Fake Boyfriends & Production Secrets: Former Housewives Producer Patrick McDonald Spills All!

Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald

Former Bravo producer Patrick McDonald joins Heather McDonald to reveal the intricate behind-the-scenes mechanics of reality television prod

Key takeaways

• Reality TV production involves multiple crews (A, B, and C) to manage large-scale shoots like Beverly Hills.
• Networks enforce social media rules to prevent cast members from spoiling current storylines or 'leaking' beef.

Main topics

• Reality TV production secrets
• Mental health and fame

Notable quotes

Reality television is like freebasing fame.

Conclusion

The episode provides a fascinating, insider look at the manufactured n

Transcript preview

Speaker 4 (0:00) Heather MacDonald has got the Juicy Scoop. When you're on the road, when you're on the go, Juicy Scoop is the show to know. She talks Hollywood tales, her real life Mr. Segment, serial data, and serial sister. You'll be addicted and addicted fast to the number one tabloid real life podcast. Listen in, listen up. Woo, woo. Heather MacDonald. Juicy Scoop. Speaker 3 (0:30) Hello and welcome to Juicy Scoop. I have returned favorite, fresh from his own now new hit podcast. I've got, we're not related yet. We have not figured it out. I'm Heather McDonald. This is Patrick McDonald. Welcome back to Juicy Scoop. Rainbow Renegade. Renegade Rainbow. Sorry, Renegade Rainbow is the name of your podcast. Correct. Very fun name. I love it. You know, in listening to one of your episodes, I forgot that you had gone on Bethany Frankel's show back when you broke away from being a Bravo producer and how many people were writing you really nice things and writing public things that you were great to work with. Were you on back when she was working on that reality reckoning? Speaker 1 (1:25) No. So I did her podcast after. It was probably, I think, a year maybe after that. Okay. Because it was after I had gone public with my exit from Bravo and everything that happened there. And I talked a little bit about just some of the work culture and some of the stuff that kind of happened there. She had had me on. And yeah, it was crazy. It was like I was in Thailand, like on vacation and she had me on. And so like with the time zone, I like shot that like two in the morning in Thailand. Yeah. It's like like Jungle Hut. It was it was it was crazy. Speaker 3 (1:59) Did you think that that the reality reckoning was ever going to be a big lawsuit windfall for any reality stars when it kind of began? Speaker 1 (2:09) Yeah, I mean, it definitely like got a lot of attention. And I think. I think it kind of got like squashed, unfortunately, because of just like, you know, the news cycle and other things moving on, you know. But yeah, that's kind of unfortunate because there, you know, there are a lot of things that were brought to light during that time, I think, that were important. And some conversations that were started there that I think kind of have fallen aside. Well, Speaker 3 (2:40) I think that Leah McSweeney's case is still going. Speaker 1 (2:43) Yeah. Speaker 3 (2:43) From Real Housewives of New Speaker 1 (2:44) York. Speaker 3 (2:44) Well, Speaker 1 (2:44) yeah, Speaker 3 (2:44) most definitely. But I think hers was like really the only one. Speaker 1 (2:47) Yeah. I Speaker 3 (2:48) feel like the NeNe Leakes one was like settled or whatever, but she's good with them again because she's on the Real Housewives of Ultimate Girls trip. Yeah. So I think everything's fine with that. Speaker 1 (2:58) I think there's Speaker 3 (2:59) a Speaker 1 (2:59) few more. There's like some below deck stuff going on. There's like. Oh, Speaker 3 (3:02) yeah. Speaker 1 (3:03) There's a few more going. But the Speaker 3 (3:05) actual like thing that she, Bethany Frankel, was like spearheading. Speaker 1 (3:10) Yeah. I Speaker 3 (3:11) think. Yeah. Also, I just think as audience members, you know, we like watching the show as general people. And so basically you're asking the only people that care about it are the viewers. And it's almost like if you, like it's not something that we're going to march in the streets about. Because then our shows will be taken away. Even though we could all say, yeah, we do think they should get residuals and health insurance and things like that. But it's also like, it's not like you're like, what do you mean a teacher doesn't have health insurance? You know what I mean? Like we, I think not we, but the audience still sees it as they have a great life. It's a glamorous life. They know what they signed up for. So there wasn't really anyone, normal people like championing. What they were going after and I think that's kind of why it's sort of fizzled or why attorneys dropped it or whatever. Speaker 1 (4:07) Yeah, I don't know. I think there was a pretty there's a pretty like loud like group of people that kind of. supported both sides of that, you know? Because I think one of the main parts about it was just calling for like better treatment of the people like in front of and behind the camera and like better protections, unionizing, just like making sure that everyone's like taken care of and is safe on set. Because there are a lot of times the reality shows are like the wild, wild west. You're out filming things, things go wrong. You're in the real world. And like, there just needs to kind of be a little bit more checks and balances to make sure everyone is safe and everyone's protected physically, mentally. Speaker 3 (4:49) It's hard because it's not part of the. SAG union. Right. Speaker 1 (4:54) So I think it was very valid. The reality reckoning thing was very valid and still is today. I think that we're seeing that like case in point with like Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. You're seeing how someone, I mean, look, reality television is like freebasing fame. You know, it is a straight shot. It is a straight shot to fame. So you go from like being a normal person in complete obscurity to like being at the. at the top number one on Hulu, on every like blog, every magazine, all the things, you know, like a Taylor Frankie Paul, she's like her trajectory was like skyrocket into fame. And so that is enough. That is like unbelievable pressure for anyone. And so if you're like already kind of struggling, you have all this religious trauma, you have sexual trauma, you have relationship trauma. I mean, to be, to be. Struggling with all those things to be in your early 20s and to be catapulted into super, super stardom in terms of like exposure to the world is does something to someone's mental health that I don't think we are even as a society aware of yet. And I don't think that anybody can really know the long term ramifications of what these reality shows are going to have on these people, especially these young girls like 30, 40 years from now. I Speaker 3 (6:14) mean, with Taylor Frankie Paul, like juggling the three men and her friends knowing it because she's got the one, you know, she had the bachelor guy that we don't see. And because I'm about three or three or four, maybe three episodes in there in New York. Then we have her TikTok singing boyfriend who shows up at the hotel to, you know, have sex with her. And then. She came home from The Bachelorette that night and slept with her baby daddy. Speaker 2 (6:43) And Speaker 3 (6:43) in some ways, I'm like, you know, this girl could be the luckiest chick on earth and live in her life. And it could be, you know, a sexual addiction, a love addiction. It's whatever it is. But you see the other girls and some of them are just like, you know, they don't really approve of it, you know, and they are like a little. Probably a little annoyed, too, that she's got, you know, three dicks to choose from. I don't know. But like, it's kind of, you know. I Speaker 1 (7:12) never thought of that. Maybe they could be jealous of that. But no, look, I think watching The Mormon Wives, I like I empathize so much with Taylor because I know how much pressure she's under to be the kind of like star of that show. But at the same time, I have so much empathy for the other girls who are kind of like watching her spiral. And it's hard to watch because they clearly care about her and actually do show up for her and like love her. And she, you know, in her when she's caught up in all of it, she doesn't see it. And then there'll be moments of clarity like she'll come down, you know, Taylor will come down and be like, look, I know I overreacted. I'm sorry. And that's like the real her that they like and they connect with, I think. I think the show has become so amplified, like, and with the domestic violence and all of her personal things being so, so under a microscope. Like, I think what we're seeing here with Taylor Frankie Paul is a spiral. Like, just like, she's like, enough, you know, like she needs a break. Yeah, I don't know. The woman needs a break. Speaker 3 (8:18) Where did we end up? Because it was so confusing about all the people leaving and then the... Is the show coming back to film for a sixth season? We don't know, and we don't know who's the cast. Speaker 1 (8:28) Yeah, I mean, the show is, I think, picked up for a sixth season. But we know Michaela announced her departure soon after the fifth season came out, citing, you know, Taylor being her reason. And then Taylor, a few days later, announced that she was leaving the show. Okay. Which was kind of, seemed like it was reactionary maybe to Michaela's thing. And then she was feuding with both Miranda and with Layla on online. They said, like, don't wait up for our call. Speaker 3 (8:59) Right, right. Speaker 1 (9:00) So you can see that they're clearly kind of like they're kind of over it. You know, one Speaker 3 (9:05) of the things I saw someone bring up on social media, which I thought was interesting, is and I don't know if this is true, but like, you know, I remember the Bravo women, the housewife women could get fined if they. were fighting online or I don't know how they would judge if someone broke a social media rule or and then but on when you look at this so much it's all social media you know and it doesn't it flows in and out it's different they talk about the show they say the guys just want to be on the show and they all they care about is that you know and we're the stars get away guys and they talk about the show like that but What was the deal in your Bravo days about what were the rules for the social media for the housewives? Speaker 1 (9:55) Well, there's definitely rules of like you can't talk current story, you know? So if like, you know, you're getting into an argument with somebody or you're having beef with somebody, you can't go home. You're not supposed to go home and like fire off on Twitter. Got it. About the current storyline. I mean, as we've seen, that's happened many times. But. And then they'll get reprimanded for that. And then because, you know, they'll be like, look, this hurts the show. At the end of the day, when you're talking about when when you're revealing so much of the story of the season and it comes out beforehand, by the time the season comes around, like nobody cares about the show. Speaker 3 (10:29) So right. Like so like if a housewife gets in a fight with someone and then goes on Twitter that night while you guys are mid filming and was like, you know, Sutton's a bitch and, you know, you're dead to me, girl or something. Yeah. Then everyone's like, what? Jennifer Tilly said, what? So unlike her. As is, yeah. But like something like that. And you're like, what? They're the closest ones, you know? And I always wondered, you know. Well, look, Speaker 1 (10:55) it's a balance. A little bit is good. A little bit gets you excited. Speaker 3 (10:58) A Speaker 1 (10:58) little bit is good. It's a tease. It gets you going. But too much is too much. That's why Speaker 3 (11:02) I always thought it was interesting when. I would hear from a housewife who really did get fined $500, $1,500, whatever. Speaker 1 (11:08) And Speaker 3 (11:09) then another one wouldn't. And I'm like, well, I just don't think it's like black and white. And probably someone who has more power won't get fined and someone that needs to stay in line. Speaker 1 (11:18) Someone that has more favor. Yeah. You know, is more well-liked by the network. Yeah. May not be. But if there's someone they want to like keep in line, somebody probably like a Whitney. wild rose or something like someone's that's unpredictable saying kind of crazy things i'm sure that they've they've reprimanded her for something like that yeah Speaker 3 (11:36) but real quick on Speaker 1 (11:37) taylor though one like taylor frankie paul i think like what we're seeing like i said is this like a spiral that is a result of the of the fame you know and so yeah it's kind of crazy that we have documented the entire journey of her I mean, remember, I mean, that body cam footage of her arrest. OK, first of all, and I said this on my podcast, but there was a moment where Michaela was like, I don't know when our show turned from cute little Mormon wives to Jerry Springer on the street. I was like, honey, did you see the episode with the body cam footage that pulls up? Well, that's Speaker 3 (12:10) how Speaker 1 (12:10) they Speaker 3 (12:10) started the first episode. Speaker 1 (12:12) Of like season Speaker 3 (12:13) two? No, of the very first part of the show. Is Speaker 1 (12:16) it the very first Speaker 3 (12:16) episode? Yes, I think it is. Speaker 1 (12:18) I thought it was too, but then I went back and watched it and I didn't think it was there. But I don't know. Whenever it was, it was early. But yeah, the show has always been kind of about that. So that kind of was funny to hear Michaela say that. But I also do understand what she means, though, of like, you know. Being frustrated with Taylor and wanting to work it through and how like the other girls are all I think they're all really compelling, too. You know, obviously, Taylor Frankie Paul is a star. Obviously, Whitney is a star. Whitney is also leaving the show. But I think that there is potential for like a Macy, you know, to emerge as a leader in the group. I think they need to give the other girls a chance to like build some stronger, some stronger presence on. on the show. And I think they could do that by giving Taylor a season off. Like we don't have to depart ways. She's leaving the show. Just give her a season off. And that means like no filming, no confessionals, no opening titles, no nothing. Give her time off to like really heal. Let the other girls build their presence. They become stronger. Throw a couple new girls in the mix. And then the following season, bring Taylor back. We have a big. The return of Taylor Frankie Paul. And it's a big, big, exciting moment. And she can be rested. And but Speaker 3 (13:32) now. So let's say if you're working on that show. That's Speaker 1 (13:35) what I Speaker 3 (13:35) would do. I totally agree. But I think the only way that it would work and for her to truly get better is she would also have to put away the phone. Speaker 1 (13:44) Yeah, I agree. Put Speaker 3 (13:45) away the phone. And that's the thing. Like, would there be enough money? I mean, if I was the Speaker 1 (13:52) - Speaker 3 (13:52) She's Speaker 1 (13:52) got Speaker 3 (13:52) enough Speaker 1 (13:52) money to take a year off. Speaker 3 (13:53) Yeah. But also if I was the producers of it, I would be like, could we give her a chunk to like an unconventional thing? But like, here's $500,000. You're not going to do this season. Speaker 4 (14:07) You're Speaker 3 (14:08) going to get mental health. You're going to- What a dream. You're not going to be on social media. And if you follow all that, then you can come back the next year. or whatever. I would try to work some type of deal like that. That Speaker 1 (14:23) warms my heart to hear that. Seriously, that would be so lovely of them to do that and would really send the message that, hey, we care about our talent. This girl has built this titan of a franchise for us. We're going to show the world that we really care about her and we're going to, yes, pay her. Let's pay her, but give her the time off. So she truly takes it. You know, I think that would be an incredible gesture. I Speaker 3 (14:50) guess Speaker 1 (14:50) the Speaker 3 (14:51) other thing would be that when she's off of it for a year, she's so healthy that she's like, no, I don't want to be on reality TV anymore. And they're like, what? I'm healed. I definitely don't want to get on the show again because that's what makes me go crazy. You know what's so Speaker 1 (15:03) funny that you mentioned that though? So like the housewives that like, I always like really like loved deeply, deeply, deeply cared for and grew to like love as a friend, you know? I would always be like secretly hoping they would leave the show because I would be like, go live your life. Go be happy. Yeah. Go be happy and be at peace because you're never going to find peace here. You know, you are never going to find you just you need to know that going into those shows. You need to like you need to have a solid marriage unless you like don't care about your marriage and you're fine with it dissipating like someone like I feel like kind of Tamara was her first marriage. Yeah. Fine with that ending. But like. Speaker 3 (15:41) get healthy get Speaker 1 (15:42) be healthy and like be clear-minded because um it's it's hard and it will be it will be a complete strain on your life you know what i mean and you will not find true peace in this world you just can't when they Speaker 3 (15:58) like dump like a you know a one one season person yeah I'm always like, actually, they should be so flattered because it means that you're kind of boring because you probably are like mentally healthy and it's just kind of isn't. But, you know, that's what everyone gets so upset about if they get called boring. Right. Sometimes being like a little chill and not this crazy person, you know, sometimes you can be very healthy and funny. 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Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers and go to quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK too. And when Quince asks you where you heard about them, let them know it was Juicy Scoop and that Heather McDonald sent you. It's the best way to support Juicy Scoop. So I want to touch on this because this was breaking news over the weekend. So Melania is Teresa Giudice from Real Housewives of New Jersey's daughter. And there was this quick video that she posted, Melania, who's 20 and goes to college, where it was her mom. She's filming her mom and her sister Gia. And she's like, is that what we're going to do now? Is that what we're doing now? Okay, so we're doing this now. And you see like cops and it looks like they're in an airport. And she put it on her, posted it, and then shortly deleted it. But of course, people caught it. And everyone was sort of speculating, what is this? Is she, is she, are police arresting her? Is she going to a rehab? What happened? Now it's come out that they were at an airport and she like went missing or something and they were worried about her. So they called the police and they just wanted to get her on the plane to go home to New Jersey. And now this body cam footage has come out and you see Melania being like, what? I was laced with fentanyl. Like, so she's like, there was fentanyl in your, you, there were fentanyl in you, Teresa says to Melania, and I'm trying to save your life. And she's like, yeah, because I was laced. I'm like, I don't think I know people that are like. I was laced with fentanyl. Like usually you're slumped over or dead. Like I, it was very weird. I don't know what's going on there. Wow. Speaker 1 (21:18) Yeah. I had no idea. I literally just read the fentanyl thing as I'm sitting here. I did not know that part. I had seen the initial video of them at the airport. Speaker 1 (21:28) of that, the first one you said. And it was just, it was confusing because it was her saying, is this what we're doing now? And then Teresa's just like, I love you, I love you. Clearly Teresa was trying to like maintain composure in the video. Like her daughter is in distress. She's like, I love you. I don't know what you're doing. Clearly you're trying to provoke. She was trying to provoke them. It felt like. Speaker 3 (21:50) Right, and then Melania's like, that's what my mom wants. You wanted a scene, mom. Get over here, mom. Run. like she was being really awful and Teresa's being really calm. Yeah, Speaker 1 (22:02) she was being really calm. Speaker 3 (22:03) And it's, I don't know, like she's, there is this. Speaker 3 (22:10) thoughts or whatever, that maybe she tried to hurt herself. Maybe she did like some type of 5150. I don't know for a few days. Maybe she's back now in college doing fine. I don't know what's going on, but I do know, I believe they're filming right now for New Jersey. I think they Speaker 1 (22:26) finished, didn't they? Speaker 3 (22:27) Oh, I don't know. Maybe they finished. And would any of this be addressed? But, you know, when you think about it. Speaker 3 (22:36) You know, these kids don't have a right to any of it. They put these mics on them when they're little and like, Speaker 1 (22:43) and Speaker 3 (22:44) the cameras in their face. And everyone thought it was so funny that Melania would talk to Joe Giudice and be like, give me my pizza, you old troll. And they just were like, Melania, like she was just so crazy. And then Gia was like, you know, such a perfect little first born Italian daughter, like, you know, second mother to the girls taking over control. Speaker 3 (23:05) I don't know. Like, have you ever worked on a show where the kids like didn't want to be on it and their parent or somebody was like, we really need to we really need to film this. So, like, figure it out. Well, I mean, I hope some with some candy. I don't know. I can't think Speaker 1 (23:21) of some like specifically someone's kids. But I mean, there were many times where I mean, kids do not like filming. You know, they're like, it's boring, you know, because you're you're kids just want to play and like live their life. So the. The weird hurdle when you're filming with kids usually is to get them to not be looking at and be interested by the cameras and the equipment and the crew. Because usually they're all like, because this is abnormal for them. Or if they're new or something, they get used to it. But you go into a new housewife's family and you start shooting with them and the kids are like. The whole time they're just like looking right into the camera. Right, Speaker 3 (23:59) right. Speaker 1 (24:00) What are you doing? What's your name? Speaker 5 (24:03) It's Patrick. Just hop back in there and talk to your mom. Right, yeah. Speaker 1 (24:07) But yeah, so it's funny to see them try to figure it out. Yeah, look, you're right. They don't sign up for it. They're just kind of going along with whatever they're. parents are doing. And I think as they get older and then you start to see like some of them like it and are drawn to the camera and some of them don't and retreat