Overview of #3078 Crappy Hour — Crappy Hour 11/17/25: BravoCon Breakdown With Two Judgy Girls
Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam recap their whirlwind trip to BravoCon (Las Vegas), joined by guests Mary and Courtney from the Two Judgy Girls podcast. The episode covers their experience hosting a panel (Next Gen NYC), meeting dozens of Bravo personalities, fan interactions, the gossip and viral moments that slipped out over the weekend, logistical headaches (rain, VIP access, wristbands), and highlights from the Watcher/Crappens meetup and parties.
Key takeaways
- BravoCon was chaotic, emotional and surprisingly friendly — many Bravo personalities approached the hosts to say “I know you hate me” then were warm and complimentary.
- Ben and Ronnie hosted their first panel (the final panel of the weekend) and received overwhelmingly positive crowd reaction.
- Common gossip repeated across the weekend: Whitney (Salt Lake City) appeared heavily intoxicated; Rachel Zoe was reportedly aloof; Portia had an incident on a flight; Shep had a public meltdown about Paige/Craig; Tom Sandoval had a barefoot/drama moment.
- Logistics were rough: venue congestion, rain in Vegas, restrictive VIP access and tight plastic wristbands that couldn’t be loosened.
- The fandom energy was huge — roaring ovations for some younger “Next Gen” cast members and the McBee/Jesse contingent — and creators/hosts saw a ton of in-person support.
- The hosts’ Watcher/Crappens party drew ~300+ people (Beer Park, Jenny’s ice cream sponsor) and was a highlight for them.
Notable moments & gossip (condensed)
- Whitney (Salt Lake City): Multiple people reported she was intoxicated and disruptive throughout the weekend. Ben and others witnessed Heather helping steady her at times.
- Heather (Salt Lake City): Brief, low-stakes spat/nomination disagreement with the hosts; they made up with hugs.
- Brittany: Multiple encounters; appeared forgetful; got a “Build-A-Bear” anecdote tied to Jared (funny backstage moment).
- Shep vs. Craig/Paige: Shep was filmed yelling and being bitter about Paige and Craig’s storyline/earnings/followers; people captured the moment and found it messy and entertaining.
- Tom Sandoval: Reported barefoot incident in Vegas and a backstage scuffle (a clip circulated).
- Portia: TMZ-captured incident on a flight — escorted off by air marshals — details still emerging.
- Rachel Zoe: Several creators said she wasn’t very sweet to fans/peers; her behavior was noted as aloof/guarded.
- Cy DeSilva vs. Madison (Southern Charm): A public spat in comments after a panel “meanest person” joke; devolved into personal barbs and call-outs.
- Vicki Gunvalson (Orange County): Her return and post-scandal presence raised eyebrows and frustration among hosts and fans because of past transphobic/homophobic controversies; many felt the show is mishandling accountability.
- Jared anecdote: Mention of buying Build-A-Bears and gifting; lighthearted backstage exchange.
Guests & panels
- Two Judgy Girls (Mary & Courtney) joined to debrief; they described exhaustion, excitement, and fondness for fans.
- Ben & Ronnie’s Next Gen NYC panel: placed last on the schedule (tough slot) but the crowd was enthusiastic and supportive; they used earpieces/teleprompter and felt the scale of the venue.
- Creator interactions: Hosts helped next-gen cast members navigate the creator carpet and panels; many “newer” cast members lacked handlers and felt vulnerable.
BravoCon logistics & fandom dynamics
- VIP setup and backstage access were different than previous years — many stars were sequestered, leading to complaints from ticket-holders who expected more access.
- The expo was crowded and badly affected by Vegas traffic and an unexpected rainstorm.
- Wristbands (tight, plastic) were uncomfortable and hard to remove — small but recurrent gripe.
- Fan culture: Some celebrities got mobbed (e.g., Amira, Next Gen stars); the fandom enthusiasm resulted in near-sprint crowding and chanting.
- Producers and handlers heavily controlled celebrity movement; Bravo “A-listers” were flanked by teams while newer cast got less attention/backstage support.
Events hosted by the show & creators
- Watcher/Crappens party: estimated 300+ attendees, sponsored ice cream (Jenny’s) and Beer Park accommodated crowd; a major success for the podcast’s live presence.
- Margaret Josephs and other creator-hosted parties also highlighted as top shindigs.
- Several smaller, off-the-record gatherings gave hosts and creators chance to mingle; some encounters were unforgettable (Jesse McBee, Galena, Tamra, etc.).
Tone & recurring theme
- The hosts stressed that their podcast is comedic and satirical — they’ll roast cast members but many interactions in person are warm and humanizing.
- There was a notable tension between on-screen personas and off-stage people; many Bravo stars were kinder in person than anticipated.
- Overall fandom is “messy but devoted” — attendees were loud, enthusiastic, and protective of their favorites, which led to both warm moments and petty confrontations.
Action items / recommendations
- If you want more behind-the-scenes detail, listen to the full episode — the hosts and Two Judgy Girls dig into many one-off anecdotes not covered here.
- Follow Two Judgy Girls (Mary & Courtney) for their BravoCon takeaways and additional interviews.
- Watch for video clips that circulated after BravoCon (Shep outburst, Portia flight, Sandoval snippet) if you want the viral moments.
- If you attended and felt slighted by VIP promises, note the hosts’ observation that Bravo tightened celebrity access this year — plan expectations accordingly for future cons.
Final note
This episode is best for listeners who want a mix of candid gossip, creator perspective, and behind-the-scenes color from BravoCon — plus the hosts’ and guests’ comic takes on the weekend’s chaos, celebrity behavior, and fan culture.