Watch What Crappens – Dwell Hello #418: Parent Roommates in Slovenia
Hosts: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam
Date: September 5, 2024
Episode Recap: House Hunters International – “Parent Roommates in Slovenia”
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the House Hunters International episode “Parent Roommates in Slovenia.” Ben and Ronnie hilariously recount and analyze the journey of Andrew, a self-professed nerd and aspiring novelist, who moves to Ljubljana, Slovenia to “find his roots”—while his equally quirky, loving parents tag along with their own hopes, dreams, and specifications for their son’s next home. The Crappens hosts bring their trademark mockery and affection, infusing the recap with pointed jokes, fictional storylines, and sidebars, all while painting a vivid picture of Andrew’s real-life adventure—and the homes (and characters) he encounters.
Key Points & Episode Flow
1. Meet the Family: Andrew and His Parents
[03:02-08:40]
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Andrew is introduced as a nerdy, creative type, torn between being a grad student, a “Slavic warrior priest,” and a historical fantasy novelist.
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His parents, Terry (mom) and Bill (dad), are described as gregarious and supportive, ready to move to Slovenia with their only child. Ronnie likens Bill’s vibe to a banker out of a Werther’s Original commercial:
“He’s just got that kind of ‘welcome to the bank’ personality.” – Ronnie [04:25]
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The family hails from West Covina, CA. Ben riffs on West Covina’s big box stores and claims its only landmark is “a sign for Ruby Tuesdays looming over it.” [20:09]
Notable Quote
“Guys, nerd alert. Your delivery has arrived.” – Ronnie, on Andrew [03:02]
2. Andrew, the Writer
[09:17-16:22]
- Deep-dive into Andrew’s author career. He writes self-published historic fantasy/adventure fiction (titles include “Voyages of Fortune” and “Tito’s Lost Children”). The hosts lampoon his Amazon self-categorizations (“Number one bestselling alternative history thriller historical fantasy…”), and poke fun at his self-descriptions.
- Speculation abounds that his novels are thinly veiled versions of his life—complete with overbearing parents who move in and a wish for adventure.
Notable Quotes
“His picture is like, what you’d think… let me guess, your mom isn’t living with you yet.” – Ronnie [10:13]
“Book number one: Divergent times. Distant lands. Different missions. West Covina.” – Ben [11:44]
3. The Family’s Dynamic and Slovenia Roots
[16:22-22:33]
- Loving mockery continues: the parents want to be near Andrew—and take the opportunity to evoke their Slovenian ancestry.
- Ben spotlights American stereotypes about discovering “European roots” and moving overseas, referencing Reddit threads on Americans re-discovering their heritage for the first time in local bars.
Notable Quote
“I have a great-great-grandmother there, you know?” – In-character, mocking the ‘We’re so Slovenian’ logic [08:40]
4. House-Hunting in Ljubljana
a. Expectations vs. Reality
[22:33-25:12]
- The family spells out their wish list: two bedrooms, two baths, a view, walkability, outdoor space—all for $1,000/month.
- The parents have “very strong opinions,” and Ben and Ronnie riff on their West Covina mall sensibilities translating to Eastern Europe.
b. Viewing the Apartments
[25:12-39:18]
- House #1 – Charming, two-bedroom apartment near the center, over budget at $1350/month, surrounded by loud construction (“Europe is known for fast construction,” Ben jokes [25:54]). High ceilings, no A/C, but renovated.
- Andrew is described as a brat about the upgrades (“Why is this bathroom so huge?” [30:11]), and the hosts mock his “must-rash.”
- House #2 – Cheaper ($900), only one bath, strange layout with mirrors, but amazing views. Andrew loves the price, parents love the view, but the one bathroom is a trigger point for Ronnie:
“I’m not pooping where anybody else poops.” – Ronnie [38:24]
- House #3 – Super-modern, huge, with a sauna, 20-minute walk from downtown, $1400/month. The family recoils at its modernity and (from their perspective) “distance.”
Notable Quotes
“This bank cares about you and your cool factor. Did they turn off the air conditioner?” – Ronnie, as Bill [28:35]
“Pooping with mommy. Have fun.” – Ronnie, on house #2’s single bath [39:48]
5. The Slovenian Relatives Sequence
[32:27-36:08]
- The family meets a long-lost “relative” in a rural village. Ben and Ronnie spoof the authenticity (“I think this is just a crazy old man on the side of the street.” [33:41]), and the hosts riff on what it means to “find your roots.”
- Emotional tangent about raising a son to “let go,” with jokes about chain restaurants and Andrew’s “superpowers.”
Notable Quotes
“You raise them for other people. Other people who now have their imaginations running wild with mob bosses with busty bosoms spying on the Wall of China.” – Ronnie [36:30]
6. Decision Time & Epilogue
[49:33-54:25]
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Family weighs pros and cons (“When we have to decide between Cheddar’s, Red Lobster, or Outback, it’s an Answer Family tie.” – Ben [49:33]).
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They pick House #2 (the one-bathroom, high-view place)—clearly, the parents’ (Terry’s) wishes win.
“This decision might really show who wears the pants in the family. Sure might, honey.” – Bill and Terry [51:56]
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Three months later: all are shown walking hand-in-hand, blending into Ljubljana. Andrew is apparently getting social: Matt the real estate agent appears hanging out at the new apartment. Ben speculates:
“At the end he ends up with Matt. My fake gay storyline in my head, like, came true.” [54:09]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
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On Andrew’s “nerd” appeal:
“Guys, nerd alert. Your delivery has arrived.” – Ronnie [03:02]
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On Andrew’s author bio:
“Number one bestselling author of alternative history, thriller, historical fantasy, and action adventure novels—from West Covina.” – Ben [11:04]
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On parents’ wish list:
“I want a huge shitter and I want a backyard and I want a tennis court and shitter.” – Ronnie, mimicking Bill [23:11]
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On House #2’s single bathroom:
“I’m not pooping where anybody else poops. And that’s it.” – Ronnie [38:24]
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Regarding Andrew’s family novel inspiration:
“They all seem to be about overbearing parents who chose to move in with him. I don’t know what that’s about.” – Ben [44:33]
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On their heritage-finding quest:
“Our cousin just said he’s been cursed by an evil slab of meat…” – Ben [34:01]
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On the final episode image:
“At the end, he ends up with Matt… My fake gay storyline in my head, like, came true. Matt’s there in the apartment…” – Ronnie [54:09]
Highlighted Timestamps
- 03:02: The “Nerd Alert” and Andrew’s intro
- 10:07-16:21: Roasting Andrew’s writing career and Amazon categories
- 20:09: Ruby Tuesdays joke; West Covina comparison
- 25:54: “Europe is known for fast construction.”
- 30:25: “He doesn’t have a mustache, he has…a must-rash.”
- 32:27-36:08: Slovenian family/heritage and emotional tangent
- 38:24: Bathroom rant—“I’m not pooping where anybody else poops.”
- 49:33: Decision-making, chain restaurant tie-breaker analogy
- 51:56: “Who wears the pants in this family?”
- 54:09: Speculation about Andrew & Matt’s friendship/relationship
Tone & Style
Ben and Ronnie bring their irreverent, affectionate style, balancing sharp pop-culture parody with respectful affection for their subjects—even as they rib Andrew, his writing, and his parents’ pushiness. Their jokes often veer into the absurd, suggesting alternate House Hunters-inspired novels and running with daydreamed storylines (“mob princess who washes dishes by hand,” etc.), but they punctuate it all by genuinely appreciating the family’s sweetness.
Summary Takeaway
Even as they mercilessly mock Andrew’s literary ambitions and the family’s quirky American expectations, Ben and Ronnie celebrate the sweetness at the episode’s core: loving, slightly overbearing parents, a son trying to make it on his own, and the universal challenges of growing up—and house-hunting—abroad. The laughs come fast and thick, peppered with sharp asides that will delight any fan of House Hunters, Bravo, or simply good-natured shade.
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