#3238 RHOP S10E20 Reunion 3 Part One: Sharin’ is Karen

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0:57Ronnie Karam: What's Crappin's? Hello, Ronnie. How are you? Good. Welcome to Real Housewives of Potomac reunion part three, everybody. We had a great weekend at the Golden Crappies. It was a really fun, fantastic show, and it is still available. It's available for the next two weeks. Go to get links for tickets over at WatchWhatCrappies.com. It was amazing. There was a Backstreet Boy.

1:22Ben Mandelker: Yeah, we had a Backstreet Boy. We broke into a new tier of crappies-ness, which is that we had. AJ from the Backstreet Boys there, which was wonderful.

1:32Ronnie Karam: He was so lovely. He even wrote a speech and everything.

1:35Ben Mandelker: He was literally so nice. He was so down to earth. This is someone who performs at the Sphere. And on top of that, he's like a global superstar. And the fact that he just came and there was no ego about it. He just was down for the fun. He just wanted to help out and do all the things. He was really great. And quite frankly, everyone across the board was lovely. and our friends Paul and Michelle were sort of like, and Colleen were sort of doing a lot of stuff backstage. We're coordinating, dealing with all the guests and the next day we were all just like chatting and like what the feedback that we got was everyone was so kind and so nice.

2:15Ben Mandelker: It's just really nice to hear that about, you know, Bravo Lebrities, celebrities, just guests in general. There was just no issues from anyone. Everyone was chill and we just really appreciate that And I think that's, isn't that just like great to hear, you know, that, that when people are nice, you know?

2:31Ronnie Karam: Yeah. Everybody really was so nice and having all those, we had like 50 or 60 people backstage at one point, just partying and having so much fun. And everybody was so supportive of each other. And I don't know, it's just so great, you know, cause we work alone most of the time, just the two of us. And we have a great time with each other, but to have so many people that we work around and work with throughout the year, it's just so great. So thanks to everybody. so go get your tickets for that at watch what crappens.com uh today this week is crazy there's so many new things on we've got potomac ending we've got the valley ended already we just came out with that recap um you know the other stuff is still going then we've got ladies of london starting southern hospitality starting i mean it's nuts it's a lot yeah and i have to say i watched southern hospitality yesterday amazing it is great of course it is i can't wait so good i mean it just starts it starts at 100 i mean it is so so good so i'm excited for that one also if you want our videos on if you want our recaps on video go get those along with traders bonus episodes and add free listening over at patreon.com also our new newsletter just came out and we're going to have a crappies newsletter this week just kind of journaling about you know what was happening backstage and all that good stuff that'll be out later those are free so just go get that at patreon.com and um let's see today is real housewives of what i was just gonna say and by

4:00Ben Mandelker: way thanks to patreon for uh their after their pre-party at the crappies which was great and

4:05Ronnie Karam: thanks to everyone who came to that yeah that was a good one all right everybody thanks let's go to The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 10, Episode 20, Reunion Part 3. So where we left off, Monique has just told Stacey, listen, you know, I wanted to believe you on all this stuff. But then I found out you were really talking to Chris. And here's my proof. And she whipped out her phone and she starts playing something. And then we cut off. So we start this week where we ended, which is her playing this video. And it turns out this video is one long beep. Yeah. It's just an emergency broadcast system beep.

4:42Ronnie Karam: It's one long beep, and then we see everyone's face. And, of course, Giselle is acting the most shocked, like, we got her, we finally got her. But no one heard anything. No one heard a thing.

4:53Ben Mandelker: Yeah, I don't really know. What I could kind of discern was that someone was saying, hey, Stacey and Chris went on a date. I don't know what it was. Clearly, someone was talking shit. Someone said that. They couldn't even say their name.

5:09Ronnie Karam: Yeah, they couldn't even say their name. And basically the gist of it is that someone told Chris that Monique was shooting with her children, which made Chris file whatever. And Chris was coming after Monique. And they're blaming Stacey for this because who else would tell? You know, this person says Stacey was the one. Some girl on your cast named Stacey. So she's like, well, what's that about? And so Andy asked her and she's like, I did not tell Chris that. And yes, I was in the room with you, Monique, because you were in my room and I came in to use the bathroom and I literally just went through a divorce.

5:45Ronnie Karam: I literally just went through custody and all those things. Why on earth would I get involved in your business and your family? And she's like, that's my question.

5:55Ben Mandelker: And so Kieran is like, can I just say something, Andy? And Stacey goes, no, I am with my husband and my family. We're back together. And why would I want to harm you? I don't talk to Chris. I talked to my husband whom I live with who's also my husband and we have Arabella together because he's my husband and I'm worried about my family not yours on the flip side why would

6:21Ronnie Karam: bleep make that up everybody knows bleep is pretty trustworthy and just I was like yes that's what I was gonna say I will always trust bleep by the way Ronnie I was sort of hoping since you're really

6:32Ben Mandelker: good about going on reddit and digging stuff up stuff up and since also i know you were uh finding some headlines today for crappy hour which is tonight at 5 30 west coast time um i was hoping you might find some conspiracy theories on who bleep is you did you find anything on your the

6:50Ronnie Karam: only thing that people seem to be um saying is it was either a stylist but i don't know why they would have to cut that out or it was um keelani her kid her daughter and they were saying maybe that's why they that's why they had to beep it out because it was a kid and they couldn't put the kid

7:06Ben Mandelker: on camera but that's like a really good theory i was like i was thinking of who else would be bleeped out i was like is it tj maybe but then tj probably would be happy with to have his name on tv uh yeah that's a great i think it's the kid i'm gonna say that that basically the the kid talked

7:26Ronnie Karam: to to chris and kiana keeps trying to jump in she's like let me say this and say she's like let me finish no but i'm okay i'll let you finish it kiana is just trying her hardest to get in every single conversation this has nothing to do with you ma 'am so stacy's like well i have no idea why bleep would say that but i've not spoken to chris about you and your children and filming i did speak to him about stones i tried to sell him a really good christmas tree skirt with reindeer on it

7:58Ben Mandelker: i tried to get him into a snuggie so andy is like were you in contact with chris while you were in production no i was not i never called him why would i do that well you said you weren't in contact but you were but you were because you showed me text messages from him before i even

8:16Ronnie Karam: came around the group so well flashback of no i'm sorry but that doesn't hold water because Because she showed you, we see the clip of her saying, look, he texted me. Hey, what's up? I hear I'm being talked about on the show. But she didn't text him back, which was the whole point in showing you those texts. That he contacted her, but she didn't text him back. So I don't think it's fair to be like, well, you were in contact with him. No. He contacted her.

8:42Ben Mandelker: Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I still just, I mean, it's hard to know. with this new piece of evidence, it's really hard to weigh in on like what, what seems real or not real. It's all bleeped out. So I honestly just can't comment on it, but, um, I don't know. I just don't think it's like an open and shut case that Stacy is the one who contacted Chris. I just don't think, and if she did like, um, if she did, this is what I think happened. And I'm not like even trying to be a Stacy apologist, but I'm just trying to realistically think about how it could have gone down if Stacy did it. I don't think Stacy is the type that would call up Chris and be like, Ooh, Monique is here.

9:18Ben Mandelker: But I think she would be since Stacy does know Chris and she doesn't know Monique really at all. I don't think she'd be, I can imagine her doing something like, by the way, Chris, your ex was here. And she was, she was filming and talking about your divorce. Just, just so you know, like, cause she's like, I know Chris, I don't know Monique. I'm not saying that that's good. I do think it's a violation of girl code that she did it, but I also don't, I just can't imagine Stacey doing it in like a real salacious gossipy way. I could just sort of see her doing it in a like heads up person that I know this is happening on camera.

9:50Ronnie Karam: this is beyond even saying, Oh, he was talking about your marriage because she did all that on camera. So that stuff was going to come out anyway. This is, you know, you, you accused her of bringing the kids on camera, which didn't even happen, which caused it to be kerfuffle and that they had to wait months for it to whatever. But, you know, Chris is an asshole. We saw the text of Chris saying, hey, I heard they're talking about me and filming. So we already see that Chris is being messy. Monique already knows that Chris is being messy. And Chris is constantly trying to start shit with Monique anyway.

10:21Ronnie Karam: So it's always tricky standing up for Stacey because Stacey has told some whoppers. So, you know, you don't want to get into that. But at the same time, I think that it's ridiculous to get mad at someone when you know that your husband is the one being drama and causing all the problems. And if you don't want your husband causing drama about you shooting, then don't shoot the show because he's going to cause problems no matter what. And again, I also I do wonder about like Cookie.

10:49Ben Mandelker: I wonder about Angel maybe casually mentioning something to Bobby and then Bobby maybe casually mentioning something to Chris. I just I can just sort of see things going in different directions.

10:57Ronnie Karam: I think it's Kierna telling Cookie and then Cookie calling Chris because they keep mentioning, which they will again in a second, they keep saying, oh, well, you know, the second we left that dinner, Chris was calling and already had the information. Well, Kierna was the one sitting at the bar. Kierna was the one who had the time to call him. Everybody else, who even had the time to call Chris?

11:18Ben Mandelker: Well, I think, though, that no, because Kierna sat at the bar. That was in the that was in the wake of this. That was when.

11:24Ronnie Karam: Oh, that's true. That's true.

11:25Ben Mandelker: It was like after Pride when they all sat at that long table. I don't know. And the truth is, I actually really don't care about this whole thing. But I just find myself getting into the weeds with this stuff. I think it's just hard. I'm sure if we had been able to hear that conversation, we may have been like, ooh, well, yeah, maybe that does sound really bad for Stacey. It's just hard. We just don't know. But all the women on stage do seem fairly convinced. I will say that.

11:51Ronnie Karam: But they've been convinced the whole season. And it's just the same people coming after her over and over. So it's like, you know, two dummies telling each other exactly. You know, it's kind of that meme. It's been the same thing. It's like Salt Lake City. They're all convinced Meredith did this horrible thing or whatever. Well, yeah, you've been telling each other that over and over all seasons. You're sticking to your guns. But I don't have to believe it. My biggest disappointment here is that, you know, we've been waiting for this huge bombshell and it was nothing. It was one long bleep. So if you can't come on with anything more than a bleep, it's inadmissible in this court of law.

12:26Ronnie Karam: I will not accept it.

12:27Ben Mandelker: And I do feel like there's like an undercurrent of the fact that Stacey became like audience favorite. In fact, I mean, she won. She actually won best Bravo Liberty at our at our show. Like the people like we had like like thousands of votes and people voted for Stacey. Like she's super popular.

12:46Ronnie Karam: She's the president now.

12:47Ben Mandelker: I mean that's the highest honor That not only a bravo celebrity Could get a celebrity could get And but it is Honestly it really is a testament That's like a real testament To her popularity And I don't think the women like that I think they see her As a newbie who comes in And they see her as like a little bit of a fakey And somehow the audience loves her And it's not fair And I think they're pissed

13:15Ronnie Karam: Yeah.

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15:37Ronnie Karam: So Kieran is like, well, let me just say this. One of the biggest issues that I had is when I met you, the way that, you know, you poured it all on the line. You were so vulnerable. I love that they're giving Monique her own award. They're all doing it this season. They're like, oh, my God, Monique. You were just so vulnerable in that scene about your marriage. Oh, you just did so good. You did so great. So we believe you. You're vulnerable.

15:59Ben Mandelker: Well, she is kind of dressed like a statuette, you know, the triangle and like the, you know, look at her hair. She just sort of does look like a trophy.

16:11Ronnie Karam: She won the the yield award.

16:19Ronnie Karam: So she's like, Karen is like, you know, I mean, Monique was so vulnerable. And then that same day when I get in the car, I leave there. I talked to Cookie and she was so upset about the situation and said, well, if this doesn't get squared away, he's going to send her a cease and desist. And you did that, Stacey. And that was rough. The fact that Chris is calling Cookie, who is connected to all of this cast, to be messy. I just think that shows you who you're dealing with here. Cookie and Chris. And I love that Stacey goes, we're literally talking about Cookie, Monique. are you listening to this and what is the only one speaking reason and like who are we why are

16:57Ben Mandelker: we trusting cookie or chris and also kiana you left this lunch and you caught you called up cookie why did you call up cookie or i guess immediately maybe cookie called her but either way even so

17:11Ronnie Karam: she knows she's going to be able to call her and talk about tea from filming which is the whole thing that this is about somebody leaking filming to cookie and that's exactly or leaking filming in general and that's exactly what kieran is admitting to doing right now so yeah i think

17:25Ben Mandelker: that's like someone should have kind of grilled her on i'm like still in traitors mode so i'm like why was no one where what about that line of questioning why didn't they talk about that at

17:32Ronnie Karam: the round table i think that she called her right after the show and she said this is what happened and cookie said well he'll file a cease and desist when i tell them and this shit has to stop

17:42Ben Mandelker: yeah and i think that kiana doesn't remember saying it i'm actually going to say she has plausible deniability because just as how she didn't remember that she said chin checked she totally forgot that she said chin checked i think she just doesn't actually maybe remember the stuff that she says to cookie i'm not sure but something is like i just think there's something weird if you talk to cookie afterwards like why is cookie calling i don't know like i don't know but um can i just tell you what is happening to me right now we are saying cookies so many times and i found

18:11Ronnie Karam: myself searching in my email for my girl scout cookies because i ordered girl scout cookies a listener was like would you buy some girl scout cookies and i was like fuck yes i will send me 20 boxes or whatever send me 10 boxes i don't know how many i order and then i was thinking where are my thin mints where are they and guess what i just opened fedex where are they oh lucky there's no tracking here wait oh label created okay hey ronnie i think now would be a great time

18:37Ben Mandelker: to mention i did forget to mention this on the valley episode when i was like acting like i was be an acceptance award for our show. But we did mention that the Patreon pre-party was catered by something about her. And I think something that people don't realize, everyone knows it's a restaurant built on sandwiches. People don't realize they serve enormous, delicious cookies that are the size of umbrellas. I mean, those things, those things that make Levain cookies look like little adorable, you know, like amuse-bouches. These cookies that they have at Something About Her are massive and they were delicious.

19:17Ben Mandelker: And I feel like people should know that. It needs to get out.

19:21Ronnie Karam: I was really bummed, actually, because I left. I had hidden some to eat after the show and I left them there.

19:26Ben Mandelker: No, I put them on your bag.

19:30Ronnie Karam: Someone took them then because they weren't there when I was there.

19:33Ben Mandelker: Because they were up. I took them out of the hiding place. because I didn't want you to forget them. And then I took them from the hiding place and I put them on your backpack. Oh, that's so sweet. Thank you. I literally did. Yes, yes.

19:46Ronnie Karam: I didn't get to you. I'm sorry. I really miss them. So anyway, Stacey's like, whatever, I didn't do it. And Andy's like, I watch people's expressions. I watch body language, Wendy, and I've had my eye on you. And it feels like you're looking at Stacey waiting for her to confess. Why does Wendy get to talk about other people confessing? Why are we asking Wendy for other people to confess when her ass is lying through her teeth in this episode?

20:12Ben Mandelker: And she's like, well, I don't think I'm waiting for her to confess. I feel like I'm seeing in real time the tides are turning and everyone's pointing their finger at her. And to hear bleep say that takes it to a different level. And that's just where I'm at. I'm like, so that was a non-answer. Okay. Any response, Stacey? She's like, no. Okay. Monique, what do you think?

20:34Ronnie Karam: I love Stacy in that moment. She's like, whatever. No. So, okay, what does Monique think? And she's like, well, I'm going to be bleep over anybody. So we all know that bleep is pretty dependable.

20:46Ben Mandelker: It's got to be the daughter. That's a great theory. Whoever came up with that on the internet, I think you did a great job there. Radita Jones came up with that. I think it's a good one. Radita Jones.

20:58Ronnie Karam: So Giselle's like... That's a good one.

21:00Ben Mandelker: It's Rashida Jones.

21:01Ronnie Karam: No, it's her Reddit sister, Radita.

21:05Ben Mandelker: Rashida Jones like wow it's a theory that came from a very glamorous place

21:12that theory has bangs oh so Monique is like well that's my number one and then we hear bleep bleep

21:20Ronnie Karam: bleep bleep bleep so when bleep said somebody on your show said you're someone on your show's name is Stacy I'm like well how do you know that and Andy's like what's your response Stacy and she goes um i wouldn't do that to you she's like so then why are there daggers out for you to the magnitude that they are and she's like i have nothing to gain from being involved with your ex-husband and i would beg for you to be smarter in this moment and everyone's like oh but and

21:47Ben Mandelker: monique is like i don't want to have an issue with you i just don't like i don't i don't feel like i know where this information is being leaked and then the only person that keeps coming up is you unfortunately she goes so why don't we all sit down and talk to chris and she goes well because he's never going to be accountable so jazzy's like and if you had sex with him and probably still having sex with him i doubt that he'd be honest anyway okay jazzy whatever so she's like happy

22:09Ronnie Karam: quiet down over there what is you had sex with him and you probably still have sex with them okay

22:15Ben Mandelker: okay jazzy jazzy so she's she's like the thing is that was so giant to me is that that you came in peace you didn't know so you shared your healing and which is when you when you share like that you You carry other women along like you, and you didn't have to do that. And the fact that somebody would go around and, like, bastardize that conversation is called so hard. It was horrible. It was horrible. I think all of our family should be protected. And you keep saying your family and your family, but look at what she's going to do with her family. We have to get to the bottom of it because it's serious.

22:50Ben Mandelker: Not as serious as a child who keeps kissing himself in the mirror, but pretty serious.

22:55Ronnie Karam: Okay, well, we're going to leave it there. I just said it was serious, Andy. Well, it's over now. I would like to go back to it. She was so vulnerable. Please.

23:06Ben Mandelker: Well, speaking of serious, Radio Andy is on serious. Okay, segue into nothing. Okay, I want to talk about hosting and trips, because ever since Giselle landed in Karen's seat on her birthday back in season one, because we are going to kind of try to make this a 10-year retrospective thing. Okay. So etiquette and hosting have been the other words on the street of Potomac. Let's watch. So we see a package of all the events and trips and things that happened over the year, including the Colorado trip. So we come back. All right.

23:42Ronnie Karam: Well, Assy from Chuset said, Giselle did a great job hosting the trip to Nevis. Giselle, did you regret intentionally excluding Stacey from aspects of the trip? i.e. not embroidering a robe. That was so funny. She's like, no, but I will apologize for giving you a large robe. I did not mean to fat shame you. I would have given you a robe that fit, but I still wouldn't have put the name on it because I'm shady.

24:09Ben Mandelker: Stacey goes, shade accepted. All right. Rubber from band said, Angel, why do you keep making people sit in silent circles at your events? She goes, you know what? I understand that it's not for this group now. I get that the meditation, this is not the meditation sit around the sound bowl group. Okay. I mean, it's like, oh, I actually love sound bowls. I would have loved to have been there. By the way, I would have loved Andy to have asked some question about all the men who sat there silently in a circle as well, staring at the women on that trip. And it never came up. And I'm really upset about it because that was one of the internet moments of this season.

24:47Ben Mandelker: Yeah.

24:48Ronnie Karam: Yeah, it was pretty gross. So then they talk about how fun it was when they were singing and they should come out with a group called the Potomac Ponies. Oh, guys, wouldn't that be fun? And then we see Ashley being nasty. And the tweets about Ashley singing that were nasty to Ashley. Because Ashley's like, I would be the Diana Ross of the group. And they're like, right. And we see all the tweets that are like, Roberta Flack is rolling over in her grave.

25:18Ben Mandelker: And Andy's like, whoa, what about Stacy's potato salad? And I'm like, see, why are we asking about the potato salad when we could have been asking about those guys, right? And no one liked it. Okay, well, Saran from RAP said, Tia, what did your coworkers, aka the white people, think when they watched the polo event episode? Well, I'm still gamefully employed.

25:40Ronnie Karam: Yes, I'm still gamefully employed there, and I've sold more than one house, by the way, Jazzy.

25:47Ben Mandelker: she goes good now you can take care of your hubby yes it was great and it was better than your 150 thousand dollar town home she says again now you can go take care of your hubby her husband works

26:02Ronnie Karam: ma 'am doesn't her husband work at nasa or something yeah i'm like did you not notice his

26:07Ben Mandelker: like slim fit banana republic corporate button-down shirt that he wears every episode he works

26:13Ronnie Karam: I love that she's like um your husband may work for NASA but my husband throws a ball so yeah try

26:20Ben Mandelker: a little older bag oh that's another thing I would have liked on this uh reunion would have been Andy grilling Angel a little a little bit about her always being like as an elder wag and being really very braggy about things all the time I felt like that was like a big that wasn't a big thing but it's something I would have liked her to been confronted with you know yeah but you know

26:40Ronnie Karam: what angel i mean angel had the biggest moment of the season with that trip and she's just so sad it's like i think andy was just at this point avoiding questions with angel because every well let me tell you how i feel about it's like oh my god close the door droopy close the door like the elevator opens going down angel's a little bit like hal dying in 2001 space odyssey

27:05Ben Mandelker: He's like, Daisy, Daisy. So Andy's like, okay, I want to talk about Colorado, the worst gas trip in Real Housewives history. Andy is like not happy about this Colorado trip, I'd like to say. He does not seem to find the camp value that I personally found in it. I think people are divided on this trip. I think that you either are like, that was awful. Why were we watching that? Or you think that was so hilarious because it was so shitty. I'm in the latter camp, obviously. I've said it a million times on this podcast, but I think that Andy was genuinely upset about it. I feel like in his mind, it's like, it like tarnished the brand of the housewives, but I don't know.

27:43Ben Mandelker: I thought it was, I thought it was like the best thing I've seen in forever. I loved it.

27:47Ronnie Karam: Yeah. So they're talking about how they put Ashley and Giselle on a little room together and how funny it was. And angels like they deserved it. And just, I was like, boo, tomato, tomato. Okay. Giselle, you attempted to take over the trip when no water issues persisted. And she's like, absolutely, yeah. So he asked if they thought it was overstepping. And of course, Kierna steps in there. And Monique's like, but you didn't even have to stay in the house. So what are you talking about?

28:18Ben Mandelker: Yeah. And so basically, Giselle's like, yes, I think Indy should redirect the question to anybody who has had no water because we were stuck with no water. Okay. And Kierna's like, well, it's not like I haven't dealt with bad issues on trips before. Okay. And then we see a clip from when Kiana had diarrhea on a trip. I'm like, you having diarrhea is not the same as being put in accommodations where there's no water. Like that's in you. Yeah.

28:48Ronnie Karam: That was so funny. She's like, I've, I've had plenty of problems on trips and they show her running to the bathroom. So Angel apologizes again. And just, I was like, yeah, but you know what? You just said you were sorry. We went through that. We didn't get that at the time. And she's like, well, I wasn't on the text thread. And the only reason I even knew what happened is because I called Jazzy to see how you ladies are doing. But as a host, you should have been checking on us about everything.

29:13Ben Mandelker: Well, I felt that the priority was to try to find a solve first so that I could get you guys a better location. And Andy's like, okay, here's a question. How did you all get so lost? And she's like, well, someone who needs to get to know me and they will get to know me soon enough, dropped me a pin and who was actually at the location in real time. Like, I don't know why. It's so funny to be like, she was at their location in real time. It wasn't a prerecorded experience. I know, it's like Outlander.

29:45Ronnie Karam: She's like, yeah, I got someone dropping me a pin, you know, five hours after, but it arrived before. Who cares? Of course it was in real time. And if someone dropped you a pin where they were, then why did it take you to the wrong place? None of this makes sense. But I also love that Giselle just, we just found out that Giselle had a whole text thread for the group trip without Angel on it. I mean, that's so funny. She's like, you guys had a whole text thread without me. How am I supposed to know?

30:12Ben Mandelker: Yeah. And then on screen, we see the production text Angel to say that her staff sent the wrong pin. So her staff sent the wrong pin. And again, we discussed this at the time. why did her staff send a pin in the first place they should have sent an address um because honestly every place has an address at this point like even if you're on a campsite there's going to be a listing for that campsite if they they had to find the campsite on the internet and if you found the campsite on the internet then you had an address like they got to that campsite at some point like someone it wasn't just like a pin they got perpetually sent forward and they were like like how did they get there the first but they had an address why don't you send the dress don't

30:49Ronnie Karam: drop pins send the address of that porta potty that that dude was cooking that five star dinner in front of uh so then um we see um basically it's just the the pin drama and uh t goes well it took us forever and we didn't get pizza on the side of the road either i'll tell you that

31:11Ben Mandelker: yeah that's true we didn't really think about that they were not fed they were just driving around and Giselle's like, that's embarrassing. Yeah, we've never ended a season in a gas station. I'm like, you haven't technically ended a season in a gas station, but we also had a season ender where everyone went to Shannon's backyard and they played a rock song that was written by Richard Marks. So honestly, sometimes these things just don't work out for you guys. Sometimes the banquet hall gets canceled and we are okay with it. Just be grateful. you know?

31:46Ronnie Karam: So he's like, okay, we'll leave it there. I think you'll all be happy to know that we're not going to visit that trip again. Okay, but you didn't ask so many questions about it still.

31:55Ben Mandelker: There were so many questions to be had, Andy. You failed on this front. Why are you asking about potato salad?

32:04Ronnie Karam: So now they're setting up the next shot because Karen is coming out. Dun, dun, dun. And Giselle's like, wow, I watched the special with Karen. You were very tough on her, and I think that was great. And Karen's walking to the stage. Karen has done something, I think, to her upper mouth where she's. Thank you. It's like overbiting or something. Also, I'm just going to say it now. Is Karen drunk? I think that's probably. I don't think you're supposed to ask that if somebody comes out as sober. But she hasn't really. She's still refusing to say alcoholic. And I'm not sure what's going on. that's kind of talking i'm not sure if it's the lip or the alcohol or the boot or the uh pill or

32:50Ben Mandelker: pills or what it is but something's off i don't know if she got new teeth she definitely got like some new fillers or something it's like she got an awning installed in her lips it's like you know that thing they show late at night where it's like attached it's like it's like attached to the side of your house and you press a button it comes out like very slowly and the elderly who are drinking lemonade or like shade and i feel like she caught that like in her lips and like it but it was newly installed and she still has to come back out it says tally ho as it comes out it's like i feel like a technician still needs to come out and make some minor adjustments because like she just wasn't able to talk right she was like oh thank you very much i am i'm like you know it's it's wonderful like her words were like getting messed up and we see her talking just a few months ago with Andy in those flashbacks and she sounds perfectly fine and her lips are also smaller but she just hasn't quite figured out how to say her get her fricatives out properly with the new mouth it's like a f or a v sound I believe

33:53Ronnie Karam: I wish it was like a fricative

33:56Ben Mandelker: like a friend of fricker

34:02Ben Mandelker: if we're not talking about Brenda Blethin it's gotta be Brenda Fricker

34:05Ronnie Karam: there's going to be a Brenda on this every damn time uh

34:09Ben Mandelker: are a class of consonants produced by forcing breath through a narrow channel in the vocal tract creating a continuous audible friction for example a sound or a sound or a sound so that's something you all should know yeah learn guys why was there a pin drop for the fricatives commercials here comes one right now

34:42Ronnie Karam: so they're talking about how karen was really owning it in her interview and andy's like yeah she owns stuff and stacy goes the legal seafood of it all girl so karen comes out like hello hello people you're welcome you're well she's just autographing the air hello hello she's here She's here. Have you ladies been behaving?

35:06Ben Mandelker: She has a really big shoulder kind of poof or wave or something, and it's like getting in her way of seeing Andy, which is distracting because the entire interview, she's like trying to pat it down. It's a very tough time for me right now. Hold on. Let me put down this fabric wall for a second. It's rare to be here. I go.

35:24Ronnie Karam: Y 'all better be happy I'm back. I'm ready to go. Well, I was going to ask the ladies how it feels to have the grand dame back, but you've mentioned that you wanted to shed that moniker. Are you still the grand dame? And she's like, well, let's be very clear. I never needed the grand dame, but I am grateful for a grand dame, and people have bestowed it upon me, and I've tried to shed it, but it's not working, so I give the people what they want. that moment of humility is gone now, and I'm now the grand dam again. It's like, wow, that took you like one week after your interview to be like, wow, I'm humble now, and I never need to be the grand dam again.

36:05Ronnie Karam: She's like, nope, I'm back.

36:06Ben Mandelker: Yes.

36:07Ronnie Karam: I'm keeping it.

36:07Ben Mandelker: And I also love that they showed this clip from 2017 where Cameron looked very different, and she was talking about how she had moved out of Potomac to, this is when she moved to probably Great Falls or wherever it was in Virginia, and Ashley's like, well, you're not going to be the grand dam of Potomac anymore. She goes, that's your opinion. people bestowed that upon me and I graciously accepted that until I hand it off it's no one's half that she's she was saying like oh well I was I never cared about being random and they showed this clip of her being like it's mine and I'm keeping it so Andy's like ladies how does it feel to have Karen back out here and she's like I'm super excited ah it's great to have my favorite punching bag back I just told her I was like I don't like doing reunions without her so she said I'm here, or actually I believe she said I'm fear, I'm fear, but I think she meant I'm here, I'm here.

36:54Ben Mandelker: Can't really tell with that lip.

36:58Ronnie Karam: Oh, well, I'd not say it like that. I am here, though, and I was about to sit on your lap. What do you think of that? Has someone been sitting in my seat? I was going to sit on your lap. That was the plan. That's right. Still got it. Still got it, ladies.

37:14Ben Mandelker: How does it feel to see Karen, Ashley? Oh, it's amazing It's just like old times I'm only saying that because she's like looking at olden times Wow, look at her

37:24Ronnie Karam: It's just like old times And she is the times that are old It's like It's like when you see those

37:32Ben Mandelker: Those movies about the old west That's Karen

37:37Ronnie Karam: Wendy Well, I've not seen her And I'm just happy to see her on the other side of this Oh, thank you Thank you very much, Wendy it's like yeah fine fine you got that one so who are you seeing here for the first time she's like no and actually i have a wonderful pleasure of meeting the rookies great energy ladies and um when i you know say i start going off the way of the rail sometimes and my heart went out to them i wish i could have picked up the phone and told you to tell them to fuck themselves sometimes but you know let it go but giselle would have been like okay next you're right da i'll put your

38:14Ben Mandelker: handled it you handled it very well and you also haven't seen Monique in some time she's like I have not I have not but you look very beautiful Monique's like thank you you do too so uh and he's like well who has been the most supportive of this group well just haven't really surprised her you know she did some things that really made me smile about seeing me and leaving me not to my mailbox I got them I have them little fax messages which is my love language so thank you very much yourself

38:42Ronnie Karam: well i'm told that you watch this season what was your reaction when you heard giselle say she was hoping that you would be in an elderly wing of the jail this is so shady i was cracking up and we see the clip of giselle saying i want her to be secure i want her to be like here here's an elderly section and ashley being like yeah like the aarp of the jail so like karen's like

39:08Ben Mandelker: Well, you know, I ignored her ass. Okay, well, you and Stacey ended on not a great note. Karen starts looking for Stacey. She's sitting right next to Stacey, and she starts looking for Stacey. It's like looking all the way down. It's like, where is she? Where is she from?

39:23Ronnie Karam: Are you looking for me? I'm sitting right next to you. She's like, oh, well, did you lie again this season, Stacey? Because there's no shade. That's a question. She's like, what was I lying about? Well, last year it was about the boyfriend. That was not your boyfriend, right? This year you're not dating Chris, but I hear you might be dating Chris. Is that true? Are you really coming after someone for lying, Karen? Yeah, Karen. Come on.

39:47Ben Mandelker: Stacy's like, that's not true at all. Where do you stand today? Well, I think it's clear where we stand. My goodness. It's like, I don't know where we stand. Where is she? Stacy's actually on the set. I really don't know where she's standing.

40:00Ronnie Karam: Honestly, this line of questioning shouldn't define where we stand. I'm for new beginnings, but I cannot take the lies. Do you understand me, young lady?

40:09Ben Mandelker: Well, I would love for you to give me that opportunity. Oh, you've got it, but please don't lie, because, you know, I know. I always know, and I'm the one that lives in Potomac, by the way. She goes, uh, okay.

40:22Ronnie Karam: You live in Potomac. That's so Karen. Karen is so Karen. And by the way, ladies, I'm the only one who actually lives in Potomac. Thank you for having me. I mean.

40:33Ben Mandelker: So, um, where are we?

40:36Ronnie Karam: So it's been four months since you were released. How has your sobriety journey been going? She goes, absolutely wonderful. I'm in recovery for life on all levels. And I'm at peace. I'm at peace, Andy. Very much at peace. I'm on peace on the rocks with a splash. How do you feel about that? Did you just make her aerial?

41:02Ronnie Karam: I just want to revisit something. Karen, you are not completely comfortable calling yourself an alcoholic. So is it part of being an addict, owning that? And she's like, well, I'm still not an alcoholic. But you know, it's a personal choice, Andy, is how I identify. I've learned that in 2026, we respect how people identify. You know, I met a girl in prison who called herself a unicorn. And we just went with it, Andy. You know, it's called respecting people's identities. And I'm a non-alcoholic, and I would appreciate it if we all threw me a parade and celebrated me coming out of the closet. Thank you very much.

41:41Ronnie Karam: I'm Karen Hugo. I'm not an alcoholic. Thank you.

41:46Ben Mandelker: Here's what I am, Andy. I'm an addict. I'm addicted to Wi-Fi in Surrey County. So sue me. That's what I am. Apologies, everyone. So, Andy is like, but isn't part of being an addict owning this? Well, I own everything about it. And there's also a choice that you make which empowers you to say that I'm a woman that chose to live in complete sobriety the rest of my life and I'm going to be in recovery. And I think that says it all. Well, it says almost everything except for one word that starts with A and ends with a... Oh, yes. aspic i enjoy it a delicious dessert gelatin who knew well you know we saw let's look at some

42:32Ronnie Karam: bravo con footage when you came out and everyone cheered for you that was amazing uh you know there are still a chorus of people saying that you put people's lives at risk and they're asking whether or not you should be given a platform what is your reaction well andy first of all I would hope they would consider that facing your addiction which right now has no name um is a brave act and a brave step and people have a right to their opinions but I have a right to thrive and not say the alphabet backwards just because someone wants to fuck with me after I've taken a little stroll down the street to have a cocktail I love when she said I

43:12Ben Mandelker: have a right to thrive. Drink and thrive. It's actually illegal.

43:17Ronnie Karam: I got a G-U-T, Andy. Driving under the thriving.

43:24Ben Mandelker: It's called a gut instinct for that reason. So Giselle is like, Karen did something that was driving while

43:31Ronnie Karam: thriving, Andy. Thank you very much. Guilty. Guilty. I'm guilty on that one.

43:38Ben Mandelker: Arrive, arrive, don't drink and thrive. so Giselle says Giselle says Karen did something that was bad she served her time for it and the other thing she did that was bad whatever filler she put in her upper lip she sounds like she is choking on a chocolate bar

43:56Ronnie Karam: well I would like to point out to everyone I'm now selling t-shirts that say Matida Mothers Against Thriving Driving thank you very much I'll be here all week so

44:08Ben Mandelker: We are so wrong. We are so bad. We should not be making jokes about these very important slogans. These are like literally life-saving slogans and organizations. And we're like, there's a pun. But seriously, when she said, like, she said, I have a right to thrive in response. I thought that was an amazing phrase. I have a right to thrive.

44:32Ronnie Karam: So now Monique is like, oh, my God, you know, Karen, you know, she dropped her walls. And she talks about how Karen's parents passed and she really dropped her walls. And, you know, now she's doing the work and she's so proud of her. And Karen's like, oh, God, thank you. Don't make me cry. Do not make me cry. And Andy's like, well, Karen, I want to thank you for being so candid today and the evening that I met you at your home. And I'd also like to thank you for the tab that you served me that night. I haven't had one of those in a very long time.

45:05Ben Mandelker: How's your son doing, by the way? Speaking of that night, he hasn't responded to any of my text messages. I was kind of wondering if he'd like to hang out. Apparently, he is not up, which is what I've been asking.

45:17Ronnie Karam: Do you think that he has the phone number for Charisse's son?

45:22Ben Mandelker: Do you think that, I don't know, they'd be up for maybe all three of us hanging out? I don't know, see where the night takes us. Just exploring each other's bodies. Just seeing. exploring

45:37Ronnie Karam: so Andy's like this group of women said that you were in denial about a whole bunch of things and one of the headlines of our conversation was you repeatedly saying I was in denial oh absolutely I was in denial I don't deny that because I don't deny things as a person who's not in denial Andy thank you

45:56Ben Mandelker: in the middle of Virginia you know so Andy's like well did that Did that resonate with you, Ashley? A hundred percent. Okay, glad to hear that.

46:07Ronnie Karam: It was an important hour of television. It was a very, very important hour of television. And I would like to thank myself for being so hard-hitting. You're welcome, everybody.

46:19Ben Mandelker: I'd like to also thank Jane Pauly for asking the hard-hitting questions. That was me. I'm not Jane Pauly. All right. Sandy's like, well, you also corroborated Ash's legal seafood story, which sounded like total bullshit last year, but somehow that is the one thing that was verified. She's like, yes, yes, yes. And thank God she finally got one of her stories right about me. But I did it. I would go to Legal Seafood and I'd get drunk. And I'd say, isn't it funny being in a place called Legal Seafood getting drunk? I wonder if I'll ever get into a problem, I have a legal problem with getting drunk.

46:49Ben Mandelker: Maybe there'll be seafood.

46:54Ronnie Karam: Legal Seafood, legal driving. Why is one legal and one isn't? Let's discuss that.

47:00Ben Mandelker: Unfortunately, my body has a negative reaction to clam chowder, I've realized, and it makes me drive like I'm drunk. But luckily, it's not the alcohol. It's just the chowder. A very specific issue.

47:10Ronnie Karam: Well, you did say that Wendy was lying about what she said. And we see a clip of the last reunion, Wendy saying that she went to a place and they told her Karen goes every day and gets drunk. And then a clip from Karen's interview saying she doesn't know what Wendy's talking about. Do you think that Wendy got that gossip from Ashley and just made it her own because she didn't think Ashley was going to say anything or what?

47:33Ben Mandelker: I think like Wendy says it was a random person. And I actually believe that. I believe a random person was like, like, oh, my God, Wendy, I love you on the show. Can I say something like it's so sad with what happened to Karen. But you know what? Like I used to see her at this one bar. She'd always get drunk all the time. And I'm just happy she's getting the help that she needs. You know, people will sometimes say crazy things.

47:51Ronnie Karam: It's probably the same person. is probably the same legal seafood bartender. He's just on everyone's public transportation. Everywhere you go, he's just waiting for a real housewife of Potomac to come on. Hey, I know Karen has served for alcohol every fucking day.

48:06Ben Mandelker: If you ride the Acela long enough, you know eventually someone from Potomac needs to get to New York City. It's Gigi. Find him. Yes, Gigi. I'm a bad girl telling gossip about legal seafood.

48:17Ronnie Karam: Well, honestly, Wendy, I don't believe anyone is talking to you about me. well you can believe whatever you want well you can produce them where are they where are they

48:26Ben Mandelker: where are they so um then wendy is like well they're talking about now the betrayal you know when uh when when uh karen was like said like i want to thank everyone i want to thank giselle i want to thank ashley i want to thank andy cohen i'd like to thank craft services i'd like to thank whoever installed the ceiling fan at the bank because it gets hot in there when you wait to make your deposits thank you thank you for making my life better before i go to jail

48:56Ronnie Karam: well you can give your flowers to whomever you choose but i would not be being truthful if i if to myself i didn't say oh that felt stingy i felt the sting from that well i think it's important to deal in reality even though we're on a show let's be honest you and i became distant because I feel betrayed by you. And I just felt like you betrayed me when you went over to Stacy. And then we see a flashback. Stacy saying, Karen said that Wendy was self-absorbed, wasn't a girl's girl, and she would never be my friend. And Karen's like, I've never said that to you. Do you believe this shit, Wendy? And Wendy's saying, oh, you're going to have to side eye for a minute.

49:34Ronnie Karam: That's for sure. And so we come back and Wendy's like, the betrayal was from you. Because I remember very specifically when we sat down to pick out dining ware for my 40th birthday party and you reference my mother as a witch. Ah, the shrine fight comes back. Congratulations, you've reached the end of part one of a two-part recap. For part two, go look for the recap that says

49:58Ben Mandelker: part two. See you over there, suckers. Watch what crappens would like to thank its premium sponsors. Ain't no thing like Alison King. Our way is the Amber way. It's the Foster and the Furious. It's Amanda Foster. It's Always Automatic with Ashley Otto Put your hands together for Carly Clapp Get on the right foot with Chrissy Offutt

50:19Ronnie Karam: She's not just a Sheila, she's a Daniela Itchles We never miss her call, it's Diane Call Sunday in the Park with Dylan Clark Big Yay, it's Emily Gauthier

50:30Ben Mandelker: Erin McNicholas, she don't miss no trick-a-less

50:32Ronnie Karam: Hava Nagila Weber

50:34Ben Mandelker: You'll never hide from Heidi Eleanor Jones I go, you go, we all go for Hugo Jamie, she has no less namey

50:42Ronnie Karam: Sips some scotch with Jessica Trotch

50:45Ben Mandelker: She's not a McBee, she's a McBride Jess McBride She's our favorite streamer, Caroline Peacock

50:51Ronnie Karam: Kristen the Piston Anderson Get a bee in your bonnet with Lacey B K, sirrah, sirrah, whatever will be Will Lauren Sills be She gets an A from us, it's Lindsay D Let's give a kisserino To Lisa Lino Fresh as a daisy, it's Maisie McHenry

51:07Ben Mandelker: Aren't you glad it's Marianne Arns?

51:10Ronnie Karam: Megan Berg You can't have a burger without the burg.

51:13Ben Mandelker: This is Livin' with Michelle Vivian.

51:16Ronnie Karam: I love-a-ya, Olivia Williamson.

51:18Ben Mandelker: She sure is swell. It's Raquel.

51:21Ronnie Karam: Yes, we canna. It's Sadana.

51:23Ben Mandelker: Cast a spell with Shannon Spellman. Let's share with Sharon Eldridge. Darn Skippy. It's Tibby.

51:29Ronnie Karam: And our super premium sponsors. She's VVIP. It's Amanda V.

51:34Ben Mandelker: Can I have a Kavanaugh? It's Anna Kavanaugh. Somebody get us 10 cc's of Betsy MD.

51:39Ronnie Karam: We're taking the gold with Brenda Silva. Let's get real with Caitlin O 'Neill. Put us on a stretcher. It's Charlotte Fletcher. Hoagle your horses. It's Christine Hoagle. Don't get salty with Christine Pepper. Can't have a meal without the Emily sides.

51:55Ben Mandelker: Who, what, why, where, and Gwen Pentland. Nobody holds a candle to Jamie Kendall. We got our wish. It's Jen Plish. My favorite Murdo, Karen McMurdo.

52:05Ronnie Karam: She's a total knockout. It's Katie Manok.

52:07Ben Mandelker: Let's get savage with Laura Wildman. In the study with a candlestick, it's Leslie Peacock. We're ride or die for Lisa Ryder Barron. She's a whiz, it's Liz Sarthy. Always killing it, it's Lola Alkalani. Roger that, it's Marlis Rogers.

52:22Ronnie Karam: The incredible edible Matthews sisters. She eases our woes, it's Melissa St. Rose. There's a chance of meatballs, it's Rebecca Cloud.

52:31Ben Mandelker: She's our princess, it's Rebecca Prince. Maximum love for Sandy Maximoska. She's the Queen Bee, it's Sarah Lemke We cannot tell a lie, it's Sarah Talafsun Shannon, out of a cannon, Anthony Please don't stop, it's Solian Pop Let's take off with Tam LaPlane Strike a pose, it's Tori Rose

52:51Ronnie Karam: She ain't no shrinking Violet Kuchar We love you guys