February 18, 2025 • 23 mins
Everyone’s favorite Housewife producer, Alex Baskin joins Tamra in the Twot Seat!
Alex answers all your Bravo questions! What’s the status of VPR? What does he think of Dorit’s comments on PK’s parenting skills? What will happen this season of The Valley?
Also, Alex discusses his brand new true crime series, “Once Upon a Con” with Caroline D’Amore!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Two teas in a pod which Teddy Mellencamp and Camra Judge.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hi, guys, welcome to another episode of the twat Seat.
I'm doing this one solo with one of my dear friends.
Alex Baskin, CEO and the newly launched thirty two Flavors
Entertainment is the executive producer of long running hit shows
including the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Orange County, Vanderplump, Rules,
and Botch as well as forthcoming series for, among others, Netflix,
(00:42):
Hulu and Paramount Plus, as well as a feature film.
As the president of Evolution Media, he oversaw more than
four dozen series during his tenure, and he, along with
his business partner, sold the company to MGM in twenty seventeen.
But to our surprise this year on Orange County and
Beverly Hills, thirty two Flavors, Alex Bastin's company has taken over.
(01:06):
So let's get them on, mister Baskin.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Cambra Judge, how are you.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I'm good, I'm good. You know I have to film
right after this, right, Oh, I know, I know, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, let's get you your other job.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Right, so we'll make this quick, right, so okay. So
I was up at three in the morning and I
watch I listened to Once Upon a Con I listened
to the first episode and half of the second, and
I was hooked.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Go allead.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So basically. Television personality and founder of La based organic
Italian food and accessory company Pizza Girl, Caroline Diamore is
taking back control with her powerful new crime series with
iHeart Podcasts, premiere in February twelfth, twenty twenty five, on
the iHeartRadio app and everywhere the podcasts anywhere you can
hear them. The series chronicles de moors transformation for victim
(02:01):
to relentless crusader as she exposes David Bloom, the notorious asshole. Yeah,
does that set him up?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
That is that's a very fair summary. And you know
this came to be because I had read an article
in the Early Times about this really prolific con man
that since the eighties had stolen tens of millions of dollars.
He was known as the whiz Kid of Wall Street
in the eighties because he stole money from people, including
the Rockefellers and even his own grandparents.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
So what a real charmer.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, I mean, this guy is a special breed of asshole.
So fascinating story. And then I saw on Instagram that
Caroline had been conned by him, and I thought, here's
an opportunity to put a face on this story. And
and so basically we chronicle, you know, it's his bilking
(02:57):
a bunch of people out of money in this apartment
complex in which Caroline lived, and sort of how they
all put together what he was doing. And then Caroline decided,
you know, like he sort of read in the summary
that she was not going to be a victim and
that she was going to take the fight to him
and that she was going to bring justice to him.
And so it's a story that is gripping because it's
(03:18):
true crime, and we're all interested in true crime. But
it also is empowering, and that's why it's one that
I'm happy to bring to life and that I think
people are going to be super interested in hearing.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Now you're producing this podcast, correct, right? So once Potacom
features exclusive interviews with Willoom's victims, including survivors from his
earlier multi million dollar bust in Manhattan in the eighties
and the nineties, like you said, uncovering his long trail
of fraud across Hollywood and Manhattan and delivering shocking revelations
about his tactics. Now, in episode one I listened to,
(03:53):
like I said earlier this morning, touches on Caroline's upbringing,
the death of her mother, her TV career, drug addiction,
famous friends like the Kardashians, Paris Hilt. I mean, this
is packed full of interesting information and the scary encounter
she had with Jeffrey Jeffrey Epstein at only seventeen years old,
and also covers how she met David Bloom during COVID
(04:15):
at her apartment building.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, and I and I think, what's so this is
a very Hollywood story obviously, and you know when she
just touched on. But what I like about this too
is Caroline is of Hollywood, but always have been looking
for her big break. So I worked with her on
the Hills and she was known for a number of
different things. Was like friend of Paris Hilton, the whole thing.
And when she was really vulnerable and this was during
(04:40):
the pandemic and this was coming off of being on
the Hills and a divorce, this assle took advantage of
her and so she right when she was you know,
sort of most susceptible to someone offering up an edge
and to connect her to powerful people so that her
(05:00):
business would break through. Then he took money from her,
and she did not have any money at.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
That time, and a single mom as well, right.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Single mom exactly, so you know, taking care of a
little girl. And that's why I thought it was a
story that needs to be told. And I think if
we can bring any awareness to this, I think that's great.
And you know, these are not infrequent stories. There are
cons out there. A lot of victims don't come forward
because there's a shame associated with it, because we like
(05:29):
to think of ourselves as smart people for this and
so this happens. And so that's sort of where I thought,
you know, it's also an important story to tell because
I think it takes the stigma out of having been conned.
And I think it's important that we talk about these things.
And then I just think it's an interesting story because
(05:49):
cons are so twisted, you know, and and so I
always think, like, when people do things like this, why
not just apply you know, all of that that zealous
all of that zealousness, you know, and sort of that
passion toward doing something that is legitimate, but the truth
is CON's con like that is what they do, so
(06:11):
they don't do that.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, have they made a series about him yet?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
He's been featured in I think a bunch of one
offs in anthologies, so I don't know that there's a
full series about him. Again, I find him really interesting
is he's been doing it his entire life and he
grew up relatively well off, so he grew up in Manhattan.
He went to Duke like, this is not a guy
who had to turn to the life of crime. He
chose to turn to a life of crime.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
What is wrong with people? I feel like more you
more nowadays that people are just turning to crime.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, yeah, I think that's right, and I think people
can justify all sorts of things in themselves. But he
was very blatant about it, and he had he has
certain go to stories, and you know, again he did
this to an entire apartment building full of people. You
also hear in this exclusive confrontations between Caroline and him,
and so she recorded a lot of their exchanges where
(07:05):
she calls him out and then she presents tapes to
the DA. He has been charged, So that's.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
The good thing and is Ann jail right now.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
He is, and we're waiting for resolution of the case.
And the DA takes this really seriously, which is which
is great, and you know, so hopefully that's a deterrent
to other people who do this. But yeah, no, I
think that I think people are gonna be super interested
in hearing the story. And and again, it isn't just sad.
(07:34):
There is a part of it that is empowering because
Caroline becomes a crusader in a way that you know
that I think is pretty inspiring.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yeah, and she has a co host on the podcast.
I'm not quite sure who that is.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah, it's her friend. So it's her longtime friend, and
so she sort of bounces all of this off of him,
and he was supportive of her as she was going
through this, you know, so that she wasn't she wasn't
alone during all of this. And look, she's doing really
well on the other side of this. And so, you know,
this con took advantage of her interest in getting her hurt,
her line of products in Whole Foods at all, and
(08:09):
he sort of faked that he had a Whole Foods connection.
He actually impersonated an executive from Whole Foods and now
we've come full circle and she actually is in Whole Foods,
has a real business and doing is doing well. So
the point is like there can be life on the
other side.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, I'm glad. I was going to ask you how
is she doing now after this, because this wasn't that
long ago.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
No, it was only a couple of years ago, and
said it was she was really down in the dumps,
and she was going to go in one of two directions.
This was either going to be the thing to have
broke her or the thing that she used as fuel
to achieve everything that she wanted to and she went
the ladder direction. And so I think that's the takeaway.
I think that's possible. Not that it's easy. Some people
are completely devastated by this and frankly just don't have
(08:50):
any money left. So there's that, you know. But I
think the point is like we have to take the
fight to the wrongdoers and not let them all win.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Well, she doesn't seem like a girl that is just
gonna sit down and let this happen to her. She's
very outspoken. I like her line in her second episode
in the podcast, if you live in Hope, you die
and shit.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, he definitely took this to
the wrong person. You know, she's not the person that
that you want to con because she's smart, capable, resourceful,
resilient and and so ultimately she drew from those qualities
and got her revenge in the best possible way.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah. So we're excited, and I know Teddy's gonna be
super excited because true crime is like her passion.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I hope people listen to it and love it and
you know, like I said, learn something from it potentially,
and let's not let the assholes win.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Yeah, well, let's get into a few other things.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Let's do it. Mister housewife. I feel like you probably
can make a true crime podcast about some housewives as well.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I have no idea.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Is there anyone in particular?
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Well, I think I think that obviously, like our world
in general, is littered with these like so crazy you
can't believe them stories, and I think that's the the
you know, the power of nonfiction, right is the crazy
stuff that happens. And so it's happening all over the place.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I watched the first episode last night of Scamanda. Have
you heard about that? The girl that faked you for
ten years. That's pretty good. That'd be a good thing
to cover on podcast.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Such a crazy story. So and I and I think too,
you can see how influencers would have that power over people,
and you can see how intoxicating that is, and so
you know, in the wrong hands, with someone who is
capable of doing that, it's it's pretty frightening.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, So Housewives, let's get back. Do you ever does
it ever get exhausting being a producer of Housewives?
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Yes, and it's and I think that the challenging thing
is like when it's not exhausting, sometimes that means that
there's nothing happening and it's boring. But yeah, it does.
You know, I've always said I recognized how difficult it
is to be on the show, and you know, you've
been on the show longer than anyone.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
And it's done as running Housewives bush tags.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
And we were we got together a couple of weeks
ago when we were talking about this and this was,
you know, on the eve of season nineteen, and one
of the things we were talking about is it isn't
easier with every successive season. It's actually harder. And it's
the same thing in making the show. It's a really
it's a taxing show to do.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Yeah, I mean I had a very lovely season, Thank
you very much. Who would you say, how many housewife
calls do you get a day?
Speaker 3 (12:07):
I would say that it varies, and I'm better over
the years of like, I'm not the first person that
everyone calls where it used to be, So I still
get a number of them, but a lot of them
are calls from the producers that have been talking to
the housewives or the vander Pump cast or the Valley
(12:27):
cast or whatever else. So I'm sort of usually I'm
the second call, not the first call.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Of these days, by and large, all thank god, right.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Oh god. Anything I can do to you know, to
like screen them out, it's great for my life. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Me and Teddy are actually have we have a like
a flashback podcast for old housewife shows, and we just
finished season three. I think it was of OC, which
was my first season. I'm like, oh my god, this
is so painful to watch. I keep thinking like why
did they bring me back? Like, I am like, what
(13:03):
what did you see in me?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
You changed the game, my friend? So I really I
think that the first two seasons I don't even know that.
It was a very different show. And so it started
as this like slice of suburban life, and the women
didn't cross paths all that much. You know. It was
like a big deal when like Gina and Joe would
get together. It's like, oh, wow, they exist in the
(13:25):
same dimension, you know. And then the show became about
the relationships between the women and it got louder, you know.
And I think really starting with season three, which just
coincidentally happens to be your first season.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Yeah, so it's what one season wonder deserves a second chance.
Kimberly Quinn, Peggy Tano's Lizzie, Peggy Shalahan, the hundredth Housewife,
Elizabeth Vargas, Noela or doctor Jen.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
I'm gonna have to go with Elizabeth Vargas. I think
that doing the having her first season in COVID was
a challenge and so and I think we were in
a transitional time and as you know, we didn't have
you on the show at that point. Yeah, so that
was just that was but I felt like you won
(14:16):
the show because.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
She tried to replace me, Alex, she tried to replace me.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
You're one of a kind of turns out, but I
think that was I think a tough season to join
because we started was transitional. You weren't a part of it.
We were, We started to film and then we had
to stop down for COVID, and so I just think
it was just joined. And so I'm not sure that
was an entirely but you know, fair.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Run for her, oh for sure. And now looking back,
do you wish she would have just put it on
pause for one year?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Maybe? Yeah. I hadn't even like thought about that, but
but I think that's possible. I think we did the
best that we could, and I think the production worked,
you know, really hard under the circumstances, but it was
not really conducive to making the show.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah. I talked to Elizabeth on social media and she's
always so sweet, so supportive, so pro I really like her.
Now next season we'll be season twenty. Yeah, twenty years
of housewives, Like who would have ever thought? Do you
think that the network will have any like special plans,
bring back like all the oldies and just go for it.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Well, I don't know that the show itself would change
too much because I don't think you want to be
too self conscious and I don't think you want to
you know, be Yeah, I think you have to, you know,
sort of stick to documenting the reality. But I imagine
that there'll be a celebration of twenty years, because very
few shows ever get twenty seasons, and I can't think
of any in the genre. I know, the Real World
(15:50):
ran for a long time, but that was different because
it was a different cast every season. I think this
is you know, I would say unprecedented without over using
that that term, and so I think that that that'll
be you know, memorialized and celebrated.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
I feel like Housewise is a very well oiled machine
at this point, and I feel like it could just
keep going. Obviously, Yeah, I'm not going to be you know,
throwing blows and insults at sixty.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
I don't know about that. I could see you for
I could see you making it to season forty, you know,
or even sixty.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Yeah, you have to rename it the Golden Girls.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Maybe in the nursing Home. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yeah, well that's a that's a thought. Are you going
to miss Alexis this season?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yeah? I thought, you know, look, obviously it was a
very tough season for Alexis, and she took a lot
of blows and she wasn't well received, and that was
really hard for her. But but I think that, you know,
she added a lot to the show regardless of what
people think of her. She certainly had a memorable turn
this past season. Yeah, And so I appreciate anyone who
(17:01):
does the show and just sort of, you know, lets
it all kind of hang out, and she did that,
So I do appreciate it. I think that even for
her greatest detractors, I think they have to say the
season was more interesting in it because she was a
part of it.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
It would be a totally different season if Alexis was
not on it.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Yeah. Yeah, and I'm sure other things would have happened
and would have popped up. And obviously it was hard
to see how purple it was to Shannon. But at
the same time, there's a reason that the audience, you know,
enjoyed watching the season and it was really well received.
And part of that means not everyone is gonna be
(17:41):
well liked.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
I know, alex keep reminding me, I got fired. Not
everybody's well liked. What's next, You're gonna give me, You're
gonna fire me?
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Now? Well, I don't know, let's see.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, exactly. The day is young. You haven't filmed yet. Yeah,
Now let's move on to your other new show. Yeah,
Denise Richards and her Wild Things. Now what can we
(18:15):
expect from this show? Are we going to see Charlie.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Yes, yeah, so, which is great. So you see him
get together for a meal with Denise and Lola, one
of their daughters, and it's really fun. I like the
fact that it's a blend of comedy and drama, and
so it's not one of those over the top reality sitcoms,
(18:43):
so you know it is. It's completely real, but it's
through the wacky lens of Denise Richards.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
And whacky is a good word to use when it
comes to Dennis, because I was dying laughing when she
one of the daughters said something like, you're such a bitch, dude,
and She's like, don't call your sister dude. I'm like,
oh my god.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
It's the wit and wisdom of Denise. And and so
she really is. She's been very strong and resilient, not
just to survive in Hollywood all of this time and
to continually remake herself, but also to have gone through
that very public marriage and divorce and uh, and now
this is you know, sort of her on the other
(19:28):
side of it, and it's her daughters as young adults
and and you know, sort of the way we frame
it is you know, she's now faces the greatest challenge
she ever has in her entire life, you know, which
is which is them? And so I think she's a
kind of fun. We couldn't be more excited that it's
on Bravo, which I think is fun. I think it
has shades of early days Kardashians again with sort of
(19:51):
you know, the the Denise Richard's gloss on it. There's
a ton of cameos, so there's appearances from everyone from
half the Hilton to Garcel and Sutton to Camille Grammar
to America.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
And Charlie's Charlie's ex wife as well, and kids.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Broke Bueller and and their kids, you know who Denise
has been very involved with. She's a she's a nursurer
and a uh and a caretaker.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Is she's like really big into animals and she's a
very levy person. Can't when does it air?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
March fourth?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
March fourth? Okay? Any update on banner pump rules.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
We are we're getting set, We're we're really excited about it.
We are not endeavoring to make the same show we
made before. So it's a new group, all of whom
are very interconnected and live together, work together, kind of
figuring things out together, which is you know, really the
premise of the original vander Pump Rules, but this is
(20:59):
a different expression of it, and it's a lot of
fun and and so we're trying to, you know, sort
of embrace what was great about the original. But I
don't really consider it a reboot. I think, you know,
that's that's sort of the word that's thrown around. My
view is it's just a it's a brand new group
that work at the restaurant, and so, you know, it's
(21:19):
a new series that carries on the legacy of the original.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Can you give us any update? Is there any former
Vanda pop Roules cast members that will potentially get us
spin off?
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Well, I think all things are possible. I I you know,
there's nothing to announce. Obviously, we did that successfully on
the Valley and that second season is uh insane, by
the way, So very excited about that. But that's what
(21:56):
I would say. I mean, you know, obviously, you know
book the Bravo universe is strong, you know, and and
sort of as Denise Groves out as well, there's always
an appetite to revisit the lives of the people who
inhabit it, and so you know, all things are possible.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
And how about the Valley any teaser?
Speaker 3 (22:20):
The only I can say is you will be absolutely
gripped from the first minute and it never lets off.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
And it is the craziest season two of any show
I've ever made, and positive sense, it is uh fast paced,
it is fascinating, it's relentless.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
It's the story behind some of the headlines that you've read.
And then I'm glad things haven't leaked, you know, But
like I'm not over promising it is. It's that good.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
What's the air date on that?
Speaker 3 (22:52):
It's soon?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Okay, so it's not announced yet, so well great, So
Teddy and I are going to recap that as well.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Oh you're gonna I can't wait ear your recaps.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
You guys don't have a lot of compent so super
excited about that. But yeah, that's all I have for you, Alex.
Is there anything else do you want to plug or
tell us about?
Speaker 3 (23:09):
No, I thank you for highlighting Once upon a Con.
I really appreciate it. It's a project that means a
lot to me. And then mostly I just want you
to get to work.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Yeah, okay, I got thirty minutes, and actually I got
twenty five minutes until the camera crews to get here.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
So yes, you better get going.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
I better get going, all right. Well, it's nice to
see your face. Thank you, Bye bye,
Two teas in a pod which Teddy Mellencamp and Camra Judge.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hi, guys, welcome to another episode of the twat Seat.
I'm doing this one solo with one of my dear friends.
Alex Baskin, CEO and the newly launched thirty two Flavors
Entertainment is the executive producer of long running hit shows
including the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Orange County, Vanderplump, Rules,
and Botch as well as forthcoming series for, among others, Netflix,
(00:42):
Hulu and Paramount Plus, as well as a feature film.
As the president of Evolution Media, he oversaw more than
four dozen series during his tenure, and he, along with
his business partner, sold the company to MGM in twenty seventeen.
But to our surprise this year on Orange County and
Beverly Hills, thirty two Flavors, Alex Bastin's company has taken over.
(01:06):
So let's get them on, mister Baskin.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Cambra Judge, how are you.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I'm good, I'm good. You know I have to film
right after this, right, Oh, I know, I know, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, let's get you your other job.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Right, so we'll make this quick, right, so okay. So
I was up at three in the morning and I
watch I listened to Once Upon a Con I listened
to the first episode and half of the second, and
I was hooked.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Go allead.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
So basically. Television personality and founder of La based organic
Italian food and accessory company Pizza Girl, Caroline Diamore is
taking back control with her powerful new crime series with
iHeart Podcasts, premiere in February twelfth, twenty twenty five, on
the iHeartRadio app and everywhere the podcasts anywhere you can
hear them. The series chronicles de moors transformation for victim
(02:01):
to relentless crusader as she exposes David Bloom, the notorious asshole. Yeah,
does that set him up?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
That is that's a very fair summary. And you know
this came to be because I had read an article
in the Early Times about this really prolific con man
that since the eighties had stolen tens of millions of dollars.
He was known as the whiz Kid of Wall Street
in the eighties because he stole money from people, including
the Rockefellers and even his own grandparents.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
So what a real charmer.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, I mean, this guy is a special breed of asshole.
So fascinating story. And then I saw on Instagram that
Caroline had been conned by him, and I thought, here's
an opportunity to put a face on this story. And
and so basically we chronicle, you know, it's his bilking
(02:57):
a bunch of people out of money in this apartment
complex in which Caroline lived, and sort of how they
all put together what he was doing. And then Caroline decided,
you know, like he sort of read in the summary
that she was not going to be a victim and
that she was going to take the fight to him
and that she was going to bring justice to him.
And so it's a story that is gripping because it's
(03:18):
true crime, and we're all interested in true crime. But
it also is empowering, and that's why it's one that
I'm happy to bring to life and that I think
people are going to be super interested in hearing.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Now you're producing this podcast, correct, right? So once Potacom
features exclusive interviews with Willoom's victims, including survivors from his
earlier multi million dollar bust in Manhattan in the eighties
and the nineties, like you said, uncovering his long trail
of fraud across Hollywood and Manhattan and delivering shocking revelations
about his tactics. Now, in episode one I listened to,
(03:53):
like I said earlier this morning, touches on Caroline's upbringing,
the death of her mother, her TV career, drug addiction,
famous friends like the Kardashians, Paris Hilt. I mean, this
is packed full of interesting information and the scary encounter
she had with Jeffrey Jeffrey Epstein at only seventeen years old,
and also covers how she met David Bloom during COVID
(04:15):
at her apartment building.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, and I and I think, what's so this is
a very Hollywood story obviously, and you know when she
just touched on. But what I like about this too
is Caroline is of Hollywood, but always have been looking
for her big break. So I worked with her on
the Hills and she was known for a number of
different things. Was like friend of Paris Hilton, the whole thing.
And when she was really vulnerable and this was during
(04:40):
the pandemic and this was coming off of being on
the Hills and a divorce, this assle took advantage of
her and so she right when she was you know,
sort of most susceptible to someone offering up an edge
and to connect her to powerful people so that her
(05:00):
business would break through. Then he took money from her,
and she did not have any money at.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
That time, and a single mom as well, right.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Single mom exactly, so you know, taking care of a
little girl. And that's why I thought it was a
story that needs to be told. And I think if
we can bring any awareness to this, I think that's great.
And you know, these are not infrequent stories. There are
cons out there. A lot of victims don't come forward
because there's a shame associated with it, because we like
(05:29):
to think of ourselves as smart people for this and
so this happens. And so that's sort of where I thought,
you know, it's also an important story to tell because
I think it takes the stigma out of having been conned.
And I think it's important that we talk about these things.
And then I just think it's an interesting story because
(05:49):
cons are so twisted, you know, and and so I
always think, like, when people do things like this, why
not just apply you know, all of that that zealous
all of that zealousness, you know, and sort of that
passion toward doing something that is legitimate, but the truth
is CON's con like that is what they do, so
(06:11):
they don't do that.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, have they made a series about him yet?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
He's been featured in I think a bunch of one
offs in anthologies, so I don't know that there's a
full series about him. Again, I find him really interesting
is he's been doing it his entire life and he
grew up relatively well off, so he grew up in Manhattan.
He went to Duke like, this is not a guy
who had to turn to the life of crime. He
chose to turn to a life of crime.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
What is wrong with people? I feel like more you
more nowadays that people are just turning to crime.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, yeah, I think that's right, and I think people
can justify all sorts of things in themselves. But he
was very blatant about it, and he had he has
certain go to stories, and you know, again he did
this to an entire apartment building full of people. You
also hear in this exclusive confrontations between Caroline and him,
and so she recorded a lot of their exchanges where
(07:05):
she calls him out and then she presents tapes to
the DA. He has been charged, So that's.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
The good thing and is Ann jail right now.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
He is, and we're waiting for resolution of the case.
And the DA takes this really seriously, which is which
is great, and you know, so hopefully that's a deterrent
to other people who do this. But yeah, no, I
think that I think people are gonna be super interested
in hearing the story. And and again, it isn't just sad.
(07:34):
There is a part of it that is empowering because
Caroline becomes a crusader in a way that you know
that I think is pretty inspiring.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yeah, and she has a co host on the podcast.
I'm not quite sure who that is.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Yeah, it's her friend. So it's her longtime friend, and
so she sort of bounces all of this off of him,
and he was supportive of her as she was going
through this, you know, so that she wasn't she wasn't
alone during all of this. And look, she's doing really
well on the other side of this. And so, you know,
this con took advantage of her interest in getting her hurt,
her line of products in Whole Foods at all, and
(08:09):
he sort of faked that he had a Whole Foods connection.
He actually impersonated an executive from Whole Foods and now
we've come full circle and she actually is in Whole Foods,
has a real business and doing is doing well. So
the point is like there can be life on the
other side.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, I'm glad. I was going to ask you how
is she doing now after this, because this wasn't that
long ago.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
No, it was only a couple of years ago, and
said it was she was really down in the dumps,
and she was going to go in one of two directions.
This was either going to be the thing to have
broke her or the thing that she used as fuel
to achieve everything that she wanted to and she went
the ladder direction. And so I think that's the takeaway.
I think that's possible. Not that it's easy. Some people
are completely devastated by this and frankly just don't have
(08:50):
any money left. So there's that, you know. But I
think the point is like we have to take the
fight to the wrongdoers and not let them all win.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Well, she doesn't seem like a girl that is just
gonna sit down and let this happen to her. She's
very outspoken. I like her line in her second episode
in the podcast, if you live in Hope, you die
and shit.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, he definitely took this to
the wrong person. You know, she's not the person that
that you want to con because she's smart, capable, resourceful,
resilient and and so ultimately she drew from those qualities
and got her revenge in the best possible way.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah. So we're excited, and I know Teddy's gonna be
super excited because true crime is like her passion.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I hope people listen to it and love it and
you know, like I said, learn something from it potentially,
and let's not let the assholes win.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Yeah, well, let's get into a few other things.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Let's do it. Mister housewife. I feel like you probably
can make a true crime podcast about some housewives as well.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
I have no idea.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Is there anyone in particular?
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Well, I think I think that obviously, like our world
in general, is littered with these like so crazy you
can't believe them stories, and I think that's the the
you know, the power of nonfiction, right is the crazy
stuff that happens. And so it's happening all over the place.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
I watched the first episode last night of Scamanda. Have
you heard about that? The girl that faked you for
ten years. That's pretty good. That'd be a good thing
to cover on podcast.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Such a crazy story. So and I and I think too,
you can see how influencers would have that power over people,
and you can see how intoxicating that is, and so
you know, in the wrong hands, with someone who is
capable of doing that, it's it's pretty frightening.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, So Housewives, let's get back. Do you ever does
it ever get exhausting being a producer of Housewives?
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Yes, and it's and I think that the challenging thing
is like when it's not exhausting, sometimes that means that
there's nothing happening and it's boring. But yeah, it does.
You know, I've always said I recognized how difficult it
is to be on the show, and you know, you've
been on the show longer than anyone.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
And it's done as running Housewives bush tags.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
And we were we got together a couple of weeks
ago when we were talking about this and this was,
you know, on the eve of season nineteen, and one
of the things we were talking about is it isn't
easier with every successive season. It's actually harder. And it's
the same thing in making the show. It's a really
it's a taxing show to do.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Yeah, I mean I had a very lovely season, Thank
you very much. Who would you say, how many housewife
calls do you get a day?
Speaker 3 (12:07):
I would say that it varies, and I'm better over
the years of like, I'm not the first person that
everyone calls where it used to be, So I still
get a number of them, but a lot of them
are calls from the producers that have been talking to
the housewives or the vander Pump cast or the Valley
(12:27):
cast or whatever else. So I'm sort of usually I'm
the second call, not the first call.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Of these days, by and large, all thank god, right.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Oh god. Anything I can do to you know, to
like screen them out, it's great for my life. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Me and Teddy are actually have we have a like
a flashback podcast for old housewife shows, and we just
finished season three. I think it was of OC, which
was my first season. I'm like, oh my god, this
is so painful to watch. I keep thinking like why
did they bring me back? Like, I am like, what
(13:03):
what did you see in me?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
You changed the game, my friend? So I really I
think that the first two seasons I don't even know that.
It was a very different show. And so it started
as this like slice of suburban life, and the women
didn't cross paths all that much. You know. It was
like a big deal when like Gina and Joe would
get together. It's like, oh, wow, they exist in the
(13:25):
same dimension, you know. And then the show became about
the relationships between the women and it got louder, you know.
And I think really starting with season three, which just
coincidentally happens to be your first season.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Yeah, so it's what one season wonder deserves a second chance.
Kimberly Quinn, Peggy Tano's Lizzie, Peggy Shalahan, the hundredth Housewife,
Elizabeth Vargas, Noela or doctor Jen.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
I'm gonna have to go with Elizabeth Vargas. I think
that doing the having her first season in COVID was
a challenge and so and I think we were in
a transitional time and as you know, we didn't have
you on the show at that point. Yeah, so that
was just that was but I felt like you won
(14:16):
the show because.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
She tried to replace me, Alex, she tried to replace me.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
You're one of a kind of turns out, but I
think that was I think a tough season to join
because we started was transitional. You weren't a part of it.
We were, We started to film and then we had
to stop down for COVID, and so I just think
it was just joined. And so I'm not sure that
was an entirely but you know, fair.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Run for her, oh for sure. And now looking back,
do you wish she would have just put it on
pause for one year?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Maybe? Yeah. I hadn't even like thought about that, but
but I think that's possible. I think we did the
best that we could, and I think the production worked,
you know, really hard under the circumstances, but it was
not really conducive to making the show.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah. I talked to Elizabeth on social media and she's
always so sweet, so supportive, so pro I really like her.
Now next season we'll be season twenty. Yeah, twenty years
of housewives, Like who would have ever thought? Do you
think that the network will have any like special plans,
bring back like all the oldies and just go for it.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Well, I don't know that the show itself would change
too much because I don't think you want to be
too self conscious and I don't think you want to
you know, be Yeah, I think you have to, you know,
sort of stick to documenting the reality. But I imagine
that there'll be a celebration of twenty years, because very
few shows ever get twenty seasons, and I can't think
of any in the genre. I know, the Real World
(15:50):
ran for a long time, but that was different because
it was a different cast every season. I think this
is you know, I would say unprecedented without over using
that that term, and so I think that that that'll
be you know, memorialized and celebrated.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
I feel like Housewise is a very well oiled machine
at this point, and I feel like it could just
keep going. Obviously, Yeah, I'm not going to be you know,
throwing blows and insults at sixty.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
I don't know about that. I could see you for
I could see you making it to season forty, you know,
or even sixty.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Yeah, you have to rename it the Golden Girls.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Maybe in the nursing Home. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yeah, well that's a that's a thought. Are you going
to miss Alexis this season?
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yeah? I thought, you know, look, obviously it was a
very tough season for Alexis, and she took a lot
of blows and she wasn't well received, and that was
really hard for her. But but I think that, you know,
she added a lot to the show regardless of what
people think of her. She certainly had a memorable turn
this past season. Yeah, And so I appreciate anyone who
(17:01):
does the show and just sort of, you know, lets
it all kind of hang out, and she did that,
So I do appreciate it. I think that even for
her greatest detractors, I think they have to say the
season was more interesting in it because she was a
part of it.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
It would be a totally different season if Alexis was
not on it.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Yeah. Yeah, and I'm sure other things would have happened
and would have popped up. And obviously it was hard
to see how purple it was to Shannon. But at
the same time, there's a reason that the audience, you know,
enjoyed watching the season and it was really well received.
And part of that means not everyone is gonna be
(17:41):
well liked.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
I know, alex keep reminding me, I got fired. Not
everybody's well liked. What's next, You're gonna give me, You're
gonna fire me?
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Now? Well, I don't know, let's see.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, exactly. The day is young. You haven't filmed yet. Yeah,
Now let's move on to your other new show. Yeah,
Denise Richards and her Wild Things. Now what can we
(18:15):
expect from this show? Are we going to see Charlie.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Yes, yeah, so, which is great. So you see him
get together for a meal with Denise and Lola, one
of their daughters, and it's really fun. I like the
fact that it's a blend of comedy and drama, and
so it's not one of those over the top reality sitcoms,
(18:43):
so you know it is. It's completely real, but it's
through the wacky lens of Denise Richards.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
And whacky is a good word to use when it
comes to Dennis, because I was dying laughing when she
one of the daughters said something like, you're such a bitch, dude,
and She's like, don't call your sister dude. I'm like,
oh my god.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
It's the wit and wisdom of Denise. And and so
she really is. She's been very strong and resilient, not
just to survive in Hollywood all of this time and
to continually remake herself, but also to have gone through
that very public marriage and divorce and uh, and now
this is you know, sort of her on the other
(19:28):
side of it, and it's her daughters as young adults
and and you know, sort of the way we frame
it is you know, she's now faces the greatest challenge
she ever has in her entire life, you know, which
is which is them? And so I think she's a
kind of fun. We couldn't be more excited that it's
on Bravo, which I think is fun. I think it
has shades of early days Kardashians again with sort of
(19:51):
you know, the the Denise Richard's gloss on it. There's
a ton of cameos, so there's appearances from everyone from
half the Hilton to Garcel and Sutton to Camille Grammar
to America.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
And Charlie's Charlie's ex wife as well, and kids.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
Broke Bueller and and their kids, you know who Denise
has been very involved with. She's a she's a nursurer
and a uh and a caretaker.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Is she's like really big into animals and she's a
very levy person. Can't when does it air?
Speaker 3 (20:30):
March fourth?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
March fourth? Okay? Any update on banner pump rules.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
We are we're getting set, We're we're really excited about it.
We are not endeavoring to make the same show we
made before. So it's a new group, all of whom
are very interconnected and live together, work together, kind of
figuring things out together, which is you know, really the
premise of the original vander Pump Rules, but this is
(20:59):
a different expression of it, and it's a lot of
fun and and so we're trying to, you know, sort
of embrace what was great about the original. But I
don't really consider it a reboot. I think, you know,
that's that's sort of the word that's thrown around. My
view is it's just a it's a brand new group
that work at the restaurant, and so, you know, it's
(21:19):
a new series that carries on the legacy of the original.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Can you give us any update? Is there any former
Vanda pop Roules cast members that will potentially get us
spin off?
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Well, I think all things are possible. I I you know,
there's nothing to announce. Obviously, we did that successfully on
the Valley and that second season is uh insane, by
the way, So very excited about that. But that's what
(21:56):
I would say. I mean, you know, obviously, you know
book the Bravo universe is strong, you know, and and
sort of as Denise Groves out as well, there's always
an appetite to revisit the lives of the people who
inhabit it, and so you know, all things are possible.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
And how about the Valley any teaser?
Speaker 3 (22:20):
The only I can say is you will be absolutely
gripped from the first minute and it never lets off.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
And it is the craziest season two of any show
I've ever made, and positive sense, it is uh fast paced,
it is fascinating, it's relentless.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
It's the story behind some of the headlines that you've read.
And then I'm glad things haven't leaked, you know, But
like I'm not over promising it is. It's that good.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
What's the air date on that?
Speaker 3 (22:52):
It's soon?
Speaker 2 (22:53):
Okay, so it's not announced yet, so well great, So
Teddy and I are going to recap that as well.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Oh you're gonna I can't wait ear your recaps.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
You guys don't have a lot of compent so super
excited about that. But yeah, that's all I have for you, Alex.
Is there anything else do you want to plug or
tell us about?
Speaker 3 (23:09):
No, I thank you for highlighting Once upon a Con.
I really appreciate it. It's a project that means a
lot to me. And then mostly I just want you
to get to work.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Yeah, okay, I got thirty minutes, and actually I got
twenty five minutes until the camera crews to get here.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
So yes, you better get going.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
I better get going, all right. Well, it's nice to
see your face. Thank you, Bye bye,
Hosts And Creators
Teddi Mellencamp
Tamra Judge
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