'Summer House,' Antoine Dodson, The Fall of Monica Aldama and More

Recommendations for your long weekend

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Read

• I wrote about why “Summer House” is the best show currently airing on Bravo, and what makes this current season its best yet. (Gibson Johns for Decider)

• I loved this package that aimed to measure just how popular Taylor Swift has gotten. It uses a variety of different metrics to compare her current moment to other artists’ imperial periods, and you walk away with a solid sense of how she stacks up! (Joe Coscarelli for The New York Times)

• “Real Housewives of New York” star Sonja Morgan is preparing to say goodbye to her iconic townhouse once and for all — and this profile did an excellent job at capturing the significance of this moment for her. (Bridget Read for Curbed)

• This was a great piece about what it’s like being young and Black on Bravo, featuring quotes from the likes of Gabby Prescod, Venita Aspen and Jasmine Ellis Cooper. (Taylor Crumpton for Essence)

• Unpacking the precarious place that Broadway is in right now. (Boris Kachka for Vulture)

• Two solid articles on the end of this season of “Vanderpump Rules”:

  • Where does the show go after its failed attempt at giving Tom Sandoval a redemption arc? (Louis Staples for The Cut)

  • Making the argument that the show should lean into breaking the fourth wall going forward. (Caroline Franke for Vulture)

Listen

“Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)” Podcast

This new podcast hosted by Jamie Loftus promises to give a proverbial “sixteenth minute” to a variety of viral internet ephemera of the past. The subject of her first (two-parter) episode was Antoine Dodson of “Hide Your Kids, Hide Your Wife” fame, and she does an incredible job of telling Antoine’s (and his sister’s) story, the aspects of their story that were erased by viral fame and what’s happened to them since. Curious to see where else this podcast goes! Listen here.

Lindsay Hubbard on “Bitch Bible”

“Summer House” star Lindsay Hubbard hasn’t done a ton of interviews this season, but she was on Jackie Schimmel’s podcast, “Bitch Bible,” this week, where she discussed a ton of topics relating to the drama on this incredible season of the show, as well as how she’s processed everything in the time since filming. It’s a great convo if you’re looking for more “Summer House” content (as I always am)! Watch above or listen below.

Watch

Diplo’s Architectural Digest Tour

I don’t have much of an opinion on Diplo himself either way, but his vacation home in Jamaica is absolutely breathtaking. I loved this one. 

Ayo Edebiri Settles Petty Disputes for Vanity Fair

A perfect video, start to end.  

The Rise and Fall of “Cheer” Coach Monica Aldama from Texas Monthly

Recently stumbled upon this video featuring Sarah Hepola in which she gives an overview of a lengthy, well-reported article she wrote about Monica Aldama, the legendary Navarro cheer coach featured on Netflix’s “Cheer,” and the bevy of legal issues she’s faced in recent years. She seems to have gotten rare and intimate access to Monica since “Cheer” ended. After watching the overview, I read the article that it’s based on — and I’m so glad that I did. Watch the video above and then read the full article here.

Self-Promotion

Discussing The “Vanderpump Rules” Reunion, “The Valley,” “Summer House” and “RHONJ” with Us Weekly’s Sarah Hearon

Deputy Digital Editor Sarah Hearon joined me on the podcast this week to discuss the latest happenings from around Bravo — “Vanderpump Rules,” “The Valley,” “Summer House” and “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” I particularly loved her vision for the future of “Pump Rules” / “The Valley.” Watch above or listen below:

Interview with “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard” star Noelle Hughley

Noelle Hughley, who was the lone new addition to season 2 of “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard” and was an absolute delight, joined me on the show for a lengthy interview all about her first season on the show. She shed a lot of light on her friendship drama with Summer, what really went down with that Natalie situation and more. Watch above or listen below:

Currently

I was planning on staying put in the city this long weekend, but I think I’ll be popping out to the Pines tomorrow for the day to meet some friends!