Bravo Breakdowns

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!!

Strep throat has ravaged Michele and producer Jason's household, so enjoy this re-release of one of our favorite episodes with two of our favorite guests- it's our Traitors UK Season 2 recap with hilarious, brilliant podcast stars Heather McKinney and Christie Wallace from Sinisterhood podcast.

We will return to our Real Housewives of Orange County coverage next Monday, barring future infectious diseases.

Listen to Heather and Christie on Sinisterhood, the comedy podcast for all things sinister with new episodes Wednesdays and Fridays. Follow them on Tiktok @sinisterhoodpodcastOn IG @sinisterhoodpodAnd visit ⁠sinisterhood.com⁠ for updates, tour dates and Patreon link.

After a quick Emmy nominations update, Lauren and Michele are back to give you all the delicious dysfunction from Season 2 of Real Housewives of Orange County.

These were the Golden Years of Bravo- Jo, Vicki, Jeana and new housewife Tammy each had a relationship completely falling apart before our very eyes- and they weren't afraid to mention it all.

Plus, bonus VPR updates that are actually juicy!

Lauren and Michele dive all the way back to Season 1 of OC where it all began! Listen as we discuss taglines, Slade Slimey, and the hollowed gates of Coto De Caza. As an extra special bonus, we recap the season 18 premiere episode!

Timestamps :

Season 18 Premiere Recap: 2:53

Season 1 Recap: 20:00

Extra special episode with an interview with the one and only Deux Moi, who gives us all the latest tea on all things pop culture (interview starts at 1:06)

We also count down our Top 5 Real Housewives Dinner Scenes of all time. Will the "Morally Corrupt Faye Resnick" make an appearance? Listen to find out.

Guess who's coming to dinner? It's a PROSTITUTION WHORE! Listen as we count down the most iconic and chaotic dinner scenes in Housewives History.

A very SINISTER crossover episode featuring Heather McKinney and Christie Wallace from the podcast Sinisterhood join us as we recap Season 2 of UK Traitors.

We discuss all the Evil and Treachery, Goblets of Death, Secret Sons, Bigfoot, and Serial Killers! Oh MY!

Listen to Sinisterhood Here - ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/3k2zyY36LXPj0vBjuO0d6S⁠

All Hell breaks loose in the Scottish Highlands as people forget the them of the show "Traitors" is about deceit and murder, and the tears and fears are flowing, honey!

Listen in as we break down all the very British breakdowns of the best season of Traitors yet, innit?

Relive what we call "the shitty version of Scandoval" as Lindsay and Carl do the most unexpected thing, and call off their engagement. Well, Carl calls it off, and Lindsay is BLINDSIDED!! So much so, she can't even muster out a single tear.

Guest host, Jessye Beasley joins in on the "Summer Should be Fun" vibes as we recap this historic season of Summer House.

Oh, what could have been of Season 11 of VPR if production knew anything about production. Unfortunately, the audience is left to try and pick of the pieces of a group still very much dealing with the aftermath of the World's great scandal, "Scandoval". Scheana doesn't get "Dancing With The Stars"! Ariana becomes God, and by that we mean, she gets "Dancing With The Stars" and battery commercials. The Toms are still gross, Lala is still mean, and we have a new unhinged gal who rises from the ashes of "Scandoval", the one we call "Jo".

Most importantly, the Countess Luann (Bonnie Crisp) herself stops by to give a post show interview from her show in Dallas. Chic C'est La Vie, indeed.

Listen in as we recap the best show on Bravo at the moment, "The Valley". Some of our favorites return on this VPR spin-off, and we learn that Jax, Brittany, and Kristen actually never grew up, and it's better than anything we could have imagined. We also praise all the Gods for the greatest villain on Bravo at the moment, Jesse. Slam your fists on a table, and ENJOY!

Lauren and Michelle recap Traitors Australia: Season Two, one of the most controversial Traitors seasons yet.

Then we sit down with Simone Williams, World of Wrestling former champion and season 2 contestant. Princess Aussie herself reveals all the behind-the-scenes tea on what the faithful really thought about Sam, the surprising truth behind her and Annabel's banishments, her favorite Bravo shows, and much, much more!

Listen as Michele and Lauren recap Season 1 of Australia Traitors, a.k.a "the season of tv that cured Lauren's depression". We talk about how in Australia, electricians are called "sparkies", and of course talk about all the murders, banishments, and weird psychosexual situations. Most importantly, we interview THE PAUL MCNEILL! He's the international man of mystery famously almost completely edited out of the season. So take a listen! Interview starts at 46:48. YEAH, BABY, YEAH!

Season 2 of the US Traitors saved Michele and Lauren's friendship! Michele is no longer in a hysterics due to the fact there were no "above the line" people, EVERYONE is a star this season! Relive all the banishments, murders, and talk of MJ's cargo pants in this super sized episode. With special guests John Berkow (Cam Goldapp) and Pilot Pete (Jason Baber) talking about white guy stuff!