THE VALLEY: Reunion Part 3! + RHOC Grand Canyon

Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino - Danny Pellegrino

Danny Pellegrino recaps the uncut and uncensored Peacock version of The Valley Reunion Part 3, reflecting on Danny and Nia's unresolved issues around drinking and group

Key takeaways

• Danny Pellegrino believes Danny and Nia are unlikely to return for another season due to unresolved accountability issues around drinking and group conflict.
• The uncut Peacock version revealed additional footage and raw moments not seen on Bravo, including deeper emotional confrontations and behind-the-scenes tensions.

Main topics

• The Valley Reunion Part 3 - uncut and uncensored Peacock version
• Danny and Nia's drinking issues and lack of accountability

Notable quotes

'I don't know what the season would have been about if we didn't have Danny and Nia.'

'Caught. That actually originated with Tyler.'

Conclusion

The episode closes with a heartfelt tribute to Tyler Duckworth and a candid

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:08) Hello, everyone, and welcome to Everything Iconic with me, Danny Pellegrino. Today on the podcast, we're going to be covering The Valley Reunion Part 3, which I watched uncut and uncensored on Peacock, the streaming service. So if you don't know this, the day after it airs on the Bravo Network, oftentimes they will put the reunions up on the Peacock streaming service, and they'll put them up uncut and uncensored, which means you get the swear words, there's no bleeping, and then they also add in footage. So there's different things that they talk about. on the Peacock version than what they talk about on the one that airs on Bravo. And so I just wanted to give that disclaimer in case you're listening to this upcoming recap of The Valley Reunion Part 3 and you're like, Danny, I don't remember that happening at the reunion. I don't know what the fuck you're talking about, Danny. Just know that it's because I watched the uncut and uncensored version on the cock. And so I am excited to get into that. And we are combining The Valley and The Real Houses of Orange County recap this week because They didn't send the Valley reunion screener ahead of time, so I wasn't able to record the episode ahead of time, which is why it's a little late. So we're going to be covering the Valley reunion part three and the Real Houses of Orange County. And so the Valley, we are finally bidding adieu to the season. We made it to the end, baby. Speaker 1 (1:20) Time to say goodbye to all those Speaker 2 (1:22) crazies until next season. And so we bid them adieu. We say goodbye. We thank them for their services. But for now, we're wrapping up our time with The Valley, season three. Although spiritually, it feels like season four. So we're going to talk Valley and then get into the realness of Orange County, which also spiritually feels done because there's nothing... Speaker 2 (1:44) It's never been worse on The Real House of Orange County, but we'll get there when we get there. For now, though, before we get into the Bravo stuff, I do want to say something on a personal note, and I'll try to keep this brief. It's a little emotional for me, so I'm going to try to just hold it together. But a good friend of mine and of the show, Tyler Duckworth, recently passed last week. I found out actually right after I had... been recording the episodes for last week. And he was a dear friend of mine, but also longtime listeners might remember Tyler appeared on Everything Iconic multiple, multiple times at the beginning of when I started Everything Iconic. And I started 10 years ago out of a studio apartment in West Hollywood. And so I was having guests on at the beginning because, of course, I wasn't quite comfortable yet getting on the microphone alone talking about these shows. And so I would invite whoever I I knew or whatever friends I felt might be comfortable talking on a microphone or chatting or being in that public way. And Tyler was a good friend who we used to work out together all the time. We met at a CrossFit gym, which I know sounds crazy. You're like, Danny, you did CrossFit? Yes, I did. I did for years. But Tyler was a buddy that I used to work out with. And he was very, a lot of people might know him from MTV. He was an original cast member on the real world Key West. He's also a two-time MTV Challenge winner, one of the few openly gay Challenge winners, and also just a dear friend. So at the beginning of starting this podcast, I would have him on. I remember there was a time early on where he was our Olympics correspondent. And so he would come and try to teach me about the Olympics because he knew everything about the Olympics. But he was just the funniest person. one of, if not the funniest person I knew. I knew every time that I hung out with Tyler, which he had since moved a couple years ago, he moved out of California. But we used to go out all the time in our 20s and our 30s. And I never would not cry laughing when I was hanging out with Tyler. And if you listen to him on those early episodes, you remember just what a bright light he was and how funny he was and silly. And he really helped me get the show off the ground. I was so grateful to have him because, of course, people knew who he was. And so he was kind enough to come on the podcast during those early days. And just we had so much fun together. And I loved him dearly. And it's been tough, a tough week. And just I loved him. And my heart goes out. He's way too young to pass. And a lot of even just I was thinking about, you know how sometimes on this podcast I'll say, caught. That's something that has come up a time or two. Long-time listeners might remember me saying, caught, Speaker 1 (4:28) got you, caught. And that actually originated Speaker 2 (4:32) with Tyler. I used to work out with him all the time. And he loved a wig, too. He would come to the gym in a wig just for fun. And we would take these classes together. And we would be working out together. And somebody would do something wrong or something. And he'd yell, caught. And I remember it became something that we did together, but I'm pretty sure that he was the one who first said it when we were working out together and it kind of stuck and we would constantly say that. And so, you know, that's something on the show. A lot of times people will come up to me or send me messages on social media and say, caught, because they've heard it on this show. And just that was something that originated in my relationship with Tyler that I remember back in the day, just when we'd be out or working out or whatever. And he was just the best, but he could just make you laugh and laugh and laugh. And so many mutual friends, we've been texting and telling stories and remembering stories about different times with Tyler. And I went to Vegas with him once, and we had the best time with my brother and sister-in-law. And of course, Greggy Bennett and I have talked about him on the show. We're mutual friends, you guys might remember. Greggy's been on the show a bunch, and I know when he's been on, we've talked about Tyler, because he was just the funniest, best person. And so, I just wanted to shout him out and not only just thank Tyler for all that he's given to this podcast and our friendship and my life specifically, but also I just... Speaker 1 (5:59) I wanted to send some love out there. So anyway, Speaker 2 (6:01) moving on, may he rest in peace, but he was the best. The best. So let's get into the Valley, Reunion Part 3. Again, I watched uncensored and uncut on the cock. I love calling it the cock. Peacock. We Speaker 1 (6:17) love the Speaker 2 (6:17) peacock. But this was all about Danny's drinking again, which I felt like sort of took a sidelines for the first one part. one and part two of the reunion for the Valley. And now it's coming front and center. And I think we're all sort of tired of talking about it. Now, I'm pretty certain, at least I feel in my soul, that Danny and Neil will not be back. I think Andy was even trying to like give them a way in at the end of the episode. You know, Andy, you could tell when he's saying like, so what's your relationship like now with the group? Or where do you go? Where do you go with the group from here? Danny just said, I don't know. And it was like, that was Andy's shot of giving them, saying, like, okay, now's the time to take accountability. Now's the time to have that resolution. You guys had the conflict. Now you got to have the resolution. If you don't have the resolution, you're gone. Because there's nowhere to go with the group. And it felt like that's what Danny and Nia were missing. I know Nia kept trying to say, Speaker 1 (7:10) Daniel, please, just apologize. Speaker 2 (7:14) Nia kept trying to parent him the whole time and tell him what to say. But as we've learned throughout these past three seasons, Danny's going to say what Danny wants to say. And so Daniel was not taking the, he took a little accountability, but I don't think it was enough to move forward with the group. It felt like everybody just hates them. And honestly, as an audience member, I do as well. I do not care to watch them again. And I think... They have given us three seasons, and I don't know what the season would have been about if we didn't have Danny and Nia. Of course, I get that, but I don't think they have a genuine relationship with any of these people. Maybe Kristen and Luke they have a relationship with. But even like the Zach, I saw cracks in the Zach relationship foundation with them and Jesse. Jesse was kind of talking about the wedding situation, which they left on a big cliffhanger of like what happened at Jasmine and Melissa's wedding with Danny. And I thought it was going to be some big reveal. And honestly, it was kind of a nothing. It was sort of nothing. It was like, okay, he just got drunk. I think the big smoke and gun was that Nia had to take him away from the after party because Danny was drinking at the wedding. And I think we could all imagine what was going on. Obviously, Danny got too drunk and Nia's like, okay, I don't want you around these people at the after party. And so she once again had to pull him aside and parent him. Which, again, I'm exhausted for her, but she doesn't seem to give a shit about that. So she's going to keep doing that until the end of time, apparently. But it was clear that was what was happening. Like, Danny drank too much. And then rather than him do something inappropriate, Nia had to parent him and take him away. And so, yes, that must be exhausting to Nia. But ultimately, it didn't affect the group at all because nothing happened. Although they did say, I guess Jesse said he was in a... no shoes and a tank top drunk at the wedding. And it's like, well, put your shoes on. Speaker 2 (9:04) You know what's funny, though? I was thinking, being at a wedding, you always hear women at a wedding reception. Women at a wedding reception are constantly having to take off their shoes. And I understand that because they're all in heels. So you know when you're a girlfriend or as a bridesmaid or they're just a guest at the wedding. By the time that the DJ is playing Shout and the dance floor is getting a little bit louder now, Then the gals are taking off their heels because they're tired of walking around in those heels. But I was thinking in my head, I'm like, I don't remember men because men's shoes, even you're wearing tuck shoes, they're like not that uncomfortable. Like I don't remember a lot of men at any of the weddings I've been to, which I've been to tons of weddings. I don't remember a lot of men taking off their shoes. And so I'm like thinking, why is Danny taking off his shoes? But then I remember like, oh, it's because he's always wearing heels. Speaker 2 (9:58) He's always in heels. So he's just like the gals at the wedding. He's got to take off the heels if he's probably getting on the dance floor. And so he is also wearing heels at a wedding. And so that's what I had to remind myself. I was going to drag him about not wearing shoes at the wedding. I was going to say, what is he, Schwartz? Think he's never got to wear a shoe or a sock? And he's at a wedding? That's un... What's the word I'm looking for? Disrespectful to not have any shoes on at a wedding. But then I remembered, oh, he's by the end of the night on the dance floor. He's got to take off those heels because the legs are probably hurting him. And so that's, I think, why. But Jesse had to pull him out of situations. And apparently Jesse said they made an agreement in season two to help each other out and pull each other out of situations. He said, Danny, you'll pull me out when I'm getting in a fight with Michelle. And I agreed to get him out of situation when he's drinking too much. And it's like, how about you just don't drink too much, you dumbass? Speaker 2 (10:55) Obviously, like, there's an issue. Because even Andy had said, like, well, why, if you realize you got an issue drinking on camera, like, why are you continuing to drink on camera? I don't know. Lacey, though, tells Danny to just take accountability. And I love Lacey. I don't understand, though, like, how Lacey's just saying everything right lately. Just, I was waiting for her to screw up, to botch it. by part three of the reunion, I thought, oh, Lacey's going to fuck it up because she was coming across pretty good the first two episodes. And she's just a friend of, she obviously had more screen time than Schwartz. I mean, Schwartz, I don't know how he, I think they should withhold his paycheck because he didn't really offer anything to both the season or the reunion. And yet I know he's going to come back next season. And I hope they tell him like, Schwartz, you need to step up and like do literally anything on camera for your paycheck. But like, he definitely got paid for doing almost nothing. And Lacey probably got paid way less than Schwartz. And so I think they're, not only do I think Lacey should get paid more because all women should be paid more in this country, but also she should definitely get paid more than Schwartz because he didn't offer anything in this show. And so I hope they're giving Lacey a stipend or a raise for next season. But she, everything she says is like spot on. Her telling Danny to take accountability, like she. What's interesting to me about Lacey is she doesn't have any of the allegiances or alliances that the other people have. So she's able to call out all their bullshit. And so it doesn't matter whose bullshit she's calling out, whether it's Jesse, Michelle, Danny, Kristen, Zach, Janet, who else? Lala. It's like she's calling out everybody. She's causing it as she sees it. And I appreciate that about Lacey. And I hope that version of Lacey comes back. I hope in the off season, Lacey's not making alliances with anyone because it's like, that's what we love about you so much, Lacey. And you've been such a great addition to this show. But they all sort of speak in code about Danny taking accountability for the drinking. And Lala calls it out. And this was a frustrating thing to watch. in the season is like, Lala, it feels like is the only one who's not speaking in the code, where it's like, they're all kind of talking in circles. Even the people who are against Danny and Nia, it's almost like they're afraid to say stuff. And I think it probably is a little PTSD from like the last couple of seasons. They knew the audience liked Danny and Nia. So they're probably like, oh, we don't want to talk bad about them because we don't want to deal with the audience reaction. But I think like the audience will react. more favorably to you if you don't worry about going up against an audience favorite or going against someone who the audience hates. If you just follow that inner compass, the audience will like you better because you can't predict who the audience is going to like. And so it behooves these cast members to just go into the season and just be like, okay, I'm going to just see whatever I see with my own eyes or feel with my heart, that's what I'm going to do. Like, I'm not going to worry too much about the audience reaction. But Lala says telling Danny not to go to the after party of the wedding is a red flag. And Kristen sticks up for Danny in this moment. And I was, you know, Kristen, I think, had a rough reunion. And I'm, look, I'm hopeful my mariposa will turn it all around next season. I'm hopeful about that. It did seem like she watched the season and did. at least take a little accountability at the reunion. And so I'm hopeful that maybe she'll also watch the reunion and then come in next season and be like, okay, like maybe I played it all wrong. Because every time Kristen's sticking up for Danny again, I'm like thinking, don't do it. You Speaker 1 (14:27) know, like, Speaker 2 (14:27) what are you doing? Speaker 1 (14:29) What are you doing? And Speaker 2 (14:31) I get their friends. And so on a friendship level, great. She's being, I guess, a good friend, maybe. Although you could argue it's not a good friend because it's causing your friend to not take accountability. That's the problem. It just feels like they have this alliance. And Speaker 1 (14:45) yeah. Speaker 2 (14:47) Andy asked Daniel, though, if anyone owes him an apology. And Nia's shaking her head no. And Danny's like ready to say everybody's name. And instead he just says, Jesus, Pete's. So, Jesus. Speaker 2 (15:03) And I'm like, geez-o-peats, Daniel. Geez-o-peats. Geez-o-peats. Geez-o-peats! Has anyone ever heard the term geez-o-peats? Now, I've heard a variation of that term, of course, but I don't know if I've heard it exactly the way he said, geez-o-peats. And then meanwhile, Nia's just like, no, Speaker 1 (15:20) Daniel, just apologize. Don't say anything to apologize. Just, you know, just take it. Geez-o-peats! Speaker 2 (15:28) Meanwhile... And Nia's like telling Daniel there's more context now. So she's telling him like, no, don't say anybody owes you an apology. Like there's more context and the audience hates us. And she's telling him this like with, she pulls out this cup from behind the couch and it's got a straw in it. And it just reminded me of my son's, my toddler son's sippy cup. And it felt like she was going to give it to Daniel because she mothers him so much that I was just waiting for her to just like offer him a sip from the cup because. A, he looks so small next to everybody. And I was just like, oh, she's going to offer him the sippy cup. Like as she's parenting him and saying like, no, you got to just take accountability. And she's telling him this. She's like, there's more context now. And she had that sippy cup. I was like, oh, she's going to give him that sippy cup. You know that I have an issue with the sippy cups. Have I told you guys about this? My son's off the bottles. He's 14 months. He's off the bottle. But then we transferred to the, we transitioned to the sippy cup with the straw. I shouldn't say sippy cup. It's like a straw cup. He's out the straw. But then I just saw on social media, they're like, no, now you got to get rid of the straw cup and they got to drink like a regular cup. Speaker 1 (16:38) It's stressful. Speaker 2 (16:39) There's all these things you don't know about parenting. And then you go on TikTok and you're like, oh, fuck. Like, I'm not supposed to be given a straw now? Like, I thought we did so good getting rid of the milk bottles pretty early. And then now we get them drinking out of a straw cup and they're saying no more straw cups. Now you're just going to get... I'm like, I'm exhausted. I'm exhausted! Speaker 2 (16:59) Anyway, then Brittany, who hates Nia and Daniel, says she protected Jax for so long and she confronted Nia about it because she said she noticed not that Daniel is the same as Jax. She says, I want to be clear that he's not similar to Jax in those ways at all. But she does recognize the pattern of Nia protecting Daniel on camera. And Nia doesn't seem to care. She does say she doesn't like the moments that Daniel drinks too much. But they're acting like it's happened twice. That's the problem that I have with Daniel and Nia is like, they keep saying heightened. It was in these heightened times and it was heightened, a heightened moment that he was acting this way. And it's like, well, we've actually seen it way more than five times since this season one. There's been way more than five times and probably way more than 10 times even. of different events, of different evenings, daytimes, vacations that this has happened. And so this is insane. You keep doing it. You keep doing the same behavior that everybody's calling out and criticizing you for. And you're not changing that behavior at all. You just keep doing it. And then you're trying to trick me as the audience to say that you've only done it a couple times in a heightened space. It's like, no, actually, I feel like it's almost every episode that... He has done one of the, has A, drank too much, B, talked down to his wife, C, talked poorly