Saturday, September 16, 2023

How the Below Deck Franchise Has Changed Over the Years

Captain Lee Rosbach, Captain Sandy Yawn
(Photo by: Astrid Stawiarz/Bravo via Getty Images)

The Below Deck franchise first took to the seas in 2013. Onboard Superyacht Honor, camera crews followed the lives of the hired cast members for Season 1. Once this season aired, it was clear that certain aspects worked, while others needed tweaking. With each season, changes have thus been made, giving viewers a deeper glimpse into what takes place on luxury yachts.

Mark Cronin and Courtland Cox, Below Deck’s Executive Producers, sat down with Bravo’s The Daily Dish. Here, they discussed a few changes they’ve had to make within the series. In addition to their candor, we have also spotted ways that this series has evolved with time. From production aspects to the breaking of fourth walls, these are the main ways that the Below Deck franchise has changed over the years.

More Cameras Have Been Added

Below Deck Posting/Instagram

At the start of Season 1, cameras were mounted around the yacht. These cameras were rolling for 24 hours a day, capturing significant amounts of footage. However, the production crews failed to place cameras within the laundry room, and in Season 3, this decision proved to be a huge mistake.

To explain, Eddie Lucas and Raquel “Rocky” Dakota had a secret affair, with their romps taking place behind the laundry room’s closed doors. Footage of any kind was therefore unable to be captured. Thankfully, this oversight was corrected by Season 4, and cameras now live in all of the laundry rooms on Below Deck.

As Captain Lee Rosbach then stated, “this is why we can’t have nice things.”

The Hours Spent Capturing Footage Has Increased

Below Deck Posting/Instagram

In their interview, Mark and Courtland touched on the changes that have been made regarding each day’s filming length. “We very quickly realized the yachties that are working on these boats, they’re not going to bed at 10 o’clock; they’re going to bed at 2 o’clock in the morning. When our cameras pulled out of there at 10 p.m., there was still four hours’ worth of magic and mayhem and all that was happening,” Courtland explained.

Due to these missed opportunities, the producers acted swiftly, enacting changes that would further shape this series. “We very quickly realized we have to actually bring in more crews and film longer. Going from an 11-hour filming day to now what is essentially a 19 or 20-hour filming day, that’s one of the bigger changes. Production-wise, we’re capturing 125-percent more footage than we did in the first three seasons,” Courtland explained.

Besides fully capturing the yachties’ late-night shifts, these lengthened filming hours also helped showcase the crew’s wild nights out. During these excursions, crew members typically visit local restaurants, then return to the yacht’s hot tub, fully liquored-up. Here, anything from hook-ups to fights have occurred, sometimes simultaneously. Due to this change of longer filming hours, these antics are now guaranteed to be filmed, making this series all the more entertaining.

For us, not for the yachties’ watching families.

Diversity Is on the Table

Below Deck Posting/Instagram

On Season 1, diversity was lacking. Furthermore, varying genders were not seen filling the positions onboard. This was noted when the Captain, Chef, First Officer, Second Engineer, and the deckhands were all male. In similar fashion, the interior team was purely female.

Fast forward to current times and you’ll see that things have greatly improved in terms of gender bias, as the franchise now has a female in the wheelhouse thanks to Captain Sandy Yawn. In addition, Malia White has appeared as a female Bosun, with multiple female deckhands hired on as well. Several men can also now be found working in the interior, with Fraser Olender even recently taking on the title of Chief Stew.

As for diversity, improvements are ongoing. Soon, Tumi Mhlongo will be the first South African Chief Stew, appearing on Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8. Tumi’s effortless reads and quips were hysterical during her time on Below Deck Down Under Season 1. We can’t wait to watch Tumi shine in this position of leadership, and we hope to see further diverse hirings moving forward as Below Deck continues to evolve.

Fourth Walls Are Breaking

LGM Daniel Velazquez/Instagram

Speaking of Below Deck Down Under, Season 2 is currently airing. Here, two separate sexual assault attempts transpired. Taking place during the same evening, viewers watched as production intervened, removing the offending cast members from the bunks of others.

Halfway through Below Deck Season 6, viewers also watched as a member of the production team quickly broke the fourth wall to save a life. This occurred when Ashton Pienaar stepped on a line and was yanked into the water. Ashton was seconds away from his foot being severed, bleeding out to death. He was truly fortunate that a nearby cameraman intervened.

In addition to these serious events, the breaking of the fourth wall has been a fun change for this series. It was especially rewarding in Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 4. Here, a member of production is overheard heard asking Gary King about his relationship status with Mads Herrera. When Gary gets things incorrect, production can be heard challenging Gary on-air, right before, a snarky reel was show, proving that Gary was wrong.

Sometimes, fourth walls need to be broken. We love this change seen in the Below Deck franchise.

New Spin-Offs Continue To Emerge

Below Deck Bravo/Instagram

One final change seen in the Below Deck franchise are the multiple spin-offs that have taken place. Below Deck Mediterranean came first, followed by Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Below Deck Down Under, and finally, Below Deck Adventure. Though to be clear, Below Deck Adventure has not yet been picked up for a second season.

TELL US – WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN IN THE BELOW DECK FRANCHISE? WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE CHANGED?

The post How the Below Deck Franchise Has Changed Over the Years appeared first on Reality Tea.



from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/16/how-the-below-deck-franchise-has-changed-over-the-years/

Why It’s Shocking That Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Lasted as Long as They Did

Tom Sandoval (L) and Ariana Madix
(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Post-Scandoval, it’s easy to forget that Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval were considered one of the more stable couples on Vanderpump Rules. Even if it was more of a business partnership than a romance, nine years is quite a long time to be together.

But in hindsight, there are many reasons why it’s surprising they didn’t break up before Rachel Leviss entered the picture. We’re looking back at all the signs that Sandoval wasn’t the one for Ariana.

Ariana and Sandoval’s Relationship Had a Rough Start

(Photo by: Evans Vestal Ward/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

We’re not just talking about the overlap between Ariana and Kristen Doute, although that’s part of it. The Miami Girl saga clearly took a toll on Ariana. Sandoval should’ve admitted the rumors were true, and that it happened when they weren’t exclusive yet. Instead, he asked Ariana to cover for him.

This established a dynamic that continued throughout their relationship. Basically, Sandoval would mess up, and then Ariana would defend him, even when it made her look bad. She always had his back, and he never, ever had hers.

Sandoval Wasn’t There for Ariana When She Needed Him Most

coral21987/TikTok

This beyond insensitive Sandoval moment went viral in the early days of Scandoval. To recap, Ariana was dealing with a lot of painful emotions on her first birthday since her father passed away. She broke down crying, telling Sandoval how much she needed him by her side on such a difficult day. His response needs to be seen to be believed.

In Season 10, Ariana lost her grandmother and her dog only weeks apart. Once again, her partner wasn’t there for her as she grieved. Instead, Sandoval was too preoccupied with his affair. And he used Ariana’s grief and depression as an excuse not to break up. Selfish does not begin to cover that.

Scheana Shay’s Concerns About Ariana and Sandoval

Bravo/YouTube

In Season 4, Ariana found out her mom and her BFF Scheana Shay were texting about Sandoval. Scheana loves to stir the pot and put her nose where it doesn’t belong. But, especially in hindsight, this comes off as genuine concern for a friend. And, one has to admit, she made some points.

They Disagreed on Having Kids

(Photo by: Nicole Weingart/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

It’s never a good sign when a couple has such fundamentally different ideas of their future. Despite his own refusal to grow up, Sandoval hoped to get married and have kids. But Ariana didn’t want either of those things.

Showing she was willing to keep an open mind for the sake of their relationship, Ariana froze her eggs. Meanwhile, Sandoval dragged his feet, and never actually fertilized them. Part of it was that he couldn’t take a short break from partying. That’s a major red flag in and of itself. We’re sure Ariana is relieved he never got around to it.

The Cocktail Book Fiasco

(Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

God forbid anyone get the spotlight but Sandoval! Instead of being happy for his partner, Sandoval threw a tantrum when Ariana was offered to write a cocktail book. He insisted he knew more about bartending than her, insulted her “grumpy cat” demeanor, and rolled his eyes while she stood up for herself.

Eventually, he wormed his way into co-writing. His entitled attitude ruined what was supposed to be a career-high achievement for Ariana. Thankfully, she’s now releasing a cocktail book of her own.

The Season 6 Fight

Bravo/YouTube

Back in Season 6, Ariana and Sandoval had a huge fight at Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright‘s already chaotic housewarming party. Sandoval had the audacity to be angrier at Ariana than at Jax. She was right to call him obtuse.

The fight continued later, as Sandoval claimed no wrongdoing. Ariana, frustrated at his patronizing ways, blurted out, “I think we should just break up!” Now, she probably wishes they had. Especially since it was before they bought their house.

Sandoval Essentially Outed Ariana

(Photo by: Gustavo Caballero/Bravo)

In Season 7, Sandoval told the guys that Ariana and Lala Kent once drunkenly hooked up in the backseat as he was driving. He violated their trust, and it wasn’t his place to tell this story. Especially not on camera.

When Ariana angrily confronted him, Sandoval made things worse by revealing her past relationship with another woman. Ariana had her reasons for keeping her sexual orientation private, but this forced her to come out not on her own terms.

Longstanding Intimacy Issues

(Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Ariana discussed her intimacy issues a few times before that jaw dropping conversation with Rachel. She once told Lala her issues partially developed due to an ex’s cruel comments. But instead of listening or trying to help her, Sandoval just whined about not having sex enough. He boastfully insisted Ariana had multiple orgasms when they first got together. Every single time, Sandoval made Ariana’s problems about himself.

And when he brought it up in Season 10, he was already having an affair. It was one of his ways of creating a narrative about their relationship, so that he could set up Ariana as the bad guy. Truly, he’s always been the worst.

TELL US – WERE YOU SURPRISED ARIANA AND SANDOVAL DIDN’T BREAK UP BEFORE SCANDOVAL? WHAT RED FLAGS CAME UP FOR YOU OVER THE YEARS?

The post Why It’s Shocking That Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Lasted as Long as They Did appeared first on Reality Tea.



from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/16/shocking-that-tom-sandoval-and-ariana-madix-lasted-9-years/

Most Memorable Real Housewives Reunion Walk-Offs

Real Housewives of New York Dorinda Medley, Bethenny Frankel
(Photo by: Heidi Gutman/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Real Housewives are known for being dramatic. And there’s no better place for drama than a Bravo reunion. Over the last 17 years, fans have seen some pretty unbelievable stuff at reunions, from text receipts to screaming matches. But today, we are focusing on a particular category—reunion walks-offs.

Reunions can get intense and sometimes it’s simply too much for the ladies. Even Bravo God Andy Cohen admitted he was tempted to walk-off set while filming the Season 13 Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion. “There was a moment where I turned to Teresa [Giudice]—I apologized to her later—I didn’t yell at her, but I think I lost my s**t at her in a way that I haven’t maybe ever,” Andy said, recalling the volatile reunion.

There have been so many iconic reunion exits throughout the years but a few have really stood the test of time. Here are our picks for the most memorable reunion walk-offs.

Ramona Singer – RHONY, Season 1

YouTube/Bravo

In later seasons of Real Housewives of New York, Ramona Singer seems to have softened to the idea of talking about sex on camera but in Season 1, the Housewife was not having it.

The Bravo star was visibly upset at the reunion after her co-star, Alex McCord, started talking about her nude photos. Ramona got up and left the stage, telling Andy Cohen she had to use the ladies’ room. She later admitted the conversation made her feel uncomfortable. We were a bit surprised to see Ramona act so prudish, considering Sonja Morgan is one of her closest friends. We find it hard to believe that sex is a topic that is off-limits for Ramona and Sonja.

Danielle Staub – RHONJ, Season 2

Reality TV Videos/YouTube

Okay, we can’t really blame Danielle Staub for this one. In the Season 2 Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion, Teresa Giudice became enraged after Danielle brought up her family. Teresa got up from the couch, walked over to Danielle, and got in her face while screaming, “Do not bring up my family. You f***ing b***h.”

Andy had to physically pull Teresa away from Danielle as she got up to exit the stage. The most iconic part was that Danielle seemed completely unbothered by the situation and walked off stage with a supermodel strut. We’re obsessed.

Kelly Bensimon – RHONY, Season 3

(Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images)

Bravo fans have to give Kelly Bensimon credit for showing up to the Real Housewives of New York Season 3 reunion after Scary Island, even if she didn’t make it through without a walk-off.

After the women started discussing the infamous trip to the Virgin Islands, Kelly started to get upset. The former model tried to defend herself and criticized the women for “attacking her” on the trip. Bethenny Frankel responded by accusing Kelly of having “psychological and emotional problems,” which was the final straw for the Real Housewife. She got up and left the stage.

Vicki Gunvalson – RHOC, Season 12

(Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)

At the Season 12 Real Housewives of Orange County reunion, OG Vicki Gunvalson stormed off set after the women grilled her about her relationship with her controversial ex-boyfriend, Brooks Ayers. The Illinois native was nawttttt having it. She left in a huff and even threatened to quit the show. Yikes.

Lisa Rinna – RHOBH, Season 7

Bravo/YouTube

This might be our favorite reunion walk-off simply because the drama surrounding the exit was so insane. At the Season 7 Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion, Kim Richards shocked fans and her castmates when she returned the bunny Lisa Rinna had given Kim’s grandson.

“I didn’t feel like it had good energy,” Kim told a noticeably emotional Lisa. Lisa then decided to leave the stage with the bunny in hand, saying, “I’m gonna walk away for just a second because this doesn’t feel quite right.”

The bunny drama has become an iconic part of RHOBH history, with the stuffed animal earning a spot in Andy Cohen’s legendary Watch What Happens Live Clubhouse.

TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE REAL HOUSEWIVES REUNION WALK-OFF?

The post Most Memorable Real Housewives Reunion Walk-Offs appeared first on Reality Tea.



from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/16/memorable-real-housewives-reunion-walkoffs/

The Tackiest Below Deck Charter Guests

(Photo credit: Bravo/YouTube)

The Below Deck franchise would not be what it is without its charter guests, although the show has really seen some interesting ones over the years. Charter guests have near complete control over their yachting experience, choosing everything from food to activities to party themes.

While some guests really made the most out of the once in a lifetime experience, others have had just awful taste. Not only do these guests choose unappealing themes or activities, but they have also acted incredibly inappropriate at times. Keep reading for our take on the absolute tackiest Below Deck charter guest requests.

The Charter Guest Who Requested A Foam Party

Bravo/YouTube

Arguably, one of the worst themes in Below Deck history was the foam party at the beginning of Season 3. The first primary charter guest of the season requested a foam party, in which the crew filled the bottom of the deck with as much foam as possible. The guest proclaimed he wanted to be “neck deep” in foam, although this was not possible due to windy weather.

The entire foam party was just cringe to watch, especially because none of the guests other than the primary charter guest were interested in participating. As a result, the Stews had to step in and party with him, since he claimed the party was his dream. Foam is a terrible theme for any party, but especially for one outside on a windy night on the water.

The Charter Guests That Fought Over James Hough at the Neon Party

Bravo/YouTube

The first charter guests of Below Deck Season 8 were also a tacky group, in terms of both taste and behavior. The group opted for a neon themed party, which had potential but was executed rather poorly. Many of the guests actually dressed in neon wore the same yellow color, while some merely opted for a bit of neon face paint. A true neon party would have featured a wide array of bright colors everywhere, including pinks, greens, and oranges.

What really labeled these charter guests as tacky, however, was the way they acted regarding Deckhand James Hough. Two of the guests got into an argument after one claimed that the other purposely went on a jet ski with James, while knowing that she was also into him. A ridiculous altercation followed, which was pointless considering that James was a crew member and was in no way interested in either of the guests.

The Charter Guest Who Could Not Get His Own Drink

Bravo/YouTube

One of the worst groups of Below Deck charter guests was featured on Below Deck Mediterranean Season 1, and they acted trashy from the moment they stepped onboard. The charter guests jumped straight into drinking, and a few of the guests became intoxicated to the point that they needed to return to their cabins.

The main problem with this group of guests, however, was one particular guest who complained when the Stews were escorting his drunk friends back to their rooms. He complained that he now had to get himself his own drink, since the Stews were not available to get one for him. Sometimes tackiness is not about your taste or opinion, but simply about the way that you act, as this Below Deck guest proved.

The Gumball Obsessed Charter Guests

Bravo/YouTube

Finally, we could not write an article about the tackiest Below Deck guests without including the gumball obsessed group from Below Deck Mediterranean Season 3. These guests filled out a ridiculous preference sheet, in which they made it very clear that their main priority was having gumballs readily available onboard at all times. They even said everything else was optional, although gumballs were a necessity.

The guests took it a step further when they complained to 2nd Stew Brooke Laughton about all of the gumballs being white, and demanded that she find some colored ones. While Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier was eventually able to find some, these requests from the guests were just downright ridiculous. One guest even mentioned that she considered specifying the colors she would like on the preference sheet, but ultimately chose not to do so.

While Below Deck has seen plenty of ridiculous guests, these groups of charter guests stood out as even more bizarre than the rest. From their bad taste in party themes and snacks to their uncalled for behavior, it is hard to get much worse than these guests.

TELL US – WHICH BELOW DECK CHARTER GUESTS DO YOU THINK WERE THE TACKIEST?

The post The Tackiest Below Deck Charter Guests appeared first on Reality Tea.



from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/16/the-tackiest-below-deck-charter-guests/