Overview of Watch What Crappens #3611: RHONY S16E10 Part One, “Bilt Up, Torn Down”
Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam recap the first half of the Real Housewives of New York City episode, centered on a comedy night at Ankur’s exclusive pizza venue. The event brings the cast together, but conversations about a missed birthday invitation and a rumor about Jessel’s husband quickly overshadow the comedy.
Ankur’s Comedy Night
Ankur hosts a comedy show that he presents as a way to bring people together. The hosts question the premise: the venue is exclusive, the jokes land poorly, and Ankur’s set leans on his wife’s reality-TV fame. They also debate whether he comes across as genuinely sweet or as a wealthy guy dabbling in comedy and food.
Comedian Matt Friend and other performers poke fun at the cast, including Carole’s resemblance to Steven Tyler and Daisy’s popcorn ceilings. Daisy appears especially irritated that Erika’s birthday party and the comedians’ jokes both leave her feeling singled out.
Daisy and Erika Dispute the Birthday Invitation
Daisy says Erika did not invite her to her birthday party. Erika insists she invited Daisy during a phone call on Monday, but has no text or written proof. Daisy argues that the invitation was casual and last-minute, especially compared with the elaborate invitations other guests received.
The hosts think Daisy has a fair reason to feel snubbed, but criticize her for saying she was never invited instead of explaining that Erika’s invitation felt half-hearted. Erika, meanwhile, can hardly claim the issue came from nowhere: Daisy had recently criticized Erika’s island.
The Rumor and Dr. Dan Belkin
Jessel says her dermatologist, Dr. Dan Belkin, called her in a panic and warned her about what the women were saying. The rumor concerns Jessel’s husband, Pavit, and an alleged encounter between men in a gym steam room.
Erika denies bringing up the rumor, although a flashback shows her discussing it with Daisy and Dr. Belkin. She argues that she did not introduce the subject; Jessel and the hosts see that as an evasive distinction. The hosts also criticize Dr. Belkin for repeating private gossip to his patients.
Sai is pulled into the argument because she had previously made the rumor public. Daisy says the women are bound to discuss such a provocative story, while Jessel is frustrated that nobody will say clearly where it started. The group’s explanations become a string of denials and claims not to remember.
Erika’s Elitism and the Botox Conversation
At the party, Erika says she has barely been to New Jersey and mispronounces Hoboken. The hosts read the moment as a glimpse of the elitism beneath her attempts to seem relatable.
The episode then turns to cosmetic procedures. Devon says she gets Botox, and Carole recounts covering Botox on television in the 1990s. When asked whether she uses it now, Carole says she does.
Main Takeaways
- The comedy night gives the women a reason to gather, but the jokes and exclusive setting add to Daisy’s sense of being targeted.
- Erika and Daisy disagree over whether a brief phone invitation counts as a real invitation.
- The women’s handling of the rumor is muddied by contradictory recollections, while Dr. Belkin’s role raises questions about how he heard and repeated it.
- The hosts see Erika’s comments about New Jersey as a revealing contrast with her efforts to present herself as down-to-earth.