Ringer Dish

In anticipation of Usher’s Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, Erika and Steven talk about their favorite Usher collaborations with the producers, friends, and artists in his circle and whom they think he might bring out to perform with him. Then Erika is joined by her longtime friends and music journalists Julianne Escobedo Shepherd and Clover Hope to talk about what makes Usher and his collaborations so special.If you want to share your thoughts about Usher, email us at whataboutyourfriendspod@gmail.com.Hosts: Erika Ramirez and Steven OthelloGuests: Julianne Escobedo Shepherd and Clover HopeProducer: Sasha AshallTheme Music: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ladies return this week with their unfiltered thoughts on this past weekend’s 66th annual Grammy Awards (0:36), discussing everything from the performances to the outfits to the awards to the highlight moments. They also discuss the continuation of Bradley Cooper’s beanie saga (19:30), Jennifer Lopez’s 'SNL' segment (22:28), and more.Hosts: Juliet Litman and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ladies are back this week with a few celebrity updates. First on the docket: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are headed to the Super Bowl, and oh do the ladies have much to discuss (0:41). Next, the two discuss Bradley Cooper’s beanie, his relationship with Gigi Hadid, as well as a little bit of the Oscars and the nominations (5:37). Next, they talk about the return (or lack thereof) of Justin Timberlake (18:00), Jeff Bezos’s 60th birthday (21:14), and more!Hosts: Juliet Litman and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our inaugural true crime episode of ‘Guilty Pleasures,’ Jodi and Chelsea talk through their feelings about the many twists and turns of the new three-part true crime Netflix docuseries, ‘American Nightmare’ (1:00). Then they catch up on the viral news story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who has very recently been released from prison, and the many pieces of culture surrounding her wild story of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, including the brand new Lifetime series: ‘The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard’ (35:05).Hosts: Jodi Walker and Chelsea Stark-JonesProducer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scandoval wasn’t exposed in a vacuum; no, it broke four episodes into an ongoing season of 'Vanderpump Rules.' Armed with a surprisingly accurate timeline born of Reddit posts, Instagram stories, and podcast clues, reality TV viewers spent the next 10 weeks watching Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss start an affair behind the backs of 'VPR' producers and directly in the face of several friends, plus millions of fans. The hunt for Season 10 easter eggs led to bombshell ratings for a previously waning franchise, and a gold rush for anyone even tangentially related to the scandal. And it all culminated in a three-part reunion that finally answered HOW Scandoval happened, but still left us asking one final question: WHY?Host: Jodi WalkerProducers: Kaya McMullen, Andrew Gruttadaro, and Vikram PatelSound Design: Kaya McMullenMixing and Mastering: Scott SomervilleNote: This episode was originally published on The Ringer Reality TV Podcast on December 28th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who IS Raquel Leviss? Or should we say… Rachel? With a blank look in her eyes, and an Instagram full of suspicious photos, Raquel was the unexpected element that turned every average Vanderpump viewer into a bonafide Sherlock Holmes. And with the internet as our crime scene, and social media as our magnifying glass, fans were ready and waiting to dissect every soundbite, scour every Instagram post, and verify every anonymous source. Yes, Raquel – AND Reddit – are what turned this scandal… into a full-blown Scandoval. Host: Jodi WalkerProducers: Kaya McMullen, Andrew Gruttadaro, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Kaya McMullen Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Note: This episode ran originally on The Ringer Reality TV Podcast on December 27th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erika and Steven dive into how we form one-sided attachments with friendships in pop culture, like with podcast hosts, celebrities, and other figures we interact with on a daily basis. The two then discuss how they decide what to reveal and what to keep private about their own friendship. Later, Erika is joined by The Ringer’s Katie Baker, who wrote the piece that inspired this episode, to talk about her relationship to the podcast ‘Las Culturistas’ and the hosts’—Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang—friendship.If you want to share the friendships in pop culture you have a parasocial relationship with, email us at whataboutyourfriendspod@gmail.com.Hosts: Erika Ramirez and Steven OthelloGuest: Katie BakerProducer: Sasha AshallTheme Music: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where were you when Scandoval dropped? To find out why one cheating scandal dominated the zeitgeist in 2023, we have to go back in time. Ten years ago, Scheana Shay walked out of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and into the first ever episode of Vanderpump Rules, creating an unholy lineage of mistresses that spans all the way to the now infamous March 3rd, 2023 TMZ headline: “TOM SANDOVAL & ARIANA MADIX CALL IT QUITS … Allegations He Cheated With Costar Raquel Leviss.” Meet the Cool Girl Ariana Madix and the endearing but toxic Tom Sandoval – Vanderpump’s most reliable couple. Until they weren’t.Host: Jodi WalkerProducers: Kaya McMullen, Andrew Gruttadaro, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Kaya McMullen Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville Note: This episode ran originally on The Ringer Reality TV Podcast on December 26th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Juliet and Amanda kick off the week by breaking down their thoughts, feelings, and questions about the Jennifer Lopez documentary coming to Prime Video in February after watching the new trailer (1:00). Then they talk about the new ‘Mean Girls’ musical movie remake with Reneé Rapp playing Regina George, as well as Reneé Rapp’s unfiltered public persona (14:00), Josh Radnor’s outdoor January wedding (29:53), the 21st Living Legends of Aviation Awards (37:19), and more!Hosts: Juliet Litman and Amanda DobbinsProducers: Sasha Ashall and Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charles and Logan dive into Seth MacFarlane’s grimy quasi-sitcom ‘Ted,’ which acts as a prequel to the 2012 movie ‘Ted’ and 2015 sequel ‘Ted 2.’ Is comedy dead? Can ‘Ted’ fix it? Is this show even watchable without the devil’s lettuce? After discussing these pressing questions, they talk about the other trashy shows they've guiltily (or not) partaken in recently.Hosts: Charles Holmes and Logan MurdockProducer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices