Free Business Idea
It's time to dip into the vault again.
In the last year or so, Peacock introduced two new perks: uncensored reunion episodes and the unearthing of classics from the Bravo vault. What this newsletter presupposes is that the network should combine those two concepts and start releasing uncensored vintage reunion episodes. Not every reunion, of course — but imagine seeing new content from golden-era Atlanta and deeper cuts from the RHONJ season 2 reunion (and whichever one had Rosie bellowing death threats backstage). I can take or leave most reunions, but I’d love to rewatch the classics if new footage was revealed, especially if they were released during the mid-summer content drought. And not only would this gin up interest in Peacock, but it would do so while requiring much less time, money, and effort than producing new content and it would shut Teresa Giudice stans up for like an entire week maybe. Who says no?!
THIS WEEK IN BRAVO
RHOA
I’m going to reserve judgment about Phaedra’s return for a few episodes, but I will remain unconvinced that she should have been brought on full-time unless she brings more to the season than Cynthia has.
Love Hotel
I’m enjoying this show but… how are there three episodes left and no new men to be introduced? I get that this sort of echoes the Love Island format, and the women aren’t really engaging with the new men anyway, but it just doesn’t feel like we have 129 (or more?) minutes of content left to journey through.
BDDU
There’s a lot to dislike about Lara, but the thing that bothered me most throughout the season is the way she would posture as a perfectionist while not being particularly good at her job. I felt both irritated and validated watching her spend the final charter trying to manipulate Tzarina into talking the guests out of their seven-course meal request.
The Valley
Was this the weakest episode of the season so far or am I clinging to any evidence that society has evolved past the need to see Jax Taylor and Lala Kent on television?
Summer House
I’m glad this reunion is only two parts, because if this one is any indication, there is simply not that much to discuss. It’s an appropriate end to a just-okay season, and I’m increasingly persuaded by the “spin off the older cast into a new franchise and rebuild the OG program around horny 20something monsters with binge drinking problems as God intended” discourse.
TALES FROM THE CRYPT
One of the funniest recurring RHONY threads is Ramona’s bewilderment at the concept of being loyal to one’s friends. I forgot how much of S6 consists of her swinging wildly between being irritated that Carole, Heather, and Kristen stick up for one another and shit-talking Sonja behind her back. Say what you will about Ramona, but she’s completely herself at all times.
In other consistent-personality news, this season is affirming my post-Ultimate Girls Trip goodwill toward Kristen — she’s thoughtful, reasonable, and strong-willed in her interactions with the other women, which is why her initial I’m-pretty-and-dumb act fell so flat. This might be a controversial take, but now that she’s moved to California, I think she could fulfill the direct-conversation void left by Garcelle’s RHOBH departure. If nothing else, she’d be a better Beverly Hills addition than Heather Dubrow imho.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
I have not watched a minute of House of Villains but they got me good here; I must see Kate Chastain interact with Tom Sandoval. I don’t feel as strongly about seeing this new batch of Love Island USA islanders interact, but I’ll be watching next week and waiting for their charisma to emerge (and I respect the casting department’s commitment to making Fox News viewers mad).
MISCELLANEOUS GOSSIP CORNER
I want to believe it for the sake of the storyline that would unfold.
The attractiveness differential here is so, so funny.