Watch What Crappens — Episode #3099: “Vanderpump Rules S12E1 Part 1: A Whole New SUR-ld”

Date: December 4, 2025
Hosts: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben and Ronnie dive into the Season 12 premiere of Vanderpump Rules, lovingly (and hilariously) dissecting the fresh faces who now staff SUR, the shifting dynamics of West Hollywood post-pandemic, and the broader reboot vibes of the show. Their blend of nostalgia, cynicism, and hope for this “whole new SUR-ld” makes for a quintessential Crappens recap.

Key Discussion Points

1. First Impressions: Does the New Cast Have Mojo? (04:13–10:27)

• Ronnie: Felt hopeful after the trailer, but notes the restaurant itself looks “so dirty and it looks old… if you’re going to reboot, really reboot the restaurant too.” Calls Lisa’s “limping” (literally and figuratively) symbolic of current SUR.
• Ben: Admits to being “a little bored at first,” feeling the sizzle reel vibe but enjoyed the throwback to struggling, “beautiful idiots” trying to make it in LA.
• Quote:

  “My favorite part was how poor they all are. You got back to what, like, struggling actors… it’s like, innumerable.” — Ben (05:18)

2. The Old vs. The New — Will They Repeat the Cycle? (07:25–09:28)

• Ronnie: Jokes about the new male cast being “whorish” and loving the “two OnlyFans cousins who are probably fudgeing.”
• Recalling predictions from their trailer recap: everyone's looking to match the originals, but some surprises; the “new” must get time to become themselves.
• Discussion about old cast's post-show complaints, suggesting “it’s nice to see the cycle begin to repeat again.”

3. Authenticity or Imitation? (09:28–12:59)

• Fears of contestants trying to be “the next Stassi” or “the next Jax.”

• Natalie is already a lightning rod: too on, maybe “fake,” but Ronnie likes that about her.

• Ben: Liked Demi—the staff's anchor; appreciates her unimpressed, lived-in energy.

• Spotting analogies: Natalie has “Kristen energy”—fiery and volatile, with a dash of “Sheena” because of her singing and “desperation.”

• Comparing Kim and Marcus to early Kristen/Tom dynamics—“endless toxic fights.”

• Quote:

  “My favorite was Demi. The staff matter because she looks so over it. She’s been there for eight years… now all their lives are imploding, and she’s like, oh, here we go again. A new cast of idiots…” — Ben (09:28)

4. Cast Rundown & Character Archetypes (12:59–18:24)

• Mixed reactions to newcomers:

  • Kim: "Bad actor," rehearsed confessionals.
  • Marcus: “Rami Malek/’Freddie Mercury’” lookalike, “not the cool nice guy we expected,” more of a rebel.
  • Venus: “Gay with the stringy hair... Love your, like, thrift glam, but you need some Caristas.”

• General agreement: The show's charm was always in the rawness & mess—let’s let this group settle before judging.

• Quote:

  “Remember when we first recapped the first episode of Vanderpump Rules 18,000 years ago? I hated that show. I wanted it to die… then as it grew on me, it became my favorite show.” — Ronnie (12:59)

5. The “SUR-vice” and Restaurant Realities (18:24–26:49)

• Ben & Ronnie lampoon the idea that anyone goes to SUR for the food.

• Recap of Venus and Natalie’s banter behind the bar, mouthy self-promotion:

  • Natalie: “I’m definitely the best bartender, and I’m the fastest and the most creative, and I look cute. Am I right?” (23:27)

• Ronnie calls out SUR’s “staff infection” as the only vibrant thing besides the neon.

• Jokes abound about poor service, watered-down bottles, and the infamous goat cheese balls—now apparently dry, tiny, and overpriced.

• Quote:

  “The only thing vibrant is the staph infection at this restaurant, and we all know it.” — Ronnie (17:58)

6. Horndogs and Dreamers: New Guys and LA Delusions (26:49–34:28)

• Chris: Jersey guy, calls himself a “lady killer,” at SUR to “network and create more opportunities,” apparently because he looks like Robert De Niro.
• General delight at the continued delusion of staff thinking working at SUR is an industry “in.”
• Marcus and Venus sneak sangria shots; Demi, now assistant manager, is exasperated by “idiots.”
• Classic Vanderpump energy: staff are demonstrably more invested in drama than in restaurant work.

7. Shaky Relationships & Thruple Energy (38:12–40:25)

• Kim & Marcus: Constant fights (mirroring early Kristen/Sandoval toxicity).
• Venus jokes that people think the three are a throuple because Marcus “will show me his dick on a picture on his phone in front of Kim, and Kim will be like, ‘that’s totally normal.’” (40:07)
• “This feels like real, hot mess Los Angeles,” per Ben.

8. Main Plotline: Natalie’s Meltdown & Reckoning with Lisa (41:03–48:53)

• Lisa confronts Natalie after she caused a drunken scene with ex (and co-worker) Paolo, who is 54.

• Hilarious mock-reconstruction of Lisa’s managerial “sternness,” full of signature LVP shtick (soft focus, magic tricks gone awry).

• Natalie tries to justify her outburst: “Mercury was in retrograde... my ex and I had no sex life... maybe if I was getting laid, I’d be a happier person.” (43:16)

• Lisa “warns” her, but the stakes are low. (“Just know your job is in peril at some point in the distance.” — Lisa, 47:37)

• Memorable Exchange:

  Lisa: "If you say that you are a bird that has been broken, we can fix this..." (46:54)

9. The Bro Comes to SUR: Enter Shane Davis (49:32–54:39)

• Shane Davis, all-American, “always-in-a-Jeep” jock type, arrives at the bar with another girl (even after telling Natalie he wouldn’t).
• Marcus and others are agog at the beefcake energy and dismayed for Natalie.
• Shane’s bro-lingo, macho posturing, and machinations set the tone for the kind of testosterone-fueled drama we might expect.
• Shane: “Guess what, America? I’m more addicted to a hot succubus woman than I am drugs. I’m up.” (52:11)
• Natalie, mortified by Shane’s move, pouts: “He’s gonna wish later when we all go out that he didn’t bring this girl, because I thought we were vibing. Like, who does that?” (53:29)
• Discussion of West Hollywood nightlife, the Belmont bar, and the cast’s pitiful tips split.

10. Closing: Hope for the Future and Nostalgic Skepticism (55:07–56:39)

• Reflections on the dying LA bar/restaurant scene post-pandemic. Ronnie jokes about returning to LA “right when the town is imploding...Enjoy yourself.”
• Hopes and fears for the season: Will old magic return? Will the new cast step into their own, or forever chase ghosts of seasons one to five?
• Ronnie:

  “If the Belmont closes, you could probably blame Schwartzy and Sandy’s...” (55:32)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Ronnie on the new men:

  “I’m really into the whorish men. Like, I love that they just got straight up Horus this time for the men. Like, we’ve got two only fan cousins who are probably fudgeing, like, let’s admit it...” (06:56)

• Ben on authenticity:

  “My favorite part was how poor they all are...You go to Starbucks and you hear guys talking about acting classes or, like, how they got this gig.” (05:18)

• Regarding the restaurant itself:

  “It just looks so dirty and it looks old. I mean, I think if you’re going to reboot, you really need to reboot the restaurant too.” — Ronnie (04:20) “The only thing vibrant is the staph infection at this restaurant, and we all know it.” — Ronnie (17:58)

• On Lisa’s warnings:

  “Just know your job is in peril at Some point in the distance.” — Lisa (as parodied by Ronnie, 47:37)

• Venus on high school:

  “Working at sir is probably the best job I’ve ever had. And I’ve had, like, 36 jobs. It kind of reminds me of high school because I’m just, like, running around, like, talking with my friends all the whole time, and, like, everyone’s, like, hot...” — Venus (18:24)

• Natalie’s justification memo:

  “Why is everyone making me have to be so crazy? Because I’m actually going through something. And by the way, Mercury has been in retrograde this entire time. And by the way, my ex and I had no sex life. You’re dating a 56 year old, girl. Like, what are you expecting?” — Natalie (43:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• First impressions of new season: 04:13–10:27
• Cast comparisons and the generational cycle: 07:25–09:28
• Spotlighting key staff personalities: 12:59–18:24
• Venus, Natalie, Chris—behind the bar: 18:24–26:49
• SUR’s management & the Lisa/Natalie showdown: 41:03–48:53
• Shane Davis arrives/Bro energy: 49:32–54:39
• Discussion of West Hollywood & the state of the scene: 55:07–56:39

Final Thoughts

Ben and Ronnie offer their trademark blend of real Bravo fan insight and loving mockery. They remain optimistic but wary—hoping the new generation at SUR will pay off if viewers (and Lisa) are patient. The cycle of LA dreamers (and nightmare co-workers) survives, even if the food, décor, and tips at SUR are going downhill.

To Listen to Part 2:
Ben and Ronnie will continue with the rest of the S12E1 episode in part two of the recap!