S09.E14: Playing House

[Pop Tart]

 

Air date: 12.21.23

[Pop Tart]

Reminder:

No spoilers. If something happened after the show was filmed it belongs in a character thread or media thread. There is also a thread for WWHL appearances. 

Stay on topic.  If you want to discuss in detail any personal experiences or travel plans to SC, please do so in the Small Talk thread. 

[snarts]

Just when I think Taylor can't possibly sink any lower, she brings up the brother. That was just nasty. As were her comments on the phone. If you don't regret anything then lean into the villain role and stop playing the victim.

The couples dinner date was the highlight of the show. Madison & Paige are a great combo and Craig continues to impress with maturity.

Sorry, I just can't with tryhard JT and his stupid trucker hats. 

[ZettaK]

I don't think that Taylor’s brother comment was so bad. It was not a negative, or derogatory comment.

Taylor visits Shep's house constantly, and gets angry if he has women over. He needs to stop the interactions because she gets hopeful by those that they might reconnect in the future. He seemed so proud telling Whitney he had two girls in his house like he told us about Australia.

As for Olivia, judging by what she tells Austin in private, and what she says in public, she is acting for the show (= fake).

Olivia became unlikable in this episode. She even barged into Taylor’s hotel room in Jamaica. Venita seems to encourage her behavior with comments. They both act as if Taylor and Austin had a great love affair. I should add Craig to another who pushes the storyline. 

 

[dancingdreamer]

I think  Olivia has had enough  apologies,  move the hell on. 

I can't  stand JT, small guy, big mouth.

I'm impressed  with Craig,  but if Paige doesn't  make a move, it's Craig that needs to move on.

Madison  is a beautiful  looking, but she still loves to stir things up, she was so nervous  to serve pasta, the easiest  thing to make .lol

[ZettaK]

22 minutes ago, dancingdreamer said:

I think  Olivia has had enough  apologies,  move the hell on. 

I can't  stand JT, small guy, big mouth.

I'm impressed  with Craig,  but if Paige doesn't  make a move, it's Craig that needs to move on.

Madison  is a beautiful  looking, but she still loves to stir things up, she was so nervous  to serve pasta, the easiest  thing to make .lol

JT's big mouth is going to get him into trouble in the next episode as seen in the previews. Austin is ready to kick his ass. 

[1011101010001]

1 hour ago, ZettaK said:

He seemed so proud telling Whitney he had two girls in his house like he told us about Australia.

Quantity over quality I guess.

1 hour ago, ZettaK said:

She even barged into Taylor’s hotel room in Jamaica.

Who leaves their hotel room door unlocked?  Don’t most of them automatically lock upon closing?  I smell production high jinks and the whole scene may have been staged.

1 hour ago, ZettaK said:

They both act as if Taylor and Austin had a great love affair.

It’s funny that Taylor said that Olivia and Austen were never boyfriend and girlfriend because the audience has been saying that for two seasons lol.  They went to some weird lunch date at a brewpub but what else?

Edited December 23, 2023 by MrBuhBye

[1011101010001]

56 minutes ago, dancingdreamer said:

she was so nervous  to serve pasta, the easiest  thing to make .lol

I wonder how cold it was after sitting in that bowl on the table for so long.  And has Madison not heard of courses?  You don’t plop everything down on the table at the same time.

[aghst]

Yeah I don't get what the problem with referring to Olivia's brother was.

Of course they had them all sit together at the big table with every cast member weighing in and making snide comments while the people supposedly involved were talking.

Like why the fuck is JT commenting?  It's none of his fucking business, except of course his business being on the show is to stir up shit.

Venita was egging Olivia on, of course Madison is vile as always.

You can tell the producers prodded the rest of the cast to butt in.  Sitting silently on their hands was not allowed.

In real life, a social circle like that wouldn't all be around to listen to a very personal convo involving just a couple of people nor would they make these confrontational comments.  Austen or Taylor or Olivia in normal situations would just say it's none of your business to anyone piping up.

Of course this is not a normal situation, it's a fucking Bravo show.

And how convenient that Taylor's room was unlocked so that Olivia and the camera crew could just walk in.  That makes me suspicious that Taylor's FaceTime with her brother and Olivia overhearing was a set up.

Again, why leave her room door unlocked and why go out in the balcony to have a private conversation?  Well I can see people wanting to sit outside and relax but it was shown as an emotional conversation so she raises her voice and of course it's much easier for Olivia to overhear if Taylor is sitting out on the balcony.

Taylor questions if Olivia and Austen ever really dated.  You also have to wonder how close these people are off the camera.  Sure some of the guys hang out and do various events together.

But are they all up in each other's business 24/7?  Doubtful.  

Do they see each other several times a week or do they go weeks or months without speaking in person?

Just how close are or were Taylor and Olivia supposedly?  They joined the show in the same season but did they know each other before they both came on the show?

 

 

[1011101010001]

25 minutes ago, aghst said:

Just how close are or were Taylor and Olivia supposedly?  

And how close are Leva and Venita to them or do they insert themselves just for airtime?

[Jobiska]

Highlight:  Craig/Madison hiccups/fish scene.  

Second:  I liked Madison's table setting with the (clementines on branches? or whatever)?  

Brett's too normal for this crew.  He should just become buds with Rodrigo if he's ISO guy friends.  

Whitney, does everyone have to turn something into a bar or whatever?  is he doing this as a business or just his little boozy man cave?  Because of the scene with the 1K whiskey and its suppliers, I assume the former.  

Basically, this show is turning half the people into booze providers (I'm not a teetotaler, but what are the odds?):

Austen--trop hop
Taylor--puffy bunny ears weird canned booze purveyor
JT (though to be fair he comes on as a semiregular with this plan already in place) his covid-delayed bar spot
Now Whitney with Michael's cottage, all in doom and gloomy black, so he can blend in!

[heatherchandler]

2 hours ago, ZettaK said:

I don't think that Taylor’s brother comment was so bad. It was not a negative, or derogatory comment.

 

Olivia became unlikable in this episode. She even barged into Taylor’s hotel room in Jamaica. Venita seems to encourage her behavior with comments. They both act as if Taylor and Austin had a great love affair. I should add Craig to another who pushes the storyline. 

 

Her comment was not bad, seriously she’s like I’m close with my brother, like you were.

Olivia is crazy, she dated Austen for 2 seconds.  She should be embarrassed that she’s carrying on like this refusing apologies, etc.  Taylor kissed someone OMG calm down.

Olivia was trying to be an actress before this show so I guess she’s trying to get noticed with this drama?

[dancingdreamer]

2 hours ago, MrBuhBye said:

I wonder how cold it was after sitting in that bowl on the table for so long.  And has Madison not heard of courses?  You don’t plop everything down on the table at the same time.

She forgot  to ask Patricia  about that.

[Salacious Kitty]

36 minutes ago, heatherchandler said:

Olivia was trying to be an actress before this show so I guess she’s trying to get noticed with this drama?

Her acting is baaaad. Remember her trying to summon tears in the car after talking with Taylor early in the season? 

Pathetic. 

[bosawks]

I don’t think  Taylor’s comment about Olivia’s brother was bad but a person with at least one functioning synapse wouldn’t think to refer to someone’s recently deceased family member in an attempt to make themselves look better.

[ZettaK]

5 hours ago, MrBuhBye said:

Quantity over quality I guess.

Who leaves their hotel room door unlocked?  Don’t most of them automatically lock upon closing?  I smell production high jinks and the whole scene may have been staged.

It’s funny that Taylor said that Olivia and Austen were never boyfriend and girlfriend because the audience has been saying that for two seasons lol.  They went to some weird lunch date at a brewpub but what else?

Of course it was production who left the hotel door open/unlocked. 

5 hours ago, MrBuhBye said:

I wonder how cold it was after sitting in that bowl on the table for so long.  And has Madison not heard of courses?  You don’t plop everything down on the table at the same time.

Well, Madison didn't know how to cook some simple pasta, and this comes from somebody that doesn't really cook. She was also asking Patricia about different glasses, and the name of the charger.

She was funny though when she told Paige to remove her engagement ring fast, before Craig saw it, and had a boner!

[ZettaK]

5 hours ago, aghst said:

Yeah I don't get what the problem with referring to Olivia's brother was.

Of course they had them all sit together at the big table with every cast member weighing in and making snide comments while the people supposedly involved were talking.

Like why the fuck is JT commenting?  It's none of his fucking business, except of course his business being on the show is to stir up shit.

Venita was egging Olivia on, of course Madison is vile as always.

You can tell the producers prodded the rest of the cast to butt in.  Sitting silently on their hands was not allowed.

In real life, a social circle like that wouldn't all be around to listen to a very personal convo involving just a couple of people nor would they make these confrontational comments.  Austen or Taylor or Olivia in normal situations would just say it's none of your business to anyone piping up.

Of course this is not a normal situation, it's a fucking Bravo show.

And how convenient that Taylor's room was unlocked so that Olivia and the camera crew could just walk in.  That makes me suspicious that Taylor's FaceTime with her brother and Olivia overhearing was a set up.

Again, why leave her room door unlocked and why go out in the balcony to have a private conversation?  Well I can see people wanting to sit outside and relax but it was shown as an emotional conversation so she raises her voice and of course it's much easier for Olivia to overhear if Taylor is sitting out on the balcony.

Taylor questions if Olivia and Austen ever really dated.  You also have to wonder how close these people are off the camera.  Sure some of the guys hang out and do various events together.

But are they all up in each other's business 24/7?  Doubtful.  

Do they see each other several times a week or do they go weeks or months without speaking in person?

Just how close are or were Taylor and Olivia supposedly?  They joined the show in the same season but did they know each other before they both came on the show?

 

 

Some of the older cast members are friends. I'm not sure how often they see each other. As for Olivia, she was living in Los Angeles until recently, so I doubt she is close friends with Taylor.

JT wants to stir drama to remain on the show. He attacks Austin because he perceives him as a competitor because he kissed Taylor, and he also appears "better" by respecting bro code that he doesn't follow himself since he goes after Taylor.

[heatherchandler]

9 hours ago, snarts said:

 

The couples dinner date was the highlight of the show. Madison & Paige are a great combo and Craig continues to impress with maturity.

 

The highlight of the show?  Oh lord if that’s the highlight, what the hell is this mess of a show?  I used to love it.

Paige is always like, “it’s a grownup dinner,” or on summer house, she’s like, “look at us like the parents with our kids.”  Like she’s so young and she’s pretending to be an adult, like playing dress up.  It’s a habit of hers that I noticed and it’s kind of weird.

[snarts]

7 hours ago, dancingdreamer said:

I think  Olivia has had enough  apologies,  move the hell on. 

5 hours ago, heatherchandler said:

Olivia is crazy, she dated Austen for 2 seconds.  She should be embarrassed that she’s carrying on like this refusing apologies, etc.  Taylor kissed someone OMG calm down.

When has Olivia even asked for or demanded an apology? She's certainly not chasing after Taylor for one. She's not even been rude to Taylor, she's simply pulled back from their friendship. She also appears to be as frustrated as us viewers that it's all the group seems to talk about.

Meanwhile, Taylor seems to think that because she apologized (though she's not sorry and doesn't regret it), they should immediately go back to being close friends. That's not how it works, Olivia has every right to be hurt by both the betrayal and the repeated lying about it. She doesn't owe Taylor her friendship.

Austen & Olivia fake dated last season but were together post filming, traveling together throughout the Summer of 2022 and ending things just before the reunion filmed in New York.

[aghst]

Taylor apologized and things didn't get heated initially.  This was when Olivia went to Taylor's parents' home.

But they kept putting them together, because if they're going to be on this show, they're going to be at the same events and they're going to keep talking about this "scandal" because they want to see if they can get the same heat that VPR got from their scandal.

Do they really care about what appears on Page Six?  Doubtful they ever look at it.

So how did they get notifications?  Producers probably sent them and told them to talk about it.

It's like they wanted the cast to keep picking at the scab.

If they were ever close friends, the cast was to talk up the "betrayal" even though the two people involved swear that it was just a kiss.

The rest of the cast won't let that go, they accuse the of lying, being dodgy.  Well why are they continuing to socialize with liars?

Because they're on the same show!

At a certain point, people avoid conflict, drama.  They get exhausted and try to cool down.  But they're not allowed to walk away and wait until things settle down.

The demands of the show just feeds more toxic atmosphere.

If those tears were genuine, they also probably think that they've done their job, earned their paycheck.

 

[TexasGal]

9 hours ago, Jobiska said:

Highlight:  Craig/Madison hiccups/fish scene.  
 

I loved this too!  First Madison just seemed to be saying it to shut Craig up but then she was at peak hiccup desperation and gave it some gusto.  And, after the “panda bears aren’t real” situation, as a viewer wondering whether Craig believed this or was just messing with her.  

[dancingdreamer]

9 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

Her acting is baaaad. Remember her trying to summon tears in the car after talking with Taylor early in the season? 

Pathetic. 

She's  so sullen,  she bores me.

[Salacious Kitty]

4 minutes ago, dancingdreamer said:

She's  so sullen,  she bores me.

I don't like either of them. Not buying what they're trying to sell. 

[heatherchandler]

8 hours ago, snarts said:

When has Olivia even asked for or demanded an apology? She's certainly not chasing after Taylor for one. She's not even been rude to Taylor, she's simply pulled back from their friendship. She also appears to be as frustrated as us viewers that it's all the group seems to talk about.

Meanwhile, Taylor seems to think that because she apologized (though she's not sorry and doesn't regret it), they should immediately go back to being close friends. That's not how it works, Olivia has every right to be hurt by both the betrayal and the repeated lying about it. She doesn't owe Taylor her friendship.

Austen & Olivia fake dated last season but were together post filming, traveling together throughout the Summer of 2022 and ending things just before the reunion filmed in New York.

Shes losing her damn mind, not accepting the apology, getting mad over and over again.  Shes literally running through a hotel like a crazy person, barging into her hotel room, screaming at her.

Shes acting like they had a long term relationship for all of this anger, all the tears.  Of course she’s whipping off her bra for Austen.  It’s just Taylor she “hates.”  It just doesn’t click for me.  

Olivia can be hurt all she likes but I wish she would do it off my tv screen!  

It’s funny, Austen cannot be bothered with any of it, he doesn’t care at all.  He even said to Madison, he thinks she’s perfect on paper, but just isn’t into her.  

[zenme]

I think Olivia feels more hurt and betrayed by Taylor because that was her friend.  In the beginning she even said she didn’t care so much about Austen, but it was her friendship with Taylor she wanted to salvage. Then when she thinks she’s moved on and healing, there comes another lie or piece of the story that Taylor lied about and so it feels like more betrayal. Then to overhear Taylor on the phone acting unremorseful had to have pissed her off. THEN adding her brother’s name into it was just another knife twist. I think I get it. She moves on easier with Austen because she doesn’t care as much.

[Starlight925]

Does JT realize what a hypocrite he is?

Standing up, screaming at Austen about "bro code", while trying to get into Taylor's pants?

JT, allow me to introduce you to a mirror.

Edited December 24, 2023 by Starlight925

[aghst]

3 hours ago, zenme said:

I think Olivia feels more hurt and betrayed by Taylor because that was her friend.  In the beginning she even said she didn’t care so much about Austen, but it was her friendship with Taylor she wanted to salvage. Then when she thinks she’s moved on and healing, there comes another lie or piece of the story that Taylor lied about and so it feels like more betrayal. Then to overhear Taylor on the phone acting unremorseful had to have pissed her off. THEN adding her brother’s name into it was just another knife twist. I think I get it. She moves on easier with Austen because she doesn’t care as much.

Do we really know how close they are off camera?

How often they spend time together when they're not filming the show?

That goes for most of the cast.

 

Austen and Taylor said it was just a kiss and everyone else in the cast keep saying "bullshit!"

How would anyone prove it one way or another?

The other cast members are encouraged to cast aspersions and call them liars to their face when filming because the producers want conflict and drama.

If it was just a kiss, they can't blow it up to something bigger unless they keep filming confrontational scenes on the topic.

A lot of people would have moved on, either accepted what they said or even if they don't believe it, they'd say bullshit behind their backs but not get in their face.

That is what Bravo reality TV does, skews reality or the way people would behave because in the real world, there is still some semblance of civility.

You call people liars to their faces, that's going to lead to fights.  So people don't do that, people just talk behind their backs.

Well on SC as on other Bravo shows, people do talk behind other people's backs.

But they also have this in-your-face events.

[politichick]

On 12/23/2023 at 3:13 PM, bosawks said:

I don’t think  Taylor’s comment about Olivia’s brother was bad but a person with at least one functioning synapse wouldn’t think to refer to someone’s recently deceased family member in an attempt to make themselves look better.

I totally agree.

Also am pretty sure Michael's cottage is going to be a boozy man cave. No way in hell would Patricia allow a speakeasy or whatever on her property. That's her home and would be very tacky. Now Whitney and his friends can drink in the cottage instead of in her butler's pantry to their hearts' delight.

[For Cereals]

This is beyond stupid.  They weren’t girlfriend and boyfriend.  I feel like they barely had a date.  We need a new storyline.  Olivia and Taylor are not interesting enough to carry the show and now we have additional uninteresting tertiary characters in JT (it’s never going to happen and you are a slob) and Rod.  We already have Venita for that. Also, I’m going to hell, but I’m tired of looking at Olivia’s underbite.  

I too liked the clementine centerpieces.  

[bosawks]

20 hours ago, politichick said:

I totally agree.

Also am pretty sure Michael's cottage is going to be a boozy man cave. No way in hell would Patricia allow a speakeasy or whatever on her property. That's her home and would be very tacky. Now Whitney and his friends can drink in the cottage instead of in her butler's pantry to their hearts' delight.

Craig can only ruin so many pieces of furniture before Pat says, “That.Is.It”. 

Edited December 26, 2023 by bosawks

[Jobiska]

On 12/26/2023 at 11:02 AM, bosawks said:

Craig can only ruin so many pieces of furniture before Pat says, “That.Is.It”. 

She probably should have bought all his first terrible attempts at pillows and just placed them wherever he sits whenever he comes over.

[snarts]

Whitney continually skips events claiming he's working. Doing what?? 

[aghst]

2 hours ago, snarts said:

Whitney continually skips events claiming he's working. Doing what?? 

Looks like Pat is no longer able to host or do as many scenes with the other cast members as she has in the past.

So maybe Whitney is going to do more hosting at that mansion and now they're going to do up the cottage or whatever so that they can film more scenes there.

This is probably a good example of a fake show relationship.  He's much older and probably has little in common with the others.  But Whit may have financial incentive to keep the show going as much as possible so he'll do enough.

But most of the events on the show are fake anyways, just a reason for the cast to dress up and be at the same place at the same time so that they can snipe at each other or talk shit behind each other's back.

[Vivigirl10]

Olivia and Taylor are both wrong.  But we can't move on and just have them avoid each other because that's the point of the show.

The whole set-up freakout with Olivia busting into Taylor's room was so weird.  The editing was wonky since it looked like after she left, Taylor just calmly continues the conversation with her brother.

When Taylor's brother asked her, WWJD?  I about fell on the floor.  WWJD???  Ummmm.....not date Shep Rose?  Not be on a reality show?  Basically not live Taylor's life?  Again, stop with the holy little girl act.  

Rod started out as a strong potential character and now he's dropped so low he's been designated as the loser who has to convince JT that he's "vibing" with Taylor and stands a chance at dating her.  I don't think you can be cast in a lower part!

I actually liked the couples dinner.  Madison's husband seems pretty decent.  It was just kind of a nice change in storyline to see the two couples together.

I never really minded Paige on Summer House so I'm just continually surprised how much she bugs me here.  She never threw around this New York schtick on SH (look, I'm wearing pastels!  Oh, that's right, because you're from New York and ONLY dress in black, got it.....again).  I'm glad Craig feels he's a better person and can stand on his own now regardless because goodness knows, Paige is not going to be there in the future.  I wish he'd get out now and save himself the time.  

[aghst]

NYC must have a shortage of men if she's settling for Craig.

But more likely Bravo pitched them on being both shows.  Never watched SH so I presume she's still on it and Craig makes guest appearances or something?

[ZettaK]

8 hours ago, aghst said:

NYC must have a shortage of men if she's settling for Craig.

But more likely Bravo pitched them on being both shows.  Never watched SH so I presume she's still on it and Craig makes guest appearances or something?

Yes, she is still on SH, and Craig makes guest appearances. She and Craig were on the first and second season of Winter House. In fact they met during the first season of WH, and then Craig joined the cast of Summer House as a guest after a few months when he was officially dating Paige.

Edited January 1 by ZettaK