Ahoy, yachties! Welcome to Season 8 of Below Deck, where the Stud of the Sea himself — Captain Lee Rosbach — is ready to take back the Caribbean. Wait. Captain? Captain Lee, are you there? Cap? The captain is not on the boat, people. I repeat: the captain is not on the boat.
This is what returning bosun Eddie Lucas discovers thirty seconds into the premiere when he boards My Seanna with his well-worn Cotopaxi backpack and is greeted by….no one. The gorgeous motor yacht we first met back in Season 6 is empty. And after making a quick call, Eddie discovers why: Captain Lee is in the hospital. But it’s not for a broken heart over Kate Chastain‘s exit from the series like you probably thought. No, turns out the invincible old sea dog slipped in the shower and smashed several ribs. We’re talking badly enough to be admitted to Mount St. John’s Medical Centre in Antigua.
Captain Lee‘s medical crisis starts the premiere off on a bizarre foot. Not only do we no longer have Kate but for a second it looks like we might not have our trusty captain either. It’s almost like all the kids showing up to summer camp with no counselors. And honestly, seeing the indomitable Stud of the Sea laid up in an Antiguan emergency room also has this recapper contemplating his own mortality. Captain Lee can’t be knocked down by anything, let alone a little fall in the shower. Like I said, he’s invincible. Right?
However, as in show business so it is in yachting, and the show must go on. As the brand new crew trickles aboard My Seanna, poor Eddie is left in charge of welcoming everyone while he’s surely panicking inside. First to arrive is new chief stew Francesca Rubi, otherwise known as the poor girl Bravo chose to replace Kate. She’s from Sydney, Australia and boasts about taking her job “a little too seriously sometimes.” She also has five years of working on yachts in the Mediterranean under her belt and a background in high-profile event management. So while she’s certainly no Kate, at least she seems qualified on paper.
The interior is rounded out by Elizabeth Frankini, a second stew who’s very into energy, crystals and all things mystical, and Isabelle “Izzy” Wouters, a quirky third stew who claims to have worked both interior and deck crew jobs in the past.
Meanwhile, Eddie‘s deck team seems…pretty green, to be honest. Thankfully, he’s got shaggy-haired Avery Russell, who immediately gives off lead deckhand vibes. (He’s not, however, listed in the official cast or anywhere to be found in the promo materials for the season…) There’s James Hough, a British flirt who makes it clear that he’s on this season of Below Deck to have a lot of fun and maybe work a little. And then there’s Shane Coopersmith. Sweet, sweet Shane is a budding environmentalist with gorgeous blonde hair, a dopey grin and literally no experience yachting whatsoever. Needless to say Eddie seems to be in for a treat this season.
A few hours later and just 19 hours before the first charter, Chef Rachel Hargrove finally arrives on the boat in a bit of a tizzy. It turns out, the chef’s purse was stolen at the grocery store within a day of arriving in Antigua. Complete with her credit cards, car keys and cell phone, the theft has understandably left her a bit on edge and not exactly on her A-game. However, given that just a few weeks ago Captain Lee called Rachel the “best, most knowledgeable chef [he’s] ever worked with on a yacht” during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, it’s safe to say Rachel will turn it out this season. (On the flip side, he diplomatically refused to compare Francesca to Kate out of fairness to his new chief stew.)
Finally (I mean, finally!) Captain Lee shows up from the hospital after provisions have already been loaded onto the yacht. He’s hobbling and clearly in pain. But in his own words, he’s ready to “suck it up, cream puff.” At the first all-crew staff meeting, the captain lays down the (maritime) law. He makes it clear there will be no repeat of last year this season. That means no physical intimidation. No screaming. No slamming doors in the middle of the night. And all I can say is thank god for that, because literally no one wants another re-do of Season 7. Let’s all pray we leave the toxic masculinity that grossly permeated last season aboard Valor.
The first primary charter guest of the season is PR consultant Charley Walters, a three-peat returnee who last appeared on Season 6. Spoiler alert: he’s best remembered for being a total high maintenance monster. We’re talking endless demands. Condescending tone to crew. Egotistical nightmares for friends. And none of that appears to have changed three years later. The first night he’s requiring a multi-course international themed dinner complete with keto, vegan and other demands. Followed by a neon-themed carnival party on the second evening. This is going to be a lot of work.
Early the next morning, Izzy quickly proves to be the early weakest link of the crew. It takes her a grand total of 32 minutes to make Captain Lee‘s breakfast and deliver it to the wheelhouse. Which seems…insane for coffee and a bowl of Cheerios. Francesca has her antennas up about her slow-poke third stew and the first charter hasn’t even begun yet. The other early red flag is adorable Shane, who decides to spend the morning doing yoga on the bow rather than…you know, doing his job. I mean, he’s literally greeting the sunrise on his mat while James sprays down the boat around him. This is going to be an interesting dynamic on deck, for sure. How long do we think the laidback environmentalist will last?
The charter guests arrive and right off the bat, they’re rude, demanding and come across as complete monsters. And just like with breakfast, Izzy takes her sweet time making their first round of drinks. So much so that the primary actually intercepts her, patronizingly stepping behind the bar to help out and pointing out that the crew is giving off an overwhelmed vibe. Which, like, true but also rude. As the afternoon progresses, Shane is more preoccupied with replacing the plastic straws on the boat with paper ones than working. And poor Eddie is doing everything he can to wrangle the quickly out-of-control guests.
However, tragedy strikes early in the season when Avery gets a message from his mom. Apparently, his grandmother is sick and has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. He’s not even sure if he can make it home in time, but the deckhand promptly tells Captain Lee he needs to leave. And isn’t sure he’s coming back. While surprised, Lee is obviously understanding that family always comes first. And just as soon as we met him, Avery rides off into the Antiguan sunset, leaving Eddie without a right-hand man and the deck crew down one member. Do you think Avery will be replaced by a newbie or a returning yachtie from a past season?
TELL US- WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE SEASON PREMIERE? CAN FRANCESCA LIVE UP TO KATE’S LEGACY? WILL IZZY AND SHANE MAKE IT THROUGH THE SEASON? WHO SHOULD REPLACE AVERY ON THE DECK CREW?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
The post Below Deck Season 8 Premiere Recap: Yachties of the Caribbean appeared first on Reality Tea.
Production on pause. E! News has learned that season two of Bravo's Family Karma has halted filming as someone who is a part of production has tested positive for COVID-19. Per our...
There has been gossip going around about a West Coast Housewife who is secretly separated from her husband Now, we know who that blind item was (probably) referring to: Erika Jayne.
After 21 years of marriage to Tom Girardi, she’s done.
Erika told E! News, “After much consideration, I have decided to end my marriage to Tom Girardi.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member insisted, “This is not a step taken lightly or easily. I have great love and respect for Tom and for our years and the lives we built together.”
Erika continued, “It is my absolute wish to proceed through this process with respect and with the privacy that both Tom and I deserved. I request others give us that privacy as well.” Girl, you’re on a reality show full of people who love trashing other people’s marriages. Good luck with getting that privacy.
Erika didn’t mention why she’s filing for divorce, but Tom has been involved in many lawsuits throughout recent years. And, no, I’m not referring to the cases he’s worked as a lawyer. He’s been sued many times over.
After years of bankrolling Erika’s life, the buck stops here. Or does it? In 2017, Erika revealed that they didn’t even sign a prenup. She said, “Let me tell you something, let me be very clear. I’m married to a very powerful lawyer. A prenup wouldn’t stand in his way anyway…It’s gonna be all Tom’s way, I assure you. He’ll rip that piece of paper to shreds in two seconds!” I guess we will see how that ends up.
Given all of Tom’s legal battles and the fact that Erika has been earning her own money as a Housewife with side hustles, it’s not too surprising that she wants out of his debt this marriage.
E! News also shared a recent quote from Erika: “I mean, I’m tired of having to justify my 20-year marriage. Go get a 20-year marriage, then come f–king talk to me.” Now what, Erika?
I guess we now know why he never went to see her in Chicago on Broadway. And, perhaps, this explains Erika’s very angry demeanor lately.
TELL US- ARE YOU SURPRISED BY ERIKA FILING FOR DIVORCE? WHY DO YOU THINK SHE DECIDED TO END THE MARRIAGE AFTER 21 YEARS?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
The post Erika Jayne Has Filed To Divorce Her Husband Tom Girardi After 21 Years Of Marriage appeared first on Reality Tea.
Here's some good news about 2021: RuPaul's Drag Race U.K. will return for season two in the early months of the new year. On Monday, RuPaul took to Instagram to confirm that the...Four podcast recommendations: Two game shows that can be interactive listens (Factorious and The Great American Pop Culture Quiz Show), and two in which people just read to you (LeVar Burton Reads and Phoebe Reads a Mystery).
A beloved baking star has passed away. Luis Troyano, a runner-up on the fifth season of The Great British Bake Off, died last week, his publicist confirmed in a tweet on Nov. 3....
Tonight's all-new Dr. 90210 showed a different side of Dr. Cat Begovic! As she put it, "I'm a plastic surgeon, but a lot of times, I'm also a patient."...
Only seven dancers remain on Dancing With the Stars. The ABC reality show just said goodbye to Chrishell Stause and Gleb Savchenko on its first night of double dances, and while the...
Come hell or high water, that charter was going to happen. On Monday, Nov. 2's season eight premiere of Below Deck, viewers watched as the crew scrambled to prepare yacht My Seanna...
The 2020 PCAs are bringing you Bieber fever! Justin Bieber will perform live at the 2020 E! People's Choice Awards on Sunday, Nov. 15, E! announced today. The pop superstar will...
Season 15 of Real Housewives of Orange County is all about change. Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge exited the series, and everyone was curious about who would step into their shoes. Elizabeth Lyn Vargas joined RHOC, and once again, this Elizabeth Vargas is not a reporter.
Elizabeth is the CEO/Founder of the digital music label and streaming service Edge Music. So far, I am loving her.
The RHOC season premiere revealed some fun facts about Elizabeth. Although she came from a poor background, Elizabeth has cash. And Elizabeth is friends with co-star Kelly Dodd.
Elizabeth found herself in a bit of trouble when she took to Instagram to defend Kelly and the dangerous misinformation that Kelly was spreading about the coronavirus pandemic. Vicki responded by commenting “idiot.” Oh, Vicki–will you ever stop trying to be part of the RHOC drama?
Elizabeth is also going through a divorce from Bernt Bodal. In a recent RHOC episode, she told Kelly and Gina Kirschenheiter that she is under a gag order about her divorce and her billionaire ex. But Elizabeth has a boyfriend, Jimmy Juarez, who won’t have sex with her until her divorce is finalized. The couple seems really happy together.
Elizabeth told BravoTV in a video clip, “I was a complete tomboy. I never wore make-up. Those who know me know that I’m very organic…I don’t really do all that stuff.”
Elizabeth had some other exciting news to share. “You’re going to see some discrepancies with my wardrobe. For instance, I have a lot of darks because I was heavier-set,” Elizabeth revealed. “I was 35 pounds heavier nine months ago. And I’ve been eating really healthy and working out really hard and training for the L.A. marathon 2021.” Kudos to Elizabeth!
“So, with that being said, I ended up losing 30 to 35 pounds,” the RHOC newbie said. Now Elizabeth is ready to give her wardrobe a complete make-over.
“Now all of this black, I have to throw away and donate. And then kind of move to more glamour whites and colors, which I’m in love with now,” Elizabeth shared.
“I never used to wear color until recently. Honestly, I think a lot of women can relate to me,” she remarked. “When you get juicy and you feel like a little uncomfortable in your skin, you wear a lot of black,” Elizabeth added. “And you know what? Screw it. Let’s all wear color and get the juicy out.”
TELL US- WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ELIZABETH TRAINING FOR THE MARATHON? HOW IS SHE DOING AS A HOUSEWIFE?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
The post Elizabeth Lyn Vargas Lost 35 Pounds; Training For Los Angeles Marathon appeared first on Reality Tea.
Isn’t it nice when ladies of a high-end community can solve conflicts and have mature discussions to iron out issues? It might be, but we probably won’t see it on Real Housewives of Potomac. That said, RHOP is having a breakout season thanks to hands-on combat and verbal disputes.
Karen Huger is helping to keep Potomac above water. She emerged as a voice of reason after Monique Samuels finally succumbed to Candiace Dillard’s request to be dragged. She makes no bones about Gizelle Bryant’s doomed reconciliation with Pastor Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater. But Dr. Wendy Osefo, BA, MSc, PhD’s scholarly boasting is getting on her final nerve. Now we learn the one thing Wendy does not have a degree in is going up against the Grand Dame.
Let’s be clear, Wendy is an intelligent, educated woman. Let’s also be clear that Wendy will throw this in your face at any available opportunity. Hey, did you know she frequently appears on MSNBC? Even the cashier at 7-11 in Latvia knows by now. Wendy shares her academic achievements with, well, everyone – but is it her only party trick?
Karen, for one, is over it. She does not need Wendy throwing qualifications in her face in an attempt to validate herself. The Grand Dame would never, darling. Karen shared her thoughts on the Real Housewives of Potomac After Show. Karen said, “I am so proud of Wendy’s accolades and academic achievements. Unbelievable.”
To review, Dr. Wendy earned a B.A. in political science from Temple University and a M.A. in government from Johns Hopkins University. In 2012, Wendy completed a M.Sc. in public affairs with a concentration in community development from Rutgers University–Camden. In 2016, she became the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in public affairs and community development from Rutgers University-Camden. It is an incredibly impressive display, the first 40 times you hear about it.
Karen continued, “And she should be proud of them, but when she says she doesn’t brag on them, I say, roll the tape back.” Then we are treated to a montage of Wendy not bragging, “I am not one to brag about my degrees!” What follows is a hilarious clip of Wendy in different scenes repeating, “I HAVE FOUR DEGREES, I HAVE FOR DEGREES”. In other news, multiple degrees do not make you interesting, Doctor.
Karen advised, “Watch yourself, maybe you didn’t mean to come off that way but that is how you are coming off.” Y’all, Karen is just here pointing out facts. But Wendy was not having it. She had some words for Karen. “If you’re going to pick on me, pick on something else.” Okay, but first you have to do something else.
Wendy added, “Pick on my hair, pick on my clothes, pick on my make-up…” Thanks for the offer, but Gizelle has most of that covered for us. Wendy said, “But if you pick on my educational attainment, then you are laughing in the face of our ancestors.” Excuse me, Doctor, do you need some Aspercreme for that reach? She ended her response to Karen with, “So do us all a favor and shut the fuck up.” Now that is an interesting way to showcase your advanced education.
Does Wendy have more degrees than Karen? Yes. Did Wendy spend more time achieving academic laurels in pursuit of higher learning? Yes. Yet despite all of those accomplishments, she still wound up on reality television. Wendy has more education on paper, but Karen has her masters in common sense. Going forward, Wendy might want people to address her as Doctor, but she best remember to address Karen as Grand Dame.
TELL US- DOES WENDY BRAG ABOUT HER EDUCATION TOO MUCH? DO YOU AGREE WITH KAREN? DOES WENDY ADD ANYTHING TO THE SHOW?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
The post Karen Huger Slams Wendy Osefo For Constantly Bragging About Her Education; Wendy Tells Karen To “Shut The F*ck Up” appeared first on Reality Tea.
