Bravo Breakdowns

Welcome to Lisa Barlow's Vida Tequila Puerto Vallarta experience from hell, our pick for best episode of the RHOSLC season so far! But first:

• Michele talks about the birthday cameo Lauren got her from a certain VPR Golden Boy; why celebrity houses always get passed around.

• 9:47, we discuss the trailer for Summer House Season 9 and make some early predictions (we think it will rip!)
• VPR cancellation speculation (was it because all the male cast members lives are falling apart?) and an impromptu "Love, Actually" rant.
• Then at 24:24, it's our Salt Lake City S5E13 recap-
• The heartbreaking yet so Housewives scene of Mary talking about her son's addiction while Angie's face remains perfectly still;
• Is Bronwyn having a nervous breakdown after Cujo got her?
• And Brittani gets dogwalked by everyone at the Vida dinner so badly that even the waiter seems like he's dunking on her obliviousness.
• Plus some light power ranking and S6 speculation based on reunion seating
• Then oral exams at 58:25! Warning: Survivor S47 Finale Speculation to those who are triggered by CBS like Michele!

It's time for Meredith to become a woman- and the Breakdowns women are here to recount every perfect moment of this instant classic episode.

But first, Lauren and Michele chat about seasonal depression, Michele's birthday trip to Hawaii, and the Barstool Sports saga updates-

And give some important J.Lo updates- 9:05

Then the SLC "Meredith's Bat Mitzvah" episode recap- 14:31

From Mary peeping in the windows, to Michele's tales of her own bat mitzvah (unfortunately it was not at the age of 48, nor in a ski lodge, nor televised), to Angie's breakout monologue on Britani's high body count hair, nails dress, and boobs, we revel in every glorious detail and delight in the campy twist ending that the ladies were secretly going to Puerto Vallarta next episode- the whole time!

Oral exams: 54:33

Listen as Lauren, Michele, and their special guest Josh "The RHONY Stan" have very festive RHONY-filled episode where they discuss their favorite Berkshire "Breakdowns" from the Real Housewives of New York! From making it nice to mentioning it all, they dive into the classic moments that made RHONY legendary, all while celebrating the reason for the season , aka Bethenny's fish allergy.

Time stamps:

Berkshires Breakdowns -

1:39: "Mention it All" QUIZ -

48:35: The Blue Stoneys (awards show for Berkshires excellence)

52:01⁠: Manor-piece Theatre -

59:33: Oral exams - 1:09:10

Follow Josh:

IG & TikTok: joshtherhonystan

Like, subscribe, follow us on YT @bravobreakdowns and on IG and Tiktok @bravo_breakdowns, comment if you miss our lesson plans on old seasons and we'll get back to the grind! WE ARE TIRED!

Michele & Lauren discuss the end of an era with the Vanderpump Rules OG cast and wonder if we all should do a wellness check on Scheana Shay and also the SUR Dumpster. They also dive into the resurrection and swift demise of Jesus Jugs, and laugh about Lauren’s ADHD and her very relaxed approach to navigating gas stations. Plus, they unpack RHOSLC and the unexpected clarity of Mary Cosby. There's just SOMETHING about Mary and something even worse about Meredith's bangs. Plus, Dorit smoking a cigarette racing threw the canyon, taking a drag from a cigarette. Is there anything better than a housewife with Marlboro madness? We think not.

Time Stamps:VPR News - 6:40SLC - 32:05RHOC Reunion - 48:25 Like, subscribe, follow us on YT @bravobreakdowns and on IG and Tiktok @bravo_breakdowns, comment if you miss our lesson plans on old seasons and we'll get back to the grind! WE ARE TIRED!

Michele and Lauren dive into the latest RHOSLC drama, where everyone’s living it up in Palm Springs for Bronwyn and Todd’s 10th anniversary—well, everyone except Todd, who looks like he’s ready to sign divorce papers mid-vacation. Oh, and he’s paying for everything, of course. It all wraps up with Lisa throwing a tantrum about flying coach. HOW DARE THEY?! Then, the duo moves on to RHOC Reunion Part 2, introducing their new segment, "Oh Yeah, Gina," before breaking down the resurrection of Jesus Jugs . Spoiler alert: Shannon absolutely LEVELS Jesus Jugs. Tune in for all the messy details! Like, subscribe, follow us on YT @bravobreakdowns and on IG and Tiktok @bravo_breakdowns, comment if you miss our lesson plans on old seasons and we'll get back to the grind, and please, for the love of God, please vote in our ranking the Baldwins poll!

Michele and Lauren snap out of their funk and give each other (and the students) an important pep talk: if Vicki made it through S10, you can make it through anything!

First, the good news: a quick Real Housewives Franchise "tour de updates" on SLC's great season, Potomac's comeback, celebrating Beverly Hills, and VPR and NY's potential incoming demise and possible reboots.

(RHOC Reunion Recap starts at 24:50)

Then we recap the OC reunion: their outfits may always let us down, but these ladies never miss at giving us chaotic, messy end-of-season performance reviews!

We give a play-by-play, an assessment of each performance, a breakdown of Ryan's crimes, and predictions for Part 2.

Like, subscribe, follow us on YT @bravobreakdowns and on IG and Tiktok @bravo_breakdowns, comment if you miss our lesson plans on old seasons and we'll get back to the grind, and please, for the love of God, please vote in our ranking the Baldwins poll!

Lauren and Michele are back to recap last Thursday's episode of Real Housewives of OC, the one where we learn Jenn finally has a guy to talk to, but he's like a criminal maybe.

• Shannon has the most confusing fight ever with Matt, Katie's husband
• Tamra pretends to be sober
• And finally, Jenn is engaged to marry her prince charming, who might

Lauren and Michele are back to recap last Thursday's episode of Real Housewives of OC, a wild ride through swingin' London.

• Shannon is so constipated she almost takes a double decker in a double decker bus;
• Tamra has gone to a place of 10 enemies, 12 storylines, and total Babadook eyes;
• And finally, ending with one of the all-time most funny Housewives "Happy Birthday" moments.

Then (interview starts at 30:01) Chris James Kahle, Dallas Tiktok star, man about town, fashion guru and Real Housewives expert stops by the pod!

He talks about housewife fashion, encounters with Lisa Hochstein and Jeff Lewis, a little dirt on Lea Black's new CBD influencer business, his fantasy Real Housewives of Dallas cast, opinions on Tamra, and much, much more!

Lauren and Michele to school and finishing up coverage of RHOC Season 8. The back half of the season gives us so many classic Vicki moments, and is also known as the season of the "Calm Before the Shannon STORMS Beador".

Michele and Lauren recap episode 14 of RHOC "High Tea and High Drama", and ladies, the TEA IS SPILLED! Especially as when an uninvited guest tries to crash the party.

Listen as we also debut a new format and new segments, like "Shannonagins" and "HERRREEE'SSSS JOHNNY".

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Everyone's talking about these Mormon mamas, so Bravo Breakdowns and Also Podcast are "jumping" on the Momtok train so you can "soak" up all the details! It's a soft swinging extravaganza!

We open with a quick riff about Yolanda Hadid's recent updates on her lemon trees and Lyme "doctor" and a quick, apologetic defense of Reddit.

Then, Lauren and Michele recap the 8 episode Hulu reality TV hit "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" -

(recap starts at 7:05)

for a quick analysis and refresher on the antics of the religious and villainous Whitney, the rebellious and always pregnant Taylor Frankie Paul and her wild-eyed boyfriend Dakota, and help you differentiate the rest of the identical Momtokers.

Then our brilliant and hilarious guest professors, Meredith and Alicia from Also Podcast, help us get to the bottom of the shows mysteries from their extensive deep dive research.

(Discussion starts at 53:14)

We'll try to get to the bottom of questions like:

-What will happen in Season 2? Who is coming back?

-What did Demi and her husband do that involved cunnilingus and fruity pebbles?!?!

-How many decades did it take to shoot this first season?

-And finally, why is Whitney?

Listen to Also Podcast on Apple and Spotify and follow them on IG and Tiktok at also_podcast for more deep dives on all things books, podcasts, food and reality TV!

Lauren and Michele are back with a new "lesson plan" format so Bravo newbies can follow easier (no child left behind!)

Then they give all the weekend tea of Shannon Beador and recap the new episode of RHOC Season 18 (Episode 12 - "The Elephant in the Room").

(Time stamp: 18:03 minutes)

-Which the podmates find to be sadly mostly filler/family stuff- but delight in recounting Heather Dubrow's fashion show and the ugly fallout, including Emily breaking the fourth wall to call Alexis a "friend" of.

Then it's time for today's lesson- Season 8 Part 1 of RHOC, episodes 1-11.

(Time stamp: 35:51)

They Discuss:

• Vicki's Relationship Struggles: Vicki navigated her tumultuous relationship with Brooks Ayers, facing scrutiny from her friends about his intentions.
• Tamra's New Chapter: Tamra was busy planning her wedding to Eddie Judge, showcasing her journey toward a more stable and happy life, despite her conflicts with other cast members.
• Heather's Home Life: Heather Dubrow focused on her family and career, trying to balance her acting aspirations with being a mother and wife.
• Lizzie's Introduction: Lizzie brought fresh dynamics to the group, as her personality and interactions stirred up both drama and camaraderie.
• Friendships and Feuds: The season highlighted various friendships and rivalries, particularly between Vicki and Tamra, and the ongoing tensions with other women.

Lauren and Michele are back to do a quick check-in on all the Mormons and smokers in Hollywood!

Then they discuss the new episodes of RHOC Season 18, Episodes 10 & 11 ("Catwalks & Catfights"/"Singled Out").

(Time stamp: 2:00)

Which the podmates find to be sadly mostly filler/family stuff- but delight in recounting Heather Dubrow's fashion show and the ugly fallout, including Emily breaking the fourth wall to call Alexis a "friend" of.

Then it's time for today's lesson- Season 7 of RHOC, episodes 12-23.

(Time stamp: 17:55)

We pick up after Gretchen's Pussycat Dolls "performance" and focus on the Chief Beefs (new segment!) between Tamra and Vicki (over Tamra's friendship with Vicki), Alexis vs. everyone (because being fake is hurting her in "the community") and Vicki's brain vs. Vicki's vagina (because Brooks fills her love tank but is using her for cars and money and her family and friends hate him).

Plus the Costa Rica trip where Vicki goes full Carmela Soprano and the epic fight between the Dubrows and Sarah "the Cake Bow-eater" Winchester (yes, THAT Winchester!)

The Real Head of Bravo Programming who developed and greenlit the Real Housewives franchise stops by the Bravo Breakdowns podcast to give a guest lecture on reality TV!

The funny, insightful, Peabody winning and overall insanely accomplished Lauren Zalaznick (former Executive VP of NBCUniversal from 2001-2014) tells Lauren and Michele the origin story of how she and her team built Bravo into the network we know today.

But before that, Lauren and Michele are breaking down part 1 of Season 7 of Real Housewives of Orange County- that’s right, we’re in the Golden Years of OC.

It’s the horrifying introduction of Vicki’s boyfriend Brooks who has no money, no job, no teeth, no car, but has a lot of weird riddles about love! We finally meet the glamorous, rich snob Heather Dubrow and see her go head-to-head with wannabe snob Alexis Bellino! And Tamra has her best season ever by pairing up with Gretchen to make Vicki’s head explode. )

And for true scholars, please buy Lauren Zalaznick’s new book, “Letters from the Corporation of Brown University: Lives of Usefulness and Reputation 1764-2023” on Amazon (you can Google all the great reviews it’s getting, and leave one of your own reviews on Amazon if you purchase and enjoy it!)

For even more LZ updates, subscribe to her newsletter “The LZ Sunday Paper”, fun updates and important world news and articles of the week- for women, by a woman- and follow her on IG.

Lauren Zalazncik Social Media:

@lzsundaypaper

Bravo Breakdowns Social Media:

IG : @bravo_breakdowns

TikTok : @bravo_breakdowns

Email: [email protected]

Timestamps : Interview 45: 55

This week Lauren and Michele finish their recap of Season 6 of RHOC, aka the season before Brooks. DUN DUN DUNNNN. Listen as they gab all things love tank, divorce, and wine throwing. They all debut, or "re-debut" a segment, "required viewing", where they discuss their favorite episodes from the season.

They also had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Bravo savant, Josh in the Oval, you've probably already seen his tiktoks! Listen as they discuss all things housewives, and Josh even teaches Lauren & Michele how to learn to like Kyle Richards. An important lesson for us all.

Josh's Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok & IG : @joshintheoval

Bravo Breakdowns Socials:

TikTok & IG : @bravo_breakdowns

Email : [email protected]

Time Stamps :

RHOC Season 18 ep. 9 Recap: 8:00

Season 6 Recap : 27:56

Josh in the Oval Interview: 48:04

This week Lauren and Michele deep dive into the very shallow end of the first half of Season 6 of RHOC, aka the one where Tamra is free from the shackles of Simon, finds a new love, and Vicki becomes jealous of Tamra's divorce. Also, Alexis tries to convince everyone Jim isn't a completely awful person, but like most things Alexis attempts, it doesn't really go over too well.

More importantly, we interviewed advocate, mom, wife, human extraordinaire, non-profit founder, and reality tv scholar, Morgan Matkovic. We discuss autism, life, and reality tv in this incredibly touching and funny interview.

You can check out Morgan's non-profit here : https://www.hervoicechs.com/about

Time Stamps :

RHOC Season 6 Recap: 1:45

Morgan Matkovic Interview: 33:29

Listen as Michele and Lauren discuss the latest episode of RHOC, the one where Jesus Jugs blames drinking red bull on possible menopause.

Michele and Lauren also recap the 2nd half of the iconic season 5 of RHOC, the one where everyone is still broke, Donn is the best, Slade won't go away, and Lynne Curtain gets evicted on national tv.

Listen as Michele and Lauren discuss the latest episode of RHOC, where Jesus Jugs openly threatens blackmail, and the girls go on two of the worst trips in Housewives history.

Michele and Lauren also recap the first half of the iconic season 5 of RHOC, the one where everyone goes broke, gets divorced, or has a vow renewal so sinister, that every housewife who ever renewed their vows after Vicki, has had their marriage end in divorce. Vicki Gunvalson will always be famous. Listen as we WHOOP IT UP!

Timestamps:

Season 18, ep. 6 recap : 2 :55

Season 5 recap: 32:38

One of the worst seasons in housewives history, but re-vamped and made funny by Lauren and Michele. Listen as we recap season 4 of RHOC, and talk all about the newest girl in the bunch of oranges, GRETCHEN!

More importantly, we recap the bananas current season, episode 5. The one where Tamara mentions it all!

Lauren and Michele dive all the way back to Season 3 of OC aka the season where Tamara graced America with her undeniable presence and sharp comedic timing. We also recap episode 4 of the current season. Jen's up to her old tricks!!