Bravo, Bravo, F-ing Bravo
I have devoted an astronomical amount of my life to watching Bravo shows. And there was a time when I was a super Bravo fan, where I was participating in live-tweeting, Facebook groups, and listened to almost every Housewives-related podcast,etc. I know firsthand what it’s like to get wrapped up in all things Bravo to the extreme, but I think Bravo stans need to remember the core idea of why we enjoy these shows and stop inserting their moral compass onto these characters.
The Housewives franchise and ‘Vanderpump Rules’ are characters who are essentially garbage people; we enjoy seeing them completely detached from reality, be delusional, and start drama. But Bravo fans are taking their voice to a new level and really ruining why these awful people are fun to watch. This became apparent when the ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Tom/Ariana/Raquel (or Rachel) cheating scandal unfolded. Besides the point that Bravo fans just can't enjoy a situation at a normal level, they took it to the extreme and dragged this boring storyline for MONTHS. Bullying Rachel constantly, and somehow, Ariana is some shining star parading here EVERYWHERE when she’s the least interesting person on the show. Now that Vanderpump has resumed filming, Rachel has declined to renew her contract for another season. As Bravo fans rejoiced about her no longer being on the show, do they remember that Vanderpump Rules has been stale for the last several seasons, and if it weren’t for Rachel, it would still be a show of watching has-been millennials doing nothing who are passed their primes?!? So now we’re back to square one because Bravo stans are insane.
The reboot of ‘Real Housewives of New York’ began last month, and it’s been refreshing seeing somewhat wealthy, diverse New Yorkers who are elder millennials and Gen X. In the last two episodes, one housewife, Jessel, discusses potential pre-k school options with her husband. The private schools each have tuition over $50K. And the Bravo stans were in tears, complaining about how ridiculous it is for anyone to consider sending their child (two in this situation) to an extremely wealthy private school for pre-k. Yes, it’s ridiculous for normal people, but the essence of Housewives is viewers peering into wealthy society and how they interact. Wealthy people send their kids to private schools with tuition worth an entry-level salary because they can, and they care more about networking than education. Why would I want a Housewife to send their child to public school because that’s what viewers can afford? Be f-ing for real.
My rant boils down to removing your moral compass from these characters and allowing them to do what they’re paid to do: entertain us. If Bravo fans could leave their normalcy and personal life experiences at the door and just understand these people are insane, detached from reality, and meant to do as much ridiculous behavior for our enjoyment. Then we could get back to great television again.
Bravo and Politics
The Trump presidency and Republican party lowkey give Real Housewives energy. It makes sense that Real Housewives of New York and Trump’s administration would cross paths in some sort of fashion. Princess Carole Radziwell revealed that Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, is the one who snapped the infamous photo of her castmate, Countess Luanne’s then-fiance Tom D’Agostino, cheating on her at the Regency Hotel.
On the podcast Juicy Scoop, Carole shared how Michael Cohen spilled the deets on how he was the one who captured Tom making out with another woman at the Regency Hotel, his connection to Bethenny (through her late boyfriend Dennis Shields), and sent Bethenny the photo for her to bring it up on the show to Luann. I feel like Michael Cohen was dealing with a lot with Trump, and I’m surprised he could even find the time to insert himself in women’s business. Nonetheless, thank you for your service!
Driving myself crazy as an NSYNC fan
Being an NYSNC fan is almost as grueling as being a Britney Spears fan. Except with NSYNC is knowing you’ll never get a reunion tour while we sit and watch New Kids on the Block, New Edition, Backstreet Boys, hell, even the OG members of Fleetwood Mac reunited many moons ago, and they hated each other. Everyone gets a reunion tour except for NSYNC fans. We get absolutely nothing. No TikTok trend videos, no podcast interviews- NOTHING. It’s the worst.
After they disbanded in 2002, we’ve watched Justin Timberlake’s career ascend, knowing if he continues to have success, a reunion is never a possibility (though rumors are it’s JC who is holding back a real reunion, but for the sake of this newsletter let’s place the blame on Justin). NSYNC fans are not only dying of dehydration, we’re also starving; we haven’t had a meal in two decades. Once in a while, they’ll throw us a snack, like when all five members attended the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony and Ariana Grande’s Coachella performance for one minute (minus Justin). But it’s not enough! Until now?!
For the third installment of the ‘Trolls’ franchise, Justin is getting the group back together for a boy band reunion storyline, with each group member having a role and recording songs for the film. I mean, this is Girl Dinner level of meals for NSYNC fans, but I’ll take it. But we want a tour! We want the whole group together, singing “I Want You Back,” and ” Bye, Bye, Bye” with the iconic choreography - that’s what we deserve. It’s what we need to heal society. And we’ll never get it!
And Just Like That…I can’t stop hate-watching this show
I honestly believe ‘And Just Like That’ is one of the worst television shows, but I can’t break my habit of hate-watching it. Every episode, I am filled with rage! And now that it has been renewed, I cannot wait for another season to feel this all over again.
The season finale was no different, and I screamed at my television. Aidan returned (a few episodes prior), and somehow, Carrie got swept away, and the two fell in love again. During their brief whirlwind romance, Carrie decided to sell her iconic apartment to buy a home because Aidan is a loser and couldn’t bear to step foot in her apartment because of all the bad memories.
Just when Carrie moves into the new HOME that she BOUGHT for AIDAN and his kids, he tells her he can’t do it and asks if she could wait five years for him (because his son took shrooms ONE time. Aidan is so dramatic). Carrie accepts. I wonder if Aidan was playing the long game, and this was revenge for how she broke his heart twice. How Carrie didn’t sue him and ask him to pay for half the mortgage is beyond me.
I cannot wait for next season, where I continue to hate Carrie, Miranda, and Che.
xo,
britt.