From hidden cameras in Fiji to the "performance" of a reality show... Beyond the Villa is a social anthropological document of the impacts of a rabid fanbase on the regular people who were cast on the insane global stage that is Love Island.

We're asking ourselves: have the new fans "ruined" Love Island USA? Or is some level of social media infamy just part of the risk one takes when joining a dating competition show? We're talking about how Beyond the Villa actively breaks the fourth wall in a perhaps progressive take on the concept of a show about the impacts of another show.

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Hulu announced new concepts and updates to their unscripted television this week at their "Get Real" live event - and I have *so many thoughts*. We are overviewing the highlights and I am giving my takes on the most interesting new concepts, the more confusing announcements, smart crossovers in the Hulu universe... and more.

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Time stamps:

01:39 Hulu Get Real event overview + announcements

03:03 Dancing With The Stars

04:06 DWTS x Project Runway

04:42 Khloe Kardashian's "The Girls" (and "the fall" of the Kardashians)

08:52 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway (vs Victoria's Secret Fashion Show)

11:39 Get Real Podcast

16:08 Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County

Hulu press release linked here

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When Camille Grammer called Faye Resnick "morally corrupt" during season one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she was not commenting on Faye's Playboy "spread." Rather, she was calling back to Faye's very specific betrayal of Nicole Brown Simpson, ex-wife and murder victim of OJ Simpson.

We're talking through who Faye Resnick is, her friendship with Nicole Brown Simpson (and Kris Jenner), and the wild, salacious book about Nicole published just as the murder trial was set to begin. We'll discuss public response, impact on the trial, and how all the relationships evolved post-verdict.

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Time stamps:

00:00 Intro

00:56 Who is Faye Resnick

02:59 Nicole Brown Simpson's Murder

03:33 Book Publication

08:41 Impact on Trial, Public Response

10:59 Celebrity, Playboy Cover

12:21 Camille Grammer, RHOBH

14:00 Kris Jenner Friendship

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What would the Housewives universe be without reality tv superstar NeNe Leakes? We are visiting her youth, upbringing, and marriage(s) to Gregg Leakes. Plus, exploring the cast dynamics of Real Housewives of Atlanta, particularly on the first two seasons - friendships, feuds (Kim Z!), and the impact of such great reality tv.

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Time stamps:

00:41 The Anchor

02:03 Youth, Family

05:13 Marriage to Gregg

06:43 Dwight

07:55 Divorce (and marriage again!)

08:25 Cast dynamics

12:21 My opinions on NeNe as a character

13:59 "The Fall"

15:22 Impending return to Bravo

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Vanessa Williams, one of the most recognizable stars of her generation, started her career in the public eye as the first Black Miss America. We're discussing her historic win in 1984 - the impact and the backlash - and the road that got her into pageants. With just seven weeks left in her reign, explicit photos that she had taken years prior were sold to Penthouse. When the news broke of their publication, she was given just 72 hours to respond. We'll discuss the lawsuit, her massive career post-Miss America, and the organization's apology in 2015.

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Time stamps:

00:00 Overview

01:42 Youth

03:55 Miss America: The Weight of the Crown

06:24 The Photographs

09:52 Resignation + Lawsuit

13:35 The Comeback!

15:38 The Apology

18:14 My Takeaways

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This week we saw the premiere of Real Housewives of Atlanta, including the introduction of two new cast members, K. Michelle and Pinky Cole. We'll discuss their introductions to the show and Porsha's dinner party. Plus, we got this week the second episode of the brand new franchise, Real Housewives of Rhode Island. I'm sharing my takeaways as we continue to get to know this cast: Kelsey's second boyfriend, Liz's stepmotherhood, and the Rulla/Jo-Ellen conflict.

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Time stamps:

0:28 RHOA, meeting K. Michelle and Pinky Cole

03:50 Porsha's dinner party

06:08 RHORI, Kelsey's second boyfriend

07:24 Liz's role as a stepmother

08:19 Meeting Rulla

09:37 Rulla vs Jo-Ellen

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By popular demand, we're visiting the story of Carrie Leigh: the 19-year-old model who became Hefner's live-in girlfriend for five years... and then sued him for $35 million. Carrie Leigh was the first person on record to refer to the world of Playboy as a "cult."

We're covering her rise in the public eye as "first lady of the Playboy Mansion," and the palimony suit alleging she was promised marriage, children, a Malibu beach house, and an annual salary. Plus: the (suspected?) allegation against Carrie Leigh by Jennifer Saginor, author of Playground, that they had a romantic relationship while the author was a teenager.

Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad

Time stamps:

01:41 Road to Playboy

04:22 Relationship with Hugh Hefner

06:43 Life at the Playboy Mansion

09:06 Break up

09:44 Palimony suit

11:55 More lawsuits

12:36 Jennifer Saginor

16:30 Calling Playboy a Cult

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We have a new Housewives franchise! I am reflecting on the first episode of Real Housewives of Rhode Island - meeting the cast, group dynamics, and what I am most intrigued to learn the rest of the season. Overall, pleasantly surprised - speaking on what the speculation beforehand and what I think will be the magic of the show.

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Time stamps:

00:00 Speculations + initial thoughts

01:14 Alicia

02:43 Rosie

04:02 Jo-Ellen

05:54 Kelsey

07:31 Liz and Dolores

08:21 Ashley I

10:06 Rulla

10:46 Group dynamics, intrigue for the rest of the season

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We're joined in conversation today by Laura Arden, a creature actor and intimacy coordinator. We speak about developing specialties on film sets, self-advocacy, neurodivergence, and the value in being a multifaceted talent. Spoiler: Laura is also one of my dearest friends, so the conversation is both tender and giggly and so fun.

Time stamps:

1:26 Becoming an actor

3:53 Creature acting

12:58 Confidence and self-expression

18:40 Intimacy coordination

24:02 Multifaceted talent

29:30 How Hollywood is changing, consumption habits + AI

33:37 Intimacy coordinator tips for every day relationships

37:25 Self advocacy

42:56 Dream roles, favorite creatures in film

44:52 Specializing vs generalizing in Hollywood

46:31 Fashion modeling

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Our first Friday content roundup!! We have a lot to discuss about this week on television. We will of course overview Alex Cooper's new reality dating show on Hulu, Love Overboard (actually wild). Also: this season so far on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, including my thoughts on Amanda Frances; and the new series (reboot) Ladies of London: The New Reign and their forced trauma bonding activity. We'll close discussing this season of Ryan Murphy's FX show, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette - I am getting into *all* my thoughts on the season and today's finale episode.

Timestamps:

1:31 Love Overboard

6:54 Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

9:45 Ladies of London: The New Reign

14:38 Love Story: JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

Find me on socials!! www.linktr.ee/literallylaurad

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