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The Real World: New York's / Homecoming's Andre Comeau (On First Season, Current Homecoming Season & Being a Reality TV OG) Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

This is the true story…of seven strangers…picked to live in a house…(work together) and have their lives taped…to find out what happens…when people stop being polite…and start getting real… On that note, Andre Comeau from the original grandaddy of them all, The Real World: New York, steps Behind The Rope. THE show that changed, introduced, formed and revolutionized Reality TV. We start at the beginning by asking the question, just how did Andre get cast on the first ever Real World in NYC and what was casting like way back when. With no prior reality show to look to, we discuss how he knew what to do when the cameras started rolling - he didn’t. With no predecessor to look to, we discuss how this makes the Real World, New York, Season One possibly the most authentic reality TV show ever. Andre discusses what he thought the show could do for his up and coming rock band, how he was able to get used to cameras around 24/7, the influence of producers back then, and what he thought of his edit once the show aired. Andre discusses what MTV was like back in the day when it was the channel that played music all day and how he thought the Real World would maybe be a little show that a few people watched. On that note, we talk about how life suddenly changed once the show aired and became a multigenerational blockbuster of supreme magnitude. We discuss his house mates Eric, Julie, Norman, Heather, Kevin, and Becky and the groundbreaking issues they dealt with way ahead of “their time” such as racism, sexuality, The AIDS crisis. Andre opens up about the aftermath of being in the spotlight, the identity crisis he suffered, the highs and lows of the entertainment business and how to navigate it successfully and come out the other side. Flash forward 29 years, MTV comes a’ callin’ and Andre finds himself back in the same loft for an epic 6 episode arc, The Real World Homecoming: New York. Andre chats about how much has changed, how much has stayed the same, what it was like to see everyone again, the re-heated confrontation between Becky and Kevin over the issue of racism, and just how much the original holds up in the world we live in today.

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RHONJ's Kim D. (on Teresa, Melissa, Joe Giudice, Current Cast/Season & the Legacy of RHONJ) Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

Kim D. steps Behind The Rope. Yes THAT Kim from The Real Housewives of New Jersey seasons past. She plays with the big boys and is here to tell us all about it. A close personal friend of David’s, Kim is here to chat about it all. Let us start at the beginning. Born and raised in New Jersey (is anyone shocked?), Kim opens up about her childhood and “the lifestyle” she was exposed to at a young age. Yes, we are talking about the M-O-B. Flash forward to Season Two of RHONJ and the world got to meet Kim D, not to be confused with that other Kim, Kim G, (yes that are often confused) and the world has never been the same since. Miss D reminisces about her time on the show. That time includes those iconic Posche Fashion shows which often ended in brawls, table flips, police, hair pulls and lawsuits. You know, just an average day in the Jerz. Of course, she chats about her on and off camera conflict with both Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga and the status of those two relationships today. What about that recent night David and Kim ran into Melissa and Joe Gorga out in Fort Lee, NJ? Say whaat? Kim also chats about her past and current relationships with some of RHONJ’s finest Dolores Catania, Siggy Flicker, Kathy Wakile, Jaqueline Laurita, Danielle Staub, Caroline Manzo and Dina Manzo. Speaking of Dina Manzo, Kim weighs in on the recent charges filed and ongoing case against Dina Manzo’s ex-husband’s and its alleged Mob Ties. Kim also weighs in on Joe Giudice’s new life in Italy, including his new girlfriend, and the current cast, we have a lot to say about you Jennifer Aydin, and season of RHONJ. We cannot even and we are only getting started.

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Inside Jen Shah's Shahrested, Erika & Tom Girardi Divorce, Britney Conservatorship - w/ Attny Emily D. Baker Apr 10, 2021

Show notes

Jen Shah has been arrested. Shahrested! - as the kids say. Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi are getting a divorce. Erika and Tom Girardi have all sorts of legal battles they are currently engaged in. Britney Spears is in a conservatorship which has caused the world to chant the slogan, ‘Free Britney”. So many legal issues, so little time. Former LA Prosecutor Emily D. Baker, steps Behind The Rope to help us make sense of it all (despite the fact that David is an attorney, Emily has been call in as the expert!). Emily and David discuss the rumored events of how Jen Shah’s arrest went down - Federal Agents pulling over a van full of Salt Lake Housewives en route to Colorado - and the process needed to secure a Federal indictment and subsequent arrest. Emily then translates the federal charges into layman’s terms explaining what conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering actually means. Emily breaks down what happens now that Jen has plead non-guilty, what the next few weeks look like for her, the looming Trial in October, the “other” 10 indicted back in 2019, Jen Shah’s moniker as “top dog” in the alleged scheme, the rapid rate at which this case is moving and stability of her job on RHOSLC. Shifting gears, Emily highlights the key points in the Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi case - the divorce, the forced bankruptcy, the ongoing criminal investigation, Tom’s conservatorship and Alzheimer’s / Dementia claims and last, but certainly not least, Erika’s bizarre behavior on her Instagram account. Regarding both Jen and Erika, we discuss how likely it is that we will really see this all play out during next seasons RHOSLC and RHOBH respectively. Finally, while we have legal guru expert Emily D. Baker, we couldn’t help but end with a chat about the one and only Miss Britney Jean Spears - her conservatorship, the real chances of it ever ending, and what we predict the future looks like her. Thank you Emily. We must do this again soon!

Out TODAY on our Patreon account - so head on over to https://www.patreon.com/behindthevelvetrope

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Yvie Oddly (on Winning Drag Race & So Much More!) Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

Yvie Oddly steps Behind The Rope. RuPaul’s Drag Race Season Eleven Winner, Yvie Oddly. Checking in her from her home in Colorado, Yvie is here to tell it all. Let us start at the beginning. Yvie talks about her first drag performance, how Sharon Needles was an early influence, how she developed her “out of the box” style and fashion and how she chose her iconic name. After winning the Ultimate Queen of Denver Pageant, Yvie realized she was ready for the next step in her drag career. Drag Race. Yvie discusses the influence Drag Race, and RuPaul, had on her life as a Baby Drag Queen, as she watched on her TV each season before applying. Once chosen for Season Eleven, one of fifteen contestants, Yvie chipped away at the competition week after week after week until she was the last one left standing. Yvie discusses Drag Race judges Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews. Yvie also discusses guest judges Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Kandi Burruss and Miley Cyrus and her thoughts on each. She also discusses what filming, the competitions and RuPaul were really like on and off camera. Yvie open up about how life changed as a result of winning Drag Race both personally and professionally. On a deeper level Yvie discusses “celebrity culture”, social medial and what life as a public figure is really like. We discuss the “business” side of Drag. The Werk the World Tour, and DragCon. Yvie shares a rare look into her personal life with her future lawyer of a boyfriend, having celebrated their one year anniversary a few months ago. Finally, Yvie chats about her new full-length rap album “Drag Trap” - how and why it was made, her musical influences, and “why” do music now. Tune in for a fun, nothing held back, epic sit down with the Iconic always true to herself Miss Yvie Oddly.

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RHONJ's Amber Marchese (Catching Up With / Current RHONJ Season) Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Amber Marchese steps Behind The Rope. Amber pours herself some wine and takes us back to the beginning. The beginning for her, as it relates to The Real Housewives of New Jersey, is her past friendship with Melissa Gorga, prior to Melissa becoming a RHONJ. Way back when, prior to Joe Gorga, back when we were all young, Amber was friends with Melissa. She remembers when Melissa was first cast and what that did for her relationship with Sister In Law Teresa Giudice. We discuss how Amber first got involved in casting, what Jim thought about her potential on RHONJ, and how she was ultimately cast. Having never watched the show before, Amber didn't know what to expect with filming, editing, producer involvement, interacting with the other women and the after math of how life would change once the show aired. She talks about “The Twins” and why she thinks her Infamous Season Six of the hit franchise was “off”. We discuss the cardinal mistakes she thinks she made as a part of the show and how she thinks to survive on RHONJ it is important to be align with Mel or Tre. Speaking of Mel and Tre, Amber discusses the positives and negatives of each and what her current relationships with both are today. She gives a full critique of "On Display” and discusses her thoughts on other current RHONJ cast members Dolores Catania, Margaret Josephs, Jen Aydin and Jackie Goldschneider. We also discuss her opinions on RHONJ past Kim D., Kathie Wakile, Siggy Flicker, and Danielle Staub. Amber opens up about the very public falling out with her stepson, the origins of that fallout and whether it related to his sexuality (Amber speaks her truth), the involvement of Lance Bass, his husband Michael Turchin, Andy Cohen, and her true thoughts on the LGBTQIA community. Amber discusses the effect this very public dispute has had on her family and the hate she receives both in person and on social media. We foreshadow the current RHONJ season as it plays out. Finally, Amber discusses the joy of being a cancer survivor and what is next for her in life. Hint: Not Housewives.

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Tiffany Rinehart - Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List Assistant (A Chat About It All!) Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

Tiffany Rinehart steps Behind The Rope. Ok, ok you probably know her as Kathy Griffin's assistant from that little show called My Life on the D-List. Now a Google employee, thanks to a phone reference by Kathy Griffin herself, Tiffany (now married and Tiffany Helzer) takes us back to the beginning. After graduating college, a huge NSYNC fan, her main goal in life was to meet Justin Timberlake. Instead, she did the next best thing, she got a job working with Kathy Griffin, which led her to meeting and becoming friends with Lance Bass. Her first day on the job involved picking Kathy up at the airport. That worked out well and the rest is history. Not so fast. Tiffany tells us how she was thrown into filming “My Life on the D-List” as a result of working for Kathy, how she eventually got used to the cameras and how surreal it was having grown up on Reality TV classics such as The Real World, The Hills and Laguna Beach. Tiffany tells us Kathy's biggest pet peeve and highest maintenance demands. Of course, there was that one time Tiffany accidentally shipped all of Kathy's clothes to the wrong address. Whops. Then there was that one time she had to have pizza delivered to Cher’s house in Malibu. When Cher called, Kathy went running all the way from her Hollywood Hills home to Cher’s Malibu compound and Kathy didn’t just go running for anyone. Speaking of Cher, David and Tiffany bond over Cher having both met and spent time with the Goddess IRL. As far as celebrities go, Tiffany sure met a lot during her tenure of working for Kathy. We do a fast round of gossip on each: Paris Hilton, Tyra Banks, Bette Midler, Suzanne Somers, and TI. We also discuss Tiffany’s “secret society” circle of Celebrity Assistant Friends which included not only Lance Bass, and the frequent game nights at his house, but also Christina Applegate, Goldie Hawn, and Queen Bethenny Frankel’s assistants. Of course being an assistant has it perks, flying first class, five star hotels, private planes and attending the NBC Upfronts where she met Teresa Giudice and The Manzo’s Caroline, Lauren and Albie. Of course, we discuss one of Kathy’s biggest comedic inspirations Joan Rivers and what traveling to London with Kathy and Joan Rivers was like. Finally, we discuss Kathy’s entanglement in “Cancel Culture”, how that ultimately led to her fall out with both Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper, how Andy Cohen was a “Boss” to work for, and what being a guest on Watch What Happens Live (Tiffany was the Bartender) was really like. This plus much more!

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Laguna Beach's Alex Murrel (on Laguna Beach, The Hills, Very Cavallari, RHOC) - Part II Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

Laguna Beach’s Alex Murrel Johnson, otherwise know as Alex M, Steps Back Behind The Rope (our Part I sit down with Alex M aired January 13, 2021. Feel free to check it out if you haven’t already done so.) Alex wastes no time getting right back in to where we left off - talking about all things Laguna Beach and Reality TV. Alex opens up about what it was like to watch her friends on those “other” reality shows in the franchise, The Hills, The Hills: New Beginnings and Very Cavallari for years after she was no longer on Laguna Beach. Speaking of The Hills: New Beginnings, Alex discusses her thoughts about the show, including the casting of The O.C’s Miss Mischa Barton. Speaking of Very Cavallari, Alex divulges her thoughts about Kristen’s recent breakup with Jay Cutler and decision to end her successful reality show after only three seasons. Obviously, no discussion of Orange County would be complete without a nod to our favorite RHOC ladies. Alex discusses which of our fav Orange County Housewives she knows in real life and who she likes most on the show. Alex even has a funny tie to OG of the OC Lauri Peterson. We certainly did not see that coming. Orange Country really is just a small world, isn’t it? We also discuss that other current Adam DiVello blockbuster, Selling Sunset, how it feels and looks like The Hills and how everything Adam touches in the world of Reality TV turns to gold. Alex discusses other real life Southern California friends like Flipping Out’s Jeff Lewis. Do tell. She does. Alex ponders whether she will show her children Laguna Beach and what would she say if they came to her wanting to film a reality show while still in High School. Finally, we address the recent viral OG Season One Laguna Beach reunion that Lauren Conrad organized and why she thinks, Laguna Beach, Season Two, should also have been included. Tune in now as our Part II chat with Laguna Beach’s Alex Murrel Johnson concludes.

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Rachel Uchitel (on Putting Her Past Behind Her, RHONY, Wendy Williams Appearance & Seeking) Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

Rachel Uchitel steps Behind The Rope. Hot off her recent Wendy Williams appearance, yes we discuss how Wendy “came for her” and whether Wendy owes her an apology, Rachel is here to open up about it all. Let us start at the beginning. Yes, for those living under a rock, she was once the “face” of 911 and tied to Tiger Woods. Those are facts that can’t be denied, but there is much more to Rachel Uchitel than meets the eye. Okay fine, we chat about the recent HBO Documentary on his life, which she was a part of, the scary car crash which he just suffered, and how just for once it would be nice to have an interview where a certain someone’s name doesn’t come up. Rachel expresses her feelings about the fact that her past keeps coming up ten years later in interviews, explains the biggest misconceptions about her, dishes the real truth about her life that the media got all wrong and how hard it was, at its height, to live with intense media scrutiny once her relationship was outed. In other words, what it was like being trolled - before that was a thing. Now that we got that out of the way, we move on to all else that Rachel has going on in her life. As we said, there is much more to Rachel than, um, something that is ten long years in the past. Of course we chat with Rachel about those Real Housewives of New York City rumors about her joining the cast that surface every season - how true are they, how close has she come to joining, who she is closest with on the cast, what type of RHONY would she be, who would she fight with, and just what is the real deal with her past, present and future relationship with our fav RHONY playboy and friend, Harry Dubin. We come clean with Rachel about our sit down chat with her “frenemy” from Celeb Rehab, Janice Dickinson, some of the past boys she has been, either correctly or incorrectly linked to - yes Ryan Seacrest we are talking to you, and what exactly is her type. Rachel is now the face of popular dating website “Seeking”. She sheds light on how this position came about, the misconceptions associated with this website, how rewarding these “up front” and “honest” relationships can be, how sugar dating is different than escorting, how she is helping the company rebrand, how she hopes she can truly help people find love on line though his newly appointed partnership and, of course, which of our fav RHONY would likely find love on the website.

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SHAHRESTED!! (Breaking It Down w/ Former Federal Defense Atty Trisha LaFache) Apr 03, 2021

Show notes

Jen Shah has been arrested on federal fraud charges in connection to a nationwide telemarking scam. If you are a Bravo fan, you have heard this news. If you are someone who watches the news or reads the paper, you have heard this news. You have all talked about this news. Gossiped about this news. Today we are joined by expert, Former Federal Defense Attorney Trisha LaFache, to help break it all down. The fact that David is also a lawyer certainly doesn't hurt as these two discuss it all.

First, we chat about the "rumored" events of Jen leaving the RHOSLC cast trip leaving the women to be pulled over by Federal Authorities, all apparently caught on camera by Bravo. Trisha explains just how the Feds work, explains how a Federal case differs from a state one, and just how likely it is that this ACTUALLY happened. Oh wait, you mean all these rumors being spread around ClubHouse and on IG lives may actually not be true? Shocking. Yea, read our sarcasm

Next, Trisha explains the charges in layman's terms, how likely it is that Jen would receive the maximum sentence of 30 years, and what happens next.

Having defended many many many Jen Shah's in her lifetime, Trisha chats about the mindset of someone like Jen Shah who allegedly ends up in a nationwide telemarking scam, what goes through their mind and how they act once arrested.

Finally, Trisha explains what will likely happen next, how this will affect her role on RHOSLC and relationship with the other cast members and Bravo, and how likely it is we will see any of this next season when our fav snow bunnies return for Season Two.

Have the past few days been confusing to you trying to make sense of it all, decipher what is real versus fabricated? This is THE episode you have been waiting for all week.

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Lisa D'Amato (America's Next Top Model - Tells All on Tyra, The Show, & Shark Tank) - Part II Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

Lisa D’Amato, from America’s Next Top Model, steps Behind The Rope. For everyone who has not heard our Part I chat with Lisa, feel free to check it out on January 19, 2021. Holding nothing back, Lisa is here to tell - it - all!. Lisa D'Amato - Fan Fav from Cycle Five of the hit Reality Show America's Next Top Model, competing for the affection and approval of one Miss Tyra Banks. Lisa chats about what living in the model house was really like, the competitiveness of her fellow model contestants and the pressure she felt from producers while filming. She chats about ANTM judges Miss J, Nigel Barker, Twiggy and last, but certainly not least, Janice Dickinson as well as about Creative Director Jay Manuel. Lisa confirms and debunks many of the vicious rumors heard over the years about the tension on the set and the “my way or the highway” rumored attitude of Tyra Banks. Leaving no detailed spared, Lisa explains how she felt she was treated by Tyra and Producers, the good, the bad, the other. There was a lot of bad and a lot of other. We discuss! She chats about her status as “fan favorite” once the show aired, largely in part due to her outspoken nature. That outspoken nature found her back on ANTM, this time "All Stars”, Cycle Seventeen, which she won. She chats about how life changed as a result of winning ANTM and what came next. That next eventually included her Dare-U-Go! product pitch on Shark Tank, where she got a deal with the one and only Miss Barbara Corcoran. She takes us behind the scenes of Shark Tank and all the shenanigans taking place behind the scenes off camera.

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