“Welcome Home” with Kate Flannery

Episode one, jingle bells and prison cells. Let's get into it. So are you a Housewives fan? Overall? I'm a sporadic fan. I feel like I get in, I get out, and it's so I'm it's been a while, so, by the way, same like, I don't really watch the Housewives anymore, and this has been really sort of fun. And the truth is many of the episodes that were reviewing I haven't

ever seen myself. When it first started, OC was on and I remember watching that, and then um our show was next, and out of curiosity, I was watching Jersey and Atlanta and and because competition, you know, it was a new franchise in town, I was watching those in the beginning, but then there's so many you get lost and in so many seasons, and I just like dropped off of everything, even right shows. So yeah, and actually I did watch What Happens Live with uh Ramona when

she was with Mario. This is like, oh, oh that's so funny. Okay, well that was a trip trip. Yes, So I had never seen this episode, and I am just like shocked that that a woman who was on this show went to jail. Like it's like, it's weird. It's a weird world because it's looking like fun, campy entertainment and you're like trying to jump out of that and just say, okay, hold on, wait a second. I

know this is like a show. It feels like we're watching Three's Company, a scripted show, but this is a person whose kids are home waiting for their mother come on from prison after a year. Heavy. It's so heavy. Their moments where I'm like, oh my god, I just I feel for those girls and yeah, yeah, it's yes, it's nuts, and they're just like they're so young, they're so at that off where you just need your mom. It's so I know so much, so much to figure out,

so much to negotiate so much. I agree. I don't know. I think I don't think they covered that enough. Like I don't give a shit with Jacqueline thinks about Teresa's letter. I care about what a six year old you know, I miss my mommy. What was the year life like as a mother anyway, So you know you were so I was searching for those moments like and just getting them as like a hug. But like it was. It was brutal. And I have to say, I mean, she had no choice, but she's a badass. She's strong, like

that's she is. And you know, I have to give her oldest daughter so much credit because clearly she was picking up the slack and she was like being mom. You know, you could see her with her dad, like she was really challenging on some of his parental choices and you know, she's like they're they're not going to school, they're going to I just but she was like definitely taking the role as the oldest as like the next parent.

It's funny how there that you do hear you hear that, you hear like parents die and like someone raised their siblings and you hear I remember Dennis Leary said he was from a big Irish family and like the older kids take care of the younger kids, and you don't. Yeah, I mean, I'm the onliest of seven. I totally get it. And and my my sisters have certain tones that sound just like my mom or just like my dad, and

I'm like, as like an older I'm like, knock it off. Wow. Yeah, So that's that's something for people to to think about, you know what I mean, because I know people who have sixteen year old kids that they're coddling, and it's like, there are other sixteen year olds that could you know,

run a family. And absolutely, and I don't you know, this is not like the Kardashians, where the Kardashians have seventeen nannies that they hide in the basement so we don't see them like an act like they're kids on our own. These they don't have. I don't believe it's very Italian like to not have a nanny a housekeeper to keep their own head. Absolutely, I don't. I don't think they had an So I don't think they had a nanny. So Joe and I often pronounced it and

I get criticized. It is Joe Giudica or g you dice if you're not pronouncing it in Italian. But it's Giudica Joe. Whether you like him hate him, this fucking guy was there for a year raising four girls himself, without a housekeeper, nanny, like nothing right, and he kept saying espresso doesn't work. I'm I think that was relatable and I like, I actually liked him in this episode because he was being honest. I mean, he wasn't lying and acting like he's the perfect dad who's got it

under control. This is fucking crazy man. Yeah, so true. Yeah, that's that's that's an especially in the kid's life, Like that's a huge amount of time, especially for that six year old. But yeah, I think, yeah, he did better than I maybe better than I would have done. I don't know. That's not easy. By the way, by the way, he's four children of any gender. I would be in Yeah, like, yeah,

that was that was a lot. And and of course I was only thinking about like her getting home in her house being so disorganized after an hour, I wouldn't be able to stay hell lout of the kids, I wouldn't be able to stay he loud to the kids. I'd have to go organize the closet. The first thing she said was when she walked in the door and miss my house. I mean she looked at Joe. They had a moment, she didn't say anything, and then she said I missed my house and then she said I

miss you. That's really funny. Now honest, super honest, super honest. But also like you have to realize, so my fiance won't doesn't want to be in a shot with me in the dollars store, like he has no he sees no upside to any level of attention at all. So he's and that's his life, in his choice. He sees no upside right right, So they're being hate and now presumably they're in a financial crunch, which you later saw after this, So there they have to play ball and

they have to shoot this whole thing. But like the camera's got the first hug coming home, Like that's almost creepy, you know what I mean, Like, yeah, it's one thing to have cameras capturing a proposal engagement like which is also maybe, but like you're saying hello to your kids that you love with camas, it means you've chosen this family, has chosen a lifestyle to be honest, it's a real documentary. Then it's it's not a reality show, it's a documentary.

Like that's what I got about this episode. I was like, I mean, there's sure you know, when Siggy comes in with her her like she looked like Delio Harri from Valley the Dolls when she had her face flipped at the speaking, which I thought was hilarious. Right, But like there's those moments where you're like, this is hilarious, it's campy, and then they just keep taking these turns where you're like, oh my god, this is so true. That's a campy

reality show that an actress could do. You're right, that's a little scene. We're gonna get you where you're just got exactly this other shit is some different shit. You're right, drink your soup. Drink your soup and they're straw. Yeah, like hilarious, hilarious. Hey, you make a great that's a great point because Joe, after all this time being filmed and whatever, and he's been fucking around on her, you know,

on camera, gotten called he doesn't give a shit. There's something about someone that does this when they're being authentically who they are. Whether we like it, or not, Like that's what I had a problem with the gweek Goop Gwyneth bone Broth thing. She's telling him what you fucking ate for lunch? Like that's what she honestly, now you're gonna hate her? Would you hate her if she was only bringing aramez bags in in a full face of makeup? Like this guy Joe is being honest about who he

gets absolutely too too. It's it's refreshing, but again it's it's a documentary and you're like, whoa, I'm really seeing into their private personal world. Like it's it's no matter how much editing you do, it's still so raw. And I thought, I mean, I don't remember how long they've been together, but probably twenty something years. I thought, like, they do really love each other. I thought, like he when he was like, I just get my the language

is key to me get my wife home safe. Yeah, that was not like I don't know, that was a very specific thing to say multiple times. Rights rights well, you know, and and I give Teresa so much credit because I feel like she walked it. She looked great. I mean, you know, she didn't have a crazy amount of makeup on. It was a little more realistic. But she clearly got it together because she didn't want to know. I mean did I wonder did maybe they did in

the car. I don't know. She had a haircllar like yours. She had no roots. I had gone to a salon in three years, and I've decided I'm gonna go like get like a real haircut and a real hair collored a salon. But like she had hair as deep, like as good as yours. Yes she did. Yeah, so you think by her side, I'm just kidding, you know, I just mean, it looks good, like it looks like I don't totally finished, right, I know she did. She looked she looked good, but she also like she didn't. She

wasn't super glam. She was like it was like a perfect balance. I thought it was like, don't upset the kids by looking like two for she clearly thought about all that stuff too. I mean, I don't know. And literally, how did she have non grades after a year? Did? How did she get a hair called? Like? Literally, I'm asking you what do you think? Well, I mean they could have done they could have done spray. She could

have I wonder if they would let her. I think I think yeah, or sometimes you can dye your hair, and yeah, you can you. I think I'm trying to think of like the TV shows I've seen, right, and I was taking like Oranges New Black. I was like, I think you can dye your hair. I think you can figure it. I think there's a way to do it. But oh right, Orange was trading though. That was right, you trade like cigarettes or MAXI what she traded. But she she did a good job. She traded it, okay,

because I was like, that looks really good. Okay, I know, right, And speaking of which this was I don't know how much you know about the show. This was Blonde Melissa her sister and right, right, and I liked she looked good. She did, and then when they would show the flash, right, yeah, Melissa is a trip. I mean, I um, and I just love that she's all obsessed with opening this boutique and she wants her kids to look at her like she's like their dad. I mean, I don't even get it.

I don't you know, like being a real woman who works and you're not just the Italian princess, the queen in the house at home. She wants to be seen as a woman who owns a shop at her husband Bill. Do you are you if you have to pick a team, or you team Teresa or team Melissa. Um, you know, I'm not sure. I go back and forth because sometimes I feel like I feel like Melissa's on more than more than Teresa, and she's mean, well, she's just she's putting a good face. What I mean. Oh no, I

was just gonna say the same. I was going to say that, Yes, she's just campaign for herself. She's the hero of her stories. She's guarded, she's gloss, and Teresa's warts and all. I like that you said, that's it's exactly how I feel that. I don't know if you knew this, But Teresa was on Dancing with the Stars last year. I was on Dancing with the Stars three years ago and we had the same PARTNERSH wow, I did not know. I last a little longer than ye.

Are they so close? I know they're in touch, but I don't I don't know if they're they're not super closed, but you know, I don't know, I don't know, don't don't any So you've Joe who's sitting there like rolling his eyes and telling his kids shut the fuck up. Right, which like, you know, shut up, Milannia, like I could promise you. I've been like shut like I could promise you as a parent. That's real. So he's being real. Teresa went to jail. She's gritty, she's kind of like

out there. I do believe one having been on the show, that Teresa was blindsided not knowing Melissa was coming on to her show. So I believe there's some like you know, and I believe like wait, what, like no, I just was, So I believe I agree with you on that like feigned innocence. And I see over here on Melissa and Joe Gorga's house the opposite of Joe's Gotta take a shower It on camera, Hey, and they're they're like, oh my god, they're like actors. Yeah, it feels like they're

actors and they're over there. There's reality starts doing a documentary. It feels like it's a lot of being put on and like walking around naked in the house. Hilarious, hilarious, hilarious in front of the camera. Guys. Yeah, yeah, I know, right, I mean literally there's people. I'm sure there's like, do you guys have makeup artists that touch you up at all. Now, just like cameras like this is who's there? They're in a scene like that. At the house, there are one

to two producers. There are eat definitely, definitely there are two camera people, two producers, one sound pretty you start, a supervising producer, maybe a PA. So there are like eight people in that house like watching that at least and the local audience. Yeah that's not that's a full audience. Yeah yeah, but not a show baby, yeah, so's yeah. Yeah. Now moving over, I was thinking he must he must have a big piece, or I think he does because he wants to show it. Right. So now we're over

at Jacqueline. So what I say about Jacqueline, She seems like a nice person. And and usually when I say someone's a nice person and like a good person, they're boring housewife. So she's like it's usually that like, oh, they seem like a nice, good person, like Kathy Waquille. I love her, but probably not a great maybe not the best housewife. That's why they were let go. I don't know the reason, right, right, right. But also Jacqueline is she reveals more about her family because she shares

so much about her son who has autism about it. Well, that's that to me, is like it's huge, you know, and she's and she is like she and people kid relate. It's like, guess what, this is real? This is real. Well, and she's got her older daughter who's like a pan of the ass and move you know. I agree. I think it gets real and that's just right. They got to sell the watches. That cracked me up. I'm gonna sell my watches. I'm like, wow, you're only the watches.

Like you It was very it's going to get you out of trouble. Yeah, it's very specific. It's so true. And they're moving houses. But she was very honest about her parenting and her daughter, and I respect and like that. I respect. How old is your daughter, bethany hold is your daughter? She's twelve? Do you have kids? Okay, my boyfriend has kids, three kids, and I've known that since they were five twelve and yeah, five twelve and fifteen.

But I saw you on a plane. I think it was when I did watch What Happens Live and your daughter was a baby twelve years ago, no joke. We've sat first class. I didn't want to bother. You were such a new your baby, it was at Newark. Your baby was like so tiny, she was so tiny. That's such a crazy story. Wow, I know she's a human. Now she's a human. And yeah, she wouldn't want to be part of this program. She's embarrassed by it to

begin with overall and what it represents. That's one of the reasons I not There's there's ten reasons I'm out there, but that could be a small one. Um, but I liked about it. Also, you've got skinny girl. Yeah, you got skinny girl, which I have to say, your cocktails. I mean it's better than you know, candle, you're there's a bottle of vodka next to her. She's calling a right, So exactly, I didn't want to I don't like to do a lot of things I don't like to do.

I don't want it. Very smarte No, I get it. You did your time and you know you're you're free shoes. And I like that you're protective of your daughter. You know she's she's got her feelings and you respect well. You you're an actress and you play a role and you get to I don't it's I don't like the word hide behind, but like you have a barrier between

your real life and this audience. Like this is true although I played an alcoholic in the Office and my dad owned a bar for years in Philadelphia Flannery's Tavern. So I'm just saying, like it's I sometimes feel like, what do I have, like resting drunk face, Like I just happened to like get hired as an alcoholic but also close to home. Was it too close to home or was fine? Like no, no, I I had no problem. You can't know, I feel like I I know. I

mean we would go. We didn't live at the bar or like buy the bar, but we would go once a week with my dad, you know. And I worked in the restaurant. I mean I waited tables up and through the first season of the Office very Ray Dawn of inter Shameless Bar. So yeah, totally totally you know, like being around the bar, right because raydowna in the

Wife's Brother of course. Yeah. Um. So I think what's interesting about Jersey When I look at Dolores and Jackie and Teresa and Caroline and Dina, they all really are real friends. Like I always say, it's not show friends, it's show business. Like they really like in other places it's show friends. They are really friends here. These are not show friends, yes, Siggy, I don't know. She just

it did not. It seemed like a casting to me, right, yeah, and that's that, Like she could be talking to Jill's Aaron in Bocca about her facelift, Like even though these women got facelifts, it just it didn't seem like the number one thing they want to talk about her. What right there? And I understand and and I yeah, I think being Italian is it's so specific. And I mean and the traditions like every it's just there's a shorthand that is so specific because I grew up. I grew

up with a lot of Italian families. Like one of my best friends was one of eleven kids. And I feel like we went over there to to snack because I feel like we never had any like extra food.

It's very specific drink, but you know, you know, I grew up in an Italian house, was an Italian stepfather from the most A lot of my so seven seven fishes, right, which they talked about in this episode, which I always like, I love to go to the Viggianos on Christmas Eve because it was like it was like, oh my god, it's the face of the seven fishes, which has a religious, biblical, I think, connotation, and that's why they make seven different

fishes and baccalas one of them, which people don't like, and like, some people don't like. I'm allergic to fish, so I can't participate less it's shellfish, which somebody, you're so shellfish. I'm so, I'm a shellfish person. That's really funny. I can't eat shellfish. That's funny. I'm a shellfish person. I'm stealing. You're very shelfish. I'm very shelfish. I'll drink to that. So no, no's no longer with us, yes, right, right right, And he was like at a game, you know,

hanging out with Molas. It's cozying up with Melissa, right, I mean, but see, that's where there's there's sense of documentary on this, because you know, if you're a family member, you're like, oh my god, like you'll you're grateful for the footage at that point. But oh, on the on the older side, it works great. For the young kids, maybe not so much. That's so true. Now let's talk about how this show, it's this show divided a family.

It's divided many families. It's been a Kathy Hilton Kyle controversy. Like no one talks about that. You're entering into a show and it's probably gonna fuck up your marriage and your family. Well, something's gonna get sucked up, Like it's what price fame? Yeah, I mean it's funny. Any person I've ever met it was like, we're thinking about doing

a reality show, I'm like, well, I hope you. I hope you have a good lawyer because you're gonna need Like it's really it's it's cause and effect, like there's no gray area like it. I'm sure the percentage is like I mean, I don't I haven't done the math exactly, but it's gotta be really high or east or at least like it damaged the relationships. So even if they haven't got divorced, like it it forced them to separate

or something and like together family relationships yeah. Yeah. And also most of these shows that people are meeting on the show, so who cares if those relationships get fucked that they came in with. Yeah? And the family yeah, and the siblings totally. Yeah. And also it's funny because Dolores now she's very made up, like this show makes people with the hair and the extent, and I think

Dolores is naturally pretty. Pictures for her like when they were younger, and she's like she But even even when she's at the speakeasy, she's not wearing much makeup. She's gorgeous less. It's more, honey, what are you doing? I think like and I don't you know, I don't really talk about I would not like say negative things about someone's appearance. I'm gonna just say positively, I think she's pretty, and like I don't know her that way. How I as a friend would say, let's do like a natural

make under. You're naturally yeah, And it's just not about her, It's about all of us. Like throwing the makeup on, go to an event and you look like a clown. Makeup you tried, you paid, you look like shit, and you look at you can't stop seeing yourself, You stop seeing it's like, yeah, it's so weird. Well you just see the steps that they told you to do, so I know now, but I do beauty videos. All the steps.

It's the contour, it's the highlighter, it's the foundation and like all the steps will fuck you up, and she's doing all true. I like it with fewer steps. That's just make it's just true. No, I don't know if you do this, but I did not get a lot of makeup on the Office, Like that's the understatement of the century. I mean, it was documentary style. So I always took one for the team. Like my mother was always like, can't they give you makeup? My dragoning friends

were like, oh my god, honey, what happened. Oh that's why when I got I asked to do Dance with the Stars, I was like, hell, yeah, put it on, baby, I want some makeup, give me some glam. Oh my god, that's not fair, Like you're on TV and you're like like you're doing Although I used to say like I'm never gonna get laid working on the show, and I ended up meeting my boyfriend on the show. We we've been together for seventeen years, like I and also my

chara on the Office I did. He's an NBC photographer And I'm telling you, my character got laid more than anybody else on the show anyway, So that it was yeah, it all worked out. It all worked out great, and it's better not. I think it's better to look better in real life than you do on TV. I just do because then there's less pressure, you know what I mean. Everyone, I was like, wow, you look pretty Rember real life. And there's someone Elizabeth Moss as she gets out all

the time too. I think that's yeah, but more people see you in not real life. That's true. Millions, Well that's true, but I don't. I don't. But they they they don't see me. They see my character, you know what I mean? Yes, like I can see you know what I mean? And and luckily the Office has like an amazing fan base and everybody, you know, even though I played an excident prone slotty drunk like, people still like me. How many years since you've been on that show?

We just it'll be our tenth anniversary that the show ended next month. I can't believe it. Are you closed with everyone? Yeah, we're still on the text for it. I see everybody. We do a lot of fan events and yeah, it's we're we're it's like a definitely connected Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And we had nine seasons together mostly in the same room in the in the main office, so we were

together all the time. That's a. I think it's a guy from a guy from the office that was the top performer on Cameo the app Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Brian plays Kevin. Yeah. Actually I'm the top. I'm the top. I'm one of the top females. Oh you still do it? Oh yeah I do. Um. There was a quote that someone said, Um, I guess it was about Teresa. I

don't know who it was about. Oh no, it was maybe Jacqueline about the two about Chris and Jacqueline that you lose everything and then you get it if you can get it all back, like I finds a person totally totally interesting. Some people do say if I was able to do it once, I could do it again. That's true. True, that's true for some people. It's a

motivator for sure. Yeah. I don't know, Like I don't know that I could do what I did again starting from being nobody and be like I always feel like I overshot the mark, Like, I don't know, do you, I mean, think about it, you think you could go back be a nobody actress? Any Well? I feel like

I was. I feel like I was on a certain trajectory in my twenties and then like my thirties hit and I feel like I got involved with a guy who I shared credit with and I shouldn't have and I had a declared bankruptcy and I slept on couches in York. It was like, oh, I got like the I made some big mistakes. So I feel like any of the momentum that I had, I kind of had

to start over. I mean I did have to start That's why I was still waiting tables when I got the office, because I was like, I'm not going through this again. I'm not just going to quit until I know what to expect. Because a lot of shows though have a season maybe too, but then that's it, you know. So I didn't know if we were gonna get picked up, So I kind of have a little sense of that of the kind of like, okay, you and I knew

no one else could bail me out of it. Like I knew I made some mistakes, and I was the one that was going to have to to build up everything back again. And you know, whatever I lost, I was going to have to figure it out how to how to get it back so I could do it again. Yeah, I do, but but it's different. I wasn't. I wasn't famous. I mean, some people knew me as an actor, but I wasn't. No, that's what I mean to go back. Yeah, I think it's different. Yeah, I mean yeah, I mean maybe,

I don't know. I mean I think I think it's a really good opportunity. I think it's a spiritual opportunity because I think you really figure out who's bullshit in your life and who's not, and you get to let go of the you know that just that the people that suck you dry or criticize you all the time, like you get to pick you get to take care of yourself in a better way. I think, right, you know,

so let's just discuss the Teresa. I don't know how many seasons that show has been, ladies, please tell me, but she's been on that show. So there are women who've been on the show since day one. It's unbelievable. I left twice. Yeah, like yeah, I left the first time after three years, a second time I think after four or five. There were thirteen seeds. She's been on for thirteen years of her life on this freaking show.

It's insane. Well, year she was in prison, so she had a break sorry, yeah, but I'm sure they were coming and they were filming right right and voice yeah, yeah, a lot of conversations for sure. Yeah. And and also sometimes shows do take a break for like six eight months anyway, like maybe when her break was how long was your Office? Nine seasons? So you were on that show, right, So imagine it was all about exposing yourself and every into your life for them, and that I can't imagine.

I'm not I'm not really wired for that. I'm just you know, it's not for you. I'm okay, I mean, I'm yeah, I'm not wired for it either. Believe it. I'm good at it, but I'm not into, like, you know, a daily rectal exam. Why not, Bethany, you want to see give the people what they want. Here is my ass, and I'm showing it to you live watch what happens

up my ass. It's so true. I always say, like, um, I'm always nervous when I feel like I've shown every body my armpit and my underpants, which I sort of got to do on the Office a little bit, but as my character did, so that's a little different. I don't think I could recognize my own armpit by the way in a photo. I don't think I could. I don't know if I like a freckle or a defining

feature on it, but I'm gonna look at it. The second we finished, um so, I was shocked, like Teresa's really famous, Like that's a lot of paparazzi too, Like yeah, like you know outside oj sause poparazzi when you have like totally cameras. Yeah, when you see the cameras on there, there weren't fifty of them, but still, like, I don't think I've ever had cameras on sticks outside summer. I was that's like elite paparazzi stuff. Yeah, I mean maybe it was a slow newsday five in the morning. I

know paparazzi to be very lazy. It's one thing if I'm in Miami and I go take a beach walk at seven in the morning because I'm up early, They're not gonna fucking get me go ten o'clock, they're all there. They're fucking lazy. So so bo Bravo did not spring for like a bunch of cars, like they didn't manufacture any of that. That was all like as it was. I don't remember pop razzi definitely not. Okay, okay, And I just go back to what he said she wasn't

a mom for a year. I mean babies like and you know, Gia is like picking up the mantel, you know, even when like the mom's half hour, she's, mom's gonna be here in half an hour, and she's and the and the one daughter's a sleep in bed, She's like, you gotta get up, like you gotta get dressed. She's like, oh, she brushed her hair. She's she's you know, she's and

she's criticizing Joe's parenting and fixed her mom's hair. And by the way, yeah, I think your mom coming up for prison after your year would mean no school today, right, right, they'd let those kids out for her parent teacher conferences. Half a goddamn day. That's cool. Literally, you get you got half a day off because parents are meeting. Okay, right, Okay. He was just thinking about himself because he was burnt out because wine doesn't work, espresso doesn't work. He kept saying,

oh right, and he can't go out for the day. Right. Do we both think Gia won this episode? Maybe? Yeah, I think she was. She was the sleeper, Like I think I think if you notice what's going on with her, like she had, I think she had the biggest journey through it, you know. I think especially when when when Teresa walks in and the six year old goes to the first and then the other two, and then she is like the last one, and then she's the most upset.

She's like Brian, like she can barely walk to her. Remember that she cut said, well, it's funny you said that, because it was almost like in a TV show, scripted TV show. They were like you go first and then second. The hugs were one at a time. I don't think that it was that. I think that it was absolutely entirely real. I'm just saying, yeah, it was so emotionally intense that it looked like it was a script, like it was perfect in a bad right. No, no, no, yeah,

it was the baby's mom. The baby like no no no filter, like just leaping like a you know, a little baby monkey into her mom's arms and then I know I'm gonna cry. And then each one and every mother must have you know. That's why people love Teresa. That people hate Theresa. She's polarizing, but they love her because she's an Italian mom in Jersey, and one of those kids at a time went and then the last one couldn't keep it like she had to. Like it was like one of those laughs or cries when you

can't it's not even coming out. She just fell apart, yet exactly like she just that was. That was so you know, the ugly cry that she just was she just fell apart. Yeah, And that's the thing about a situation where you're separated from somebody and like you're literally trying to hold it together for all that time, and then when you don't have to anymore, it's like, yeah, I just I just was so moved by that. The wheels was expecting it. I was not expecting to be

moved and I wasn't expecting it either. I thought to myself, this is one of the best episodes in Housewives overall. It was so was the Communion, by the way, the Communion and I decided during this episode, and I bet you it's the same people that produced this in the Communion. I decided without unequivocally like, so listen, I'm Beverly Hills. You got aramis, crocodile bags, you got good cheat and big houses and backyards and like lavish things that you

could show and yes there's drama. Great. I think this is the best one. I think Jersey's the best one, and I agree, And I don't watch it that much because I don't care, Like I don't know how to explain it. I don't need to see these people, and I don't watch that often. But from a reality television show perspective, if you're watching, I think because like Atlanta has like outlandish antics and the fights are so insane,

they're insane. Yeah, and I can't relate, but this seems real, like if it seems like the best reality it seems like yeah, and again like that weird sometimes documentary thing where we're like whoa, Okay, I was not expecting this turn. But also you know, I mean, I feel like I love that city. Had that moment with the facelip, like it cracked me up. Like I just I just feel like it's like a balance, it's more balanced. It's like we go to wackytown and then we come back, we

come back home. You know. It's like there's a real family conflicts. Yeah. Yeah, and then you know, and even when um uh, Chris and Jacqueline were having that party and everyone's coming out. It's just you know, it's like, I don't know, there's something about that they're saying about their house Like that felt like, oh my god, Like that's that's something like the real people do. Talians, Yeah, tallions that have had so many Christmases in that house.

And I love the honesty. I didn't like Jacqueline like making it about her with the letter from jail, like being like the woman like no matter what, Like I feel like the jail card is bigger than like the pregnancy card, Like it's a jail cards, like to get out of free jail card, like to get out of free jail. You're jail for a year. Her. Yeah, she's like he's making about her. I'm like, of course she's

making about her. She's like she's been imprisoned for I mean, like you get if you get the day off from school because your mom's in jail for a year, you get the day off from my conflict. She gets to be she gets to have it, like she gets to win all arguments, she gets her slate clean to get get out of jail free card. She absolutely absolutely And it's like, yeah, how about how about a little like, where's the adult in the room. Really, you're gonna act like a like a like you're in high school. I

mean it doesn't. Yeah, I feel like it doesn't. Yeah, And I wonder people just being dramatic for the camera, Like the producers. Here's what happened. The producers are telling Theresa, you're coming out and you've got a lot of messes to clean up, and you are a woman out. You are a woman without a country. So that's why all the letters that's the equivalent of like when a housewife is giving is doing the roll call of like inviting

people that she doesn't like to a party in her backyard. Like, hey, Jane that I just met two days ago. I know that we um both like French fries, so I thought it'd be grateful and to invite you to my house where we're gonna get cupping and microL needle Like it makes no sense. So this is the producers saying like, you have no fucking friends and you need to come out, and you need this money because you need this check, and they manipulate you in the like you had a

really rough season last year. The audience isn't really with you, so you're gonna have to really do the work and you have to film with these people and be friends. So that's what that's for. But on the other side of it, the people receiving the letters, I don't understand how you're not Like this fucking woman was in jail for a year all I'm there for her. I don't care, like I don't care what she did, Like you can't be in your own head. And the same with Joe

Joe Gorga. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but he seems to want the family to get back together and I don't know how they swung so far to now where he'll be like you you're a fucking garbage But Joe Joe Gorga in the flashbacks, you see him at the communion be like you're fucking piece of garbage shit, like he speaks I know his story. Yeah, no, absolutely no, And it's like it went from zero to three thousand, like But that that pendulum swing though, you know, that's it makes

for interesting housewives, that's for sure. I mean, you know, it's it's fun to watch from a distance. I wouldn't really lost the episode. What's that? Who? Then? Who lost the episode? Um? Maybe it was Joe. I don't know. Well, I feel what you said is that as couples, Melissa and Joe are on stage and they're put on. And I really like Melissa. I think she's nice, I think she's cute. I think she's playing her own Everybody has to play. Everyone's always playing a part, so she's playing

whatever parts is playing. But I think they're put on. And I think the whole like family first and families every it's all like these like mere Italian bumper stickers coming out of Joe Gorger's back at all. Totally never go against the family, and you gotta do it. And he's always giving these fucking Italian pearls a wisdom, so

put him to the side. Then you have Theresa Joe, and I think they get like the authenticity, imperfect gritty award, and I think Jacqueline and Chris get like the vulnerability honesty vulnerability award. Yeah, I completely completely. And you could see, you know, you can see they're they're so emotional about

their son and like just sharing. I mean, and I'm sure they were like really reserved in a sense, but I just I they were a little vulnerable, each one of them in their own way, Like when the when they when the kid was saying, I loved I loved donuts, I love Daddy. I was like, this is like this

is a huge thing. And anybody that has a special needs kid understands like these are these are huge moments in their life when when a kid can suddenly say something that they couldn't say before they learned something new, and yeah, they they're trying to connect and it's just, you know, it's heartbreaking, but it's also like it's so it's love, it's reality. It's like this is where this is the real world. You know it is, but it's

a lot. There's a line because yeah, I'm feeling pained for you know, I know Teresa doesn't want to be always doing that show, and she's married to a guy who I think has some money, but you actually never know because there's a lot of shadiness. And they said he bought the last it's fake CARDI bracelets and God

only knows. But I get the sense she needs to do the show and she felt, especially at this time, that she needed to do the show and they needed her income and he's got to participate and the husbands and the kids on Jersey get paid, not on all the shows. Just so you know, the spouses and kids get paid on New York This fasts and kids didn't get paid on Jersey. They're like characters, which makes it again in different show. They're like a family show, so

it's a different type of show. Right, So you get the sense that Chris and Jacqueline also are on the show and they need the money, like they need the money and it's not the best choice for this journey with their kids. So there's the line and there's the rub. How much do I have to like warm myself out and feel gross about something that's happening, Like I think, like it's like gross. Sometimes you're like this is gross, Like we can again do the guys of it's good

for awareness, but you feel gross. They've all felt gross at some point. Sure, sure, yeah, I I completely understand. I feel gross talking about it sometimes just because I feel like I'm like, it's just like we're really it's a microscope in a someone's life, Like there's no there's no boundaries, and like I sometimes feel like should I be should we be in the room? Will you even be in this room? Oh? Well exactly, that's exactly it. Because you don't want to be in that private moment.

It's a little too private. That's why I said to you though, in this case, when they've got you and when you need the money, you know, like when you're Erica Jane and you've been sued by seventy five people, you got to go back there. And it feels having firsthand experience coming back on my terms with my contract and doing it without my daughter on and with only certain days and doing it with that felt different than if you felt like you had to do it as yes,

and you negotiate differently and all of it. And that's why I'm not there because I don't need to do it. I don't need my money and there's no there's no number. So I also just want to finish on the eggs. I just there was some thing about Joe asking her if she just wanted eggs for breakfast that I like, Yeah, I like Joe DJ in this episode. That's one of the things I want to mention because if it's authenticity.

And I also learned from this episode that when Teresa was asked like, what do you want, I'll make you some eggs, She's like, I want vegetables. I know I haven't had a vegetable. They don't have vegetables in prison. I thought that too, And she wants for breakfast. I bey the vegetables, but they're like canned people, yeah or yeah, or they're just cooked to like like yeah, I guarantee they of iceberg. Sure, sure, but that's not really a vegetable. No, no,

I was gonna say. It's probably that overcooked canned spinach, like the cafeteria's back canned spinach. That's bad. Yeah, the worst I have to say. She she looks pretty good. It's like, I think you go one way or the other in prison. You either start getting like face tattoos or you're working out in your cell. What do I know? I just know from TV and Shaw Shank Redemption. But

prison's tough. Wow. Well, the nice part about this for me is that I get a little of you, like I get him understanding of you, of Laire you live and how many years you were on the show, and that you do the tour and that you have a boyfriend. Like somehow it seeps through. What are you working on now? Uh? Well, right now, I'm on a new cartoon on Disney called Kiff. It just started airing a couple of weeks ago. Have you done cartoons before? I have? I have a I

was on a cartoon network. Um, I did a couple shows. I recurred on Stephen Universe, I did like five episodes, and then I was on a bunch of episodes of Oka Ko. I was a regular on that. Yeah, I've had fun. Are they lucrative? Are they great cartoons? Um? They can be. It's just usually it's just really fun, especially when, like my boyfriend's kids were really big fans of Cartoon Network, so I was excited to be on it when they were actually into it. So that was

And what do you play on KIFF? I play. I play a witch who has um a laundromat called the wish Wash. Wishwah, okay, wish wish. Yeah, it's a wish wash because after your third wash you get a wish. She'll grant your wish. But why would they not? All right, but she's a witch. I don't get it, right, I get it, but I think, all right, we could. I'll call give me their number. I want to talk to them about the why it's not called the witch wash, just if that's okay? But I get it. Um, let

me ask you another question. Uh, are you like a voiceover part? Are you good at that? Like doing voices? I like it. It's fun. Um, I have a good time. I also the other thing I do that I'm gonna do again. Um. Coming to this Christmas I tour with Jane Lynch. We did a Christmas album together and we do a live show like a it's a like a concert, but it's also there's a lot of comedy and it's a situation. I the very first time I ever went to a second city. Jane was understood for somebody, and

then I became her understudy like a year later. Like we we did a lot of shows together in Chicago and like through the years. Um, I took classes there. Oh you're kidding how funny always likes. So you are a comedian first. You don't do stand up though I used to. I used to have a stand up BacT called the lamp Shades. We used to host stand up shows. And I had a show on tv Guide network called stand Up and Stilettos that was that was like twelve years ago, um, and that we're eleven years ago. That

was it's an all female stand up show. So you're always working. You got a lot of stuff going on at all times. I do. I do. I just did an Andy film last week, and like, yeah, I'm always doing. Like yeah, it's I get to do a lot of different things and I really really like that. It's fun. You always how do you need to you get to be home. I'm traveling a lot lately the last couple of years. I'm hosting a big benefit next week at the Screwball for Alzheimer's research on April fifteenth. But yeah,

I feel like I get to do a lot. I you know, sometimes sometimes I sit. I get to sing sometimes, but you know I sing too. Yeah, I sing with Jane Lynch. That's what we do. We do. Oh you're singing. I thought it was something comedy. We do comedy too, but we sing with a jazz bands like a variety show. Uh No, It's like it's like we're like the We're like the rat Pack, but with a couple of bronze. We're like staying with a band and having fun and like is it doing well? Yeah? Yeah, We've been doing

it for like eight years. We've had at the Carlisle and the Kennedy Center. We played all over the all over the country all the time. Yeah, usually Christmas we do a big tour. Well, I'm so happy to meet you.

Like it's you know. One of the best things about this is that I'm very antisocial and I really and this is not like a bit like I don't leave the house unless I have It's just it's like not great, and I tendentally get it made it way worse because like everybody just never needs to leave again, and that was crazy. But so I like meeting new people that I never would have met that I never would have When I saw you on the plane with your daughter, with your baby daughter, I did so did not want

to bother you. I was like, oh my god, Like it's such a private time. And I totally totally got that even if you didn't have your baby, I probably wouldn't have bothered you. But sometimes I get somebody's that I am like, hey, we know, but you know, but I I love what you're doing this And it's really fun to revisit some of these episodes because I it's

done something that I rerun or think to rerun. But now I think I might go back and watch some some more real housewives to New Jersey well, and also the conversation about it is not trashy. We're just like breaking it down and pretac and like attributing it to our own lives. And we've talked about being a mom, like you know, it's not really about like just gossip.

It's about just like human absolutely and growing up into a big family, you know, and like, yeah, seeing seeing those those dynamics because you know, HGTV, everybody wants open concept. If you're from a big family, I want to shut the door. I'm sorry. Yes, if I'm in the kitchen, shut, get out of the kitchen. Get Yeah, I don't want to open I don't I don't want to smell it. Yes, I don't want to see you let me comes really funny, It's true though, I know, always getting sold in the

skill of good. There's gonna be all these houses walls. I'm gonna ask Teresa, like what it really was like, because I feel like she wants to move away from that and not talk about it all. But everybody, really it is her identity in many ways in a positive way because it's strong. So I want to ask her that so and I think she's abroad and she's strong, so anyway, and I guess we have to maybe give

her now. She didn't win the episode because she just came home her daughter, right right, Yeah, I think so, I think so yeah. And she didn't want to dancing with the stars either, but we have the same partners. No, but I don't think she's ever been a great dancer. So I think that's okay, left, like second week two right right right, right, um camp camp, God doesn't give you everything, okay, right right? So awesome. Well, thank you Bethany so much for coming on. I really appreciate it.

Anything you wanted to mention or promoter or no, I just I enjoy your products as a as a person who's a fan of alcohol. Thing. Oh I'm gonna send you forever. Yeah, oh my god. Our Rose just Um is launching now and it won. It got the highest rating in precedent, like unprecedented rating in US history. Like it's not like Skinny Girl was great and it's fun, it's whimsical in my thirties. This is like a legit major wine. So let me put you on the list.

You're not slepping labels on like Ramona. No, No, I never was. I've been in Central pay I've been in say barts for me, I've been like to the vineyard, I've been to the winery. Um the woman. Okay, good, I'm putting you on the list so you'll get Oh you're so sweet, thank you. Oh my gosh, I didn't get you anything. Oh my god, you're the best. You don't need to. It's amazing. It's an amazing wine. You'll be obsessed. It's called Forever Young. Oh my gosh, so

love it. I'm gonna give you a dundee if you're not an Oh, I want one? That What do you mean? That's big? Pause, gonna be I want that. That's like perfect, that's like getting like you really are. You could give me one. I'll work on it. How did you get my people to you? Yeah, all right, we'll see. It's not a promise, that's not binding. You'll see what happens. Awesome. Thank you so much, Thank you so much, Bath that you're the best. Thank you, bye bye bye. Uh. That

was amazing. I loved it, and um god, I love the show because I love the things that we are extracting, like we that it that it came out that this is more like a documentary because I couldn't place it, like I couldn't place what was going on and why it was different, and it felt authentic, and I do stand behind I think it's the best of all the

housewives for that reason. Doesn't mean I watch it, because I don't watch any of them, but there's something about it that's really gritty, really authentic, really real, not glossy and polished, and they're really family and it's not fake friendships. And what a fucking crazy situation. Someone came out of prison that we know who has kids, Like Jesus, that was insane.