Watch What Crappens – Episode #2994 "Crappy Hour 9-8-2025: RHOC Mess"
Hosts: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam
Date: September 9, 2025
Theme: A lively and irreverent deep dive into the latest Bravo headlines, with a particular focus on the layered drama surrounding "Real Housewives of Orange County" (RHOC), recent Housewives gossip, and the blurring lines between fans, bloggers, podcasters, and production.
Overview
Ben and Ronnie bring their signature wit to this Crappy Hour, dissecting Bravo news, pop-culture crossover moments, and providing an in-depth (and comedic) analysis of the tangled RHOC gossip chain. The episode is peppered with personal anecdotes, listener questions, and mockery of the housewives’ antics, as the pair gleefully mock, praise, and ponder the behind-the-scenes machinery powering reality TV drama.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Personal Catch-Up and Bravo Dread
- [03:17] Hosts banter about their weekends
- Ronnie jokes about his "porn stash" shaving mishap; Ben details hosting his parents and avoiding Bravo dread.
- Ben: "I love my mom's withering opinions on the Real Housewives." [05:17]
- Ronnie jokes about how much he slept: "God, I just love to sleep. It's a problem." [03:50]
Bravo Headlines Roundup
- [06:33] Bravo News and Human Interest
- Karen Huger Out of Jail: "I would like to congratulate the prison for getting rid of Karen. Because you know that she had to be making them effing crazy." – Ronnie [07:10]
- Carl Radke’s Bar Soft Opening: Ben & Ronnie lampoon Carl’s new non-alcoholic bar in Williamsburg ("Soft"), comparing its vibe to a "student center" or WeWork. Ronnie, on the minimalist decor: “It looks like the, the little room in the Hyatt Place that you get snacks. You know, it’s just, it’s…” [13:06]
- Concerns about Carl’s appearance post-Lindsay relationship are humorously linked to Ronnie’s own story about a neighbor’s misdirected sprinkler weathering his windows, paralleling the metaphor of Carl being "weathered." [10:23]
RHONJ Rumors
- [15:49] Is Teresa Out? Casting Speculation
- Ronnie runs through rumors about filming, alleged test scenes without Teresa, and Bravo’s history of reacting to fan outcry. Ben argues: "I just don’t think that Bravo is dropping Teresa. She’s unsinkable." [19:12]
- Both agree Teresa’s fan base is too fierce to risk: "Let me tell you what will scare them. Teresa. Fans of Teresa doesn't come back, because Teresa Fans will firebomb NBCUniversal. They'll do it. They'll do it." – Ronnie [18:53]
Wedding Gossip: Alexia Umansky & Zingerman Nuptials
- [23:07] RHOBH Family Milestones
- Amusing speculation about the groom’s family: “He must be rich, because otherwise, why would you marry somebody whose last name is Zingerman?” – Ronnie [23:09]
- "Mama Zingerman looks like she already cannot stand Kyle at all." – Ben [24:43]
Housewives Social Media Subtext
- [28:52] Photo drama
- Debate over Kyle’s Instagram picture excluding Dorit and Sutton ("Fox Force 4"). Ronnie: "Don’t act like the one picture you post of your friends… you just leave out Dorit on accident. Ma’am. How dare you." [29:31]
The Valley Feud: Brittany Cartwright, Boyfriend, Gigi (GG from Shahs), and Social Media Accusations
- [30:23] Body Shaming Accusation
- Ronnie and Ben break down the Instagram dustup: GG accuses Brittany of doing a pregnancy reveal due to hand placement, Kristen steps in, and Brittany rebuffs body shaming on her podcast.
- "Even I know not to do that, Gigi. I mean, come on." – Ronnie [34:06]
- "You never ask if someone's pregnant. You let them offer that." – Ben [34:06]
Pop Culture Crossovers: Carol Radziwill, Harry Styles, and RFK Jr.
- [34:48] Cinderella moment & Kennedy tangents
- Ben reads a clickbait story about Harry Styles rescuing Carol Radziwill's dress; Ronnie riffs on Kennedy family oddities and medical conditions. Lighthearted, tangential, and deeply crappens-y.
Top Chef Casting
- [38:27] Craig & Madison as Judges
- Ben is bemused at Craig’s credentials: "Craig, as a judge on Top Chef, I'm just not sure I'd buy that one… this tastes a lot like trying to make a relationship work and buying a ring and just, like, not being loved in return." [39:04]
- Ronnie recalls Craig’s abysmal grilling skills.
Deep Dive: RHOC "Kiki Monique" Scandal Breakdown
The Central Drama
- [41:44] Confusing Gossip Web – The episode’s heart is Ben and Ronnie attempting to map out the “who told what to whom” of the RHOC Gretchen-roofied-by-Tamra story and the fallout for content creators.
- Kiki Monique (influencer/content creator) allegedly shares info that Katie, a new cast member, told her about Gretchen being roofied.
- Katie now claims she never said this to Kiki, suggesting Sheena (Vanderpump Rules) was the original source, due to her friendship with Gretchen.
- Tamra is painted as the true mastermind who weaponized the story.
- Quote, Ronnie: "I need a pen, I need a whiteboard, basically..." [45:00]
- Ben: "I just think this is, it's, it's, it's ridiculous that she's losing her, her income because of this stupid lie. When people have lied about far worse and have done far worse on this show." [45:31]
Journalistic Hypocrisy & Content Creator Ethics
- [48:25] Blogger-Podcaster wrangling
- Ronnie on Dave Quinn (People): "You can't be tattletailing to all the housewives. I Demand integrity. So all of you are wrong. All of you. And it sucks that the person who's the most wrong in this, Tamra, is the one that's winning. You bunch of dummies. You gave Tamra a win. You gave Tamra a clean win." [54:26]
- Ben defends Kiki: "You know, when you're with friends...sometimes you might say something…you sort of feel like there’s a sort of a code of...content creators." [55:30]
- Both agree: everyone gossips, but Tamra’s the one who made it public for maximum drama.
Broader Implications & Cultural Observations
- "It's hard to be friends with all these people and then still report on them in a way that people are going to trust you." – Ronnie [58:52]
- "Don’t get tricked. They’re trying to make you say good things about them." – Ben [59:47]
- They stress the impossibility of real journalism when access and ad revenue depend on cozy relationships with sources.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "It’s just so big. It’s so cavernous. …I just worry that that good guy clause is going to be invoked very quickly. I don’t know. I actually want him to succeed. Good guy clause. Despite everything, I want Carl to succeed. I just look nice sometimes." – Ben, on Carl Radke’s bar [13:30]
- "Let me tell you what will scare them. Teresa. Fans of Teresa doesn’t come back, because Teresa fans will firebomb NBCUniversal. They’ll do it. They’ll do it." – Ronnie [18:53]
- "Mama Zingerman looks like she already cannot stand Kyle at all. Look at her. She’s like, this one I have to stand next to. …I brought my best angle rippled purse here, and I got standing to this one." – Ben [24:43]
- "Even I know not to do that, Gigi. I mean, come on." – Ronnie on asking if someone’s pregnant [34:06]
- "I need a pen, I need a whiteboard, basically...they're going to come up with this whole thing. Okay, well, Kiki, I heard this. You heard this information. So why don't we make it that we say that Katie was the one who told us because then that'll start a fight with Katie on the show and that'll get Gretchen back on the show. It doesn't make any sense. Like, it doesn't make any sense." – Ronnie [45:00]
- "This is a total collapse of all journalistic integrity." – Ben [49:19]
- "You dummies just handed [Tamra] a win." – Ronnie [54:26]
- "You are allowed to gossip with your fellow like podcasters. You are allowed to...someone violated the pact of the content creators." – Ben [58:20]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:17: Personal weekend recaps, Bravo dread
- 06:53: Bravo news, Karen Huger, Carl Radke “Soft Bar”
- 15:49: RHONJ rumors, is Teresa out?
- 23:07: RHOBH wedding talk, Zingerman jokes
- 28:52: Kyle’s photo drama, Sutton/Dorit exclusion
- 30:23: The Valley feud, Gigi vs. Brittany, pregnancy shaming accusation
- 34:48: Carol Radziwill, Harry Styles, and the Kennedy tangent
- 38:27: Craig and Madison on Top Chef
- 41:44: Deep dive on RHOC Kiki Monique content creator scandal
- 45:00: Disentangling the web of who-said-what gossip
- 54:26: Summary, everyone is at fault but Tamra wins
- 55:30: Ben defends Kiki Monique; ethics of Bravo world gossip
Conclusion
Ben and Ronnie spend this Crappy Hour gleefully dissecting the often-absurd ecosystem of Bravo (especially RHOC), lampooning both the stars and the machinery of reality TV. They expose the farcical web of leaks, denials, and journalistic “ethics,” always with their trademark affection and parody. Their message? It’s all a mess—but it’s our mess, and that’s why we watch.
“You can’t be going to standing up for people just because they’re being nice to you. They’re not stupid. They’re trying to make you say good things about them. Don’t get tricked.” – Ronnie [59:47]