Watch What Crappens — Vanderpump Rules S12E2 Part 1: A Manifest for All Seasons

Podcast: Watch What Crappens (Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam)
Episode: #3110
Date: December 11, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Ben and Ronnie dive deep into the second episode of Vanderpump Rules Season 12, dissecting the new cast, reliving Ben’s night at the show’s publicity party at SUR, and lovingly (but hilariously) mocking the drama, the “manifestation coach,” the restaurant’s peculiarities, and Bravo fandom itself. The energy is high as the hosts adjust remarkably well to the cast reboot, explore both the on-screen pettiness and meta Bravo discourse, and pepper in endless tangents, impressions, and quotable banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Embracing the New Vanderpump Rules Cast

• Initial Reactions (02:12–04:27):

  • Both hosts are “shocked” at how much they’re enjoying the reboot. Ronnie delights in the wild contrast of “lap dances next to sobbing,” while Ben reflects that it “feels like old school Vanderpump Rules” with new faces but characteristic pettiness.
  • Quote:
    • Ronnie: “When you’ve got someone getting a lap dance next to someone who’s sobbing, I’m in.” (02:17)
    • Ben: “I have no complaints. Honestly, I’m shocked at how easily I segued into this new cast... It’s very entertaining so far.” (02:38)

• Bravo Audience Culture (03:31–04:27):

  • “Part of being in the Bravo audience,” Ben and Ronnie agree, is chronic, loving complaint. Ronnie jokes about his “hobby” of complaining, while Ben insists the reboot nails the show’s working-class roots — “poor people working at a restaurant thinking that’s going to make them famous.”
  • Quote:
    • Ronnie: “We’re not grateful for anything. All we do is complain.” (03:35)
    • Ben: “This show went back to what it was always about, which is poor people working at a restaurant...” (04:21)

2. Behind the Scenes at the Press Party at SUR

(05:28–11:14)

• Ben spills about attending Bravo's Vanderpump Rules publicity party:
  • Raves over unexpectedly delicious hors d’oeuvres (“Chef Joe stepped up his game”), the physical pain of the infamously tiny SUR chairs, and bumps into other Bravo podcasters and Instagram personalities.
  • Shares that almost all the new cast attended, except “the eyebrow cousins.” Speculates NBC may be hiding them for a pending “scandal.”
• Shane Davis’ outfit change (“from black t-shirt to white tank top”) sparks playful debate over his hotness level.
• Starstruck moment: Ben “fangirls” over the SUR Squirrel machine, the oft-seen but rarely witnessed-in-person POS device, calling it the “real star of the show.”
  • Quote:
    • Ben: “The thing that got me most excited was I got to see the Sir Squirrel machine up close and personal...this is the real star of the show.” (11:04)

3. Recapping the Episode — Scene-by-Scene Roast

Kicking Off at SUR (13:00–15:00)

• Dramatic staff meeting with Lisa: exaggerated English quips, talk of calendar photo shoots, and Lisa’s ever-entertaining sexual innuendo.
  • Quote:
    • Lisa impression (Ben): “How can I throttle a person with a penis? I’m gonna have to find a way to work this out.” (13:41)

New Staff Introductions & Flirtations

• Early scenes introduce main newbies:
  • Chris (the “tall, Jersey, tall eyebrows” guy), and Demi (perpetual RBF, “I hate you 24/7”).
  • Audrey shares LA dreams and her “getting arrested for blasting Rihanna” story. Ronnie and Ben crack up at the back-in-2023 “momentous year” trope.
• Moldavite Manifestation:
  • Venus’s Moldavite necklace story (18:27–19:36): The hosts snark mercilessly over his “crystal wisdom,” with Google and AI-riffs about “the dumbest crystals.”
    • Quote:
      • Ronnie on Moldavite: “You’re waiting on my table. I’m manifesting bread. Make it happen.” (19:04)
      • Ben on AI: “AI is not playing today.” (22:58)

Marcus’ Drinking & Relationship Drama

• Marcus gets called out for drinking on the job and faces Lisa's “ball busting” (31:16); his relationship with Kim is in constant flux, compared (exhaustingly) to “Ross and Rachel.”
  • Quote:
    • Kim (via Ben): “It’s like the dumbest Ross and Rachel breakup.” (25:19)
    • Ronnie: “The worst thing to ever happen to pop culture was Friends being re-released on Netflix.” (24:11)
• Brothers discuss Marcus’ rough upbringing and Lisa’s leadership style.

The Manifestation Scene: Venus & Audrey

• Venus runs a “manifesting” session with Audrey at his apartment, complete with a “stolen SIR candle,” charcuterie, and Secret references.
  • Ronnie mercilessly mocks manifestation as “how you get parking spaces, and that’s pretty much all it’s good for” (38:00).
  • They banter about “Quantum physics, epigenetics, biocentrism, Peaches” (40:01), blending pop psychology with delicious nonsense.
    • Quote:
      • Venus: “Manifestation is complex as fuck...but I’m going to break it down into eastern.” (36:30)
      • Ben: “All this talk...is really just used for, like, little everyday tasks. Like: please deliver my Postmates early.” (41:05)

Guy’s Night & Candid (Silly) Confessions

• The eyebrow twins, Marcus, Shane, and Venus have a guys’ night with mocktails (for Shane) and shots (for the rest).
• Marcus tries to brand himself as the “bad boy” but is gently roasted by the hosts and friends for being sweet and “the only friendly person.”
  • Marcus on Venus: “He always tries to do crazy, man. Me and him vibe over that because we’re like, shots, shots...” (47:01)
• Venus on his sexuality: “100% gay. I could never eat a pousse. Never won’t touch it. Disgusting.” (53:35)
  • Shane cracks up in the background.

SUR Workplace Drama: Natalie vs Demi

• Tense exchange as assistant manager Demi tries to issue an HR write-up for Natalie’s drunk behavior. Cattiness, denials, and Bravo’s classic “no one owns up” dynamic in full force.
• Chyron humor: “You’ve been gone for 27 minutes, which is basically an hour.” (58:46)

LA Life and Family Calls

• Natalie and Audrey hike to the Hollywood sign (“living the dream”), while Chris FaceTimes his dad to talk about Jersey, surfboards, and being “family oriented.”
  • Chris, imagining his Jersey alternative life: “I’d probably have kids, with a stable income...But I know what it’s like to be a big actor. I want to know.” (64:58)
  • His dad’s weather obsession and advice: “Life is too short. One minute it’s sunny, the next minute it’s raining. Sometimes it snows. What can you do?” (64:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vanderpump’s Audience:

  • “We’re not grateful for anything. All we do is complain.” — Ronnie (03:35)
  • “This show...poor people working at a restaurant thinking that’s going to make them famous.” — Ben (04:21)

• SUR Publicity Party:

  • “The thing that got me most excited was...the Sir Squirrel machine up close and personal...this is the real star of the show.” — Ben (11:04)
  • “Ken sort of like...walking around like the Tin Man.” — Ben (10:11)

• Bravo Show/Pop Culture Skewering:

  • “The worst thing to ever happen to pop culture was Friends being re-released on Netflix.” — Ronnie (24:11)
  • “How, you know, you’re basic is if you’re comparing yourself to Ross and Rachel.” — Ben (25:12)
  • “Expect, like, the black monolith from 2001 to be there and you just see, like, a server throwing a pumptini glass in the sky.” — Ben (18:15)

• Crystal/Manifestation Mockery:

  • “You’re waiting on my table. I’m manifesting bread. Make it happen.” — Ronnie (19:04)
  • “All this talk...is really just used for, like, little everyday tasks. Like: please deliver my Postmates early.” — Ben (41:05)
  • “There are no man— it’s like life coaches who have, like, loser lives, you know?” — Ronnie (36:59)
  • “Venus acts like eyes are the window to the soul. Like, he came up with that.” — Ben (53:20)

• Classic SUR Staff/Sexy Banter:

  • “If both of them are drinking, they’re two completely different people. It’s like before Moldavite, after Moldavite.” — Venus (48:43)
  • “Cheers to boys night, boys.” — Venus (57:26)

• On LA Aging/Dating:

  • “31 in LA is like, okay, well...have fun in retirement.” — Ronnie (55:24)
  • “She’s not like all those other LA girls. She’s, you know, fit and blonde and believes in things like manifestation and doesn’t know a lot of things. She’s a real unicorn.” — Ben (56:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Podcast’s theme and housekeeping: 00:29–02:12
• New cast and Bravo audience musings: 02:12–05:28
• SUR publicity/press party behind-the-scenes: 05:28–11:14
• Ben’s Squirrel machine fangirl: 11:04 (highlight)
• Episode recap begins: 13:00
• Manifestation/Secret/crystals roast: 35:09–41:26
• Marcus’ brother chat and Lisa’s meeting: 27:09–33:39
• Guys' night and sexuality confessions: 46:38–54:02
• Natalie vs Demi HR write-up fight: 57:40–59:50
• Hollywood sign hike and Chris’ dad call: 61:29–65:11

Tone & Style

The hosts’ irreverent, affectionate skewering is in full force — equal parts show recap, insider gossip, and pop-culture satire, all with the signature “we mock because we love” energy. Quips, extended bits (crystal AI, pop song parodies, Lisa’s slow-motion entrances), and endless impressions (Lisa, staff, and others) make this episode especially lively and full of unique, meme-worthy banter.

For Next Time

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the recap — and as always, “We mock because we love!”