor.

[Ben Mandelker]

So now we go over to Nia and Michelle now. I thought having kids, seeing people with kids, like, slowly, like the misery slowly taking over their lives, I thought would be more fun. I. I don't know. Sometimes it is fun. The Cheese Fun Zone. I don't know if I'm into the Cheese Fun Zone, which is where they went. It made me sad.

[Lars Shane Hals]

It makes me sad too. Like, just the. I. The fingerprints on all the surfaces and just like, you know, there's germs everywhere. And I kind of. The kids on this show take me out of my, like, joy watching it because I'm like, it's sad to me that these kids have to deal with parents who are acting the way that these people do, and they're, like, privy to so much like, that they really shouldn't be privy to. So I would even say, like, let's just lose the kids entirely and, like, focus on the adult.

[Ben Mandelker]

Like, just show them occasionally so we know that you have them. But then I don't want to see them other than that, because I agree with you. There's such a sadness to it like this. In the Cheese Fun Zone, for example, it's so bright. It looks like it should be a place of joy, but you know that there's like a smell of, like, cleaner and poop. And then the kids are so close to where their parents hang out that, like, Isabella's sitting there listening to her mom diss the dad and call the dad a piece of shit and all of this. And I mean, her dad is a piece of shit. And I mean. But, you know, I feel like every kid deserves to come to that realization on their own because that's like a very freeing moment where you realize that your parents are pieces of shit too, just like everybody else. And we still, you know, they're people too, is what I'm saying. I'm not saying my parents are shit, but you know what I mean?

[Lars Shane Hals]

And you should be maybe like 25 or even 30 or older before you really have to face that realization, right?

[Ben Mandelker]

Like, you should have to take your dad out drunk from your wedding. You know what I mean? After hitting on a bridesmaid and being like, dad, you gambled all My money away. You know, something like that. Like, you. We have the right to go through that on our own. We don't need to hear about it in the Cheese. Cheese Fun Zone.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Totally. And I honestly, after. After just like, watching especially like the Ruby Frankie about kids being on camera and stuff like that, I do have. You know, I don't take a lot of ethical issues with pretty much anything that I watch. But, like, I do feel weird about putting little children on reality shows when they haven't. When they don't have the ability to, like, really understand what they're on and, like, how their lives are being portrayed.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah.

[Lars Shane Hals]

So Isabella's gonna watch this someday and be like, my parents were, like, caught. Like, my dad was calling my mom a while. I went and filmed a. Like a scene at Cheese Zone or whatever. Yeah, I feel like that's traumatic for a kid. Yeah.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, I think so, too. And I'm wondering if they're editing it to look like she's sitting so close, but Michelle's talking shit. And then you see the kid just kind of hanging over the little thing, just watching and listening. And I'm like, I don't. And I think the ethical thing is what bugs me about it. Cause I don't like to feel that when I watch these shows, you know, I mean, I like being able to stay straight up. Like, you're trash. I like that part. But the, like, oh, save the children. You know, I don't like that part. I don't like feeling like that. It hurts.

[Lars Shane Hals]

No, it does. It ruins it for me. And that's the most important thing.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah. Like, think about me. So we're in this cheesy fun zone or cheese fun zone. Sorry, no disrespect. And it's Nia and Michelle, and they're talking about this previous girls party, caviar party. We just want to apologize to you, Neil. We just want to apologize to you. And, you know, anything we say, we're going to say to your face. Right. We're going to say it right to your face. Right, girls? Okay, bye. What a bitch. Am I right? Yeah. Fuck her and her husband.

[Lars Shane Hals]

She's like, what happened to Michelle after I left? And then Michelle's like, well, Jasmine was really upset and cried a lot.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, she got super emotional and she felt triggered. And so Nia's like, well, you know, I know he apologized at a white party. So, you know, like, I can't. I can't stand up for him. But I hope she meets up with Daniel and they can discuss That I just hope she doesn't talk to Danny. She talks to Daniel.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I love the evolution of Danny into Daniel and who calls him Daniel versus who calls him Danny. It's. Nia is constantly in a place of Daniel now, and Dodie has started being like Daniel. You should really speak to Daniel about that. She's also in a place of Daniel. I just love her loyalty.

[Ben Mandelker]

I think that'll drop the second she fights with Mia. It'll turn back into, like, fuck Danny. You know?

[Lars Shane Hals]

Definitely.

[Ben Mandelker]

It's like respect. It's like when someone. And in la, I think we all have a lot of friends like this, or at least one that has changed their name midlife. They've just been like, guess what? I'm an Elijah now. And you're like, no, you're not. You're Jessica. But it takes a moment to be like, okay, I'm gonna go with this. You know? So it's the common adult name change and it's Dan. I mean, it's a totally different numerology. Daniel to Danny. I don't know if I'd become.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Tell me about it. Not only a different vibe, but the numbers. Think of.

[Ben Mandelker]

The numbers are different. Yeah. Like, my real name is Rondell, but I go by Ronnie. And if someone calls me Rondel, it's like, different. It's a different intention, you know? Like, you really know me if you call me Rondel. And Ron, you don't even know me. Don't even try.

[Lars Shane Hals]

You're not Ron.

[Ben Mandelker]

I'm not Ron. No, the numbers don't work. The numbers don't really work for me. So they're talking about this Danny thing, and Michelle's like, you know, we have talked about you for two minutes now, so please let us talk about what a piece of shit Jesse is. And he called me a whore. And then you see. You see Isabella just watching all of this, and she's like. And he's always complaining about Amandael this, Amenddel that. But I am not. I'm not buying that. I'm not buying it. And he is like, narcissist. Am I right? Normally, I would say everybody calls everybody a narcissist. Like, I don't think 99% of us are narcissists. We've got to stop overusing it. Like, are we Reddit? Are we. Have we just become Reddit?

[Lars Shane Hals]

It's the hot therapized, like, term of the moment. But truly, aside from Jax, who I think is, like, been tested and certified by, like, a mental health institution as a narcissist he's got like a Michael.

[Ben Mandelker]

Star for fucking narcissist.

[Lars Shane Hals]

He does. He has three. He's a three star narcissist. I don't think that we should just throw it around.

[Ben Mandelker]

I was gonna add a. However, we are watching Men on Bravo and that is. Jesse is. I don't know what Jesse is. I've got enough of my own issues to start diagnosing everybody else. I don't know if he's a narcissist. Can I just. Can we just go back to general crazy? He does have like a psycho kind of vibe about him. Do you think? I think I'm gonna go with dead eyed psycho. What would you say? What would your diagnosis be?

[Lars Shane Hals]

I agree with that. And he does bear some similarity to Jackson that like, he speaks one way about a situation to everyone else and then treats his wife or ex wife slash baby mama like absolute dog shit. So. So that is fascinating to me, but also really scares me. And I feel bad for these women ultimately because I'm like, to get a divorce. I mean, a. They really don't know how to pick them on these shows. But then to see them go through hell, getting a divorce from these people is incredibly jarring. And then it makes me glad that I'm not. Not married.

[Ben Mandelker]

Oh, my God, me too. I've chosen the single life. And there are times where I'm like, this probably was not the best choice. Mostly when you're like invited to a wedding, you know, there are some points where it sucks, you know, but then I watch these shows and I'm like, nope. Yeah, like I'm doing the right thing.

[Lars Shane Hals]

To be in an acrimonious divorce from a man who is not paying the mortgage anymore is like, just like fucking with all your money and like making life hard for you and your child with autism. Like, it's like, where does it stop? It never ends. And you're now in this forever.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah. Especially on something like this where you're on national TV and then you're. You're leveraging the social media against each other, you know, because he's got so many followers, God knows why, but he can leverage those against her. And then he's got all of these trolls coming after her, calling her a bad mom and, you know, this and that. And so to have that added element, I mean. Ugh, gross.

[Lars Shane Hals]

It's crazy.

[Ben Mandelker]

It is crazy.

[Lars Shane Hals]

The real hope is that. And I do see him going to jail eventually. Like, I think that that lies in his future, but hopefully it's sooner rather than later. And no one is seriously injured or.

[Ben Mandelker]

Perishes because, yeah, I said on the first episode of this season, like, this is going to end up in, like, a murderer. It's going to end up in, like, a death. There will be a gun involved. This is not going to end well, you know, so.

[Lars Shane Hals]

No, not.

[Ben Mandelker]

It's a dark show. You know?

[Lars Shane Hals]

It is. And if you're flipping, think you're comfortable, like, throwing furniture around your house and, like, flipping a coffee table at your wife, like. Like, you're comfortable with a lot of things.

[Ben Mandelker]

And he's still not saying, sorry, I flipped the table. It's still like, well, you. You texted my guy, and that was my friend. You texted my friend. You texted my friend. You texted my friend. You know, he's. He keeps using that. And Jesse does the same thing, which is why I feel like it's important to diagnose Jesse with something on the armchair, because Jesse's really bad, too. He was on the Not Skinny, Not Fat podcast, hey, girl. And I was reading the Vanderpod recaps, like, summary of it, and he's still like, well, that was such a regret, you know, his dead eyes. That was such a regretful moment. And, you know, I shouldn't have called her a whore. But. And then it goes on and on and on with the but and the excuses. Like, you men never learn. The men never learn, never learn. Scary men.

[Lars Shane Hals]

They are really scary. And the best case scenario is that, like, women watch these shows and learn, like, not to be with a man like that, or if they identify that they're in a relationship with a man.

[Ben Mandelker]

Like, that, they run well, I would hope so. But, you know, I guess the Internet is so depressing, too, sometimes, because you see the women standing up for it and being like, you didn't do anything wrong, Jax. You're trying to fix yourself. You're doing great, honey. You know?

[Lars Shane Hals]

Know.

[Ben Mandelker]

And then going to his shows and fawning all over him and trying to, you know, get his number and all of this, like, hello, are you watching the television? Are you paying attention to what's happening?

[Lars Shane Hals]

It's insane to me, but also makes a lot of sense, like, when Jax decides that he's gonna move next to Tom Schwartz, and, like, they're literally just gonna be, like, two losers who are 45 years old that will just, like, keep, like, plowing fans. And, like, women will literally throw themselves at them. But it's also, like, that's very la and kind of like, it's very Men.

[Ben Mandelker]

On Bravo coded yes, it's very Men on Bravo. And it's very like people who write letters to prisoners coded. Do you think? I feel like it's a similarity.

[Lars Shane Hals]

There's a similarity there.

[Ben Mandelker]

Check the outgoing mail. I'll bet there's a very close parallel. So they're talking about what a piece of shit Jesse is, which, you know, I agree. And Michelle, you know, they keep cutting to Isabella, just kind of watching them, and she's like, you know, And Isabella was telling me, you know, I know you were married to mommy, but if you get married again to the honey person, then that, you know, Jesse has to go to the wedding. And she's like, that's not happening. I will not invite him to my honey wedding.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Michelle. I was also like, you don't do yourself any favors because you're literally planting like an underground bomb right now. Like, you know that Jesse's gonna watch this eventually and it's gonna just set off World War three to say, like, you really want to get married and Isabella told you she wants you to get married to Aaron. And like, it's a. Like, just. You don't have to say that.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, it's. It's getting uncomfortable with the. With the broken relationships. Like, you guys are hurting my feelings at this point. Okay.

[Lars Shane Hals]

They, especially Jesse and Michelle, are like, involved in some sick games that they like to, like, make other people participate in.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, yeah. Because Brittany, I don't feel like plays the game back. She's just like, come on, you know, like, she'll. She's like torture. I feel like she's tor. She plays it. I don't know. I feel like she's not really playing a game, whereas Michelle will be like, okay, it is on. It is on. Also, I don't know that I trust this new guy of Michelle's either. Only because of his eyes. Those are not trustworthy.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, he has crazy eyes. No, absolutely not. And they're leaning into it. Like in the mid season trailer, it was all about him and his crazy eyes. And I was like, their days are numbered.

[Ben Mandelker]

Okay, so then we go over to Luke, Jason and Danny at heavy handed, which I'm surprised that they went there and filmed in there, but, you know, good for you. Great milkshakes. So they go in there and Danny says, I think what probably 80% of the people who go in there say, which the people who work there must be so sick of hearing this, but you got a salad in this place? Moving to Santa Clarita. They're like, no, we don't have a Fucking salad. Do you want a burger or a shake with a French fry inside of it? What do you want?

[Lars Shane Hals]

Those burgers look so good. Are they good? Have you been there?

[Ben Mandelker]

I don't eat meat. And they don't have like a veggie.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, you're veggie.

[Ben Mandelker]

Hall street from me. I'm a pescatarian, so I'm not like anything that I can be better than anybody else. Unfortunately, like, I don't really win moral points. I just don't like meat too much. So I don't go unless it's like a whataburger or something. But I don't go there much. But I have gone there and I was like, what a dump. I'll try your shake. And it was pretty good.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Okay, good to know.

[Ben Mandelker]

So if you ever want a mediocre shake, come over heavy handed. Heavy handed, baby. So why'd I call it a mediocre shake? That wasn't nice. It was a good shake. Okay, so can I have a shallot? I'm going to Santa Clarita soon. I love that they bought a home in Santa Clarita. What do you think of that? They finally got their. Danny finally got his wish.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I'm scared, but I'm also scared of their apartment. Their condo really stresses me out. Their whole life stresses me out. Yeah, they're one of the darkest couples to me because clearly there's something wrong that's not being publicly addressed. And Nia, I just think that she really, like, settled for this guy and it didn't have to. Her life didn't have to be like this.

[Ben Mandelker]

I mean, did any of ours.

[Lars Shane Hals]

That's true. That's true.

[Ben Mandelker]

I think. I don't know. You know what? I think that I'm just somebody who is like, everything's okay. I'm all like that too, in a way. I mean, I'm very cynical on here and stuff, and I have a dark sense of humor. But like, with life events or people dying or people getting sick or stuff like that, I'm like, everything's fine. Everything's great. You know, like.

[Lars Shane Hals]

You go Daniel mode.

[Ben Mandelker]

So, yeah, I look at Nia and I'm like, she's a hero. She's a hero to my people. Because no matter what's wrong, she's just like, I will cry like Jacqueline Onassis at home. At home.

[Lars Shane Hals]

And I like her a lot. Like, I'm very drawn to Nia. But I guess that is just part of the experience of watching this show is like wishing that all of the women Were with different partners?

[Ben Mandelker]

I think so. I think it's natural. It's the natural state of things. And it's like when you watch one of those shows where you watch somebody, it opens with the person being murdered or whatever, and then. Or like White Lotus. You know what I mean? Like, White Lotus ends with a death. You don't know who dies and you don't know how they die. But the whole show, you spend wondering how are their lives gonna be ruined? And I feel like that's the show. You're waiting the whole time to see how their lives are ruined. And with people like Jack's and Britney, you know, it's taken, what, seven years or something? I don't know. My timeline.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Ten years almost.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah. To kind of see it all play out. So you just have to be patient. But it's like a reverse garden. You're just waiting to watch things shrivel up and, you know, expire. Thanks for coming, guys. Fun, fun commercials.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Here comes one right now.

[Monica Lewinsky]

At 24, I lost my narrative, or rather it was stolen from me. And the Monica Lewinsky that my friends and family knew was usurped by false narratives, callous jokes, and politics. I would define reclaiming as to take back what was yours. Something you possess is lost or stolen, and ultimately you triumph in finding it again. So I think listeners can expect me to be chatting with folks both recognizable and unrecognizable and names about the way that people have navigated roads to triumph. My hope is that people will finish an episode of reclaiming and feel like they filled their tank up, they connected with the people that I'm talking to and leave with maybe some nuggets that help them feel a little more hopeful. Follow reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Reclaiming early and ad free right now by joining joining Wondery plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts.

[Ben Mandelker]

So this is where Jason has decided to have his big talk. He's like, yeah, you know, Janet told me about the situation where she was in the pantry. And then you went into the pantry and you chugged some tequila. And he's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Chugged, Chugged? No, no, not chugged. Swallowed. Swallowed some tequila. Okay, well, you went in there and you banged back handle. No, it wouldn't bang back. It was just a tiny ship. Tiny ship of the tequila. Well, Janet was very uncomfortable, Danny. Very uncomfortable thoughts. Laura.

[Lars Shane Hals]

He says he didn't have any more to drink than anyone else. Everyone else, they would drink a tequila all day. You don't see anyone getting mad at them. He had one seltzer and took a swig of tequila with the big deal. Blatantly false.

[Ben Mandelker]

And he also makes it worse than it is, than it was because he goes, what? I just went in to get a white claw, and that's also where the bottles of tequila were. I was like, oh, so you were also getting a white claw too? Danny, come on, man. How is this.

[Lars Shane Hals]

So you double fixed it. I know. I'm also like, that afternoon you drank. You got a big red wine buzz on, then switched to a white claw and a glug of tequila secretly. That's a brutal combination.

[Ben Mandelker]

It's not. And here's my I guess, argument in defense of Dani with the drinking. It's not a pro drinker combination. I feel like any alcoholic would not be like, I'm gonna have wine and then a white claw and then some tequila. And then, like, a pro would not.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Do the night with just a big room temperature glug of tequila out of the bottle.

[Ben Mandelker]

So I feel like he's an amateur as a drinker. I mean, is he using drinking in a bad way? Possibly. I just. I don't know. It. I don't know. I don't care. I don't care is that. I just don't care. I don't care that he did it.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I don't care. But I. I want it to be. I want to see more of it. Like, I want to see him have, like, three more moments on the show that are really, like, devastating. I'm ready for, like, a Kim Richards level, like, crisis alcohol use. I don't think intervention.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, Yeah. I don't think he can pull it off. Like, Kim Richards. I mean, she really. I mean, wow. She really did a glorious turn with all of that. Like, she just. Her whole personality. And then remember when she got like, the pit bull, and the pit bull was out of control, and then the pit bull was attacking people. Kingsley. And she's like, how dare you talk about Kingsley. You're a bad sound. And Kyle's like, that child literally almost killed my children. Kingsley's a nice girl. And then Kingsley, like, attacked the old lady across the street. And then Kim went to the target and, like, she got caught shoplifting and then shoplifted. Yeah, yeah. She had to go on Andy Cohen and do a one on one about it. Oh, my God. I mean, Kim was like the fireworks at Universal Studios at the end of the day, as far as, like, alcoholism Stories was.

[Lars Shane Hals]

It really was.

[Ben Mandelker]

And Danny's just an amateur. I feel like.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, it's like. I feel like maybe he just got to that place where you're tired and you're getting too drunk.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I don't know. I'm like, bring it or get off the pot. You know, Go big or go home.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, don't come here. Don't come here.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Don't come here. With a alcoholism storyline, like, sleeping in the bed. Like, I'm like, you need to come guns blazing. Like, bring me the razzle dazzle.

[Ben Mandelker]

So Jason lays on the. Janet feels uncomfortable. Dun, dun, dun. So Janet really bugs me. So I'm like, shut up, Jason. You know, stop fighting for Janet. That's my feeling about it. Like, just let. Let Janet do her own dirty work. I don't need. I don't need you here doing Janet's dirty work. Okay. Go back to your low hood and your cass at home and you're like, microwave Mac and cheese. Fuck out of here, Danny.

[Lars Shane Hals]

There's something about Janet. She's bugged me a lot. But this episode, I kind of turned a corner and I was like, Janet, if you. I saw potential in her. And that is in terms of her going head to head against Dodie, which I'm going to need Janet to ramp it up, up. Because there was a moment where she just said, like, Kristen, Doty thinks that she can outrun me, but I'm 10 steps ahead of her at all times. And I took that as, like, the ultimate challenge.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah.

[Lars Shane Hals]

And now I need her to see it through. And I think Janet might still be getting her sea legs, but she's one to watch in terms of, like, villainy just bringing villainry and, like, conniving and, like, a certain smugness to the mix.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, I think she's definitely got the smugness down and the conniving down because, you know, she did do, as far as, like, judging a villain. She did do a good job of just getting Kristen completely cut off from the group. Really, with all that stuff last year, I mean, Kristen was kind of the reason. Kristen and Jax and I guess to a degree, Britney were the reason for the show. Right. They were the regulars from Vanderpump Rules, and she got Kristin out pretty quick. And that was all stuff that kind of started with Janet. Like, if you remember back to it, Janet was the one who said, watch out because Michelle's a Republican, so she's probably racist, she's probably anti gay, all this other stuff. And then Zach took what she said and repeated it To Brittany, and Brittany went and repeated it to everybody else. So Janet started all of that oral. Kristen repeated it. Sorry.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, Kristin repeated it. But Janet was the one who initially said it. It. But Janet's like, the thing is, she's behind the scenes and then smug and plays like, I don't know, like, so sweet. But I need her to step more into the forefront with her machinations.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, Less of the concern trolling, like, well, I was just worried about your husband's drinking and more like, we need to have a talk. Your husband's a goddamn alcoholic. Here I have him on a ring cam, you know, hitting the ass of my Volvo or whatever. Whatever she's gonna do.

[Lars Shane Hals]

But, yeah, or if you're concerned trolling, like, do it with a wink at the camera or something where you're, like, owning what you're doing. I don't know. I just. I guess I have a lot. I see potential in people, and I really want them to step up to the plate. And I'm seeing some potential in Janet. I'm not ready to write her off just yet.

[Ben Mandelker]

Okay, fair, fair, fair. So Danny starts getting pissed because Jason won't really stop. He keeps going on with his. Well, but no, no, no. Let's talk about it, bro, because you were really, really, really bad, you know? And he's like, I was not drunk. He's like, you were drunk enough. Okay, listen. You didn't make dinner. You didn't make dinner, dude. You didn't make dinner. And this was kind of my sticking point with this whole argument. One minute you're saying Danny gets drunk and then does inappropriate things to his friends. Fine. That's an argument. I don't think anybody's in the wrong for that argument. But then Danny gets drunk, and then he removes himself from the situation and goes to bed. So isn't that better? I think that that's an improvement. Like, he didn't come out and do anything mean to his friends. He went to bed. So I don't know. I felt like that was an improvement on Danny's part.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, probably. And I feel like he and Mia had long talks about how social you're allowed to be when you're going glug, glug mode. And she was like, daniel, if you're gonna glug, you gotta go to sleep.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah.

[Lars Shane Hals]

And so then they, as, like, a united front, made that decision.

[Ben Mandelker]

Oh, yeah. Good call. So Danny's like, okay, so Danny. Danny basically sees he's about to just have an alcoholism storyline. Meanwhile, they've got Jax who no one has said anything to this entire show, really, until Jax was ready to go.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Yeah, like, no, he's not really having an alcoholism or a cokehead storyline. He's having, like, a mental health. They keep calling it, like, the mental health facility.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah. They still won't give him the full. Well, Zach, I think it's rehab. Because, Zach, I think it's rehab with mental stuff built in. Is all rehab like that now? I don't know. I've never been.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I don't know. I haven't been either, but I don't think rehab. The rehabs that I have been aware of aren't allowing you to leave and go home to run an errand.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah. That's weird. Hey, take a break and just go. Take off all the playing cards from the security cameras, and when you're done, come back.

[Lars Shane Hals]

It'll be fine. We'll have some more therapy.

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah. Or I don't know of rehabs that diagnose you with things like bipolar disorder and stuff. So that's why. I don't know if it's a mix of, like, they can't do that at aa. You know what I mean? They can't just diagnose you. But, yeah, I think maybe it's a mix. Maybe it's like a hybrid.

[Lars Shane Hals]

I don't think he did a good job early anyways.

[Ben Mandelker]

It's not going to stay. Yeah. I can tell you this. It's probably not a good one because I don't think they helped him on many fronts from what we've seen. So Danny is now kind of in the position of having to stand up for himself against this alcoholism charge. So he's getting pissed, and he's like, what is going on here? And Santa Barbara said, dude, it was not a big deal. And then we see a flashback to Jason saying, listen, if Janet got wasted and passed out, I wouldn't be like, oh, Janet's wasted and passed out. Like, you're fine. You're totally fine. I would just say Janet's sleeping, so I don't know why everybody's at upset with you. It's not a big deal. And so now he's coming back, making it a big deal. So obviously Dany's like, so is this Jason or is this Janet?

[Lars Shane Hals]

Janet, the puppet master pulling all the strings?

[Ben Mandelker]

Yeah, but it's both, you know, I don't think Jason gets off the hook just even if Janet made him do it, you know? Yeah. So then Jason's like, well, I thought you were gonna be like, sorry, you know. So they have this conversation a little while, and he's like. And also, Jasmine felt very triggered because the last time she saw you in that state, like, drunk, things happened. So she had PTSD from Halloween. And, you know, I know you apologized, but she still feels a certain way. So Jason's like, jasmine's a good friend. And you do something to Jasmine, you do something to me. And five minutes later, Jasmine's like, he's not wearing his wedding ring.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Thrown under the bus. Jasmine Anzac sacrificed at the altar of heterosexuality so that Jodie can make allegations against her worst enemy.

[Ben Mandelker]

Jason, you've just been sacrificed. John. John. John. So Dani is like, I'm disappointed and ashamed with myself. Here's one good thing. Bravo gives the men on this channel the chance to learn to give really shitty, insincere apologies. They're so good at it on this show.

[Lars Shane Hals]

It is incredible, the hoops that they jump through in order to give, like, a really unsatisfying apology over and over and over. I liked when Dani specifically said I was sick. I was on antibiotics. I don't remember everything that happened. I was like, not the antibiotics excuse.

[Ben Mandelker]

I know you're not using an antibiotic excuse, sir. I was left out from all the. I was trying to think of an antibiotic name.

[Lars Shane Hals]

Doxycycline. That literally is what Misha Barton said happened to her in, like, there was, like, a report of her getting, like, blackout. I think she ended up going the hospital partying too hard, like, back in, like, 2007, 2008. And her excuses, like, she was just on antibiotics and things took a turn and no one saw it coming. I was like, this is a tale as old as time. Like, you can't use Misha's excuse.

[Ben Mandelker]

That's the oxycodone, guys. I think Meredith Marks used that too, didn't she? At one point, she was like, I was not on drugs. I was on cold medicine. I mean, it was something like that where she was accused of. One of the times she was accused of being a drunk. She was like, how dare you? It was oxycodone or something.

[Lars Shane Hals]

It was. Yeah.

[Ben Mandelker]

Wait, is oxycodone like oxycontin, or is oxycodone the antibiotic?

[Lars Shane Hals]

I think oxycodone and oxycontin are like sisters.

[Ben Mandelker]

Oh, okay.

[Lars Shane Hals]

So then they're cousins and then, like, doxycycline and, like, like, it was a Z pack. Yeah, it was the classic Z pack blackout that causes just me to become a grope monster and go into get daddy a drink mode.

[Ben Mandelker]

So Danny and Jason ended a stalemate. They're both pissed now and Jason disagrees with Danny. So Danny says, says the lawyer and he's like, yeah, actually. And he goes, not the Franz. You're talking like a lawyer and not a friend. Congratulations. You've reached the end of part one of a two part recap for part two. Go look for the recap that says part two. See you over there, suckers.

[Ronnie Karam]

Watch what Crappens would like to thank its premium sponsors. Ain't no thing like Alison King it's always a party on Alice in block.

[Ben Mandelker]

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[Ben Mandelker]

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[Ronnie Karam]

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[Ben Mandelker]

Man, it's always a good time when you're wasting time with Bravo. She ain't no shrinking violet Coutar. We love you guys. If you like, watch what crappens. You can listen ad free right now by joining Wondery plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon music. Before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey.