August 7, 2025 • 56 mins
This week, we’re joined by a true icon of the city: Countess Luann de Lesseps.
You might know her from The Real Housewives of New York or simply by turning on Peacock because, let’s face it, she’s everywhere.
We talk with Luann about modern dating, what it means to be a true New Yorker, whether reality TV is actually real, who she still keeps in touch with from the RHONY cast and so much more.
She’s graceful, grounded, and gives us the kind of straight talk only a Countess can deliver.
Luann is currently touring the world with her cabaret show and she’s coming to Brooklyn on August 21st at 3 Dollar Bill
🎟️ Grab your tickets and see her full tour schedule at countessluann.com
Tune in for glam, grit, and a reminder that money can't buy you class...but it can get you a front-row seat to the Countess Cabaret.
Love us? Hate us? Keep in touch!
Check us out (yes, literally!) on YouTube: Watch Now
Instagram: @newyorkeroftheweek
Tiktok: @ny_of_the_week
And if you've fallen head over heels for us (and who could blame you?), show us some love on Instagram too:
Hanna Gerlander: @hanna_gerlander
Nora Fried: @norafriedcomedy
Sean Curley - Production Manager and Video Editor: @therealseancurley
Special Guest: Countess Luann de Lesseps @countessluann on IG and at Countessluann.com for show dates, tickets, and more!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:16):
There we are, there we are. Out of the lines.
Look the. Lines are looking good.
The lines are looking good. What do you what do you think?
They're actually called audio waves.
Yeah, the audio waves are in arein alignment now.
Like even if I. Fully understood the tech going
on here. I couldn't work in a job where
they do that because I don't know, like I can only talk the
(00:38):
way we talk about things. Yeah, like is the thingy
working? Like when you say the lines are
small, I know exactly what's happening, but like, if we were
like audio producers somewhere, I feel like they'd be mad.
At us, like the lines are small,they're still kind of small, but
they're not it's oh, wait, no, they're getting a little bigger
now, OK. A little louder now, a little
bit now than now. Welcome to the podcast,
(00:58):
everyone. It's a big day here.
It's a big day. It's a.
Big day at New York or the week headquarters.
We have an amazing guest, we really do.
It's it's kind of unbelievable. It's kind of like why we I
almost, it's why we just got started like like it's not.
In some ways, yeah. I think whenever we have a a
(01:19):
great guest on, which is you allshould know is always because of
Nora, like nobody, nobody's Wheeling, dealing, connecting
and getting people on this podcast the way Nora is.
Anytime there's a big guest likeit's Nora, it's like anytime
there's a big guest on, it's kind of like, OK, we're doing
something right, we're moving, we're doing something right.
We're. Moving up, we're moving up.
What's? That song, You know what?
(01:44):
Yeah, Listening to music again. Canada's been listening to
tunes, which is new for you? For context, I used to only
listen to music. I used to literally never listen
to podcasts. Listen to me like all the time.
Played it in my house, played when I would wake.
I used to wake up, put on my morning playlist and get ready
for the day. And then my dad died and I was
(02:08):
way too emotional to handle music.
It just was like I could cry thedrop of a hat.
It was just a very sensitive time.
That's when I turned to podcasts, which was amazing to
have podcasts cause like even ifpeople were talking about grief,
I could handle hearing it. I just like songs made me so
emotional. But I used to love music.
I also like started in dance andtheatre.
(02:31):
Like I, I've always been around music.
So I'm trying to ease my way back into listening.
Now I can handle listening to like workout playlists, but I'm
trying to listen to other songs because like you can't just like
walk around listening to like EDM all the time.
And that's not really my vibe ifI'm not working out.
So I'm trying to. I made a playlist that's a
little Moody so I can kind of dip my toe into.
(02:54):
Yeah, I did get choked up when Forever Young came on.
Oh, that's a tough song. That one might be like my World
War it. Starts in style.
Let's dance. For you sound just like him
that's real This song is beautiful.
You're. Only watching the stars.
Keep going with his name is thisis exposure therapy and there's
(03:20):
something what does he say stay young and.
Let us live forever. We don't have the power.
But we never say never. OK?
Should do the intro. Yeah.
I'm Hannah Jones. Sorry about that.
Sorry about that. I I'm in my ludial phase, I'm in
my ludial phase. I'm nor afraid and I'm in my
(03:41):
ludial phase. And you're listening to New
Yorker of the Week. When I'm I think this is what
happens. My body kind of shuts down in my
ludial phase. And I think part of it is
fatigue and it is so debilitating.
Like I can drink coffee after coffee after coffee and I still
will just be like this. Being a woman is.
(04:03):
And I know I say this a lot, butholy shit.
Like what if I had to like, run a world meeting today?
I know. Well, you could do it because
you're a woman. True, Sam.
Sam taught me something that I don't think is true.
He told me that men go through in 48 hours all the cycles that
(04:26):
women go through when they're ontheir period.
Yeah, no, they. Do every 48 hours they.
Do they're like men have elutialfees?
Men are constantly on their their cycle.
That's great. Is that how I don't get it?
I don't know, but I've seen it and I I see it every.
Day so like what we what our bodies stretch for like a week
or two. Well, no, for the whole month,
(04:47):
sorry they they're doing every 48 hours.
Yeah, that's why they're completely insane and that's why
they're giving us so many mixed messages.
They should not be in charge because if I if I have what
happens over a month jam packed every two days like.
That's why they're so that's whythey call you and then they
don't call you and they're like,oh, let's go on a date.
(05:10):
And then at 3:00 PM they're like, actually, never mind.
I mean it. It all makes sense.
And it's like they've had the nerve for years to be like, oh,
is she on her period? And it's like you always are, it
seems. Seems like if you if you are
having your ludial phase every two days, you should not have a
job. You need to stay home.
I yeah, I mean. I didn't know that.
(05:32):
Yeah, Trump's like, permanently.In Ludial, he's in Ludial.
That's so tracks he might be in follicular.
Follicular is when you're getting all hyped up, ready to
take action. And then when he's in Ludial,
that's when he's like tweeting like, I'm so mad at you, Yeah.
Like Elon? Come on.
The fight with Elon, they both must have been in Ludial.
(05:53):
Yeah, for sure. Well, and then on top of it,
they're all on drugs. Yeah.
I mean, Trump fakes like he's, you know, never had a sip of
alcohol in his life, but we all know he's a fucking crackhead.
Yeah, he's drinking. He.
I mean, I hope so, because otherwise there's just no
excuse. Yeah, I hope there's like some
sort of. Behavior can't just be like
(06:13):
you're who he is every day. I saw an image online recently
of him with poopy pants on the golf court and I was like Oh my
God ha ha. And then?
Is it real or Yeah I? Don't know, but I really hope
it's real. Apparently.
Let's just tell people it's real.
It's real. It's like a huge like poop stain
on his pants and it's someone like walking him off.
(06:34):
But it's so hard to know. And like, you know, like Trump
had an he's old. He's really.
Old, no one talks. I mean, he's doing so many
things that it's like hard to now also focus on his age, but
like, he's an old man like. He's completely he's he's lost
it. Yeah.
I don't think he ever had it, but whatever was left is.
(06:55):
Gone. And I'm not saying I do not
think Biden was like a great at least he was just.
Biden was just asleep. Yeah, like I'd rather have a
sleepy president than one who's lost.
His mind is taking charge. Yeah, like at the work and just
being the devil. Yeah, he's really being the
devil. But that's what happens.
You get old and you're like, nothing matters.
(07:15):
And now we have a president who's like, nothing matters, and
he's just kind of going rogue. He has some sort of disease.
The vein the. Vein thing.
How can that be? No, OK.
It's like, don't even don't evenreport on it.
It's not going to take him out. Yeah, like what is that?
That's how I felt. I literally I saw an article, I
read the whole article. He's got those chunky he.
(07:35):
He's just like not healthy, but he's it's like we knew that it's
it's not going to get him anytime soon.
I. Think all he eats is chicken
Nuggets. You think?
No, I like one time they reported on what he eats.
Oh no, you're fine. One time they reported on what
he eats and it was like ketchup all day.
It was like, disgusting. That's all he eats in a day.
(07:57):
No, like literally all he eats ketchup.
Wolf screen recorded on my phoneyesterday.
I was scrolling and it was a video of Trump speaking on
something so like insanity. Then it was a video of the kids
in Gaza, and then the next videowas Jlo telling us her bodega
order. It's like, it's just like, I
(08:19):
feel like we're all online so weall get it.
So we don't need to like all harp on it.
But like, it's really insane to be on your phone right now
'cause it's like some of the worst things you've ever seen in
your life. And then it's like what Jlo
would get at the bodega. What does she get at the bodega?
I didn't finish the video. I can't.
We only she only drinks water. What she doesn't, that's like
(08:42):
why she's so hot is because she only drinks water.
She doesn't drink coffee. She doesn't drink anything else
except for water. See to me.
And it's like, OK, we know you weren't on water during your
halftime performance, bitch, come on.
Oh really? I think she was OK I'm AJ Lo
apologize. You really are even after her
the video. I don't care.
(09:05):
I my thing with Jlo is I feel bad that she this is now me
thinking way too much about someone who has like a lot of
money and power. So just like bear with me.
I feel like young Jlo had decided about what would make
her feel like she's made it. And I feel like watching her
(09:25):
documentary, she, well, when shestarted, she was just like,
really like, harshly criticized,whatever, right?
And she was like, in the public eye a lot.
I got a lot of criticism, whatever.
But then I feel like she startedachieving the levels of fame
that were like what young Jlo had told herself.
That's how I know I've made it right.
This is nuts and I feel like shenever fully like I feel like for
(09:47):
some reason like she felt like she was never being taken
seriously and I feel like in herhead like getting that Oscar
would have like healed young Jlolike they took me seriously.
I won an Oscar. I'm not just some like ROM com
actress who wears like the greenslit dress, like I'm more than
that. And I kind of feel like post
(10:08):
that and then having to share the Super Bowl.
Like I just feel like she's trying to get back to that
level. So I kind of feel like when
we're watching her like make these terrible Movies Now and
like fund her own documentary about a movie no one wanted to
make. And like now she's like being
interviewed. She's interviewing herself.
(10:29):
Like she posted the video of herbodega order.
Like, I just feel like I'm feeling empathy for Jlo, who
clearly doesn't realize that shehad made it and she was she is a
star and she's going to be famous forever.
And I, I feel like she's a younggirl who's just trying to get
get back to some level of fame that she believes she needs to
be happy if we. Could get her on the pot.
(10:50):
I mean, she is New York. She have you ever seen that clip
where she's like, I used to livehere this old?
Man, and he's like, who are you?I love, I mean one of my
favorite movies of all time, Hustler.
Hustlers so good and she should have won the Oscars.
She didn't. She should have won the Oscar.
Who got it that year? Someone who just shouldn't have
(11:12):
gotten it. That's all I have to say.
What was your most New York moment of the week?
Oh my gosh, I actually have a couple to pick from.
I did go to a Mets game and I got a free beer.
That was amazing. How'd that happen?
I don't know. I got a beer.
I bought a beer. I got, of course, I got one of
(11:32):
the souvenir cups, and then I'm going to get a refill.
And I was like, can I just get arefill in this cup?
And she's like, we're not technically supposed to do
refills in the cup, but that's none of my business.
So she's refilling the cup. And then we're just standing
there and I was like, oh, here'smy ID.
And she was like, thank you. And I was like, oh, nothing's on
the screen. And she was like, you're good.
And I was like, why? And she was like, I don't know,
(11:55):
just you're good. And I was like, I don't have
any. She was like, you're good.
It was amazing. And then everyone I was with
went to get in that line. It's like she's not going to.
No, it's for women only. Well, Claire was there, but
Claire didn't get a free beer. But it's like when you choose to
give someone a free beer, you can't do it to the next 10
people. One person just gets lucky.
(12:17):
I actually have had a couple little luck moments this week.
I found $20 on the street, $20 on the street, free beer.
I'm trying to think of another thing related to money.
There's nothing but that feels pretty charmed.
Yeah. Do you know that receivings of
money like free stuff, finding cash, someone like randomly
paying you back that's supposed to be from the beyond?
(12:40):
Which is God or? Probably my dad.
Anytime you find money, it's my dad.
It's her dad's Eric. But apparently like money like
that is for some reason in the afterlife, like random findings
of money, they control that. OK, I read that in a book once.
All right, Dad, what the fuck? I really need you right now.
(13:05):
My dad has left me nothing. You just talking to him.
I need to I think he has. I don't think he probably has
been like checking in and is like wow, Nora's a hustler.
Nora's doing good. No, but we need to get a more
clear picture to. Yeah, we need to.
OK, Dad. We need to explain to him that
you're trying to get your nails done on class.
PS. I just got my nails done.
(13:29):
I feel like I know it's crazy it's $50 and I don't have $50.00
to spend right now but I cannot.It's just so hard for.
Me, I kind of feel like you could bring something to the
pawn shop down the street and get $50.
Totally true. I think.
I think you could get your nailsdone with pawn shop money.
OK. And I, I mean, I'll just walk a
couple. I really shouldn't.
(13:49):
I just it feels. Aren't you about to watch a dog?
Oh, no. When you're back, I keep
thinking that's before you leave.
Yeah. It's a tough one.
Well, my New York moment of the week was definitely last night.
Where? Oh yeah.
And yes, it did take place in the subway, 'cause where else
did mine take place? But holy shit did stuff go down
(14:10):
on the L train. Last night and I got some videos
I'm in bed watching. Last night, go downtown to go.
Go to Jesus Christ. The Ludial is taking over.
I'm so sorry. She goes downtown.
I'm going downtown, OK. Last night I go to Williamsburg
for a show. Crashed.
(14:31):
Sold out. It actually it got.
There were a lot of people there.
I was like, what are you guys doing?
Here, no. They're always like randoms kind
of hanging it out there was like.
Some girl from Australia. I was like you.
And it's like the way back room of this bar, it's random.
But yeah, so had the show left, got a slice of pizza, sat alone
(14:55):
and just kind of looked out on the street and was like, OK, And
then and then I was like, all right, time to get time to get
in the subway, which is a track from Williamsburg to Park Slope.
Holy shit. And it's like when, when?
Well, actually, I don't know, I don't think.
Are you off the G? No, I'm the LL to the Q.
(15:18):
Because for me, when that G is running, everything's fine.
Yeah, everything's fine. But it's never.
Run before, but when that G is down like you're out of luck.
That's my experience with the G.The G was down last night and
the L was down last night, so. There's no way to get home and
they kept. So literally, there's no way.
And I had already decided my treat for the night was to get
(15:40):
this $5 slice of pizza, which bythe way, what's going on?
Is it $5 now? No, it's crazy.
And what was it? Just cheese.
Pepperoni. Slice.
That's nuts. Like are you?
Serious, we have 5 gotten 2. We should buy in bulk big pieces
like pepperoni bags and just pass out the pepperonis.
Then just pay for a cheese sliceand add her on pepperoni.
(16:02):
My step dad as I was saying it was.
My step dad has an amazing idea for a business.
I hope he doesn't get mad for meto say it out loud.
No one take it OK. Please don't take it cold pizza
like in a college town. Like day old cold pizza for like
$0.50. Now that's actually.
Like, don't you? You know when you wake up and
(16:22):
you're so hungover out of your mind and you go into the kitchen
and you just had a party and there's just cold pizza and
you're like, why not? And so how are how are how do
they get the pizza like they go to the local shops.
And it would be like kind of like end of the end of the
night, give me all the pizza youhave and then we're going to
sell it. For $0.50 for.
Like 50. Cents.
So they're going to take the pizzas, going to throw up, throw
(16:43):
it out, Yeah, leave it out, let it get cold, kind of.
Too good to go, but more creative and niche and for a
college town. I mean, if that's in the middle
of a campus. I know.
Can you believe? It and I guess in a world where
you are getting the pizza for free and maybe you just buy a
little cart set up so all your you're not spending any money,
(17:05):
you're just getting like $0.50 per slice.
Yeah, not bad. No heat up, no oven.
That's a great idea, Chris. Yeah.
Great. I know the taste of that slice.
I can feel that bite. You know what I'm.
You know what I'm talking about.No, I know.
Takes that extra RIP. I know, I always know when I'm
about to get my period because Icrave pizza and sushi.
Those are the two things. I mean in bulk, Bulk.
(17:30):
So I head to the L and I'm like,all right, time to make the hour
long journey home, get down. People are immediately like,
it's not running, it's not running.
Everyone's freaking out. I'm like, Oh my God, are you
kidding me? So I go up and then they're like
the only option is a bus. So I'm like OK B 48 and I keep
(17:52):
following the little thing to find the B48.
It's hot as shit out. It's like humid.
It was terrible yesterday. Oh my God.
It's so fucking hot and I'm likerunning around.
I asked a police officer. He's like, I think it's that
way. No, it's like leads me in the
complete wrong direction. It's like, great.
Literally the only thing you're good at is beating up in some
(18:14):
people. Yeah, like, you can't help.
You can't help. New York can't even like.
Be a direction helper like JesusChrist.
Anyways, then they I'm asking people everyone's like just do
you know where the B48 is? Do you know where the B48 is?
No one knows where it is. There's no signs for it.
I keep following the dot where it's supposed to be.
(18:34):
I'm like OK I'm out there for 20minutes trying to find the B48.
There's crowds of people everywhere cuz the GS down to
it's. Everyone's looking for the
shuttle. Everyone's looking for the bus.
It was. Just so hot.
And I was just like Oh my God, this is so nutty.
Finally, I'm like the whole thing was that EMS was there
downstairs and and so that therewas a sick person.
(18:58):
So I'm like, OK, well then I mean.
That's why it wasn't running, yeah.
So it was going to pick up again, yeah.
So that's why I'm like, OK, I'm going to go downstairs and see
what's up. I go downstairs, there are there
is a giant puddle of blood on the Lorimer like platform.
No one's even. There's a guy just screaming, Oh
my God. Now it's saying 15 minutes.
He's stepping in the blood and I'm like.
(19:19):
He doesn't clog it like it's. So crazy.
I see no one even cares about the blood.
Yeah, no one does. Trains keep going by, they're
just not stopping at the Lorimerstop stop really.
So people are losing their fucking shit because we're like
and there's people on the trainsand.
You guys probably keep walking up to the edge thinking he's
about to stop and then they justkeep.
(19:40):
Going this woman behind me sort of calls 311 and she she sits on
the phone with them. So I when I first came down, I
heard her screaming at them. That was at 9:00.
I come back down at 9:45 or 930.She's still on the phone with
them and she was just going at it.
She was like, I pay taxes. Where the fuck is that money
(20:03):
going? Why does everyone on the MTA
have healthcare? But I don't like bringing up
like getting into like really nice shit.
Like where like, why aren't you guys at least like telling us
what's going on? Like there's no, you guys aren't
even saying that these. You guys are obviously making
some sort of plan amongst yourselves and that's why the
stop is being skipped. So now it's time for you to come
(20:24):
talk to us, tell us what's goingon, and tell us what we need to
do to get home exactly. Yeah.
And she's like, I paid $3. You guys told me that I had to,
like, we had to start paying forthe subway and like, if we jump
the turnstile, we're gonna, like, get shot.
And it's like. OK, so I pay and now for what?
And now for what? And then you're also upping the
fee. And what did you guys even give
(20:47):
us in terms of upping the fee? You gave us a new subway map
like, well honey, we don't fucking need.
It we just need the trains running on time and.
She's going at it. She's just like every single
thing. And I kind of, I didn't have
money for an Uber, so I just kind of sat there and I started
listening to her agenda and I like her campaign and I looked
at her and I was just like, I was snapping my fingers.
(21:09):
I was like, this bitch knows what she's talking about.
And then finally, she's like, you know what?
Fuck it. So you're telling me that it's
never going to stop at the Lorimer stop?
Is that what you're telling me? And you can hear the lady being
like, yeah, whatever. And so she's like, all right,
I'll do your job. And I'll let everyone know that
this train is never going to stop here.
So she goes and she makes the announcement to everyone.
(21:31):
That's amazing. And I literally say to her, you
should be getting paid. This is crazy.
You're doing someone's job rightnow.
Thank you so much. You're telling me the lady at
311, the random woman that just picked up your call knew a train
wasn't stopping there, but the people waiting for an hour
didn't know? Exactly.
It's so messed up. So then we she's New Yorker of
the week. I know that we have a huge guest
(21:51):
today that we're gonna announce,but like.
We end up, obviously after the whole thing was that you had to
switch to the L going towards Brooklyn, take it one stop and
then take. And then the L was gonna because
it was passing warmer and then so you had to like take it one
stop back to go forward. We did.
I'm sorry, it's just like there's, is it men and women
(22:13):
that sit in those booths upstairs that are supposed to be
like subway attendance? I don't understand why it isn't
part of their role. If they just came downstairs and
were like this, you're going to go the other side, hop on, go
one, get on those and they're skipping Lorimer.
Sorry for the inconvenience. That would have taken 5 seconds.
Nobody would have been mad threwthem.
Like everything would have been resolved.
(22:35):
What, like people aren't buying Metro cards anymore?
People like, it's like, what areyou doing in your little booth?
And it's literally like 150° in this subway station and she's
sweating. No, it's no, I mean, it is just,
it's all it takes is someone to speak up.
And so we, we do get on the stop.
(22:56):
So we've been waiting for an hour.
It's about 10:00-ish, 10/30. We get on, we go one stop, then
we go I, I ended up not on the same train as her but in the
same car. But we had a big talk about
Zoran and we and boating and howshe's just worried that that's
not enough and there's so many deeper issues.
(23:16):
And we had a whole talk while we're waiting for the other L
and I'm like, you're amazing, I love you.
We'll talk soon. Hopefully, like, the gods will
bring us together again. I didn't want to like, ask her
to be on the pot immediately or anything 'cause she was really
heated. So I was like, I don't need to
like put you on blast. But I want you to know that
like, I hear you and I agree with your agenda.
(23:38):
And if we ever do cross paths again, I will vote for you.
Yeah, we did stop at Lorimer. Yeah, if that isn't what it's
like to live in New York. So you guys could just sat there
a little bit longer in that poolof blood?
(23:59):
Probably if we had sat there forjust 10 more minutes.
New York really sucks sometimes.Like I feel like whenever,
whenever someone else is shitting on New York, I feel an
urge to be like, stop. Like it's the best.
Like just stop. It's special here.
You can. You can do anything.
I heard anyone. But then it's like, it does
(24:23):
stuff like that and you're like,all right, it's really not
ideal. It's really not ideal living
here sometimes. So I do this show where I felt
like I kind of bombed and then Iget it takes me 3 hours to get
home. I'm just like New York.
New York What's that song that'sless You get kicked, they kick
(24:44):
you down, you get back. You get back up and then.
Something get down. Well, I'm sorry that happened,
but I'm glad you live to tell the tale.
It's really crazy. The blood was really a lot.
The blood not bothering anyone was what was the craziest thing.
It was clearly a pool of blood and people were just walking
(25:05):
around it. One guy was walking through it
and then tracking the blood, blood everywhere.
And I'm just like, I guess this is.
I kind of feel like for New Yorkers, like, if they didn't
see it happen, it's really none of their business.
Yeah. Like the other day, I walked by
a full, like, bag of groceries that were on the ground, half,
like, cracked glasses, cracked containers, like, it had been,
(25:27):
like, stepped on and nobody clocked at all.
But I was like thinking in my head, like when this happened,
this was probably the biggest thing happening on this block.
Like someone probably dropped all their groceries, maybe they
got fell off their bike, maybe they got hit by a car.
It's close to the edge of the street.
But like to us now just a pile of garbage on the street.
But like when it happened, that was probably, that was probably
(25:48):
the big event. Like that blood who whatever
happened there, I bet everybody on the platform was like a
little bit involved. But now they're the whoever's
blood is that person's gone. So like, we just, we're just
waiting for the train. And someone else on the other
train was like, I heard someone threw up and I was like, no, no,
no, they got like stabbed. It's like no, no one throws up
they're. Throwing up blood, there's like,
(26:09):
yeah. Well, on, on really that note,
we're gonna we're gonna introduce our very major New
Yorker of the Week. Who and we called right off the
top The New Yorker of the. Year possibly.
We kind of hope all listeners hear that.
All past and former guests and listeners get to hear that
(26:31):
because we've decided it OK. She's Luanne de Lesseps,
Countess Luanne. We have the.
Countess. On the podcast.
On the podcast. Luanne is here.
Luanne is here from It's an amazing New York love hotel.
I mean, she's crappy lake, crappy lake, you name it.
(26:52):
Real Housewives of New York legacy ultimate girls trip like
turn on Peacock. There she is.
I literally told her I'm like she's like keeping Peacock.
No, she literally. Is she is out?
She makes great TV. She's.
So fucking hilarious. And she's so New York authentic.
She's so. Authentic.
(27:12):
Authentic's a good word to use. And just like, she's just, I
don't know. I don't even know.
No words, no words, no words. It was a really fun interview.
And she's New York. She's New York.
So listen up, she gives a lot ofadvice.
She gives us and she. Does a lot of singing.
That's honestly really good. And one of the pieces of advice
which we can talk about after isshe she was saying like just
(27:35):
push to tell someone that you'reinterested and I think I might
do that. Good idea.
So yeah, thank you, Luanne. Luanne.
Luanne had many successful relationships, so we can take
care advice. Crushing.
Yeah. Anyways, enjoy this interview.
It fucking rules. And Luann, we love you.
We love you. All right, bye.
Bye. OK.
(27:55):
Our New Yorker of the Week is here.
I'm freaking out. We're very excited.
I'm freaking out. This is a pretty big deal.
Some would say New Yorker of theYear.
IA 1000% not afraid to throw that out 1000% We are joined
here today by Luanne de Lesseps Countess Luanne who is is truly
(28:17):
a New York City legend Yeah, she's a performer she's an
author she's a former housewife.He has been on multiple TV shows
and you know, it's. Like running Peacock.
Yeah, like if you if you pull upPeacock, Luanne's all over it.
And she's just so real. And so I how do I even put it
(28:42):
into words like she's royalty? Yeah, she's like New York
royalty. She's New York royalty.
Luanne, thank you so much for joining us today.
Aw, thank you girls. What an what an intro.
I think authentic was the word. You might.
Be authentic. Yes, very, very.
Authentic well, just like, you know, the O GS, you know, that's
why I think the housewives of New York lasted for so long
(29:04):
because we were the real deal, right?
Just authentically ourselves. And I think that's and
authentically friends. So I think that's what makes a
big difference in in terms of, you know, housewives friends,
whether they work or not. So, you know, God, 13 years, we
had the best time. I mean, we started in 2007,
(29:25):
believe it or. Not You guys did a really great
job. You guys set the tone.
I mean, it was, I mean, what wasit?
It was you. It was Real Housewives of New
York and then also Orange Countythat came out around the same
time. Is that correct?
Well, Orange County was the first one.
We came out right after Orange County.
Yeah. And I always say, if I had seen
Orange County, I don't think I would have ever done the
(29:46):
housewives. Really, really can you?
Expand on that. I was like, oh, I can't relate
to this, you know, but but we were so different in any case,
you know, Orange County in New York, it's apples and oranges,
darling, right. Literally.
Literally who were you friends with originally from the cast?
Like who's? Or Jill.
Jill was really the was really the magnet that got us all
(30:10):
together. You know, they approached Jill
and I think then, you know, she thought Ramona would be great
for it. Then she asked to do it.
Then, you know, Bethany was her pal at that time, right?
And then they found Alex and Simon, you know, I think through
society column, I, you know, socialite column or something
(30:30):
like that as the kind of wannabesocialite.
So it was like the perfect people.
And that's like what? Like, what makes a great dinner
party, right? You mix people together.
And so it kind of was the perfect recipe for, you know,
the Housewives of New York, right?
Yeah. So Jill really was the Magnus.
Well, what was the first thing that went through your mind when
(30:51):
you were asked to be on Housewives?
Like what were things that you were considering or were there
any? Did you have any fears?
You know, I, I, you know, you don't fear what you don't know
because right, I had no idea what I was in for.
You know, I had been to ATV starin Italy.
You know, I don't know if you know that, but, you know, I got
(31:11):
my start in television, really in Europe.
And and so when I was asked to do the show, I was like, what's
reality? I mean, what's reality TV?
You know, I had no idea. It was really the beginning of
reality TV. And so I was like, well, OK,
first of all, they called the Manhattan moms, so we didn't
know what house and. And I was like, oh, you want to
follow me and my kids and townhouse in New York and OK,
(31:37):
sure. And Jill's going to do it too.
And then Rhonda's going to do ittoo.
You know, we're just playing tennis.
So, so like, you know, why not let's, let's give it a try.
And I'm, I'm like that, you know, that's how I got to, you
know, my career in the 1st place.
You know, why not move to Italy?You know, I'm, I'm, I'm, I need
a break from New York. So I'm, you know, I went for
(31:59):
three weeks and I stayed for three years.
So you just never know. And, you know, end up marrying,
you know, French aristocrat, youknow, that's yeah, I didn't, I
didn't know what I was doing really.
I just did what I wanted to do and what I thought was the right
thing to do. And and that's what happened
with housewives. That's awesome.
What do you think about New Yorkbeing on hiatus right now, and
do you have any like, theories on what they're going to do?
(32:21):
Well, you know, I think they need the Ogs back, that's for
sure. I think we all we.
Agree. Right.
I think everybody agrees to that.
Yeah. Or another ultimate Girls trip.
Send us on Below Deck. Oh my God, it's a.
Great idea, The road. On below deck would be fabulous.
I love it. That's when I was on, I was on
vacation and I, I've had like, Igot the flu while on vacation
(32:44):
and Nora was like, you should watch the Romney legacy trip.
It'll make you feel better. It literally it it's that's.
Just, you know, people say that to me all the time.
You know, you help me through cancer, you help me through a
divorce, you help me through lawschool, you know, and it's just,
you know, wonderful to hear of those things that, you know,
that we created, you know, a safe place for people to go and
(33:07):
just lose themselves and get into, you know, our lives
instead, you know, and you know,always doing it with humor as
well. You know, when Bethany's, you
know, I would go, you, you know,you literally have slept with
everyone. And I'm like, really?
Am I the Kim Cattrall of the family or what?
So that's that was the way to handle Bethany because if you,
(33:28):
you know, would go after her, oh, she'd come back even harder.
So I'll be in our show too, I think.
And you know, that's where I think Sonia and I worked for
crappy Lake. You know, we we're like The Odd
Couple, right? So I think we're all such big
personalities in a certain way. You know, all the women are have
big personalities and, and, and again, I think that was the
(33:49):
secret to her success. Tell us about OK, we have a
question. How real is reality television?
Like can you give us like a little more insight?
Like is, are the fights real? Is the are the conversations
real? Right, well, you know, listen it
in art show, everything was real.
You know, listen, it's produced and edited.
(34:11):
Of course it's ATV show. But they you know, they don't
get in there and tell you what to say.
They do say don't forget what she said last night.
So they'll they'll give you a little nudges, but certainly,
you know, but they will, you know, you know, give you
reminders of, you know, don't forget what happened last night
(34:32):
and you got to bring that up, you know, so that kind of stuff,
yes, but it's not, it's not scripted.
It's so funny. You guys were so good in that,
like the original, like you can tell.
I feel like reality TV has really changed.
Like I feel like current realityTV is really different from what
you guys did. I think that's why people like,
cling to like OG New York. Like if like you're there with
(34:53):
the girls in the city. Felt really weird.
Who's your like Roni? Oh, sorry, go ahead.
No. No, no, it could because it was
real. You know, that was my townhouse
and, you know, and Rosie was real and, you know, and Bethany
roller skating down the sidewalkover to my place was real.
You know, she had a period whereshe was roller skating all over
(35:15):
New York, which is pretty funny,you know, And Kelly does run in
front of taxi cabs. And, you know, yes, she does
does talk like that and walk like that when she does her
catwalk. Oh, my God, the Instagram, we
did a walk yesterday. It's gone viral.
We loved it. We loved.
Being really opened up our phonetoday and that was like the
first video. We were like perfect.
We'll see her soon. We actually had her over for
(35:35):
lunch yesterday. Oh, that's so.
Speaking of, who do you hang outwith the most?
Who? Who's someone that you don't
really spend time with anymore, or maybe care not to?
Well, you know, listen, I see Ramona, she's out here.
Dorinda is one of my besties. I love Dorinda.
You know, I see Kelly at parties.
(35:56):
Sonia is kind of more in Floridanow.
So I don't see much with Sonia these days.
And you know, Bethany, you know,and and I are just, you know,
we're nice to each other, but wedon't really see each other.
Yeah, gotcha. So this is so you are a New
Yorker of the Week, So we're wondering if you could give some
advice to some New Yorkers. What's like one piece of advice
(36:17):
you'd give single women looking a date in New York right now?
Well do you guys do love hotel? Yes, yes, yeah.
Are are you guys still? You know, get out there and
flirt, you know, don't be afraidto flirt, you know, and don't be
afraid to, you know, approach a guy that you like.
(36:39):
You know, I think, you know, a great example.
You're out with your girlfriends.
You're in New York City, right? There's the guy at the bar.
He's by himself. You're a gaggle of girls, right?
He's not going to come over the table, right?
Because he's like scared to. And you're not going to go to
the bar to pick up a guy, right?We're going to wait here in this
(36:59):
moment, right? We're going to write a little
note that says, why don't you come over and join us for a
drink? And he'll be flattered and he's
going to go over and join you for a drink and then maybe his
friend's going to show up and then there's two guys and then
there's three guys, you know, SoI always say that, you know, why
not flirt? You know, why not, you know,
and, and, and a love note is great.
(37:20):
I mean, people forget about lovenotes.
And I was telling this to the boys on the love hotel on my, I
said to Wally, don't let Ashley go away with that guy.
Go, go give her a note and let her know that you're thinking
about her. So I think, you know, those
little things are, are so important and, and, you know,
and different, you know, not everybody's going to do that,
are they? Or you know, you're at the bank,
(37:42):
you know, drop something on the floor next to a guy that you
fancy. I told you.
Yesterday, bring a guy to the ATM.
Or drop. I mean if you really want to get
clever, drop 50 bucks. What are some red flags in a in
an NYC bachelor? I feel like we, we, we know what
(38:03):
to look for, but we also, we need some red flags.
Red flags like, you know, red flags for me are let's see,
there's so many. Well, I think manners are
everything. You know, I think that or in
(38:24):
like the way someone, you know, treats other people, the way one
holds their fork, the way that was it doesn't speak on the
telephone loudly at a bar. You know, like I had part the
other day and he was talking, talking to her on his phone and
there were five other people in the car was like, we're heading
(38:46):
over to Polo and I'm like, it's so rude, you know, to be on a
call, right? Talking loudly when other do we
really want to hear your conversation?
No, we don't. It's like people in the
elevator, same thing, you know. So I think, you know, just bad
man chewing gum. Oh God, no, you know.
Etiquette. Stuff, yeah, not offering, you
(39:07):
know, to, to offer you drink or,you know, things like that.
You know, we we, we like frugal,but we don't like cheap.
Yes, that's a good. And, and a guy that doesn't pay
attention to you, you know, there's those guys, you know,
you're on a date and, you know, every time the door open and a
girl walks in, his head turns and he's looking at her.
I mean, obviously red flags, youknow, So I just think red flags
(39:34):
for me are someone who is not generous, who's not thoughtful,
and who's cheap. We don't want a chief man.
And nothing, you know, money can't buy you class, is that
about that? It's how how you treat someone,
you know, with respect really that's what class is all about.
That's where it starts, you know.
(39:55):
Yeah, what's your go to date spot in New York?
You know, it's so funny. I love, I love Avra, that that's
a Madison, that that's a good bar for cocktails.
I don't go to the Regency anymore.
OK, so you're going 53 It's. Over.
It's over. Well, not see it.
Had time. I tend to stick Uptown because
(40:17):
I'm on the Upper East Side, so Ikind of tend to go to places
that in Campanolo. Do you know Campanolos?
No. We'll have to look that up.
It's fun because they have a little, they have a little, they
have a piano player. So I like places with live
entertainment, but they have a piano player like all the time.
Do you know what I mean? So, you know, you go for drinks,
there's piano. You know, I like places with
atmosphere, with music. I love Birdland on Monday nights
(40:42):
for jazz is amazing. My friend Jim Caruso runs that.
And Billy Stritch is always there.
Who's my musical director, my first cabaret.
And, and, you know, since then, you know, I've worked with many
different, you know, musical directors.
But yeah, Birdland's a great place to go.
I was thinking more for drinks. I like Bella Blue.
(41:09):
I mean, that's one of my favorite Italian restaurants in
the city. They're all kind of on the Upper
East Side, so. Can you give us an example of
the worst date that you've had in New York of your whole time
living in NYC and the. Best Well, yeah, I got we got
invited to the Harvard Club for lunch with billionaire.
(41:30):
No names to be added. But anyway, so I show up and
first of all, this is like Hogwarts.
I'm like, and it's so scholasticand you know what I mean?
I'm like, I felt I was in Hogwarts, but there was no
Hogwarts. And so he was an older man and
(41:53):
and he kept on saying things like gaslighting me like, well,
I just said to you that I was inMiami two weeks ago.
Do you, do you not remember that?
I'm like, like that? I'm like, are you kidding me?
He's like. Quizzing you.
He's like quizzing me, right? And I was like things, I was
like, how can I and how can I get out of there?
And of course I said, oh, excuseme, I have to go to the to the
(42:15):
laser room. So I get up and go to the laser
room and I try to figure out howI'm going to get out of this
date and 'cause just continuously gaslight me.
So I, I come back and I said, you know, it's been really nice,
but I, I have to go and one of my kids is not feeling well.
Whatever. I said something like that.
And, and then he goes, well, will you help me call an Uber?
(42:37):
I'm like, he's a billionaire, OK.
And he doesn't know how to call an Uber.
I'm like, well, you should have a driver.
First of all, if you're a billionaire, why wouldn't you
have a driver? Come on.
Right. So he has money.
He doesn't know how to live right.
And, and, and again, that's where money can't buy a class.
You know, it's not about the money.
I mean, there's not enough billions in the world to have me
(42:58):
go after a billionaire who doesn't treat me right so.
Right do. You money can't buy it.
So anyway, so I, you know, I thought I, I called him an Uber
and I had to call one for myself.
You called him the Uber. You called him the Uber?
I called one for myself. Do you think he called an Uber
for me? No.
That's insane. That's insane.
(43:19):
And he's a billionaire, are you?Are you still dating?
His name is James from Love Island, OH.
Really sorry James Love. Hotel I.
The wires are crossing. I've been watching way too much
Love Island, but I also went to the hotel.
Right. Yeah.
So James and I, I love James. James is a great guy.
(43:41):
But you know, and we, we talk all the time.
And I, I saw him and he came to my show in like Tahoe, my
cabaret. I saw him in LA when I was out
there. He came to the show to my
cabaret show at the Wiltern, as well as like four other guys
from Love Hotel, which is so great 'cause they still all hang
out from Love Hotel. They, they created this
friendship now, right? They're all, they're all on a
(44:02):
group chat. They see each other all the
time. And you know, James and I see
each other when we can. But he lives in Hawaii, you
know, and his in Hawaii, he's got grandchildren.
He's got, you know, his kids arethere and you know, my life is
in New York. So as much as we adore each
other, you know, we see each other when we can.
But you know, I'm, I'm dating, I'm dating German, being a
German right now who's fantasticand you know, European men,
(44:25):
that's where you get the boys girls, you got to go to Europe.
I'm going soon and I'm very excited.
Yeah, I'm very, very excited. No, I think I'm going to.
I need to go meet up with them there.
Definitely about the cabaret. Yeah, let's hear.
We want to hear more about your cabaret being on tour.
Oh my God, it's been, you know, listen, I started the cabaret in
(44:47):
2018. Mean so it's been, you know,
seven years, which is incrediblefor me.
And you know, it started with a friend of mine who said to me,
you know, Lou, you love to sing for your friends.
You love those parties and you love to tell jokes.
You should be a cabaret performer.
And I was like, OK, and I married Tom instead, but
whatever, you know, even Louis Vuitton makes mistakes.
(45:10):
So so that's how he really started was that idea.
And then and then, you know, theshit hit the fan for me, as you
know, in Florida and after I divorced Tom and it really made
me rise to the cabaret stage andand and listen, it's it's a love
(45:31):
affair with music, you know, because I I pick a song first,
then they go, what story is going to get me into that song?
And then I pick the perfect Giovanni dress.
Of course. Thank you, Dorinda.
Anyway, so Giovanni, oh God, Oh my God.
Anyway, so you know, I, I've been touring the world now I
tour. I just got booked to do Pride,
(45:53):
not Pride. I'm doing Mardi Gras in
Australia. Wow.
Oh my. God, that's amazing.
OMG, I'm super excited. So you know, I played London,
Scotland, Ireland, Canada. I, I do shows and so you know,
my, my tour is, is worldwide now, which is insane.
(46:14):
Did you see Tilda Swinton introduced me to my, the stage
in London? Did you see that?
Yeah, I got I It's so you're so exciting.
I mean, way to skyrocket your career.
I mean, it's amazing. It feels like.
It's well, you know, my show period is like, holy shit.
And then you know, I played Mighty Hoop, a big festival out
there. There was 40,000 people, 40,000
(46:36):
people singing Money can't buy aclap.
I'm like, and they all they know, they know Giovanni and
they know, you know, and I even Viva La Diva, I love that song.
Viva La Diva. I'm we're getting a new song.
I'm super excited about that forthe new tour because guess what
the next tour 2026 is going to be all about Love, Love hotel,
(46:56):
right? Love Ray, Right.
Yeah. So anyway, so you know, it's I
love the creative bird cabaret. And and you know, when you come
to my show, it's it's a party. It's everybody is full and you
know, you're, it's like sitting on my living room couch.
OK, let me sit down and let me entertain you, 'cause that's
(47:17):
what I do. I'm gonna.
And it's not really about how. Well, I think it's not even
about that. I mean, but you know, listen, my
first show, I had a director come at the time, Ben Rimmelauer
was my director who was in New York Staple And and he says, I
think Richard J Alexander's coming.
He's my mentor. And I was like, oh, OK.
And he only directs, you know, Kristin Chenoweth, Barbra
(47:40):
Streisand, Bette Midler. So he comes to the show and this
is the famous night of Giovanni and he comes over to me and we
had an after party and this director comes up to me and he
goes, count this. I just want to tell you
something. I came here not expecting very
much from you, but you blew my mind.
First of all, you can sing. Second of all, you're funny.
(48:01):
And 3rd, you weren't dressed. No woman I've ever seen.
You're going to be a big star. Give me two weeks and I'll find
you the right agent. And that's what happened.
You really. Yeah.
That really changed my life thatnight.
And, you know, and then I had myagent, Rich Super and out in LA
who really took my career and and got me to, you know, the
Chicago Theatre or, you know, and now I have I AG as agents,
(48:25):
but Alex Chicken. But you know, that was really I
started small and it just grew and grew and grew and grew
because, you know, it's never the same show.
I never do the same show. So every tour, you know, Mary F
Kill tour, for example, then I did it's you know, or it's
Christmas with the Countess or you know, so because, oh, by the
way, I'm doing a Christmas show in December at Sony Hall in New
(48:47):
York, 22nd. We're doing 2nd 23rd, I believe.
So you know, people didn't, you know, check out my Instagram or
go to I was going to come to check out my dates, but I love
holiday and I'm working on a newsong called the sun.
You got run over by a reindeer. Amazing, but it's it's I love
(49:09):
it. Do you?
Notice the difference? Performing for New York
audiences. Performing out of the city.
You know, listen, I'm gonna playin Brooklyn.
I've never played a three dollarthree.
Dollar bill. That's it.
Luann, you are. You are in for a treat.
It's amazing. You're gonna have so much fun.
Oh, awesome venue. I heard everybody said, oh, $3
(49:33):
bill is amazing. So that's the first time I play.
August 21st. I'm there and never played
Brooklyn before, but you know, I'm playing Brooklyn and then I
do the Adelphi Theatre in London, you know, which is, you
know, the huge, huge, what's theword?
I'm looking for difference between those kind of venues,
right? I mean, there's a Brooklyn venue
(49:54):
and the Adelphi Theatre. That's where Sunset Blvd. was
born, owned by, you know, Andrew, you know what I mean?
So, you know, I played festivals.
I play, you know, $3 bill kind of things and festivals and, you
know, and then grand theatres onthe West End.
So, you know, you're up the fan.It's another kind of fandom.
(50:15):
It's crazy because you know what?
The Europeans love the title. So there I am, Count fast, you
know what I'm saying? Like here at the, you know, any
of the people like like to throwthat at me.
But you know, do you know, do you even know why I'm a
Countess? Yeah.
No. Do we?
Yes. No, we know you were right.
Right. No.
You. Were US Canal, the Panama Canal
(50:36):
gave the Statue of Liberty over to the United States For the
French. I mean, so it's a really
historical name. People think, you know, I picked
my title out of a Cracker Jacks box.
Oh, you, You earned it. You earned it.
Well, I was married 17 years andI have two beautiful children
with him, so you know, And he says to me, you'll always be my
Countess. He never remarried, by the way.
Wow. Luanne, do you feel like, and
(51:01):
this is kind of a, a juicy question, do you feel like other
housewives are jealous of you? Like, do you like, like what'd
you say? Hell yeah.
'Cause I feel like your fame is just so extraordinary, like have
you ever had altercations or like weird tension between other
(51:21):
housewives 'cause they clearly like they just haven't reached
the the height that you have. Well, I, you know, I would say
that back in the day, like, you know, listen, Bethany wanted
everything I had. That's why it was in her best
interest to try to take me down,right?
Because I was married to a French aristocrat.
I'm a Countess, right? I have two beautiful children.
I have a gorgeous house. I have a townhouse, like, you
(51:43):
know what I mean? I had, I had the life, right?
And Bethany, remember, she was when she started, she was
struggling. So, you know, it was, you know,
obvious, you know, and there's been certain other housewives as
well that have, you know, that I, I know, and I could smell it
a mile away. So I steer clear from that, you
know what I'm saying? I've had that my whole life.
Listen, as a model in New York, then I was an Italian TV star.
(52:05):
And believe me, those Italian women, they're brutal.
You know, hidden walks is American, right, who is making
her own way, her own career, youknow, and in the 90s, you know,
Italian women were just, you know, looking for their man to
get married. You know what I mean?
They didn't have, you know, careers and not like they, you
know, I'm talking about, you know, a long time ago,
(52:26):
obviously, but, you know, so I've been dealing with that my
whole life, including my sisters, you know.
Yeah, how do your kids handle all your fame and, and and what
you. Know my son can't stand it.
So he's a painter and he loves painting and he's a great
painter. I don't know if you've ever seen
Noel's work on Instagram. I I was just.
Going to finish by saying, you know, my, my kids were never, my
(52:49):
kids were never fame mongers. And they're, they're really
artists and they're great artists.
But Victoria, you know, I want to get her more into singing
because Victoria's an amazing singer and a songwriter.
So we're working on some new music together, which is cool.
Wow, is she going to be in the cabinet?
Well, yeah, that's my my dream is to have her in my show for
sure. Oh my God, it's like a Beyoncé
(53:09):
Blue Ivy situation. Oh my.
Oh yeah, she's a great dancer. She's a great singer, so and and
a writer as well. So we're working on some stuff
together, which is cool. That's awesome.
That's amazing. Well, we're gonna just ask you
one final question to close out the interview.
Since you're a New Yorker of theWeek, we're gonna ask another
New York question. Finish the sentence.
(53:31):
You're not a real New Yorker until.
Until you've had a bottle of rose on a blanket for a picnic
(53:52):
in Central Park. Beautiful.
Fat and until you've seen Countess.
Cabaret. You've seen the Countess
Cabaret. Oh, until you seen Countess.
OK, let's do that. That both of those honestly, I
yeah. And.
Let me say it again. So you're not a real New Yorker
if you're not, If you're not a real New Yorker if you have not
(54:13):
seen Countess Cabaret? Agreed 100%.
Luann, where can everyone find you?
Where? What's your?
I go to countessluann.com for mytour dates and, you know, follow
me on Instagram and, you know, I'm constantly posting fun
stuff. I'm getting more into doing, you
know, videos and just having funwith it, you know, 'cause, you
(54:36):
know, you can't take this stuff too seriously, you know,
Instagram and, you know, there'sa lot of hate out there.
So I, I like to keep it. I like to keep it lights and
fun. And so, but anyway, you can
follow me there and, and it's going to be an exciting, you
know, summer fall. I'm just thrilled to know that
I'm going to be back over acrossthe pond and all the way to
(55:00):
Australia this next year. Amazing.
We have a couple of dates. Show.
Yeah, yeah, we have a couple of dates to shout out for our
listeners. August 21st, which is Countess
Luann's Block party in Brooklyn,September 13th, which is in
Chicago at the Victoria Theatre.And then it looks like you have
another show on October 9th in Toronto, which is really
(55:23):
exciting as well. Yeah, I'm going to Toronto.
Yeah. And then the Bravo cons coming
up in November, and then I'm doing holiday shifts.
I'll be at Sony Hall in New YorkCity in December.
So I hope to see you girls there.
You will love the show. Oh.
Thanks. We need to come.
Thank you so much. Yeah, it's on the podcast.
We really thank you girls. We're huge fans, we love you and
(55:44):
yeah, we'll. Thank you.
Yeah, we'll stay in touch.
There we are, there we are. Out of the lines.
Look the. Lines are looking good.
The lines are looking good. What do you what do you think?
They're actually called audio waves.
Yeah, the audio waves are in arein alignment now.
Like even if I. Fully understood the tech going
on here. I couldn't work in a job where
they do that because I don't know, like I can only talk the
(00:38):
way we talk about things. Yeah, like is the thingy
working? Like when you say the lines are
small, I know exactly what's happening, but like, if we were
like audio producers somewhere, I feel like they'd be mad.
At us, like the lines are small,they're still kind of small, but
they're not it's oh, wait, no, they're getting a little bigger
now, OK. A little louder now, a little
bit now than now. Welcome to the podcast,
(00:58):
everyone. It's a big day here.
It's a big day. It's a.
Big day at New York or the week headquarters.
We have an amazing guest, we really do.
It's it's kind of unbelievable. It's kind of like why we I
almost, it's why we just got started like like it's not.
In some ways, yeah. I think whenever we have a a
(01:19):
great guest on, which is you allshould know is always because of
Nora, like nobody, nobody's Wheeling, dealing, connecting
and getting people on this podcast the way Nora is.
Anytime there's a big guest likeit's Nora, it's like anytime
there's a big guest on, it's kind of like, OK, we're doing
something right, we're moving, we're doing something right.
We're. Moving up, we're moving up.
What's? That song, You know what?
(01:44):
Yeah, Listening to music again. Canada's been listening to
tunes, which is new for you? For context, I used to only
listen to music. I used to literally never listen
to podcasts. Listen to me like all the time.
Played it in my house, played when I would wake.
I used to wake up, put on my morning playlist and get ready
for the day. And then my dad died and I was
(02:08):
way too emotional to handle music.
It just was like I could cry thedrop of a hat.
It was just a very sensitive time.
That's when I turned to podcasts, which was amazing to
have podcasts cause like even ifpeople were talking about grief,
I could handle hearing it. I just like songs made me so
emotional. But I used to love music.
I also like started in dance andtheatre.
(02:31):
Like I, I've always been around music.
So I'm trying to ease my way back into listening.
Now I can handle listening to like workout playlists, but I'm
trying to listen to other songs because like you can't just like
walk around listening to like EDM all the time.
And that's not really my vibe ifI'm not working out.
So I'm trying to. I made a playlist that's a
little Moody so I can kind of dip my toe into.
(02:54):
Yeah, I did get choked up when Forever Young came on.
Oh, that's a tough song. That one might be like my World
War it. Starts in style.
Let's dance. For you sound just like him
that's real This song is beautiful.
You're. Only watching the stars.
Keep going with his name is thisis exposure therapy and there's
(03:20):
something what does he say stay young and.
Let us live forever. We don't have the power.
But we never say never. OK?
Should do the intro. Yeah.
I'm Hannah Jones. Sorry about that.
Sorry about that. I I'm in my ludial phase, I'm in
my ludial phase. I'm nor afraid and I'm in my
(03:41):
ludial phase. And you're listening to New
Yorker of the Week. When I'm I think this is what
happens. My body kind of shuts down in my
ludial phase. And I think part of it is
fatigue and it is so debilitating.
Like I can drink coffee after coffee after coffee and I still
will just be like this. Being a woman is.
(04:03):
And I know I say this a lot, butholy shit.
Like what if I had to like, run a world meeting today?
I know. Well, you could do it because
you're a woman. True, Sam.
Sam taught me something that I don't think is true.
He told me that men go through in 48 hours all the cycles that
(04:26):
women go through when they're ontheir period.
Yeah, no, they. Do every 48 hours they.
Do they're like men have elutialfees?
Men are constantly on their their cycle.
That's great. Is that how I don't get it?
I don't know, but I've seen it and I I see it every.
Day so like what we what our bodies stretch for like a week
or two. Well, no, for the whole month,
(04:47):
sorry they they're doing every 48 hours.
Yeah, that's why they're completely insane and that's why
they're giving us so many mixed messages.
They should not be in charge because if I if I have what
happens over a month jam packed every two days like.
That's why they're so that's whythey call you and then they
don't call you and they're like,oh, let's go on a date.
(05:10):
And then at 3:00 PM they're like, actually, never mind.
I mean it. It all makes sense.
And it's like they've had the nerve for years to be like, oh,
is she on her period? And it's like you always are, it
seems. Seems like if you if you are
having your ludial phase every two days, you should not have a
job. You need to stay home.
I yeah, I mean. I didn't know that.
(05:32):
Yeah, Trump's like, permanently.In Ludial, he's in Ludial.
That's so tracks he might be in follicular.
Follicular is when you're getting all hyped up, ready to
take action. And then when he's in Ludial,
that's when he's like tweeting like, I'm so mad at you, Yeah.
Like Elon? Come on.
The fight with Elon, they both must have been in Ludial.
(05:53):
Yeah, for sure. Well, and then on top of it,
they're all on drugs. Yeah.
I mean, Trump fakes like he's, you know, never had a sip of
alcohol in his life, but we all know he's a fucking crackhead.
Yeah, he's drinking. He.
I mean, I hope so, because otherwise there's just no
excuse. Yeah, I hope there's like some
sort of. Behavior can't just be like
(06:13):
you're who he is every day. I saw an image online recently
of him with poopy pants on the golf court and I was like Oh my
God ha ha. And then?
Is it real or Yeah I? Don't know, but I really hope
it's real. Apparently.
Let's just tell people it's real.
It's real. It's like a huge like poop stain
on his pants and it's someone like walking him off.
(06:34):
But it's so hard to know. And like, you know, like Trump
had an he's old. He's really.
Old, no one talks. I mean, he's doing so many
things that it's like hard to now also focus on his age, but
like, he's an old man like. He's completely he's he's lost
it. Yeah.
I don't think he ever had it, but whatever was left is.
(06:55):
Gone. And I'm not saying I do not
think Biden was like a great at least he was just.
Biden was just asleep. Yeah, like I'd rather have a
sleepy president than one who's lost.
His mind is taking charge. Yeah, like at the work and just
being the devil. Yeah, he's really being the
devil. But that's what happens.
You get old and you're like, nothing matters.
(07:15):
And now we have a president who's like, nothing matters, and
he's just kind of going rogue. He has some sort of disease.
The vein the. Vein thing.
How can that be? No, OK.
It's like, don't even don't evenreport on it.
It's not going to take him out. Yeah, like what is that?
That's how I felt. I literally I saw an article, I
read the whole article. He's got those chunky he.
(07:35):
He's just like not healthy, but he's it's like we knew that it's
it's not going to get him anytime soon.
I. Think all he eats is chicken
Nuggets. You think?
No, I like one time they reported on what he eats.
Oh no, you're fine. One time they reported on what
he eats and it was like ketchup all day.
It was like, disgusting. That's all he eats in a day.
(07:57):
No, like literally all he eats ketchup.
Wolf screen recorded on my phoneyesterday.
I was scrolling and it was a video of Trump speaking on
something so like insanity. Then it was a video of the kids
in Gaza, and then the next videowas Jlo telling us her bodega
order. It's like, it's just like, I
(08:19):
feel like we're all online so weall get it.
So we don't need to like all harp on it.
But like, it's really insane to be on your phone right now
'cause it's like some of the worst things you've ever seen in
your life. And then it's like what Jlo
would get at the bodega. What does she get at the bodega?
I didn't finish the video. I can't.
We only she only drinks water. What she doesn't, that's like
(08:42):
why she's so hot is because she only drinks water.
She doesn't drink coffee. She doesn't drink anything else
except for water. See to me.
And it's like, OK, we know you weren't on water during your
halftime performance, bitch, come on.
Oh really? I think she was OK I'm AJ Lo
apologize. You really are even after her
the video. I don't care.
(09:05):
I my thing with Jlo is I feel bad that she this is now me
thinking way too much about someone who has like a lot of
money and power. So just like bear with me.
I feel like young Jlo had decided about what would make
her feel like she's made it. And I feel like watching her
(09:25):
documentary, she, well, when shestarted, she was just like,
really like, harshly criticized,whatever, right?
And she was like, in the public eye a lot.
I got a lot of criticism, whatever.
But then I feel like she startedachieving the levels of fame
that were like what young Jlo had told herself.
That's how I know I've made it right.
This is nuts and I feel like shenever fully like I feel like for
(09:47):
some reason like she felt like she was never being taken
seriously and I feel like in herhead like getting that Oscar
would have like healed young Jlolike they took me seriously.
I won an Oscar. I'm not just some like ROM com
actress who wears like the greenslit dress, like I'm more than
that. And I kind of feel like post
(10:08):
that and then having to share the Super Bowl.
Like I just feel like she's trying to get back to that
level. So I kind of feel like when
we're watching her like make these terrible Movies Now and
like fund her own documentary about a movie no one wanted to
make. And like now she's like being
interviewed. She's interviewing herself.
(10:29):
Like she posted the video of herbodega order.
Like, I just feel like I'm feeling empathy for Jlo, who
clearly doesn't realize that shehad made it and she was she is a
star and she's going to be famous forever.
And I, I feel like she's a younggirl who's just trying to get
get back to some level of fame that she believes she needs to
be happy if we. Could get her on the pot.
(10:50):
I mean, she is New York. She have you ever seen that clip
where she's like, I used to livehere this old?
Man, and he's like, who are you?I love, I mean one of my
favorite movies of all time, Hustler.
Hustlers so good and she should have won the Oscars.
She didn't. She should have won the Oscar.
Who got it that year? Someone who just shouldn't have
(11:12):
gotten it. That's all I have to say.
What was your most New York moment of the week?
Oh my gosh, I actually have a couple to pick from.
I did go to a Mets game and I got a free beer.
That was amazing. How'd that happen?
I don't know. I got a beer.
I bought a beer. I got, of course, I got one of
(11:32):
the souvenir cups, and then I'm going to get a refill.
And I was like, can I just get arefill in this cup?
And she's like, we're not technically supposed to do
refills in the cup, but that's none of my business.
So she's refilling the cup. And then we're just standing
there and I was like, oh, here'smy ID.
And she was like, thank you. And I was like, oh, nothing's on
the screen. And she was like, you're good.
And I was like, why? And she was like, I don't know,
(11:55):
just you're good. And I was like, I don't have
any. She was like, you're good.
It was amazing. And then everyone I was with
went to get in that line. It's like she's not going to.
No, it's for women only. Well, Claire was there, but
Claire didn't get a free beer. But it's like when you choose to
give someone a free beer, you can't do it to the next 10
people. One person just gets lucky.
(12:17):
I actually have had a couple little luck moments this week.
I found $20 on the street, $20 on the street, free beer.
I'm trying to think of another thing related to money.
There's nothing but that feels pretty charmed.
Yeah. Do you know that receivings of
money like free stuff, finding cash, someone like randomly
paying you back that's supposed to be from the beyond?
(12:40):
Which is God or? Probably my dad.
Anytime you find money, it's my dad.
It's her dad's Eric. But apparently like money like
that is for some reason in the afterlife, like random findings
of money, they control that. OK, I read that in a book once.
All right, Dad, what the fuck? I really need you right now.
(13:05):
My dad has left me nothing. You just talking to him.
I need to I think he has. I don't think he probably has
been like checking in and is like wow, Nora's a hustler.
Nora's doing good. No, but we need to get a more
clear picture to. Yeah, we need to.
OK, Dad. We need to explain to him that
you're trying to get your nails done on class.
PS. I just got my nails done.
(13:29):
I feel like I know it's crazy it's $50 and I don't have $50.00
to spend right now but I cannot.It's just so hard for.
Me, I kind of feel like you could bring something to the
pawn shop down the street and get $50.
Totally true. I think.
I think you could get your nailsdone with pawn shop money.
OK. And I, I mean, I'll just walk a
couple. I really shouldn't.
(13:49):
I just it feels. Aren't you about to watch a dog?
Oh, no. When you're back, I keep
thinking that's before you leave.
Yeah. It's a tough one.
Well, my New York moment of the week was definitely last night.
Where? Oh yeah.
And yes, it did take place in the subway, 'cause where else
did mine take place? But holy shit did stuff go down
(14:10):
on the L train. Last night and I got some videos
I'm in bed watching. Last night, go downtown to go.
Go to Jesus Christ. The Ludial is taking over.
I'm so sorry. She goes downtown.
I'm going downtown, OK. Last night I go to Williamsburg
for a show. Crashed.
(14:31):
Sold out. It actually it got.
There were a lot of people there.
I was like, what are you guys doing?
Here, no. They're always like randoms kind
of hanging it out there was like.
Some girl from Australia. I was like you.
And it's like the way back room of this bar, it's random.
But yeah, so had the show left, got a slice of pizza, sat alone
(14:55):
and just kind of looked out on the street and was like, OK, And
then and then I was like, all right, time to get time to get
in the subway, which is a track from Williamsburg to Park Slope.
Holy shit. And it's like when, when?
Well, actually, I don't know, I don't think.
Are you off the G? No, I'm the LL to the Q.
(15:18):
Because for me, when that G is running, everything's fine.
Yeah, everything's fine. But it's never.
Run before, but when that G is down like you're out of luck.
That's my experience with the G.The G was down last night and
the L was down last night, so. There's no way to get home and
they kept. So literally, there's no way.
And I had already decided my treat for the night was to get
(15:40):
this $5 slice of pizza, which bythe way, what's going on?
Is it $5 now? No, it's crazy.
And what was it? Just cheese.
Pepperoni. Slice.
That's nuts. Like are you?
Serious, we have 5 gotten 2. We should buy in bulk big pieces
like pepperoni bags and just pass out the pepperonis.
Then just pay for a cheese sliceand add her on pepperoni.
(16:02):
My step dad as I was saying it was.
My step dad has an amazing idea for a business.
I hope he doesn't get mad for meto say it out loud.
No one take it OK. Please don't take it cold pizza
like in a college town. Like day old cold pizza for like
$0.50. Now that's actually.
Like, don't you? You know when you wake up and
(16:22):
you're so hungover out of your mind and you go into the kitchen
and you just had a party and there's just cold pizza and
you're like, why not? And so how are how are how do
they get the pizza like they go to the local shops.
And it would be like kind of like end of the end of the
night, give me all the pizza youhave and then we're going to
sell it. For $0.50 for.
Like 50. Cents.
So they're going to take the pizzas, going to throw up, throw
(16:43):
it out, Yeah, leave it out, let it get cold, kind of.
Too good to go, but more creative and niche and for a
college town. I mean, if that's in the middle
of a campus. I know.
Can you believe? It and I guess in a world where
you are getting the pizza for free and maybe you just buy a
little cart set up so all your you're not spending any money,
(17:05):
you're just getting like $0.50 per slice.
Yeah, not bad. No heat up, no oven.
That's a great idea, Chris. Yeah.
Great. I know the taste of that slice.
I can feel that bite. You know what I'm.
You know what I'm talking about.No, I know.
Takes that extra RIP. I know, I always know when I'm
about to get my period because Icrave pizza and sushi.
Those are the two things. I mean in bulk, Bulk.
(17:30):
So I head to the L and I'm like,all right, time to make the hour
long journey home, get down. People are immediately like,
it's not running, it's not running.
Everyone's freaking out. I'm like, Oh my God, are you
kidding me? So I go up and then they're like
the only option is a bus. So I'm like OK B 48 and I keep
(17:52):
following the little thing to find the B48.
It's hot as shit out. It's like humid.
It was terrible yesterday. Oh my God.
It's so fucking hot and I'm likerunning around.
I asked a police officer. He's like, I think it's that
way. No, it's like leads me in the
complete wrong direction. It's like, great.
Literally the only thing you're good at is beating up in some
(18:14):
people. Yeah, like, you can't help.
You can't help. New York can't even like.
Be a direction helper like JesusChrist.
Anyways, then they I'm asking people everyone's like just do
you know where the B48 is? Do you know where the B48 is?
No one knows where it is. There's no signs for it.
I keep following the dot where it's supposed to be.
(18:34):
I'm like OK I'm out there for 20minutes trying to find the B48.
There's crowds of people everywhere cuz the GS down to
it's. Everyone's looking for the
shuttle. Everyone's looking for the bus.
It was. Just so hot.
And I was just like Oh my God, this is so nutty.
Finally, I'm like the whole thing was that EMS was there
downstairs and and so that therewas a sick person.
(18:58):
So I'm like, OK, well then I mean.
That's why it wasn't running, yeah.
So it was going to pick up again, yeah.
So that's why I'm like, OK, I'm going to go downstairs and see
what's up. I go downstairs, there are there
is a giant puddle of blood on the Lorimer like platform.
No one's even. There's a guy just screaming, Oh
my God. Now it's saying 15 minutes.
He's stepping in the blood and I'm like.
(19:19):
He doesn't clog it like it's. So crazy.
I see no one even cares about the blood.
Yeah, no one does. Trains keep going by, they're
just not stopping at the Lorimerstop stop really.
So people are losing their fucking shit because we're like
and there's people on the trainsand.
You guys probably keep walking up to the edge thinking he's
about to stop and then they justkeep.
(19:40):
Going this woman behind me sort of calls 311 and she she sits on
the phone with them. So I when I first came down, I
heard her screaming at them. That was at 9:00.
I come back down at 9:45 or 930.She's still on the phone with
them and she was just going at it.
She was like, I pay taxes. Where the fuck is that money
(20:03):
going? Why does everyone on the MTA
have healthcare? But I don't like bringing up
like getting into like really nice shit.
Like where like, why aren't you guys at least like telling us
what's going on? Like there's no, you guys aren't
even saying that these. You guys are obviously making
some sort of plan amongst yourselves and that's why the
stop is being skipped. So now it's time for you to come
(20:24):
talk to us, tell us what's goingon, and tell us what we need to
do to get home exactly. Yeah.
And she's like, I paid $3. You guys told me that I had to,
like, we had to start paying forthe subway and like, if we jump
the turnstile, we're gonna, like, get shot.
And it's like. OK, so I pay and now for what?
And now for what? And then you're also upping the
fee. And what did you guys even give
(20:47):
us in terms of upping the fee? You gave us a new subway map
like, well honey, we don't fucking need.
It we just need the trains running on time and.
She's going at it. She's just like every single
thing. And I kind of, I didn't have
money for an Uber, so I just kind of sat there and I started
listening to her agenda and I like her campaign and I looked
at her and I was just like, I was snapping my fingers.
(21:09):
I was like, this bitch knows what she's talking about.
And then finally, she's like, you know what?
Fuck it. So you're telling me that it's
never going to stop at the Lorimer stop?
Is that what you're telling me? And you can hear the lady being
like, yeah, whatever. And so she's like, all right,
I'll do your job. And I'll let everyone know that
this train is never going to stop here.
So she goes and she makes the announcement to everyone.
(21:31):
That's amazing. And I literally say to her, you
should be getting paid. This is crazy.
You're doing someone's job rightnow.
Thank you so much. You're telling me the lady at
311, the random woman that just picked up your call knew a train
wasn't stopping there, but the people waiting for an hour
didn't know? Exactly.
It's so messed up. So then we she's New Yorker of
the week. I know that we have a huge guest
(21:51):
today that we're gonna announce,but like.
We end up, obviously after the whole thing was that you had to
switch to the L going towards Brooklyn, take it one stop and
then take. And then the L was gonna because
it was passing warmer and then so you had to like take it one
stop back to go forward. We did.
I'm sorry, it's just like there's, is it men and women
(22:13):
that sit in those booths upstairs that are supposed to be
like subway attendance? I don't understand why it isn't
part of their role. If they just came downstairs and
were like this, you're going to go the other side, hop on, go
one, get on those and they're skipping Lorimer.
Sorry for the inconvenience. That would have taken 5 seconds.
Nobody would have been mad threwthem.
Like everything would have been resolved.
(22:35):
What, like people aren't buying Metro cards anymore?
People like, it's like, what areyou doing in your little booth?
And it's literally like 150° in this subway station and she's
sweating. No, it's no, I mean, it is just,
it's all it takes is someone to speak up.
And so we, we do get on the stop.
(22:56):
So we've been waiting for an hour.
It's about 10:00-ish, 10/30. We get on, we go one stop, then
we go I, I ended up not on the same train as her but in the
same car. But we had a big talk about
Zoran and we and boating and howshe's just worried that that's
not enough and there's so many deeper issues.
(23:16):
And we had a whole talk while we're waiting for the other L
and I'm like, you're amazing, I love you.
We'll talk soon. Hopefully, like, the gods will
bring us together again. I didn't want to like, ask her
to be on the pot immediately or anything 'cause she was really
heated. So I was like, I don't need to
like put you on blast. But I want you to know that
like, I hear you and I agree with your agenda.
(23:38):
And if we ever do cross paths again, I will vote for you.
Yeah, we did stop at Lorimer. Yeah, if that isn't what it's
like to live in New York. So you guys could just sat there
a little bit longer in that poolof blood?
(23:59):
Probably if we had sat there forjust 10 more minutes.
New York really sucks sometimes.Like I feel like whenever,
whenever someone else is shitting on New York, I feel an
urge to be like, stop. Like it's the best.
Like just stop. It's special here.
You can. You can do anything.
I heard anyone. But then it's like, it does
(24:23):
stuff like that and you're like,all right, it's really not
ideal. It's really not ideal living
here sometimes. So I do this show where I felt
like I kind of bombed and then Iget it takes me 3 hours to get
home. I'm just like New York.
New York What's that song that'sless You get kicked, they kick
(24:44):
you down, you get back. You get back up and then.
Something get down. Well, I'm sorry that happened,
but I'm glad you live to tell the tale.
It's really crazy. The blood was really a lot.
The blood not bothering anyone was what was the craziest thing.
It was clearly a pool of blood and people were just walking
(25:05):
around it. One guy was walking through it
and then tracking the blood, blood everywhere.
And I'm just like, I guess this is.
I kind of feel like for New Yorkers, like, if they didn't
see it happen, it's really none of their business.
Yeah. Like the other day, I walked by
a full, like, bag of groceries that were on the ground, half,
like, cracked glasses, cracked containers, like, it had been,
(25:27):
like, stepped on and nobody clocked at all.
But I was like thinking in my head, like when this happened,
this was probably the biggest thing happening on this block.
Like someone probably dropped all their groceries, maybe they
got fell off their bike, maybe they got hit by a car.
It's close to the edge of the street.
But like to us now just a pile of garbage on the street.
But like when it happened, that was probably, that was probably
(25:48):
the big event. Like that blood who whatever
happened there, I bet everybody on the platform was like a
little bit involved. But now they're the whoever's
blood is that person's gone. So like, we just, we're just
waiting for the train. And someone else on the other
train was like, I heard someone threw up and I was like, no, no,
no, they got like stabbed. It's like no, no one throws up
they're. Throwing up blood, there's like,
(26:09):
yeah. Well, on, on really that note,
we're gonna we're gonna introduce our very major New
Yorker of the Week. Who and we called right off the
top The New Yorker of the. Year possibly.
We kind of hope all listeners hear that.
All past and former guests and listeners get to hear that
(26:31):
because we've decided it OK. She's Luanne de Lesseps,
Countess Luanne. We have the.
Countess. On the podcast.
On the podcast. Luanne is here.
Luanne is here from It's an amazing New York love hotel.
I mean, she's crappy lake, crappy lake, you name it.
(26:52):
Real Housewives of New York legacy ultimate girls trip like
turn on Peacock. There she is.
I literally told her I'm like she's like keeping Peacock.
No, she literally. Is she is out?
She makes great TV. She's.
So fucking hilarious. And she's so New York authentic.
She's so. Authentic.
(27:12):
Authentic's a good word to use. And just like, she's just, I
don't know. I don't even know.
No words, no words, no words. It was a really fun interview.
And she's New York. She's New York.
So listen up, she gives a lot ofadvice.
She gives us and she. Does a lot of singing.
That's honestly really good. And one of the pieces of advice
which we can talk about after isshe she was saying like just
(27:35):
push to tell someone that you'reinterested and I think I might
do that. Good idea.
So yeah, thank you, Luanne. Luanne.
Luanne had many successful relationships, so we can take
care advice. Crushing.
Yeah. Anyways, enjoy this interview.
It fucking rules. And Luann, we love you.
We love you. All right, bye.
Bye. OK.
(27:55):
Our New Yorker of the Week is here.
I'm freaking out. We're very excited.
I'm freaking out. This is a pretty big deal.
Some would say New Yorker of theYear.
IA 1000% not afraid to throw that out 1000% We are joined
here today by Luanne de Lesseps Countess Luanne who is is truly
(28:17):
a New York City legend Yeah, she's a performer she's an
author she's a former housewife.He has been on multiple TV shows
and you know, it's. Like running Peacock.
Yeah, like if you if you pull upPeacock, Luanne's all over it.
And she's just so real. And so I how do I even put it
(28:42):
into words like she's royalty? Yeah, she's like New York
royalty. She's New York royalty.
Luanne, thank you so much for joining us today.
Aw, thank you girls. What an what an intro.
I think authentic was the word. You might.
Be authentic. Yes, very, very.
Authentic well, just like, you know, the O GS, you know, that's
why I think the housewives of New York lasted for so long
(29:04):
because we were the real deal, right?
Just authentically ourselves. And I think that's and
authentically friends. So I think that's what makes a
big difference in in terms of, you know, housewives friends,
whether they work or not. So, you know, God, 13 years, we
had the best time. I mean, we started in 2007,
(29:25):
believe it or. Not You guys did a really great
job. You guys set the tone.
I mean, it was, I mean, what wasit?
It was you. It was Real Housewives of New
York and then also Orange Countythat came out around the same
time. Is that correct?
Well, Orange County was the first one.
We came out right after Orange County.
Yeah. And I always say, if I had seen
Orange County, I don't think I would have ever done the
(29:46):
housewives. Really, really can you?
Expand on that. I was like, oh, I can't relate
to this, you know, but but we were so different in any case,
you know, Orange County in New York, it's apples and oranges,
darling, right. Literally.
Literally who were you friends with originally from the cast?
Like who's? Or Jill.
Jill was really the was really the magnet that got us all
(30:10):
together. You know, they approached Jill
and I think then, you know, she thought Ramona would be great
for it. Then she asked to do it.
Then, you know, Bethany was her pal at that time, right?
And then they found Alex and Simon, you know, I think through
society column, I, you know, socialite column or something
(30:30):
like that as the kind of wannabesocialite.
So it was like the perfect people.
And that's like what? Like, what makes a great dinner
party, right? You mix people together.
And so it kind of was the perfect recipe for, you know,
the Housewives of New York, right?
Yeah. So Jill really was the Magnus.
Well, what was the first thing that went through your mind when
(30:51):
you were asked to be on Housewives?
Like what were things that you were considering or were there
any? Did you have any fears?
You know, I, I, you know, you don't fear what you don't know
because right, I had no idea what I was in for.
You know, I had been to ATV starin Italy.
You know, I don't know if you know that, but, you know, I got
(31:11):
my start in television, really in Europe.
And and so when I was asked to do the show, I was like, what's
reality? I mean, what's reality TV?
You know, I had no idea. It was really the beginning of
reality TV. And so I was like, well, OK,
first of all, they called the Manhattan moms, so we didn't
know what house and. And I was like, oh, you want to
follow me and my kids and townhouse in New York and OK,
(31:37):
sure. And Jill's going to do it too.
And then Rhonda's going to do ittoo.
You know, we're just playing tennis.
So, so like, you know, why not let's, let's give it a try.
And I'm, I'm like that, you know, that's how I got to, you
know, my career in the 1st place.
You know, why not move to Italy?You know, I'm, I'm, I'm, I need
a break from New York. So I'm, you know, I went for
(31:59):
three weeks and I stayed for three years.
So you just never know. And, you know, end up marrying,
you know, French aristocrat, youknow, that's yeah, I didn't, I
didn't know what I was doing really.
I just did what I wanted to do and what I thought was the right
thing to do. And and that's what happened
with housewives. That's awesome.
What do you think about New Yorkbeing on hiatus right now, and
do you have any like, theories on what they're going to do?
(32:21):
Well, you know, I think they need the Ogs back, that's for
sure. I think we all we.
Agree. Right.
I think everybody agrees to that.
Yeah. Or another ultimate Girls trip.
Send us on Below Deck. Oh my God, it's a.
Great idea, The road. On below deck would be fabulous.
I love it. That's when I was on, I was on
vacation and I, I've had like, Igot the flu while on vacation
(32:44):
and Nora was like, you should watch the Romney legacy trip.
It'll make you feel better. It literally it it's that's.
Just, you know, people say that to me all the time.
You know, you help me through cancer, you help me through a
divorce, you help me through lawschool, you know, and it's just,
you know, wonderful to hear of those things that, you know,
that we created, you know, a safe place for people to go and
(33:07):
just lose themselves and get into, you know, our lives
instead, you know, and you know,always doing it with humor as
well. You know, when Bethany's, you
know, I would go, you, you know,you literally have slept with
everyone. And I'm like, really?
Am I the Kim Cattrall of the family or what?
So that's that was the way to handle Bethany because if you,
(33:28):
you know, would go after her, oh, she'd come back even harder.
So I'll be in our show too, I think.
And you know, that's where I think Sonia and I worked for
crappy Lake. You know, we we're like The Odd
Couple, right? So I think we're all such big
personalities in a certain way. You know, all the women are have
big personalities and, and, and again, I think that was the
(33:49):
secret to her success. Tell us about OK, we have a
question. How real is reality television?
Like can you give us like a little more insight?
Like is, are the fights real? Is the are the conversations
real? Right, well, you know, listen it
in art show, everything was real.
You know, listen, it's produced and edited.
(34:11):
Of course it's ATV show. But they you know, they don't
get in there and tell you what to say.
They do say don't forget what she said last night.
So they'll they'll give you a little nudges, but certainly,
you know, but they will, you know, you know, give you
reminders of, you know, don't forget what happened last night
(34:32):
and you got to bring that up, you know, so that kind of stuff,
yes, but it's not, it's not scripted.
It's so funny. You guys were so good in that,
like the original, like you can tell.
I feel like reality TV has really changed.
Like I feel like current realityTV is really different from what
you guys did. I think that's why people like,
cling to like OG New York. Like if like you're there with
(34:53):
the girls in the city. Felt really weird.
Who's your like Roni? Oh, sorry, go ahead.
No. No, no, it could because it was
real. You know, that was my townhouse
and, you know, and Rosie was real and, you know, and Bethany
roller skating down the sidewalkover to my place was real.
You know, she had a period whereshe was roller skating all over
(35:15):
New York, which is pretty funny,you know, And Kelly does run in
front of taxi cabs. And, you know, yes, she does
does talk like that and walk like that when she does her
catwalk. Oh, my God, the Instagram, we
did a walk yesterday. It's gone viral.
We loved it. We loved.
Being really opened up our phonetoday and that was like the
first video. We were like perfect.
We'll see her soon. We actually had her over for
(35:35):
lunch yesterday. Oh, that's so.
Speaking of, who do you hang outwith the most?
Who? Who's someone that you don't
really spend time with anymore, or maybe care not to?
Well, you know, listen, I see Ramona, she's out here.
Dorinda is one of my besties. I love Dorinda.
You know, I see Kelly at parties.
(35:56):
Sonia is kind of more in Floridanow.
So I don't see much with Sonia these days.
And you know, Bethany, you know,and and I are just, you know,
we're nice to each other, but wedon't really see each other.
Yeah, gotcha. So this is so you are a New
Yorker of the Week, So we're wondering if you could give some
advice to some New Yorkers. What's like one piece of advice
(36:17):
you'd give single women looking a date in New York right now?
Well do you guys do love hotel? Yes, yes, yeah.
Are are you guys still? You know, get out there and
flirt, you know, don't be afraidto flirt, you know, and don't be
afraid to, you know, approach a guy that you like.
(36:39):
You know, I think, you know, a great example.
You're out with your girlfriends.
You're in New York City, right? There's the guy at the bar.
He's by himself. You're a gaggle of girls, right?
He's not going to come over the table, right?
Because he's like scared to. And you're not going to go to
the bar to pick up a guy, right?We're going to wait here in this
(36:59):
moment, right? We're going to write a little
note that says, why don't you come over and join us for a
drink? And he'll be flattered and he's
going to go over and join you for a drink and then maybe his
friend's going to show up and then there's two guys and then
there's three guys, you know, SoI always say that, you know, why
not flirt? You know, why not, you know,
and, and, and a love note is great.
(37:20):
I mean, people forget about lovenotes.
And I was telling this to the boys on the love hotel on my, I
said to Wally, don't let Ashley go away with that guy.
Go, go give her a note and let her know that you're thinking
about her. So I think, you know, those
little things are, are so important and, and, you know,
and different, you know, not everybody's going to do that,
are they? Or you know, you're at the bank,
(37:42):
you know, drop something on the floor next to a guy that you
fancy. I told you.
Yesterday, bring a guy to the ATM.
Or drop. I mean if you really want to get
clever, drop 50 bucks. What are some red flags in a in
an NYC bachelor? I feel like we, we, we know what
(38:03):
to look for, but we also, we need some red flags.
Red flags like, you know, red flags for me are let's see,
there's so many. Well, I think manners are
everything. You know, I think that or in
(38:24):
like the way someone, you know, treats other people, the way one
holds their fork, the way that was it doesn't speak on the
telephone loudly at a bar. You know, like I had part the
other day and he was talking, talking to her on his phone and
there were five other people in the car was like, we're heading
(38:46):
over to Polo and I'm like, it's so rude, you know, to be on a
call, right? Talking loudly when other do we
really want to hear your conversation?
No, we don't. It's like people in the
elevator, same thing, you know. So I think, you know, just bad
man chewing gum. Oh God, no, you know.
Etiquette. Stuff, yeah, not offering, you
(39:07):
know, to, to offer you drink or,you know, things like that.
You know, we we, we like frugal,but we don't like cheap.
Yes, that's a good. And, and a guy that doesn't pay
attention to you, you know, there's those guys, you know,
you're on a date and, you know, every time the door open and a
girl walks in, his head turns and he's looking at her.
I mean, obviously red flags, youknow, So I just think red flags
(39:34):
for me are someone who is not generous, who's not thoughtful,
and who's cheap. We don't want a chief man.
And nothing, you know, money can't buy you class, is that
about that? It's how how you treat someone,
you know, with respect really that's what class is all about.
That's where it starts, you know.
(39:55):
Yeah, what's your go to date spot in New York?
You know, it's so funny. I love, I love Avra, that that's
a Madison, that that's a good bar for cocktails.
I don't go to the Regency anymore.
OK, so you're going 53 It's. Over.
It's over. Well, not see it.
Had time. I tend to stick Uptown because
(40:17):
I'm on the Upper East Side, so Ikind of tend to go to places
that in Campanolo. Do you know Campanolos?
No. We'll have to look that up.
It's fun because they have a little, they have a little, they
have a piano player. So I like places with live
entertainment, but they have a piano player like all the time.
Do you know what I mean? So, you know, you go for drinks,
there's piano. You know, I like places with
atmosphere, with music. I love Birdland on Monday nights
(40:42):
for jazz is amazing. My friend Jim Caruso runs that.
And Billy Stritch is always there.
Who's my musical director, my first cabaret.
And, and, you know, since then, you know, I've worked with many
different, you know, musical directors.
But yeah, Birdland's a great place to go.
I was thinking more for drinks. I like Bella Blue.
(41:09):
I mean, that's one of my favorite Italian restaurants in
the city. They're all kind of on the Upper
East Side, so. Can you give us an example of
the worst date that you've had in New York of your whole time
living in NYC and the. Best Well, yeah, I got we got
invited to the Harvard Club for lunch with billionaire.
(41:30):
No names to be added. But anyway, so I show up and
first of all, this is like Hogwarts.
I'm like, and it's so scholasticand you know what I mean?
I'm like, I felt I was in Hogwarts, but there was no
Hogwarts. And so he was an older man and
(41:53):
and he kept on saying things like gaslighting me like, well,
I just said to you that I was inMiami two weeks ago.
Do you, do you not remember that?
I'm like, like that? I'm like, are you kidding me?
He's like. Quizzing you.
He's like quizzing me, right? And I was like things, I was
like, how can I and how can I get out of there?
And of course I said, oh, excuseme, I have to go to the to the
(42:15):
laser room. So I get up and go to the laser
room and I try to figure out howI'm going to get out of this
date and 'cause just continuously gaslight me.
So I, I come back and I said, you know, it's been really nice,
but I, I have to go and one of my kids is not feeling well.
Whatever. I said something like that.
And, and then he goes, well, will you help me call an Uber?
(42:37):
I'm like, he's a billionaire, OK.
And he doesn't know how to call an Uber.
I'm like, well, you should have a driver.
First of all, if you're a billionaire, why wouldn't you
have a driver? Come on.
Right. So he has money.
He doesn't know how to live right.
And, and, and again, that's where money can't buy a class.
You know, it's not about the money.
I mean, there's not enough billions in the world to have me
(42:58):
go after a billionaire who doesn't treat me right so.
Right do. You money can't buy it.
So anyway, so I, you know, I thought I, I called him an Uber
and I had to call one for myself.
You called him the Uber. You called him the Uber?
I called one for myself. Do you think he called an Uber
for me? No.
That's insane. That's insane.
(43:19):
And he's a billionaire, are you?Are you still dating?
His name is James from Love Island, OH.
Really sorry James Love. Hotel I.
The wires are crossing. I've been watching way too much
Love Island, but I also went to the hotel.
Right. Yeah.
So James and I, I love James. James is a great guy.
(43:41):
But you know, and we, we talk all the time.
And I, I saw him and he came to my show in like Tahoe, my
cabaret. I saw him in LA when I was out
there. He came to the show to my
cabaret show at the Wiltern, as well as like four other guys
from Love Hotel, which is so great 'cause they still all hang
out from Love Hotel. They, they created this
friendship now, right? They're all, they're all on a
(44:02):
group chat. They see each other all the
time. And you know, James and I see
each other when we can. But he lives in Hawaii, you
know, and his in Hawaii, he's got grandchildren.
He's got, you know, his kids arethere and you know, my life is
in New York. So as much as we adore each
other, you know, we see each other when we can.
But you know, I'm, I'm dating, I'm dating German, being a
German right now who's fantasticand you know, European men,
(44:25):
that's where you get the boys girls, you got to go to Europe.
I'm going soon and I'm very excited.
Yeah, I'm very, very excited. No, I think I'm going to.
I need to go meet up with them there.
Definitely about the cabaret. Yeah, let's hear.
We want to hear more about your cabaret being on tour.
Oh my God, it's been, you know, listen, I started the cabaret in
(44:47):
2018. Mean so it's been, you know,
seven years, which is incrediblefor me.
And you know, it started with a friend of mine who said to me,
you know, Lou, you love to sing for your friends.
You love those parties and you love to tell jokes.
You should be a cabaret performer.
And I was like, OK, and I married Tom instead, but
whatever, you know, even Louis Vuitton makes mistakes.
(45:10):
So so that's how he really started was that idea.
And then and then, you know, theshit hit the fan for me, as you
know, in Florida and after I divorced Tom and it really made
me rise to the cabaret stage andand and listen, it's it's a love
(45:31):
affair with music, you know, because I I pick a song first,
then they go, what story is going to get me into that song?
And then I pick the perfect Giovanni dress.
Of course. Thank you, Dorinda.
Anyway, so Giovanni, oh God, Oh my God.
Anyway, so you know, I, I've been touring the world now I
tour. I just got booked to do Pride,
(45:53):
not Pride. I'm doing Mardi Gras in
Australia. Wow.
Oh my. God, that's amazing.
OMG, I'm super excited. So you know, I played London,
Scotland, Ireland, Canada. I, I do shows and so you know,
my, my tour is, is worldwide now, which is insane.
(46:14):
Did you see Tilda Swinton introduced me to my, the stage
in London? Did you see that?
Yeah, I got I It's so you're so exciting.
I mean, way to skyrocket your career.
I mean, it's amazing. It feels like.
It's well, you know, my show period is like, holy shit.
And then you know, I played Mighty Hoop, a big festival out
there. There was 40,000 people, 40,000
(46:36):
people singing Money can't buy aclap.
I'm like, and they all they know, they know Giovanni and
they know, you know, and I even Viva La Diva, I love that song.
Viva La Diva. I'm we're getting a new song.
I'm super excited about that forthe new tour because guess what
the next tour 2026 is going to be all about Love, Love hotel,
(46:56):
right? Love Ray, Right.
Yeah. So anyway, so you know, it's I
love the creative bird cabaret. And and you know, when you come
to my show, it's it's a party. It's everybody is full and you
know, you're, it's like sitting on my living room couch.
OK, let me sit down and let me entertain you, 'cause that's
(47:17):
what I do. I'm gonna.
And it's not really about how. Well, I think it's not even
about that. I mean, but you know, listen, my
first show, I had a director come at the time, Ben Rimmelauer
was my director who was in New York Staple And and he says, I
think Richard J Alexander's coming.
He's my mentor. And I was like, oh, OK.
And he only directs, you know, Kristin Chenoweth, Barbra
(47:40):
Streisand, Bette Midler. So he comes to the show and this
is the famous night of Giovanni and he comes over to me and we
had an after party and this director comes up to me and he
goes, count this. I just want to tell you
something. I came here not expecting very
much from you, but you blew my mind.
First of all, you can sing. Second of all, you're funny.
(48:01):
And 3rd, you weren't dressed. No woman I've ever seen.
You're going to be a big star. Give me two weeks and I'll find
you the right agent. And that's what happened.
You really. Yeah.
That really changed my life thatnight.
And, you know, and then I had myagent, Rich Super and out in LA
who really took my career and and got me to, you know, the
Chicago Theatre or, you know, and now I have I AG as agents,
(48:25):
but Alex Chicken. But you know, that was really I
started small and it just grew and grew and grew and grew
because, you know, it's never the same show.
I never do the same show. So every tour, you know, Mary F
Kill tour, for example, then I did it's you know, or it's
Christmas with the Countess or you know, so because, oh, by the
way, I'm doing a Christmas show in December at Sony Hall in New
(48:47):
York, 22nd. We're doing 2nd 23rd, I believe.
So you know, people didn't, you know, check out my Instagram or
go to I was going to come to check out my dates, but I love
holiday and I'm working on a newsong called the sun.
You got run over by a reindeer. Amazing, but it's it's I love
(49:09):
it. Do you?
Notice the difference? Performing for New York
audiences. Performing out of the city.
You know, listen, I'm gonna playin Brooklyn.
I've never played a three dollarthree.
Dollar bill. That's it.
Luann, you are. You are in for a treat.
It's amazing. You're gonna have so much fun.
Oh, awesome venue. I heard everybody said, oh, $3
(49:33):
bill is amazing. So that's the first time I play.
August 21st. I'm there and never played
Brooklyn before, but you know, I'm playing Brooklyn and then I
do the Adelphi Theatre in London, you know, which is, you
know, the huge, huge, what's theword?
I'm looking for difference between those kind of venues,
right? I mean, there's a Brooklyn venue
(49:54):
and the Adelphi Theatre. That's where Sunset Blvd. was
born, owned by, you know, Andrew, you know what I mean?
So, you know, I played festivals.
I play, you know, $3 bill kind of things and festivals and, you
know, and then grand theatres onthe West End.
So, you know, you're up the fan.It's another kind of fandom.
(50:15):
It's crazy because you know what?
The Europeans love the title. So there I am, Count fast, you
know what I'm saying? Like here at the, you know, any
of the people like like to throwthat at me.
But you know, do you know, do you even know why I'm a
Countess? Yeah.
No. Do we?
Yes. No, we know you were right.
Right. No.
You. Were US Canal, the Panama Canal
(50:36):
gave the Statue of Liberty over to the United States For the
French. I mean, so it's a really
historical name. People think, you know, I picked
my title out of a Cracker Jacks box.
Oh, you, You earned it. You earned it.
Well, I was married 17 years andI have two beautiful children
with him, so you know, And he says to me, you'll always be my
Countess. He never remarried, by the way.
Wow. Luanne, do you feel like, and
(51:01):
this is kind of a, a juicy question, do you feel like other
housewives are jealous of you? Like, do you like, like what'd
you say? Hell yeah.
'Cause I feel like your fame is just so extraordinary, like have
you ever had altercations or like weird tension between other
(51:21):
housewives 'cause they clearly like they just haven't reached
the the height that you have. Well, I, you know, I would say
that back in the day, like, you know, listen, Bethany wanted
everything I had. That's why it was in her best
interest to try to take me down,right?
Because I was married to a French aristocrat.
I'm a Countess, right? I have two beautiful children.
I have a gorgeous house. I have a townhouse, like, you
(51:43):
know what I mean? I had, I had the life, right?
And Bethany, remember, she was when she started, she was
struggling. So, you know, it was, you know,
obvious, you know, and there's been certain other housewives as
well that have, you know, that I, I know, and I could smell it
a mile away. So I steer clear from that, you
know what I'm saying? I've had that my whole life.
Listen, as a model in New York, then I was an Italian TV star.
(52:05):
And believe me, those Italian women, they're brutal.
You know, hidden walks is American, right, who is making
her own way, her own career, youknow, and in the 90s, you know,
Italian women were just, you know, looking for their man to
get married. You know what I mean?
They didn't have, you know, careers and not like they, you
know, I'm talking about, you know, a long time ago,
(52:26):
obviously, but, you know, so I've been dealing with that my
whole life, including my sisters, you know.
Yeah, how do your kids handle all your fame and, and and what
you. Know my son can't stand it.
So he's a painter and he loves painting and he's a great
painter. I don't know if you've ever seen
Noel's work on Instagram. I I was just.
Going to finish by saying, you know, my, my kids were never, my
(52:49):
kids were never fame mongers. And they're, they're really
artists and they're great artists.
But Victoria, you know, I want to get her more into singing
because Victoria's an amazing singer and a songwriter.
So we're working on some new music together, which is cool.
Wow, is she going to be in the cabinet?
Well, yeah, that's my my dream is to have her in my show for
sure. Oh my God, it's like a Beyoncé
(53:09):
Blue Ivy situation. Oh my.
Oh yeah, she's a great dancer. She's a great singer, so and and
a writer as well. So we're working on some stuff
together, which is cool. That's awesome.
That's amazing. Well, we're gonna just ask you
one final question to close out the interview.
Since you're a New Yorker of theWeek, we're gonna ask another
New York question. Finish the sentence.
(53:31):
You're not a real New Yorker until.
Until you've had a bottle of rose on a blanket for a picnic
(53:52):
in Central Park. Beautiful.
Fat and until you've seen Countess.
Cabaret. You've seen the Countess
Cabaret. Oh, until you seen Countess.
OK, let's do that. That both of those honestly, I
yeah. And.
Let me say it again. So you're not a real New Yorker
if you're not, If you're not a real New Yorker if you have not
(54:13):
seen Countess Cabaret? Agreed 100%.
Luann, where can everyone find you?
Where? What's your?
I go to countessluann.com for mytour dates and, you know, follow
me on Instagram and, you know, I'm constantly posting fun
stuff. I'm getting more into doing, you
know, videos and just having funwith it, you know, 'cause, you
(54:36):
know, you can't take this stuff too seriously, you know,
Instagram and, you know, there'sa lot of hate out there.
So I, I like to keep it. I like to keep it lights and
fun. And so, but anyway, you can
follow me there and, and it's going to be an exciting, you
know, summer fall. I'm just thrilled to know that
I'm going to be back over acrossthe pond and all the way to
(55:00):
Australia this next year. Amazing.
We have a couple of dates. Show.
Yeah, yeah, we have a couple of dates to shout out for our
listeners. August 21st, which is Countess
Luann's Block party in Brooklyn,September 13th, which is in
Chicago at the Victoria Theatre.And then it looks like you have
another show on October 9th in Toronto, which is really
(55:23):
exciting as well. Yeah, I'm going to Toronto.
Yeah. And then the Bravo cons coming
up in November, and then I'm doing holiday shifts.
I'll be at Sony Hall in New YorkCity in December.
So I hope to see you girls there.
You will love the show. Oh.
Thanks. We need to come.
Thank you so much. Yeah, it's on the podcast.
We really thank you girls. We're huge fans, we love you and
(55:44):
yeah, we'll. Thank you.
Yeah, we'll stay in touch.
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