BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

Latest Episodes:

Sirius XM's Jenny Hutt (on IRL friendships with Bethenny Frankel, Martha Stewart, Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand & More) Jan 22, 2021

Show notes

Jenny Hutt steps Behind The Rope. Let us start at the beginning. Jenny was born in Roslyn, Long Island to Charles & Bunny Koppelman. A “big wig” in the record industry, her Dad knew them all. By all, we mean he worked with the likes of Barbara Streisand, Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Vanilla Ice. Jenny grew up going on vacations with Barbara Streisand and “hanging out” with Dolly Parton. Obsessed with Rap Music at a young age, RUN DMC played at her Sweet Sixteen Party and The Beastie Boys were also in attendance. Remember the MTV Show “My Super Sweet 16”? Ok, you get the idea. After college Jenny went to Law School, before accepting a position as her Dad’s executive assistant for his newly found position as Chairman and Right Hand Man to Martha Stewart at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. It was at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia that Martha’s daughter Alexis befriended her and decided, hey, we are going to have a radio show together. For the next several years, Jenny and Alexis hosted “Whatever with Alexis & Jennifer” at SiriusXM. That Radio show led to a TV Show on the Hallmark Chanel of the same name where they interviewed a variety of guests such as national treasure Paula Abdul. It was also during this time that Martha and Jenny’s Dad starred on a little known reality show called “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart”. Jenny couldn’t believe her eyes when one of her college friends was a contestant on the show, Miss Bethenny Frankel. Jenny enlightens us with what Bethenny was like in college and how even way back when, she was determined to know and have it all. Jenny has a funny story about Bethenny selling motorcycles in Europe. Yup, always the hustler, even back then. Regarding the radio show, one day Alexis was “over it” and the show ended, leaving Jenny to form her own stellar SiriusXM Radio Show “Just Jenny”. Jenny talks to us about some of her favorite guests such as Kerry Washington, Rob Lowe and, oh yea, she was able to connect with childhood “friend” Dolly Parton for a formal sit down interview. Finally, we discuss her brilliant invention, Bunny Eyez, the flippable, tiltable, wearable reading glasses, discuss whether she would ever take that invention on Shark Tank and of course, discuss once of life’s most important questions, which shark would you chose to invest. An episode not to be missed.

@justjennyhutt

@bunnyeyez

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@davidyontef

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VICKI GUNVALSON (The OG of the OC) - Tells All! Jan 21, 2021

Show notes

The OG of the OC Miss Vicki Gunvalson steps Behind The Rope. First Vicki fills us all in on what she has been up to since we last saw her on our TV screens. For those of you who don’t know, she bought a house in Mexico, had a stellar Whoop It Up Podcast (which BTVR appeared on), has been running Coto Insurance, and has just been enjoying time with her family (Steve, Michael, Brianna, Ryan & The Boys). Vicki and David discuss the trajectory of being a Housewife - the beginning (so hopeful), the middle (save your $), the inevitable end (Cue The Five Stages of grief). We discuss the concept of resigning and quitting versus being fired and let go. Vicki lets us know what advice she would give, not only to Season One Vicki, but other Housewives starting out and what she has learned throughout the years during her tenure on the hit Bravo show. Speaking of the beginning, Vicki and David discuss how much the show has changed since the beginning - the salaries, the vacations, the women, the drama! We discuss the involvement of producers and editing throughout the years and the concept of “reality” as it exists, or lack thereof, in any reality TV show these days. Vicki opens up about her highs and lows during her fourteen years on the show. We discuss the evolution of her relationships that we saw play out on national TV - Don, Brooks, Steve. Vicki discusses her relationships with Kelly Dodd (where she thinks it all went wrong), Tamra Judge (going strong), Shannon Beador (can it be repaired?) as well as RHOC past Jeana Keough, Meghan King Edmonds, Heather Durbrow and Alexis (“Jesus Jugs”) Bellino. Vicki is honest about what she misses the most about Housewives and answers the age old question, would you ever go back? Finally, no sit down with The OG of the OC would be complete without a trip down memory lane regarding some of Vicki’s most iconic moments - the State of Oklahoma. Slade Smiley’s infamous comment and her plastic surgeries throughout the years, Lauri Peterson’s Ski Slope “multiple partners” and of course, last but certainly not least, just how many people can you fit into a family van?

@vickigunvalson

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@davidyontef

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Julie Goldman & Brandy Howard (The People's Couch) on Pump Rules, Housewives & More! - Part II Jan 20, 2021

Show notes

Julie Goldman and Brandy Howard from Bravo’s The People’s Couch step back Behind The Rope (Part I of our sit down aired December 8, 2020 - feel free to check it out). Julie and Brandy get right into it. They talk about how they went from being cast members on The People Couch to official hosts of The Vanderpump Rules After Show. Of course we needed all the details on the many Pump Rules guests on their show - Jax, James, Kristen, Brittany, Lala and of course, the Queen herself, LVP. They discuss how you prepare to interview LVP and Giggy and what the set was like the days Lisa & Giggy were there. They also explain what it was like to hang with the Pump kids in a social setting. Do tell. They do. They discuss their multiple appearances on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen plus their appearances on Radio Andy. There was also this one time prior to all this that they attended an Andy Cohen book signing! On a more serious note, Brandy opens up about the dark period she fell into after The People’s Couch ended and how her and Julie reinvented themselves as the hosts of the Dumb Gay Politics Podcast, a podcast for people who know nothing about politics, aka politics made fun. To start their podcast, they did what any other self respecting host of The Vanderpump Rules After Show would do. They reached out to Stassi to ask her advice on how to Podcast (I guess we weren’t available). Finally, us Bravo aficionados talk about the evolution of Bravo throughout the years and how the network we know and love today has come a long way since the Bravo of yesteryear.

@mrjuliegoldman

@peeweethepeoplescouch

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Lisa D'Amato (America's Next Top Model - Tells All on Tyra, The Show, & Shark Tank) - Part I Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

Lisa D’Amato, from America’s Next Top Model, steps Behind The Rope. Holding nothing back, Lisa is here to tell it all. Starting her modeling career at the young age of twelve, Lisa learned many of the tricks of the trade, which would later help her when she applied to America’s Next Top Model on a dare. That worked out well and Lisa soon found herself on Cycle Five of the hit Reality Show, 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 abut 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.

@lisa_damato

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@davidyontef

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Vicky Vox (on Drag Race, RuPaul, Real Housewives and Filming with Patti Stanger) - Part II Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

Vicky Vox steps Back Behind The Rope (Part I of our sit down aired on December 4th, 2020. Feel free to check it out. Vicky came directly from Kelly Osbourne’s birthday party, a little hungover, to dish it all!). Vicky originally decided to do Drag because she needed the $50 pay day that came along with the job. She got herself some clothes and heels, picked her name, and the rest is history. Quickly adopted, shortly thereafter, by Drag Mother Detox, the two have been fast friends ever since. That friendship saw Detox through her star turn on RuPaul’s Drag Race. That friendship also saw Detox, one fateful night, as she was the lucky bidder of the infamous nightly several thousand dollar Madonna Madame X Polaroid. Congrats Detox. Vicky discusses the pressure Drag Queens feel today to participate as a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race and how the “younger generation” of Drag wannabes grow up knowing no other world. Vicky also discusses RuPaul, her history and origins and place in the Drag Community today. Vicky opens up about a career high when she was nominated in the same category as Broadway Legend Patti LuPone for her role as Audrey II in the hit West End production of Little Shop of Horrors. Vicky also shares a love of all things Real Housewives. Being a proper LA girl, she is eager to discuss real life experiences with and thoughts on Lisa Vanderpump, her restaurants and the Sur staff. Vicky also discusses her favorite Housewife Cities, one of her namesakes Miss Victoria Gunvalson, the current state of affairs in Potomac, and that one time she filmed an episode of Bravo’s “Millionaire Matchmaker” with Patti Stanger. Listen in as our Part II sit down with Vicky Vox comes to a conclusion.

@thevickyvox

@doinggreatpod

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Gregory Zarian (on RHONJ, RHOBH, Revenge, Nip/Tuck, The OC & More!) Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

Gregory Zarian steps back Behind The Rope (For everyone who hasn’t heard, our Part I sit down with Gregory Zarian aired December 29th, 2020. Feel free to check it out). Picking up right where we left off, Gregory chats about his Soap Opera career which started with “Days of Our Lives” and included fan fav role Julius on “General Hospital”. Speaking of daytime TV, Gregory chats about his recent Emmy nomination, for his role on “Venice the Series”, a role that deals with bullying, something near and dear to Gregory and David, having both grown up having been bullied. On the topic of TV, we need Gregory’s hot takes from his guest star roles on many of our favorites: Nip/Tuck, Revenge, 90210, The OC, and last, but certainly not least, Westworld. We discuss what it was like on set of each of those shows and, of course, in typical Rope fashion, we need all the juicy details. Ryan Murphy, Emily VanCamp, Evan Rachel Wood, Donna Mills… we discuss it all! We also discuss his recurring role on CSI as well as his dream role in ShondaLand on the juggernaut that is Grey’s Anatomy. Of course, all roads lead to Real Housewives. With the new season of RHONJ almost upon us, we chat with Gregory about the woman he calls “Mom”, the one, the only Kathy Wakile. Gregory recounts how he met Kathy, the New York Fashion fashion show they “attended” with Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley (we told you we had Housewives fodder to discuss), and just how they became “family”. He also talks about some of his other east coast Jerz friends and run ins, Margaret Josephs, Dolores Catania and Danielle Staub. Heading west, let us not forget that Gregory lives in LA and travels in the same circles as the likes of Lisa Rinna, Denise Richards, Eileen Davidson. He also fills us in on the fact that his Dad, Larry Zarian, was BFFS with Robert Kardashian. Say whaaat? Way to burry the lead Gregory. A pop culture lovers dream when these two - David and Gregory - sit down to name drop it all. Tune in as Part II of our sit down with Gregory Zarian continues and concludes.

@gregoryzarian

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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RHONY's HEATHER THOMSON (Checking In!) Jan 14, 2021

Show notes

Heather Thomson steps Behind The Rope. Checking in from her Berkshires home, Heather is here to tell it all. Let us start at the beginning, Season Five of The Real Housewives of New York City. One day, Heather got a call from a casting agent and, well, the rest is history. Heather discusses what it was like back in the day in the groundbreaking season when the first ever major cast shake up took place seeing several OG’s be replaced by a new crop. Heather was one of these “new crop” Housewives, along with Aviva Drescher and Carole Radziwill. Heather chats about what it was like to film having never really watched the show and what it was like to be “inducted” by The Singer Stinger. Heather discusses just how far The Housewives Franchise has come from six years ago when we last saw her on our television sets as a full time cast member and how social media now plays a huge role, for better or worse, in the show and the drama that goes along with being a Real Housewife. Heather discusses some of the most iconic moments that took place during her tenure on RHONY such as “Take a Xanax”, “Be Cool, Don’t Be All Uncool”, and that infamous Le Cirque Leg Toss. We touch upon Heather’s final season as a cast member, the introduction of one Dorinda Medley and the return of one Bethenny Frankel. Heather opens up about how the presence of Bethenny Frankel on set changed the mood and vibe and how the women really reacted behind the scenes to her return. Speaking of Bethenny Frankel, Heather discusses her thoughts on the on-line “hate” Bethenny has received from having certain guests on her Podcast and the advice she has for Bethenny who, maybe, does “know it all”. Heather is happy to discuss her stellar new Podcast, “In My Heart”, no really, it is great, check it out and let's us know the last time she spoke to Diddy and the rest of the Bad Boy Fam. Finally, we discuss Heather’s much publicized lunch with Luann de Lesseps and Ramona Singer and Eboni Williams’ cryptic Instagram post to “meet” your RHONY Season 13 Cast, which happen to include a picture of Heather. Yes, we got to the bottom of that and will Heather be holding an apple when RHONY Season 13 premieres later this year. Holla, this Mama is back and ready to spill it all.

@iamheathert

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Laguna Beach's Alex Murrel (on Laguna Beach, The Hills, RHOC, & Dating Nick Carter) - Part I Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

Laguna Beach’s Alex Murrel Johnson, otherwise know as Alex M, Steps Behind The Rope. Yup, Laguna Beach. One of the granddaddy’s of them all, or as we like to say, one of the best reality shows to ever exist. Alex explains what it was like to be a student at Laguna Beach High School when MTV came knocking on its door with the concept for a reality show that followed the lives, and interrelationships, of some of Orange County’s more “interesting” students. We discuss the casting process, the reactions from students who were “left out”, the reaction from the school’s administration and what Alex’s parents thought about their daughter joining the cast. Alex explains what it was like to “film” with very few reality shows, other than shows like The Real World, existing at the time. She also discusses how she felt with her “bit*h” edit once she watched the show back as the season aired. Alex also discusses what it was like to gain instant fame overnight and how life changed once that fame, and money, started to roll in. Of course, we also discuss her Laguna Beach colleagues Lauren Conrad, Jason Wahler, Stephen Colletti and Kristin Cavallari. We discuss what our fav Laguna Beach students were like way back when, and the status of each of these relationships today. Alex discusses what life was like once her time on the show ended and she moved to LA, where she initially spent a lot of time hanging out in the clubs with other friends, including some of our favorite Hill’s cast members, Audrina Patridge, Heidi Montag, Brody Jenner and Spencer Pratt. During her time in Los Angeles she also partied with Celebs like Paris Hilton and Aaron Carter. Speaking of Aaron Carter, she briefly dated Backstreet Boy Nick Carter. Say whaaaat? Being a fan of Reality TV herself, Alex & David discuss just how much reality TV has changed since the early days of MTV. Finally, we answer the age old question, just how “real” was Laguna Beach / The Hills. Tune in now to our Part I chat with Alex Murrel.

@alexmurrel

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Izzy Wouters (on Below Deck Current Season & her Viral Coming Out!!) - Part II Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Below Deck’s Izzy Wouters steps back Behind The Rope (if you haven’t heard our Part I, feel free to check it out, airdate January 5th, 2021). Current Season Eight Deckhand, Izzy Wouters. Picking up right where we left off, Izzy breaks down many of situations we have seen play out all season on Below Deck and gives us her opinion on whether they were handled correctly or not. Of course, she also gives us her opinion on her other fellow cast mates Elizabeth Frankini, Rachel Hargrove, James Hough, Ashling Lorger, Sunshine Shane (shout out to Sustainability) and last, but certainly not least, Captain Lee. In recent news, if you have not heard, Izzy recently “came out”! After welcoming her to The Family, we chat about what that process was like, answer the question why now, discuss whether the fact that Below Deck is now airing affected her decision regarding timing, chat about whether she confided in anyone from the Below Deck cast during or after filming, the public’s reaction both in the media and in her DMs and who from the BravoVerse she has heard from since the big announcement. Sorry, we are excited. Moving on, Izzy opens up about how she feels the season went, the best and worst parts of working aboard Valor and filming the Below Deck TV show, who she regularly keeps in touch with from past and current cast and what is the first thing she plans to do once the world opens back up. Tune in now as our Part II chat with Izzy Wouters continues and concludes.

@izzywouters

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Bob The Drag Queen (Drag Race Winner tells all) Jan 11, 2021

Show notes

Bob The Drag Queen steps Behind The Rope. Season Eight Winner. Yes, THAT Bob The Drag Queen. Originally from the South, the son of a Mom who owned a Drag Bar (yup, we are completely jealous), Bob is here to tell it all. We start at the beginning - just how did Bob come up with the Iconic “Bob The Drag Queen” name. We discuss the legendary New York City Drag Scene where Bob got his start (shout out to Barracuda Lounge) coming up the ranks alongside fellow NYC and RuPaul’s Drag Race legends Peppermint and Bianca Del Rio. Bob fills us in on how and why he decided to join Drag Race, what his season was like, fellow Season Eight Queens, RuPaul, and who his favorite judge was - Carson, Michelle or Ross. Bob also discusses Drag Race Guest Judges Nicole Richie, Gigi Hadid, Debbie Harry, Marc Jacobs and Vivica A. Fox. Do tell. Bob does. Bob opens up about what winning Drag Race meant and how life changed as a result thereafter. How life changed includes many many projects confirming that Bob has had, and is having, a MAJOR moment since Drag Race ended. These projects include the phenomenal MTV Show “Drag My Dad”, The “Sibling Rivalry” Podcast with BFF and Drag Race All Stars Winner Monet X. Change, HBO’s First Ever NonScripted - and Emmy Nominated - Series “We’re Here” (Yup, it was just green lit for a second season) and the brand new comedy special Bob The Drag Queen: Live at Carolines.

@bobthedragqueen

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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