BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE

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Peaches Christ (on Drag Race, RuPaul, & Being a Drag Legend!) - Part I Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

Peaches Christ steps Behind The Rope. Legendary Drag Performer, Peaches Christ, that is. Born Joshua Grannell, Peaches takes us back to the beginning and what it was like growing up in a suburban Maryland town with a love of all things “alternative” - Horror Films, The Macabre, John Waters, Depeche Mode and The Pet Shop Boys, to name a few. That “alternative” also came with an early Queer Identity, which Peaches combined with her love of film, to enter film school. It was during her senior thesis at this film school that Peaches Christ was born. After film school, Peaches ultimately settled in San Francisco and voila her famed Midnight Mass live movie / drag/ musical extravaganza began. It shortly thereafter became a thing, a big thing, attracting the likes of RuPaul, The Scissor Sisters’ Ana Matronic, Elvira, and even John Waters himself. Speaking of RuPaul, we discuss that one time RuPaul basically announced he was starting a little show called “Drag Race” at one of Peaches’ Midnight Mass live events. Peaches discusses Drag Race and RuPaul, how far both have come from just starting out to this worldwide, for lack of a better word, “mainstream” part of Pop Culture! What about Showgirls, the sh*tstorm cult classic of a movie that was one of Peaches’ main inspirations for the Midnight Mass Movie Extravaganza? Do not worry, we have not forgotten. That is Part II. Stay tuned!!

@thepeacheschrist

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Candiace Dillard (RHOP - Reflects Back on Just Finished Season) - Part II Dec 21, 2020

Show notes

Candiace Dillard Bassett steps back Behind The Rope (Part I of our sit down with Candiace aired last Monday Dec 14th, 2020 and has managed to make quite the splash!! Check it out). Hot off the most explosive and shocking season in The Real Housewives of Potomac history, and last night’s out of control reunion, Candiace is here to put closure to THE central storyline of the season and move on from the physical altercation with Monique Samuels, seen around the world. We pick up right where we left off, with Candiace opening up about the event and what was going through her mind before, during and after the event. We discuss the outcry of opinions and in the media, the Bravo blogs and social media and what it was like to live through everyone having an opinion on one of the most traumatic events to ever happen in her life. Of course, we address her lawsuit against Monique Samuels, Monique’s countersuit and what went on off camera to result in both suits being dismissed by the courts. Breaking the fourth wall, we discuss Bravo’s involvement, what, if anything, could have been done differently and what measures can or should be taken to prevent something like this from happening again in the BravoVerse.Candiace discusses the support she felt from cast mates Gizelle Bryant, Robyn Dixon and Wendy Osefo throughout this very tough season for her. She also discuss her, more complicated, “relationships” with Karen Huger and Ashley Darby and the status of those friendships today. Candiace answers many of the “big questions” such as, “are you really not going to return to RHOP if Monique is not let go” and “would you have signed up for the show several years knowing this was coming” and “has the good really outweighed the bad”. We discuss how this may be one of Candiace’s last long form interviews on the subject and how, with the reunion over, it is time for closure. On that note, a lighter note, we discuss Candiace the Singer / Songwriter (album coming soon, fingers crossed tour too, and will she one day be performing her hits in the WWHL Clubhouse?), Candiace the Actress (starting alongside Tia Mowry in “Family Reunion” on Netflix and “Christmas Lottery” on BET) and Candiace the entrepreneur (Prima Hair Collection is alive and well). Tune in now as our epic two part chat with Candiace Dillard comes to a conclusion (just like this epic season of RHOP).

@candeegal09

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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David Cook - American Idol Dec 18, 2020

Show notes

American Idol Season Seven Winner David Cook steps Behind The Rope. David takes us back to the beginning of his Idol journey explaining why he chose to audition and what the audition process was like. That audition process went well and soon he found himself one of many many many contestants on Season Seven of American Idol. David takes us inside the range of emotions felt each week as others were eliminated and he found himself still standing at the end. The very end. He won, that is. Of course, we needed all of our questions answered about judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. We also needed all of our questions answered about Guest Judges Mariah Carey and Dolly Parton. David opens up about the “Mom Vote” and what it as like being a “cougar magnet” back in his Idol days. Speaking of idol we do a deep dive into both Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood and Reality Singing Competitions answering the age old question, “worth it or not?”. David talks about careers highs and the insane year that followed after he won Idol, such as performing on SNL!! Finally, David chats with us about new music including the just released single “Strange World” - out now - and what is next for David Cook. Tune in now.

@davidcookofficial

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Lady Bunny (On Friend RuPaul, Ellen DeGeneres, Drag Race, NYC, Wigstock) - Part I Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

Lady Bunny Steps Behind The Rope. Yes, THAT Lady Bunny. Drag Queen Extraordinaire, NYC Nightlife Legend, Friend to RuPaul, Lady Bunny. From her humble beginnings in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to her early days of Drag alongside RuPaul in Atlanta, Georgia, to her arrival on the New York City Club scene in the 1980s, Lady Bunny is here to tell it all. Lady Bunny is an Icon of a Drag Queen, NYC Nightclub DJ, Recording Artist, Actor and so much more. What has Bunny not done? Lady Bunny discusses what the NYC “Club Kid” scene was like back in the day and how that scene was rocked when infamous Club Kid Michael Alig, with the help of his roommate, high on drugs, killed fellow Club Kid “Angel” Melendez and disposed of the body in the east river after bragging about the murder for days to anyone that would listen. Bunny discusses how that scene has changed throughout the years and what NYC nightlife looks like today. Lady Bunny is also happy discuss BFF RuPaul. Bunny discusses the evolution of both her and RuPaul’s career from the early days to present and how both have come, well, very far, to say the least. Bunny describes what RuPaul is like off camera and how the man behind the public persona is a very different being. What? Do tell. Bunny does. Bunny discusses the RuPaul we see on our TV sets on Drag Race every week is not necessarily Bunny's friend RuPaul or the man she knows in real life. Lady Bunny also opens up about how challenging RuPaul’s “job” of mentor to up and coming Baby Drag’s can be. Finally, we discuss how, when, where and why Lady Bunny founded the world renowned Wigstock, the juggernaut that it has become, the several blockbuster films it has spawned, and the involvement of “A” list celebrities such as Neil Patrick Harris. (Club) Kids, we are just getting started. Tune in now to Part I of this very special sit down with Drag Legend Lady Bunny.

@official_lady_bunny

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Below Deck's Sustainable Shane (on this Season, his departure, recent WWHL Appearance, Kate Chastain, Andy Cohen & Sustainability!) Dec 16, 2020

Show notes

Below Deck’s Sustainable Shane Coopersmith steps Behind The Rope. Current Season Eight Deckhand, that is. Or should we say just terminated Season Eight Deckhand. No shade, we loved our chat with Shane. Those are just the facts. Shane chats about how he was cast, his self admitted lack of real world yachting industry experience, and being thrown on board, almost literally, with no prior training by Bravo to be a part of this Season Eight of Below Deck. Shane chats about the challenges of the actual job he was hired to do with no real world experience versus the challenges of the ever present Bravo cameras to make a good TV show. He chats about how he planned to use the Below Deck platform to spread the word about sustainability, he is “Sustainable Shane” after all, and how he feels about the fact that the majority of sustainable footage filmed, paper straws aside, ended up on the cutting room floor. Speaking about Below Deck footage, Shane explains the truth about the several scenes the audience saw which led to his termination and details what we did not see as viewers surrounding those “heavily edited” scenes. Of course, we address his recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live (WWHL) where he decided to chat about sustainability rather than answer all of Andy Cohen’s questions surrounding current season Below Deck Drama. Shane explains what was going through his mind during this appearance and what happened off air during comercial breaks. Finally, Shane responds to both Kate Chastain and Andy Cohen’s comments earlier this week regarding this WWHL appearance and their perception of just how real is his commitment to the growing problem of sustainability in today’s society. Of course, we chat about relationships with current cast members Elizabeth, James, Eddie, Francesca, Ash, Izzy, Rachel and last, but certainly not least, Captain Lee.

@sustainable.shane

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Peggy Zabakolas (on Million Dollar Beach House, Million Dollar Listing NY & RHONY) Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

Peggy Zabakolas, from Netflix’s Million Dollar Beach House, steps Behind The Rope. First things first, Peggy fills us in on all things Real Estate in both The Hamptons and New York City - the current state of the market, where you can get the best deals, and what are her favorite parts of each location. Let us start at the beginning. Peggy began working at Nest Seekers, while still in Law School, for a broker by the name of Ryan Serhant. You may have heard of him. Her first day on the job was the Premier Party for Season One, Episode One of Million Dollar Listing New York. Peggy discusses what it was like to work for Ryan back in the day, what it was like to film Million Dollar Listing New York, and what she thinks of Ryan’s growth and success throughout the years as a result of the show. Peggy also knows and discusses those other MDLNY agents Fredrik Eklund, Steve Gold and Luis D. Ortiz. Peggy explains how she is one of the only brokers to split her time between New York City and The Hamptons and how that led to her being cast as one of the five main agents on Million Dollar Beach House. We talk about how she was cast, what the filming process was like and how she felt she was portrayed once she watched the series back on Netflix. We also talk about her colleagues and costars Michael, JB, Noel and Jimmy and what the status of each of those relationships is like today. Peggy opens up about her motivations for joining the cast of Million Dollar Beach House, the biggest misconception about her from the show, how life changed overnight as a result of the show, how the show has helped her booming Real Estate career and what she hopes to further gain as a result of the show's success. Of course, we cannot help but compare Million Dollar Beach House to its left coast compadre, Selling Sunset. We discuss that show as well as her other Reality TV love, The Real Housewives. Yes The Hamptons is a small place. She has run into / seen LuAnn deLesseps, Bethenny Frankel, Ramona Singer. Of course, we discuss. Tune in now for this fun filled chat with Peggy Zabakolas from Netflix’ Million Dollar Beach House.

@peggy__z

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Candiace Dillard (RHOP - Reflects Back on Just Finished Season) - Part I Dec 14, 2020

Show notes

Candiace Dillard Bassett steps Behind The Rope. What a season she has just had on The Real Housewives of Potomac. Where to begin? We leave no stone left unturned in our discussion with Candiace regarding the physical altercation with Monique Samuels, which was THE central storyline seen this past season on RHOP. We go behind the cameras to discuss what was going through Candiace’s mind before, during and after the “hair drag” watched around the world. We discuss the emotions associated with the event, there are a wide range, and what the atmosphere was like on the set of RHOP for the rest of the season once this occurred. Candiace discusses the RHOP reunion, what we have already seen and can expect to see over the remaining weeks, and the closure she felt, once it was over, from the most drama filled season in the history of RHOP. Breaking the fourth wall, we discuss Bravo’s involvement, what, if anything, could have been done differently and what measures can or should be taken tp prevent something like this from happening again in the BravoVerse. As Candiace reflects back, we discuss how she feels now that she is on the other side of the season and what we can expect as the RHOP Reunion forges on. We also get a rare look into Candiace’s life growing up in the ATL, being a “Pageant Girl”, her current pursuit of her MBA at Howard University, and meeting Chris Bassett. Finally, being a fellow Pop Culture and TV junkie, (yes reality is included and yes she watched RHOP before being on it) Candiace reveals her love of all things Shonda Rhimes and bonds with David over Scandal, one of the best TV shows to ever exist. Kids, we are just getting started. After all, this is only Part I of our two part sit down with Candiace Dillard.

@candeegal09

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Catfish: The Podcast Dec 12, 2020

Show notes

Great New Podcast Alert!!!

From MTV and Wondery, Catfish: The Podcast.

Adapted from the MTV docu-series, Catfish: The Podcast exposes the truths and lies of online relationships. Sometimes the connections people forge online aren’t always what they seem. For eight seasons, hosts Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford have been helping people sort out what’s fact, and what’s fiction.

Now Catfish: The Podcast brings you the most unbelievable stories of online love gone wrong, with exclusive new content every week.

This is a must listen!!

Subscribe today: http://wondery.fm/Catfish_Rope

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The Voice's Ryan Gallagher (Team Kelly Clarskson) Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

The Voice’s Ryan Gallagher steps Behind The Rope. Ryan is having a major moment right now having wowed the judges with a leave them speechless audition on the top NBC hit show, “The Voice”. An audition which had judges Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton turning around their chairs to see the man behind the soulful operatic voice. The man is Ryan Gallagher, a classically trained vocalist who got his start in the music industry singing backup for world renowned singer Josh Groban. Speaking of music icons, Ryan has also shared the stage with the likes of Carrie Underwood and Michael Bolton. Of course, we needed to hear about that they are really like. We also needed to hear all about the behind the scenes inner workings of “The Voice” and real truths about their famed judges Kelly Clarkson, whose team he ultimately ended up on (good choice, Ryan!), Blake Shelton, John Legend and last, but certainly not least, Gwen Stefani. We also needed to hear all about the filing process, eliminations and guest judges such as Usher. If you think you recognize Ryan’s name it could be because he was also a contestant on “American Idol” in the past. It could also be because he was a cast member on the hit MTV show, “Ex On The Beach”. We discuss reality TV with Ryan, his current place in “The Voice” competition and what would happen, as we get down to the final weeks, if he really won. (He has since been removed from the competition due to violation of Covid Protocols - listen closely as we discuss Covid herein). Tune in now.

@ryangallagher

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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Comedian Judy Gold (on Joan Rivers, Madonna, Cancel Culture, NYC and Much More!) Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

Judy Gold steps Behind The Rope. Comedic legend, one of the funniest women, hell one of the funniest people we know here Behind The Velvet Rope, Judy F’ing Gold! Originally from New Jersey (we knew we liked her for a reason), Judy checks in from her house in Provincetown, Massachusetts where she is quarantining with her wife Elysa and fur baby. Missing New York City dearly, Judy and David discuss how New York has changed over the past few months, what they love about the City and why it will always, ultimately, be home. Judy and David also bond over both being bullied in High School and how that has helped shape them into the funny successful people they are today. Well, Judy is, at the very least! Judy takes us back to the beginning, what life was like growing up a tall gay woman in a suburban town and where she found and finds comedic inspiration, her mom, politics, the LGBTQIA community. Judy confides that she still feels luck to be able to ride the subway, pre covid, downtown from her Upper West Side home with the same notepad she used when she was starting out to perform gigs. She loves comedy and she loves her job. All of this is discussed in Judy’s new book, “Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians, We Are All in Trouble”. Judy also discusses the origins, evolution and current state of comedy in this very same book. If you couldn’t tell from the name, the book is a product of “Cancel Culture” and the over the top censorship that we all seem to be facing today. We had to ask Judy about her time as Emmy Award Winning Writer and Producer of the Rosie O’Donnell show. We discuss what working with Rosie was like and what it was like to be an out gay woman back “in the day” before it was en vogue. Of course, we needed all the details about that time Madonna was on the Rosie show, right after Lourdes was born, and held Judy’s very own son Henry pretending it was Lourdes. Confused? Just listen, it really is a funny story. Finally, we discuss Judy’s Number One Comedic Inspiration, Miss Joan Rivers, the Icon herself. We bond over Melissa Rivers’ recent appearance on “Behind The Velvet Rope” and discuss how Joan would handle “Cancel Culture” and think of the world we are living in today. Get ready to laugh people. Judy Gold!!

@jewdygold

@behindvelvetrope

@davidyontef

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