Watch What Crappens #3168: The Valley Persian Style S1E03: Trunk No Show
Date: January 17, 2026
Hosts: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam
Episode Overview
This episode of Watch What Crappens brings Ben and Ronnie’s signature blend of sharp wit and loving ridicule to "The Valley: Persian Style," Season 1, Episode 3 (“Trunk No Show”). They dissect the latest drama among Bravo’s favorite Persians—their messy relationships, misguided business ventures, and chaotic social events—with a focus on Gigi’s exhausting antics, marital meltdowns, and a notably failed trunk show. True to form, the hosts volley between hilarious tangents and keen insight, skewering the cast’s delusions with affection and exasperation.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Gigi’s Never-Ending Drama & Emotional Drain
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Ben and Ronnie zero in on Gigi’s persistent immaturity and her need for chaos—particularly her meaningless fight with Dennis, the ex she married to get back at another ex, Ty.
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Quote (Ben, 03:46): “Why do we have to be subjugated to watching some stupid fight with Gigi and this guy Dennis?... There's like no stakes attached.”
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Ronnie emphasizes the cringe factor of watching Gigi repeat the same patterns as she's aged, now as a mom:
- “It's more disturbing now because you've brought a kid into all of this, and it's...cringe. You know, I worry for your child. There, I said it." (05:35)
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The hosts playfully debate whether, as podcasters, they're allowed to “mom shame.”
Ben (06:01): “I feel like we're allowed to mom shame if we're podcasters.”
2. Relationships: Divorce Watch, Communication Fails, and Tabouli Gate
- Divorce is in the Air
- Ben jokes about how every couple on the show seems to be racing toward divorce:
- “It's a pretty brisk walk to divorce for all of these couples.” (06:26)
- Titanic metaphor: “They're basically all on the deck of the Titanic... watching the tables slide into the ocean.”* (06:39)
- Bombshad & Skye: Trunk Show Meltdown
- Skye’s jewelry trunk show becomes a battleground because Bombshad couldn’t call the bartender as promised (12:30-13:03).
- Ronnie, deadpan: “She should be as angry as she needs to be.” (12:38)
- Skye’s perpetual antagonism toward her husband becomes comic gold:
- “Her husband is the flower, and her hobby is a vase full of hate water.” (09:03)
- Reza & Adam: Affection Issues and Pantry Entrepreneurship
- Adam wants more physical affection, and they have a therapy-style "relationship check-in."
Highlight (Ben, 29:44):- Reza: “What can I do today or tomorrow to make your day a little bit better?”
- Adam: “Maybe a shoulder rub.”
- Reza (sighs): “Can I get a hug and kiss...?”
- Reza and Adam consider a business selling Persian-style dried fruits and nuts—prompting much skepticism from Ben and Ronnie.
- “Why do Persians get all this amazing stuff, but like, white people don't get it?” (26:43)
- Ben suggests: “Just give it a Persian name. Lean into it.” (27:46)
- Marital Discontent: MJ and Tommy, Tannen and Greg
- MJ and Tommy’s communication woes resurface, with Tommy resistant to MJ’s mother’s comparisons and the couple trading blame.
- “Every woman loves being compared to their mother in a fight. That's what every woman loves, Tommy.” (16:33)
- Tannen and Greg’s marriage is on empty, leading to Greg gifting a pink Porsche after getting caught texting another woman.
- “Did you just go buy her a pink Porsche with her own money?” (25:09)
- Ben (on Porsche): “Doesn't address literally any of the issues that she brought to you. It's just. You got her a car, then what?" (26:20)
3. Gigi’s OnlyFans, Weaponized Marriage, and Sad Revelations
- The group discusses Gigi’s OnlyFans page (with Skye wondering if she too should have one before realizing what it is).
- Skye: “Why is she the only one who has a page? Why don’t I have a page?” (11:20)
- Ben laments the tiredness of Gigi’s narratives and her quest for revenge-marriage.
- Gigi admits she married Dennis to get back at Ty, then spirals out at Dennis for dating her friend (38:41–39:21).
- Ronnie: “She thinks it's so amusing, you know? It's like when she pulls out, like, a full joint in a backyard at a family's house. It's like, yeah, I'm like, really cool. You're sad.” (39:21)
- Gigi confronts Dennis in the episode’s climactic argument, failing to elicit sympathy.
- Ben: “This whole thing is acting.” (65:34)
- Ronnie: “This was the cliffhanger? This is what we're supposed to care about?” (66:44)
4. Trunk Show & Group Dynamics
- Skye’s trunk show devolves into public fighting over the bartender and marital grievances, side commentary on guest attendance (“Did she mean eight people as a burn? See, I divided it by ten and you just wind up with eight.” – 46:47).
- Gigi’s inappropriate smoking, and hosts’ commentary on Persian cultural observances (“Every scene on this show has to start with, you know what Persians do? We feed each other.” – 57:38).
5. Cultural and Generational Humor
- Ronnie’s family history (Lebanese) underlines the food-as-culture jokes, and Ben notes the universal nature of feeding guests.
- “Pretty sure food is a major staple in every culture.” (59:09)
- Vita’s ping pong and basketball champion claims provide comic relief (56:57).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Titanic Divorce Metaphor:
Ben: “They're basically all on the deck of the Titanic... watching the tables slide into the ocean at this point and holding on to the rails.” (06:39) -
On Gigi’s Perpetual Teenager Routine:
Ronnie: “If you didn't have a dad supporting you, you'd be under a bridge somewhere. You know, just get it together, lady.” (03:13) -
Marital Blame Game: Ben: “Every woman loves being compared to their mother in a fight. That's what every woman loves, Tommy.” (16:33)
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On Gigi’s OnlyFans:
Ben: “If you’re paying money, I mean, I don’t want to see what I can see on Instagram.” (10:06) -
Trunk Show Burn:
Ben: “She should be as angry as she needs to be.” (12:38)
Ronnie: “Did she mean eight people as a burn?” (46:47) -
On MJ’s Marriage:
Ronnie: “Anytime one person in a marriage starts to look good, it's a divorce coming, which is not wrong.” (53:14) -
On The Reza & Adam Dynamic:
Ben: “Adam, you're not even giving Reza a hug. Please don't be judgy about the beds.” (54:29) -
On Gigi’s Revenge Marriage:
Ben: “She got married just to make this guy Ty upset, which is almost like the story that you hear in, like, a musical or something.” (39:21)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Gigi and Dennis Backstory & Fight: 03:46 – 05:29 / 38:41 – 39:21 / 62:27 – 66:44
- Skye’s Trunk Show Meltdown: 12:30 – 13:03 / 46:00 – 47:38
- Reza & Adam’s Relationship Check-In: 29:44 – 31:12
- Tannen & Greg’s Porsche and Marital Woes: 25:09 – 26:20
- Persian Food Culture Tangent: 57:38 – 59:09
- MJ & Tommy’s Tension: 14:09 – 18:43 / 49:12 – 51:33
Tone & Style
Ben and Ronnie toggle between affectionate exasperation and scathing (but ultimately loving) mockery; they play up their Bravo expertise while offering cultural asides, personal family anecdotes, and rapid-fire comic impressions. Their recaps are equal parts snark and nostalgia, poking fun at the show’s self-importance while celebrating the enduring absurdity of Bravo’s universe.
Summary Takeaways
- The Valley: Persian Style is already veering into Schrodinger's Divorce: every couple teeters on the edge, and no one wants to grow up.
- Gigi’s exhausting quest for drama is starting to wear even the most dedicated fans down.
- The drama at Skye’s trunk show (over a missing bartender) and the constant tabouli references remain hilarious, mixing petty with the profound.
- Affection, communication, and accountability—or lack thereof—drive not just marriages but every group dynamic on the show.
- The episode exemplifies how Watch What Crappens transforms Bravo’s messiness into laugh-out-loud podcasting gold.
For readers who haven’t watched or listened, this episode offers a perfect, playful snapshot of Bravo’s new Persian spectacle—fuelled by marital dysfunction, petty party drama, and unapologetically spicy commentary.
