Brian Balthazar (00:00) the first season is so important to me. Like I love getting on the first season because the contestants also don't know what they're getting into. So season two, if it's a hit, they already have some idea if they know what they're, sometimes you don't know what you're applying to on these shows until you get there. But like, you know, I just love like Survivor season one was great, Trader season one was, season one was great, and even the first season of Celebrity. So I love catching these people, figuring it out in real time. I love that. Madelyn Cunningham (00:05) Right! Mm-hmm. Madelyn (00:26) Hello, happy Friday. This is the Unscripted Files. My name is Madelyn Cunningham. I am a development producer in the unscripted industry, bringing you candid conversations with the minds behind your favorite form of unscripted entertainment. I thought it would be really fun today to do a fall reality TV preview. And I've brought on my friend and entertainment journalist to chit chat about all the fall reality TV premieres of existing series of new formats. And as a former HGTV exec and head of development for Glass Entertainment. We dive all into not just the top headlines, but deep into the development, the talent, all the good stuff. from Dancing with the Stars to Next Gen Chef, all the way to of course, Mormon Wives, Golden Bachelor and Squid Game. So here is a really fun fall reality TV preview with Brian Balthazar Enjoy! Madelyn Cunningham (01:17) Hi Brian, welcome to the Unscripted Files. How you doing? Brian Balthazar (01:20) Good, how are you Madelyn? Great to be here. Madelyn Cunningham (01:22) I'm doing really well. Good to see you for a second time today. I love that. We met, we actually met years and years ago when I was producing the HGTV podcast, RIP, and we interviewed you for House Party. And it's so crazy how like life comes back around. You and I are working on a project together now. And I just felt like you were the perfect person to do our fall reality TV preview as the entertainment journalist that you are. Brian Balthazar (01:25) Yes, exactly. Yeah, me too. Yes! thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. I love it. Yeah, it's nice. It is funny how, how like you see each other in different places in different contexts. So who knew? You never really know. You never know what you're going to run into someone again. So this is exciting that we get to work together again. Madelyn Cunningham (01:59) Yes, exactly. 100%, you're also head of development at Glass Entertainment. You have a, I mean, incredible career that really speaks for itself. You were former executive at HGTV, responsible for so many incredible shows over there, Flip or Flop, House Hunters. I you oversaw, your IMDB is like, you have to scroll many, many times. And... Brian Balthazar (02:20) Thank you very much. Madelyn Cunningham (02:23) And then, know, we're responsible for also launching the fourth hour of the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda and a co-executive producer on The View. So just a really storied career in entertainment. And I just love to know why entertainment? Like where did you get the bug? How'd you get started? Brian Balthazar (02:38) Wow, well, when I was a kid, I was really good at a lot of things but not catching a ball or throwing a ball. I was really good at watching TV. I do think that that was a ⁓ talent I got from experience. But the truth is, I just was really fascinated by television from a very early age. Just how did it work? How did those people get on there? Madelyn Cunningham (02:45) felt. Brian Balthazar (03:01) How do I get into that world? So I was obsessed with it from a very, very early age. And then I really started in news. I've worked on the Today Show before the fourth hour even, and at MSNBC doing hard news. But I just was like, oh, this can get really depressing really fast. Like the hard news is really, if you're like, whether or not you like subscribe to the I'm an empath, I absorb all the energy or not, you cannot not be impacted by how negative the news can be. And that was back in 2000, 2002, 2004, like so. Madelyn Cunningham (03:25) Right. Brian Balthazar (03:28) all of these things were happening and I was like, you know, I need to channel myself in a better direction and that's kind of how it happened organically. Madelyn Cunningham (03:35) Yeah, you went to the ultimate escape, which is the reality TV we all know and love. when you first started out, you were in news and then what was the crossover to like the lifestyle home of like HGTV? Brian Balthazar (03:38) Yeah, you're right. Yeah, yeah, totally. So one thing I did do in addition to watching TV was like, I live in a very small town, in a very small house, and I did watch a lot of HGTV, and my mom was really into home renovate, like really redecorating. We didn't do anything crazy. And so I would do that stuff with her, and then when I was in Hard News, I remember it kind of segued into, there was a, a person was going on ⁓ maternity leave, I think it was, and they needed someone to fill the entertainment producer role at ⁓ the Today Show, the weekend edition of the Today Show. And I'm like, well, I'm just gonna go over there and make myself do such a great job that they can't live without me. Like that after six months, they're gonna need me for something else. that, you know, she'll come back and I will, I will, you know, be there and they'll, they won't wanna lose me. And that's what happened. So then I went to the weekend, then weekday edition of the Today Show. But all this time I felt this calling and I saw an ad on Synopsys for a director of programming. at HGTV, I applied and got the job. I was completely unqualified. I mean, now today, if I were to apply to the job, I wouldn't have gotten it based on the experience I had. I no business getting that job. But fortunately, Michael Dingley, who was running the network at that time, believed in me and gave me the job. And that's kind of how the HGTV and lifestyle and food network and all that stuff started, right there. Yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (05:05) Yeah, and you spent what 20 years there? mean, right. Yeah. Brian Balthazar (05:08) I mean, I left and came back. I was a boomerang person. So I went there in 2008. I think I left in 2014. And I went and ran the main homepage of AOL.com, know, like what you see on the main page. I programmed that with a team of people. And then ⁓ I got these emails that were like, can you come to a secret meeting? I got them from ABC. And I'm like, yes, I can come for, like, who doesn't want to go to a secret meeting? So I was like, I'm going to a secret meeting. Madelyn Cunningham (05:21) Mm-hmm. Hahaha Brian Balthazar (05:33) And we would, I met these two executives at a hotel lobby, they didn't want me to tell anybody, and so I met with them because there was a position for co-executive producer of The View. And I went there and it was fun, but I was like, wow, I still miss lifestyle, long form. So I stayed there a little under a year, and ⁓ then was like, I just popped an email to Kathleen Finch who was running all the networks at that time, and I said, hey, you know, if... Madelyn Cunningham (05:57) Yep. Legend. Brian Balthazar (06:00) One thing I did say was, if the right position were to open up for me, I'd love to come back. In other words, I wanted a promotion if I came back. And she was so great. I mean, was like, because if I'm gonna do it, I may as well like, you now's the time to ask and have nothing to lose. ⁓ I don't always have that courage in asking for things, but you know, it's funny. Often when you do muster up the courage, it's amazing how many times that it does work out. And so she's like, hey, why don't you come? Okay. And she was like, so that's when I got an elevated role there. Madelyn Cunningham (06:06) Yeah, exactly. Mm-hmm. Brian Balthazar (06:28) And like, it was kind of funny because everyone thought, well, it was just amazing. just followed where my joy was in that moment and that was where it was. And so I went back, I think all told I was there, I think from 2015, 16 to 20. So then it was like another, I guess it was all told 12 years. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (06:35) Mm. Okay, gotcha. What shows, I mean, and that was a really iconic time period for HD. Like it was just, I grew up watching it. It was kind of at its total peak. What are some of the programs that you walk away from and you're like, that is what I'm super proud of. Like that was so much fun. Brian Balthazar (06:52) Yeah, yeah, yeah. ⁓ wow, so yeah. Well, it's funny because I, now being on the production company side especially, but even then I remember that it was important for me to note that the production companies made these shows and I was fortunate enough to be the executive who gave notes and gave guidance, but like the hard work is on the production company side. I was fortunate enough to say, this is what I would do and give them creative direction. But ⁓ so, It or List It was one that I had for a period of time. I worked on House Hunters for a long time. which I loved doing. ⁓ And Flip or Flop for a while, ⁓ Christina on the Coast was one. A show that I eventually produced myself called Tough Love with Hilary Farr, because I have a shingle also within Glass Entertainment that I call Balthazar Entertainment Group. And then what was, what were some other ones? I'm trying to remember now. It's funny how much, and I also did one with Tarek that did, ⁓ my God, he had a flipping show. also loved a show called Desert Flippers that I did with Glass Entertainment at the time. It was shot in Palm Springs and I loved Lindsay and Eric Bennett. They were just so great. I loved doing that show. So that was it. What was it? Oh, Flipping 101 with Tarek Elmoussa. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So those were kind of my favorites in that moment. Madelyn Cunningham (07:55) Ooh. ⁓ ⁓ yes. Okay, yes. Yeah, and they're doing the whole like Tarek, Christina, Heather thing that they're doing now. It's so smart. It's so great. I love that for them. I love that. like every, there's so many, I don't know, blended families out there that like are in the same situation, I think it was just so brilliant. Yeah. I mean, I'm looking here, pool kings, flipping virgins, ⁓ Beth the house. ⁓ Brian Balthazar (08:15) The flip-off, yes! It's so smart, it really is genius, yeah. Right? Yeah. Yeah. my gosh, yeah, I forgot about that one too. Madelyn Cunningham (08:39) Like there's, mean, there's just a ton here that you were a part of and how fun to, I don't know, did you find, you you said you were chasing your joy, you know, once you got into that world, was it just so fulfilling for you the entire time? Like what, what do you feel like you really brought to each of the shows you worked on? Brian Balthazar (08:56) I would say it was fulfilling the majority of the time because I mean every job has its highs and lows but I do also like, I'm so interested in all, so many things I guess is what I'm trying to say. So I thought there was a time when I really just wanted to spread my wings and get outside the home category because I just, I love home but I felt like there's, you know, one life, there's so many things to explore. which is why I do the entertainment reporting. I do stand-up comedy. I do, you know, I'm a big gardener at home. I love to cook. I love to bartend. and I just feel like there's so many things to explore and I wanted to just kind of explore different genres. But when I was there, I just, liked to feel like I was. And they called me the voice of reason because sometimes I think it's very easy to get lost in the weeds on some things and be like, guys, that's 10 second shot. if they're going to tune in from that, if they're going to tune out because of the shot you put in that one second there, then probably they were gonna tune out eventually. Sometimes we just get so wrapped up and overheated and overwrought over silly details. And I understand an attention to detail and having a high barometer for quality, but at the same time sometimes we have to take a step back and put ourselves in check. And I do think that that was what I kind of brought to the other side of what I did. You know what I mean? Madelyn Cunningham (09:50) Yes. Yeah, absolutely. HGTV and all of the Warner Brothers and Discovery brands are evolving a lot lately. there anything, you know, when you were at HGTV, was obviously a legacy Scripps company and then it was Discovery. And so it was, it was still carrying a lot of the pretty strict brand standards of, you know, coming from Scripps. Brian Balthazar (10:17) Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (10:32) And it seems like now the mandate is a bit looser and they're starting to explore. So is there anything that you think that they haven't tried before that they might kind of dip their toes into now? Or anything that maybe you tried to get across the line that you're like, ⁓ it would work now because Howard's over there. Brian Balthazar (10:36) Yeah. Yeah, I actually think, you know, at the time, Lauren Ruch, just executive and good friend of mine, ⁓ during a period of time had a sort of digital talk show that we were doing that was really fun. And actually that's where you and I met ⁓ when we were doing the podcast about that. But I think that there, I would have loved to have seen them like pop that on at 1130 at night for a couple reasons. One, because I actually. Madelyn Cunningham (11:04) Yes. Brian Balthazar (11:12) think that people really wanna know about those HGTV hosts? We had so much fun doing it either way, but I also think 11.30 is a good time slot for HGTV in particular, because you'd be amazed, we would put pilots on at 11 o'clock at night to see how they do, and you would think, why would you do that? But there's not a lot of competition, you're not competing with, at the time it was Scandal or American Idol, so once 11 o'clock hits, all the broadcast networks took off, they were now onto local news. Madelyn Cunningham (11:30) Mm. Brian Balthazar (11:38) So people would pop on HGTV sometimes to like go to sleep and relax. And that's not an insult, that's like a very zen thing. I love watching shows that I love to fall asleep. So I think I would have loved to have seen them, even if it wasn't us hosting it, to see us or something like that where they get a little looser and feel like a little bit of an HGTV after dark. You know, I mean, there's even like the expression house porn. I don't think that many people would be upset at 11.30 if you just did Beautiful Houses. Just tour Beautiful Houses and call it that, you Right, exactly. Madelyn Cunningham (12:03) Mm-hmm. Right. We can repackage something even like and do it. I agree. I'd love to see it, know, for even in Food Network and HD. I'm like, this is so ripe. I know that we're tight about like our polish, but I would love to see like even like a small like digital clip show that's like kind of like the soup where it's just like, Brian Balthazar (12:19) Yeah. Yes. Yes, a little irreverent. Yes, exactly. Madelyn Cunningham (12:29) Yeah, just a little like, let's like unbutton a little bit. Let's like, let's I want to see Bobby Flay like mess up his line. You know what I mean? And so I hope that we maybe start to see a little more of that as we as a lot of these brands push digital. And I know it's been tough for those legacy brands to sort of be convinced to get into that space, but I would love to see that. ⁓ And then and then go ahead. Brian Balthazar (12:31) Yes. Yeah, yeah, I agree. Yeah, I think that'd be great. Yeah, yeah, because it's happening on TikTok. know, like Rob Anderson ⁓ did a really, really kind of scathing parody of Decorating Sense, which I used to watch all the time and I love Joan Stephens. So I interviewed her after that because I'm like, no, people need to hear Joan's point of view on this. But I also recognize like there's a lot of low hanging fruit for people to kind of like, to kind of like have some kindhearted fun. Madelyn Cunningham (12:53) Ugh, it's, yep. Brian Balthazar (13:12) And so I think there's definitely room to do that. I think the network is always afraid to hurt the feelings of the people on the show. So I appreciate that, but I think it might be fun to do that, be a little irreverent. Madelyn Cunningham (13:22) Agreed, yeah, 100%. In the development work that you're doing right now, what are you seeing a lot of? What are you guys focusing on? What are the, what are the buzzwords you're hearing? Where is your mind at a lot of the time? Brian Balthazar (13:34) Well, it's definitely a trend that networks are doing less, they're doing fewer things, but the things they are doing are bigger. you know, trying to think of things that are really splashy and are going to get an article written about it that are gonna be shared. Like social still plays a role in linear television still, or even streaming television where it's like, are people going to find it interesting enough to talk about it on their social media channels? So the fact that, you know, budgets are lower and... the overall spend from networks are lower and because they're not spending as much in marketing either, everything has to almost be self marketable. It just has to be big. Yeah, yeah, it's crazy. Madelyn Cunningham (14:08) Self marketable. Yep. Yeah, it's a challenge definitely because I mean, we are even seeing, I mean, I'm seeing shows not get renewed with like crazy access, huge celebrities, or even getting something across the line right now. Yeah, you're right. It has to be a self-starter. It has to be a water cooler moment, but the water cooler is the phone. Like the water cooler is social media. So. Brian Balthazar (14:20) Yeah. Right, yeah, yeah, yeah. I hosted a show on Magnolia that was called Human vs. Hamster. And ⁓ there was a time, I don't know how much the show cost, but most of the time, there was a time in the past when if you spent that much money on a show, you would see that on a billboard or a bus or a subway, and networks don't have that kind of money now to market all their shows. So you really have to, that's why I think the title was so. Madelyn Cunningham (14:35) Yes, I want to talk about this. I'm so glad you brought this up. Great. Brian Balthazar (14:56) provocative, know, like let's do this because hopefully it'll get, know, somebody's attention. Madelyn Cunningham (14:57) Yes. Yes, you co-hosted that with Sarah. She was, yes, okay. I saw Sarah Sherman right before she started on SNL at the Comedy Club in New York. And I was with my mom. Yeah, yes, exactly. Exactly, Brian. And I was with my mom and I was just, and we're at the Comedy Club and Sarah Sherman comes on and she does the most out of pocket like performance ever. Unhinged. I loved it, but my mom was just like, Brian Balthazar (15:04) Sarah Sherman. Yes, yeah. Uh-huh. Sorry. ⁓ Madelyn Cunningham (15:29) And then we got out of there. I was like, mom, you're good. Like, it's fine. And then I see her on SNL the next season. I'm like, mom, that's the girl. And she's like, the girl that said all this crazy stuff. And I was like, yes, but she's brilliant. How fun was that? Brian Balthazar (15:31) Yeah, it's gonna be okay. Right. Yes, yeah, she's so, she's so, first of all, I love her. I mean, her comedy, she calls it body horror. I mean, it's a genre of comedy called body horror comedy, and it's kind of gross and like grossed out comedy and shocking. you're laughing partly, one, it's funny, but also you can't believe what you're witnessing. It's so outrageous. And I loved it, and she was just a delight. Like, she was really a delight. Madelyn Cunningham (15:46) Yes, yes. Yeah. Exactly. Brian Balthazar (16:03) I had every reason to expect that maybe she would, you know, like I'm just some like schlubby guy who managed to land this sidekick job. I just, you know, like how did I get here? But she was so welcoming and lovely and funny and I'm so grateful for the experience and so glad to have done that with her. What an amazing, she's iconic, I love her. Madelyn Cunningham (16:22) Yes, yeah, absolutely. You're right, the body horror, how much can I make you uncomfy and freak you out was definitely the name of the game. But you're right, Human vs. Hamster, all these big names, they have to be marketable. And this is the perfect segue into us looking at what's coming this fall because there's a lot of existing shows coming back, but there's also a lot of new formats coming through. So we'll start with what's coming out this week. So Real House Wives of Salt Lake City. You and I both have chatted. Brian Balthazar (16:28) All right. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yes. Right. Madelyn Cunningham (16:49) And we have a real housewives blind spot, but everyone does tell me if I start, need to start with Salt Lake. Do you get the same advice? Brian Balthazar (16:51) Right. Everyone says that one's fantastic. Like everyone says that's the one to watch. I mean, I think also because like to be bigger than life in Salt Lake is really saying, like, cause it's such a like a kind of like a quiet little, you know, polite town. So they really go there. That's a, that's a big show this season and everyone that watches it says you can't believe what you're going to see. Madelyn Cunningham (17:08) Yes. Yes, I agree. the Mormon of it all, I think is a certain overarching theme that seems to work its way throughout reality TV. We know that with Mormon wives, which we'll get to in a minute, but that comes out 916 on Bravo. You know what else comes out 916? Dancing with the Stars. And the casting this season is going to make me tune in. They've got Whitney. Brian Balthazar (17:20) Yeah. Yeah. Right? Right? Madelyn Cunningham (17:35) from Mormon Wives, Jen from Mormon Wives, Dylan Efron, who I don't know, Brian, if you tuned into Traitors last season, but the star. Then we've got Daniel Frankel, who's Topanga on Boy Meets World. So we've got some nice nostalgia there. And Alex Earle. Brian Balthazar (17:36) Yep. Yep. yeah, he was the star. He's the star. Yeah. Yeah, mm-hmm, yep. Yes, and also, Ilaria, Ilaria Baldwin. I mean, don't even get me started on the Hillary Baldwin story. You know, there's already stories saying there's too much. Isn't it interesting that they've never done a parody of Ilaria Baldwin on SNL? Coincidence? Not exactly. Because Alec is a friend of the show. I mean, because this is, you know, we all know that Madelyn Cunningham (17:53) And Ilaria, yes. There's too much to unpack. Yes, of course. Brian Balthazar (18:11) Hilaria Baldwin is the woman from like, know, Chelsea, she's from Boston based, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts or something. And she always has claimed to that she's from Spain and she speaks in an accent. Everyone's like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, I went to high school with you in Massachusetts. there's some, but apparently like the sun is reporting that she's already like, she's obsessed with winning this. She says this is her chance to, allegedly says that it's her chance to kind of step out of Alex shadow. Madelyn Cunningham (18:18) Yes. Brian Balthazar (18:38) But I think it's very interesting. She says that they're saying that she wants no fluorescent lighting and she wants a room that's all mirrors all around so she can see her aura. I don't know if any of that's true, but I think it'll be interesting because the people will decide. Like, I think this is gonna be really interesting. I don't know that she's gonna last very long. I don't think people are gonna have a palette for it. Madelyn Cunningham (18:49) ⁓ That's the thing. I agree with you 100%. I think no matter how good you are, think unfortunately her narrative and pop culture has not exactly done her any favors. And so while I can 100 % support a woman who wants to like step out from away her husband's shadow, I just don't, I think she carries her her own stuff. And I don't know if she's gonna quite make it, but I mean, when you look at fan favorites, mean, you know, Alex Earl, one of the top. Brian Balthazar (19:04) Yeah. Nope. Right, yeah, yeah. Let's get her own stuff. Yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (19:21) names, Tik Tokers in the world, but like she's been posting preview videos with her partner. So has Whitney and they're very impressive. And so I'm agreed. And Whitney was like, I think she majored in dance. Jen, who's also Mormon wives. She is not a dancer by trade, but mate was viral on Tik Tok because she was dancing. like all of, and then Dylan, I think Dylan might just win cause he is just such a favorite. I, I, Brian Balthazar (19:22) Right. Right. Mm-hmm. Yep. Yeah, and she's driven. She's driven. Madelyn Cunningham (19:48) will be tuning it. I'm so excited for this. Brian Balthazar (19:50) totally, and one of the professionals, for those of the people who are, and I can't remember his name, I'm blanking on his name, but he is the dancer on ⁓ Taylor Swift's tour, like the guy, I can't remember, I'm blanking on his name, but he is now one of the pros, and he is going to just, you he's gonna be a scene stealer. Madelyn Cunningham (20:00) Yes. Yes. 100 % some of the the pros are were casted so well the way that they even coupled them up I think was so brilliant the personalities I'm already really invested and I can't wait. Another thing that came out this week Next Gen Chef on Netflix which is actually a partnership with the Culinary Institute of America and supposed to be one of the most prestigious competitions we've seen thus far. Brian Balthazar (20:11) totally. Yep. Yes. Right. Yeah, competing for a $500,000 prize, Olivia Culpo hosting, and the CIA, it's so funny to hear CIA, you you usually think of Central Intelligence, but this is a gorgeous, gorgeous place that like people would go to just because you could go just as you know, a pedestrian and go in and dine at one of a few restaurants they have up there for the students. So this is like, this is the real deal. This is not like... It's not just like, I fancy myself a chef. These are like really next level, literally next gen chefs. They're the real deal. So that'll be good. Madelyn Cunningham (20:58) Yeah. Agreed. have our friend Kelsey Bernard Clark, who has been seen a lot of the times on Food Network, who's one of the judges, and Master Sommelier, Carlton McCoy. But yeah, and I think this was a partnership. Yeah, it looks like this is a partnership between Alfred Street Industries. My friends are over at Ultra Boom Media and Fullwell Entertainment. So LeBron James is an EP. So I think it's going to, like you were saying earlier, it has to be big. And I think this is going to be big. And I'm really looking forward to seeing. Brian Balthazar (21:03) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm agreed Madelyn Cunningham (21:23) what we have in store, because culinary competition's hard. mean, it is super saturated. It's hard to raise the bar between everything on Food Network Chopped, ⁓ everything Gordon Ramsay's doing. It is hard to raise the bar, but I have high hopes for this one. I think it's going to be really great. Back to your HGTV days, we have Scariest House in America on ⁓ the 19th coming out on HGTV. This is such a fun show, and it is such a perfect adjacent. Brian Balthazar (21:26) It is. There's so many of them. It is. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, me too. Yes. It is. Madelyn Cunningham (21:51) programming for the network. Brian Balthazar (21:52) Right, and this is their irreverence that they're bringing in right now with Reda, who's hilarious, actress and comic, and basically seeing just crazy, ridiculous houses that are just like, need help. They just need help. And they're all like, which one is the scariest? And scariest, not in the Halloween sense. Although there is the Halloween, there is like a House of Horrors type of arc now too. But one of them's gonna get a renovation at the end, but not. Madelyn Cunningham (21:55) Yeah. Brian Balthazar (22:15) Not all of them, which is really interesting. You're seeing less renovation at HD than you used to. Like there's more of these tour shows, which I get, they're quick. They're easy and quick to do. Yes, exactly. Yep. Madelyn Cunningham (22:21) Yes. Yep. And a quick cash prize, which you could do whatever you want with. Yeah, exactly. Golden Bachelor coming back on the 24th on ABC. As you may or may not know, there's been a little bit of chit chat about our lead. This is a former NFL player turned lawyer Mel Owens, who himself is 66, but went on a podcast saying, I want women, what, 45 to 60? Brian Balthazar (22:29) Mm-hmm. yes. huh. I can't believe this. I can't believe this story. 45 to 60. Yeah, anyone over 60 is getting cut. Well, oh yeah, people noticed. He said this on the M, what's it called, Go M Blue, M Go Blue, sorry, the M Go Blue podcast, and wow, people noticed. And in fact, it became such a thing that even in early shooting, he had to address it on the show to apologize. But I'm sorry, don't say, he was like, oh, that's not who I am. was thinking back to when I was in my 30s when I would say this. no, no, no, no, no, no, This is his damage control statement. Madelyn Cunningham (22:49) ⁓ Brian Balthazar (23:11) This is gonna be interesting. I'd be very fascinated to see how goes. So that, I find the Golden Bachelor, I think it's a very, it's a genius move. Like I just think that the people are more interesting. And you know, when you have a franchise that was the Bachelor and the Bachelorette were still doing well, but they were in decline. So they had to think of something to raise the stakes, make it a little more interesting, get more buzz. having someone in this age bracket is a great move. I love it. Madelyn Cunningham (23:11) Mm-hmm. Yes. Agreed, I think the same thing. think they knew that they needed to do something. there, I think this, again, you and I are fans of Second Chances at Love. And I think this is perfect. And I just saw a trailer where it was introducing all the women and they are, I think I saw one woman who was 58. Brian Balthazar (23:44) We are, we are. Madelyn Cunningham (23:53) Everyone else is above the age of 60. They're stunning. They have so much vibrance and vitality. So I'm really hoping he walks this back and really eats his words when it comes to dismissing women over a certain age, because that's in complete opposition to the ethos of the show. Yeah. Brian Balthazar (23:56) Mm-hmm. Yep. Yeah. huh. Agreed. Right, exactly, it's crazy. But you know, gotta love somebody who's a little scandalous too. Like I'm sure they're like, this is good. Like it promises to be somebody who's, it's not the first or last time he's gonna put his foot in his mouth during this series, you know. Madelyn Cunningham (24:13) It again. Yes, exactly. Yeah, so it'll, you know, we need eyeballs. Good, or ugly. another upcoming long running show, Survivor season 49. I have a blind spot with Survivor, can't lie. Jeff Probst, like I have seen some of the casting for it, but there's just the fact that it's gone on this long. It's a feat in and of itself. Brian Balthazar (24:23) Mm-hmm. That's right. 49 Hey, 49 seasons and it only really started in 2000. Like that's what's crazy. The first season was May 31st, 2000. So they've crammed two seasons in a year. you I mean, you can't argue with that level of success. You can understand why they keep going and people love it still. It still kills in the ratings. Madelyn Cunningham (25:00) Yes, yeah, it absolutely does. I love seeing former Survivor contestants go on Traitors because they've really got like seeing like Boston Rob go on Traitors. They've really got that strategy piece. So I don't know, I feel like I need to tune in this season. Another funny fact that I heard about Survivor is they film in Fiji close enough to the Love Island Villa that they could hear the fireworks at the Love Island Villa when it's filming. Isn't that funny? They're like over here starving and we're having like Love Island over here. Brian Balthazar (25:05) ⁓ huh. Yes! Yes! Oh, that's very funny, right? You know, like they're drinking and eating and just like living large. Oh yeah, I would not, you could not pay me to go on Survivor. Actually, you couldn't pay me to go on either of them, but I mean, Survivor sounds like it would be fun, but I mean, I have contact lenses. How does that work? Like, how do these people, do you know? Do you know? I don't know. I'm sure they like, there must be like 10 minutes, like you get 10 minutes to go put your contact lenses in or not. I don't know. Madelyn Cunningham (25:31) Yes. All right, I have no idea. I've been dying to interview someone from Survivor. Please call me. I need to know all the things. Okay, so then would you go on Special Forces? Because that's the next show we're talking about coming out the 25th on Fox. Brian Balthazar (25:51) Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ well, have we met? Have we met? ⁓ mean, enduring heavy, extreme military style training. mean, I've always wanted to do a Tough Mudder or something. And there was a time when I've been like a bit more well positioned to do that. But no, I mean, would, it's intriguing. It's season four, I think we're entering. I ⁓ think it's, well, there's celebrities doing it in this. So there's not like, it's not like they're gonna, you I guess I could try and hold my own. Madelyn Cunningham (25:59) You're like, do you even know me? ⁓ Mm-hmm. Brian Balthazar (26:22) I'm just at that age now where I go for a little run and I'm like, ⁓ Or if I run unexpectedly, do ever run somewhere unexpectedly? like, wait, I'm not as in shape as I thought I was. Right. Yeah, exactly, you nailed it. That's exactly what I feel. so. Madelyn Cunningham (26:32) I'm so humbled by how out of breath I am. Yes, exactly. And they've got, let's see, the casting, we've got Teresa, is it Judas from, yes, from, is it? Okay, wow, I was way off there. And her daughter from Housewives of New Jersey, Jessi Smollett. Brian Balthazar (26:44) Judiche? It's really Judiche, yeah. That's my understanding from The Housewives, from New Jersey. Yes, you know the, I think it's the one that sang the song. Wake up in the mornin'. Yeah, I felt so bad for her. Yeah, yeah, she is. I mean, I do feel like ⁓ she, I felt bad for her in that moment. For those of who don't know, she was a kid on the New Jersey Housewives and. Madelyn Cunningham (26:56) Waking up in the morning. She's gonna be waking up in the morning early and it's gonna be rough. Brian Balthazar (27:10) they had her sing to the group and she sang this like sad song that she had written herself that was like, up in the morning, think about so many things. I just wish things would get better. I just can't something or I can't believe I know this. I don't even watch the show. She was going through it and they're like, yeah, go on the show and she kind of also at an age where you're not gonna live that down. But ⁓ you know what? She's owning it now. She's now, now she's a, you know, she's a star. So I guess that's something. my God. Madelyn Cunningham (27:23) She was going through it. No. Yeah, like she'll be singing that at that 5am wake up call. We've got Jessi Smollett, Eva Marcelle and Brittany Cartwright from Vanderpump Rules, Jax Taylor's ex, good for her. If she can live, listen, if she can survive Jax Taylor, I believe in her on Special Forces. Brian Balthazar (27:41) Yeah. Right. Right. Well also, this is living proof of why people go on these reality shows because it gets you on Traitors, it gets you on Special Forces. There are other opportunities that they can do that are like once in a lifetime opportunities that pay them pretty well. So I get why people find the appeal in going after these things, you know, because it can lead to other things. Madelyn Cunningham (28:10) Absolutely, especially with, you know, like the sort of like Peacock and Netflix is up the world creating their own little universe of celebs and then like sort of retooling a dating show or a competition show and having them come back. So I'm rooting for Britney. One thing I'm super excited to chat with you about is a new format from Jimmy Fallon on brand with Jimmy Fallon. It's September 30th at 10 p.m. We have we have Bozoma St. John, who's not only a current cast member of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Brian Balthazar (28:14) Yeah. Right. Exactly. Mm hmm. Yeah. Totally. Madelyn Cunningham (28:37) but a marketing genius. was former chief marketing officer for Netflix. She worked for Uber, a million other brands. So they're basically doing like a marketing and branding competition, right? Brian Balthazar (28:41) Yeah. Yes, it sounds a little bit like the apprentice with minus the like, you know, it feels a little apprentice-y. So Jimmy Fallon is like, and Fallon kind of, one on top of being, you know, a likable host and being within the NBC family is like also kind of on the kind of the viral, you know, he's kind of tiptoes into viral moments all the time. So I think the winner gets $250,000, which I have to say isn't that much anymore. Like I feel like 250 isn't enough, you know, like these people. Madelyn Cunningham (28:52) Yeah, ⁓ yes. Mm-hmm. Agreed. Brian Balthazar (29:16) Well, also because they're surrendering a big portion of their life. They're actually putting their businesses on hold so they can do this show. So some of them are actually gonna lose money. So I think it's fascinating. I think they should amp up the price. Madelyn Cunningham (29:23) Mm-hmm. Right. Well, and I wonder, it's seeming like the format, if I could guess, let's say, I mean, they have access to any brand they want. So it's episode one. It's like create a viral campaign for Uber. Episode two, do this. Like, and any idea they also come up with, I'm sure, is there for property of, right? So they're also giving up their intellectual property. I do think, I mean, Brian Balthazar (29:40) Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (29:53) I know people have pitched marketing shows before in marketing competitions and it's never quite like pierced, being able to get there. I do think this is the perfect sort of ⁓ host and way to do it. And I hope it's cool, but I agree. They need to up that prize money. Brian Balthazar (29:56) Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And I mean, now we're hearing more and more on the production side, as you know, that networks would love to have a sponsor built in or that they can sell these. So every advertiser that these contestants are working with probably paid for that opportunity. So that pays for the show. And then the advertiser gets the free campaign and the free publicity. Well, not free for them, but like the publicity of it. So it's a win for NBC. makes sense. It does make sense. And having talent that's really... Madelyn Cunningham (30:16) Yes. Absolutely they did. Brian Balthazar (30:34) high caliber like Jimmy Fallon makes this a much more draw for them. Madelyn Cunningham (30:38) Yes. Yeah, they really went totally meta with the branded content and we're like, yeah, we're going to do this. ⁓ Love is Blind coming back October 1st on Netflix. This is something I've really, I've ebbed and flowed with. I'm not going to lie. I think it obviously is all dependent on casting. They've had a lot of ups and downs with casting and relationships lately. Is this something that you've been tuning into? Brian Balthazar (30:41) Yeah. totally. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. I watched it initially out of curiosity because the concept is smart. Like I can understand why a network would be like, this is a great idea. Like the set's compelling and you know, we're living in this like, there was a time after Love is Blind came out where a network, you would have a meeting with a network and they'd be like, what's our Love is Blind? Or what's our, you know, and so that happens once in a while. Like someone would say, what's our version of American Idol? Or what's our version? Because you know, Hollywood is so risk averse. They want something that. Madelyn Cunningham (31:06) Totally. Exactly. Brian Balthazar (31:27) has enough adjacency to some genre that they can have some degree of quote unquote guaranteed success, which there is no such thing. But that's why we see all these shows that have been sold in other countries and been successful first, like The Voice is an example. American Idol, ⁓ yes, all these shows, Dancing with the Stars was strictly dance, I can't remember what the British version was. Strictly come dancing, I can't remember. Madelyn Cunningham (31:33) Mm-hmm. traders. Brian Balthazar (31:49) But anyway, that's why they always wanna have something that they can say, look at how this did. So I can understand why Love is Blind is appealing, ⁓ and they do a great job with it. I have a tipping point with dating shows. I can only watch a few at a time, so if they're overlapping, I can only do one. I only can do one at a time. Am I cynical? There are. Madelyn Cunningham (32:06) Yeah. And there are so many, like, no, no. I mean, like I have to, my summers are dedicated to Love Island. And then, you know, when Love is Blind comes, but Love is Blind, format, and it was born out of COVID. It's a COVID format, right? And it's brilliant because of that. But the way that it goes from the pods to the real world, to the wedding, it's a pretty, the life cycle is very long. And I love the central question, but they've had so many, Brian Balthazar (32:13) Yep. Right, yeah. Yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (32:33) I don't know, they've had a lot of like casting issues lately. I, the very first season of Love is Blind couple, Cameron and Lauren, I, they're still together and I'm obsessed with them. And I just don't know if anyone can beat them. I love them. Brian Balthazar (32:36) Yeah, Right, I know it's interesting when you find, the first season is so important to me. Like I love getting on the first season because the contestants also don't know what they're getting into. So season two, if it's a hit, they already have some idea if they know what they're, sometimes you don't know what you're applying to on these shows until you get there. But like, you know, I just love like Survivor season one was great, Trader season one was, season one was great, and even the first season of Celebrity. So I love catching these people, figuring it out in real time. I love that. Madelyn Cunningham (32:51) Right! Mm-hmm. Agreed. It's, there's just a rawness and a spontaneity to it that you can't get what you can't quite tap into once the show is really successful. Yeah. Yeah. There's a really exciting five-part docu-series coming to Apple Plus on October 17th about Martin Scorsese. my gosh. It's just directed by Rebecca Miller, who also directed Arthur Miller's biopic. This is supposed to be the most intimate accounting of Brian Balthazar (33:19) Yeah, right. Exactly. Yeah, you can't capture it. Mm-hmm. ⁓ Madelyn Cunningham (33:36) the work of Martin Scorsese and I know that the likes of Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio, all the actors, actresses he worked on will be on it. I can't wait to tune into this. Brian Balthazar (33:40) Right. Yeah, and there's some really, there's a great anecdote. I think you should watch the trailer if you're not sure, if you're listening, don't know, but like they really get people on the inside and how he was so passionate about one of his films that was going to, they got notes from the studio about things to change and he wanted to change it and he went to extreme lengths or was considering going to a very extreme length to protect that scene, which included stealing the film out of the, like basically taking the film. and making sure that if it wasn't gonna be made his way, he was gonna make sure that no one got the film. And he was gonna take some even more. I don't like, that's tricky part of doing this, it's like you don't wanna give away all the juice, but there's a really great addition to that story that's like, wow, that's a little unhinged in a good way, I guess. Yeah. Yes, yes, yeah. Yep. Madelyn Cunningham (34:17) I love that. Mm-hmm. I can't wait to, I think Spielberg is like featured on it and some of his fellow sort of like peers and I think it's fantastic. His daughter Francesca is on TikTok. I don't know if you've seen, but she makes videos with him and it is, it's so amazing. It like flipping the script, her directing him. Like it's incredible. I love it so much. ⁓ End of October 1029, Selling Sunsets coming back and we know it is going to be blingy and bougie. Brian Balthazar (34:42) yes I did and they're so cute together. They're so cute together. Yes, I know. That's very fun. Yeah. Yes. Madelyn Cunningham (34:57) I need to look, did you look at what cast members are coming back or not? Because I actually need to check. Like is Heather? Brian Balthazar (35:04) ⁓ Heather no Heather's not Heather a young I mean, yeah, she's officially an htv gal now. So we have Chrishell Stouse Emma her Heman I can't remember how you say your last name Chelsea Lascani Mary bonnet a Monza Smith Nicole Young There's a big cast a big cast and a newcomer in Sandra Vergara So ⁓ and this is like, you know, like you said, it's blingy real estate porn for lack of a better way of putting it and voyeurism and then just like the drama inserted in Madelyn Cunningham (35:06) That's right. Yeah. That's right. Mm-hmm. Brian Balthazar (35:32) you know, beautiful people with lots of drama. What more could you ask for? Madelyn Cunningham (35:35) Yes, and always, always time to bring on like the introduction of the new agent and like, can she handle it at the Oppenheimer Group? Can she? Yes. Yeah. Who's your, do you have a favorite Casper? Brian Balthazar (35:40) Right. yeah. and everyone's- yes. Yes. Sizing her up. Yep. No, I don't. I used to really like Heather, actually. Heather A. Young, who then went on to be Heather El Moussa, married Tarek, and now is part of the flip-off on HGTV, and the flipping El Moussa's. don't know if they still do that on HGTV, but I like her a lot. I actually see these really lovely person, and so I appreciate her. Madelyn Cunningham (36:07) I tend to unfortunately like the villains. Like I loved Christine. I like, I just, I don't know why. I just love Christine and it's not like a devil's advocate thing. I just genuinely, for whatever reason, I do like Crishell a lot. But yes, I'm sure we will be getting all the juicy, juicy drama, all the celebrity homes. We've had more celebrities sort of start to guest, like come in as little cameos, which is fun. So. Brian Balthazar (36:09) that's so fun, yeah. Yes. huh. Mm hmm. Yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (36:31) You, okay, you mentioned that you love, November 4th on Netflix, Squid Game's the challenge. You mentioned you love this. So talk to me about what you're expecting. Brian Balthazar (36:37) I loved it. Well, you what I love about it is, so first of all, 456 contestants competing, just like the scripted show, for $4.56 million. And what's so fascinating to me, what I loved about it, because I went in with a little skepticism, because I really loved the scripted season one. But then I'm like, wait, what's so fascinating to me is that the producers can't really choose who to focus on. Like they chose certain people that they wanted to focus on for their storytelling. but then some of them get eliminated very randomly. And so they now have to pivot and find a new villain. And so I think it's really, really a fascinating model. And I think they did a great job with it. The sets are incredible. It really looks like they're in the real film, the real series. ⁓ This time they're going to have more family duos, like ⁓ mother-son or husband-wife, boyfriend-girlfriend, brother-sister. there's, I don't know which ones they've chosen, but they've... The series had success with that and so did the competition last season where they have a couple, like, it's so weird to imagine going with a family member. You wanna think stick together, but then inevitably you pair up and there's a challenge where one of you is gonna get eliminated. Like, so it's a really, and the last season of the scripted show had a mother and son and it gutted you what happened to them. It just gutted you, so it was wild. But I loved that show. I think it's brilliant, crazy. The last season there were some, moaning and groaning from the contestants. I'm not saying it wasn't justified, like that they were like, that the conditions were really hard, it was really cold, they were out there too long. Cause I don't know if you know the first challenge where they play red light, green light and they have to stay frozen. Well, in the show, it looks like they're only frozen for like 10 or 20 seconds, but what you don't realize is they keep them frozen for sometimes like minutes at a time. That way you can get people, that way you can get more people to shake. Cause inevitably someone's gonna move ⁓ and Madelyn Cunningham (38:13) Yeah. Oof. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Brian Balthazar (38:27) I just, find it a fascinating show, it's so great. Madelyn Cunningham (38:29) It's the scale of it is crazy too. Like just thinking of that many contestants, yeah, the scale of it is wild. ⁓ It reminds me of like Beast Games was also like huge scale wild. think we're gonna start to see a lot more of Netflix's narrative series turned into competitions. I'm super surprised. I'm like, where's the Bridgerton? Whereas like I think we're gonna start seeing a lot of their original series adapted into competitions in some way, like finding the next. Brian Balthazar (38:31) And they don't get paid anything. Yeah, they get no money to do it. Yeah, I love it. Yes. Yeah. Mm-hmm. yeah, I agree Yeah. I think you're right. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Madelyn Cunningham (38:55) seasons diamond or whatever. Yes. And then our last out last thing on the slate mid November, November 13 on Hulu, the secret lives of Mormon wives get your dirty soda ready. I will have mine I will be sad. Brian Balthazar (38:57) Yes, right, exactly. Yes. Yes, this is, I mean, this is kind of like, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are fans of this show. Like, people are hooked on this show. And it's exactly, it's literally exactly what the title is. That's always another thing that we all hear in the production world is like, what's the title and can it be really clear on what it is? And this nails it. Like, it's exactly what you think it is in a delicious way. Madelyn Cunningham (39:31) Agreed. When I tuned into season one, I was very aware of the TikTok drama, the soft swinging. And I thought, I've seen it already. I already know what's happening. And they did such a good job of sort of building it out more, diving deeper into the nuance of where they live, the religion, the expectations, how they were trying to subvert them. And the fact that these young girls, Brian Balthazar (39:36) Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Madelyn Cunningham (39:55) They're young, they're getting married at 19, 20, 21. They're having children young. And I think this is just where they are now. It's just a result of, oh, I want to figure out who I am, even though I'm a mom of this many and I want to try to be sexy and do all these things. And it really is a fascinating exploration. think they do a great job with the show. And obviously the personalities on it are... Brian Balthazar (40:04) Mm-hmm. Right. Mm-hmm. It is. I agree. Madelyn Cunningham (40:20) We have two of them on Dancing with the Stars. They're all TikTok. They all were TikTok famous before the show. So I think they just absolutely, Jeff Jenkins struck a goldmine with this. Yeah. If you were to pick one show that you're most excited for, what would it be? Okay, okay. You're gonna make me tune in. Okay. Brian Balthazar (40:22) Mm-hmm Yep. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Totally. Brilliant. Squid Game, the challenge. That's just my thing. I just love it. Yeah, I love it. I do love it. I think it's worth checking out if you haven't watched the season before this. It's great, it's great. And you don't have to have seen the first one to see this one. Yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (40:43) Okay, I... Okay, I love that. of little wrap up fun questions for you. Who would be on your Mount Rushmore of reality TV Brian Balthazar (40:50) Okay. I would go with, you have to have Survivor on there because it's just such a ground breaker would be one. I would say, let's add in, I think about how like these, the ground breakers, like I think you would have to include American Idol and then maybe The Bachelor and then, gosh. and Traitors. Traitors has to be on there. I think Traitors is fantastic. Is that how many heads are on Mount Rushmore? my god. How many? Okay. Okay. Yeah. Let's go with four. Madelyn Cunningham (41:16) I was just saying, is it four or five heads? I'm not sure. I think it's four. No, but you name, I mean, those are all like the iconic pillars of reality TV. Okay, so we know you wouldn't go on like a survivalist show or anything crazy, but if you could be a part of any cast on any show, yes, you would be Slay on Traitors I would love that. Would you want to be, you do? Brian Balthazar (41:23) Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Traitors, down. Yes. thank you. I'd like to be the one. I want to be a trader. I think I would be good at making people think I wasn't a trader. I think I'd be good. Madelyn Cunningham (41:43) Yes. Yes. I won't let make you reveal your strategy now because I want you to be on it. And so we're not going to talk about that. But yes, I, I agree with you. I would totally go on Traitors 110%. Brian Balthazar (41:47) No, no. Thank you. Let's manifest that. Let's manifest it. How about you? What about you? Okay. And would you be a faithful or a traitor? Madelyn Cunningham (41:58) I kind of would want to be a Yes, but I tend to like, I think people would clock it because my, would have to change my personality a little bit because I can be a bit direct and like I, people tell me a lot of the times that I'm like intimidating. And so I think for whatever reason right off the bat, I would just get labeled a traitor And so I'd need to like either soften up a lot to, go faithful or to go trader. I don't know, but I would have to really hone in on my strategy. Brian Balthazar (42:00) Yeah, it's just so fun, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think my tell would be, so I have these really hard contact lenses, like really nasty ass lenses, so I blink a lot when they're bothering me, and I think people would think it was a tell that I was lying or insecure or covering myself. So I think people would falsely accuse me of being a traitor even if I wasn't because I'd be like, it looks like a tick sometimes. That's a, yeah. Okay, yeah, yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (42:34) Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes. Right, right, right. Mine would be, as a red hat, I blush. And I've controlled it a good bit, but sometimes I just can't. And so I would feel like that would definitely be mine. Oh, well, fingers crossed. You could apply for the celebrity traders. I would have to apply for the civilian version, but they are coming out with a civilian version in 26 for NBC. Brian Balthazar (42:54) Yeah. yeah, good to know, yeah. No. They're doing a civilian version again. I'm game for whatever they'll give me, I want to do it. I'm not a big enough celebrity to do that. I'd have to like, I have to have a couple more. I would not, I'm not even a celebrity. So I would, I'm going for civilian. Madelyn Cunningham (43:10) Yes, just get me in there. I don't know, I don't know. think you'd cross the threshold. I think they'd send you to the other casting directors. What is your, okay, if you could create a signature cocktail, what would be? Brian Balthazar (43:20) Okay, we'll see. Well, I mean, think the one I go for the most is a smoky paloma, is, I mean, it's not that ambitious, paloma is just grapefruit juice and tequila and a little bit of, what I just do is use mezcal instead of tequila, because I like the smokiness of it, and a little club soda in there. lately I've been playing with, sounds so dumb, I've been playing with beet juice. Madelyn Cunningham (43:48) Ooh, that doesn't sound dumb. Brian Balthazar (43:49) I just, like, the playing with it sounds weird. I've been experimenting with beet juice, I, yeah. Beet juice, tequila, a little bit of like, I have this rosemary peppercorn bitters, and ⁓ a little bit of orange juice, because just to cut a little bit of the, I love beet juice, by the way. ⁓ And then like a splash of some sort of soda or ginger beer if you don't like, if you don't like this plain soda. But you have to remind yourself that you're, ⁓ Madelyn Cunningham (43:54) Sure, there you go. you Me too. Mmm. Brian Balthazar (44:16) You had beet juice the night before, otherwise you always think you're bleeding internally. Like you're not, you're not bleeding internally. Did that happen to you? Yeah. Like, oh my God, I'm dying. No, you just had beet juice. Yeah. So you just be mindful. Madelyn Cunningham (44:20) Yes, okay, happens. Yes, that happens to me every time. It's a jump scare. Yes, actually. Okay, so a smoky Paloma or some sort of beet juice cocktail for you, Brian. I love that. Brian Balthazar (44:32) Yeah, ⁓ yeah, we got, it's called, I call it We Got the Beats. Madelyn Cunningham (44:35) I love that. That's so precious. If I were to open, if I were to open a, your, don't know if you're, are you Spotify or Apple Music Guy? Brian Balthazar (44:36) You know? I'm an Apple music guy, yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (44:44) Okay, so if I had to open up your Apple Music, what have you been listening to lately? Tell me! Brian Balthazar (44:47) So I'd be so, I'd be embarrassed. Well, I mean, I just, sometimes I have the taste of like a 13 year old girl. Like I do love a little like boppy music. I also, I do like a little bit of yacht rock, but like I like current stuff. Like I do like Dua Lipa. like, I think I, every once in a while I pop on Fifth Harmony's Sledgehammer. I don't know why. If I'm cleaning the kitchen, I'll like bop to that, but I have to do it when I'm the only one at home. Madelyn Cunningham (45:09) Yes! Brian Balthazar (45:14) Like it's, and I do love Taylor. I love Taylor Swift, but I don't know all of the things. I don't know all the songs or all the lyrics. I don't know all the clues. I just, think she's an amazing human being. She came to The View when I was there and her people were like, she has to leave right after the show is over. She must leave, she cannot stay late. I'm like, okay, all right, you know, but she, not only did she not leave, she went into every section of the audience and took pictures in every section. Madelyn Cunningham (45:41) Aww, what a great story, I love that. Brian Balthazar (45:42) And there was one group photo with each section. She really couldn't stay that long, so she didn't go one by one, but she went into every section and took group pictures. And I don't know if those people ever got those pictures, but she did it, and I thought she was really spectacular. And Lady Gaga came into the control room to thank us, and I was like, my God. And I was in charge of the control room at the time, I'm like, cover for me. I was like, screw this, I want a picture with Lady Gaga. And I have a picture with Lady Gaga with an iPhone 4, it's like an iPhone 6 or something, it's like blurry. Madelyn Cunningham (45:53) Hmm. Yes. Yes! Brian Balthazar (46:10) and I looked like hell but I didn't care. She was great too, yeah. Right, yeah, exactly. Madelyn Cunningham (46:12) You don't care. That is when you risk it for Lady Gaga. I love to hear that. So are you, are you like, I mean, I'm trying to think of like the pop queens right now. Sabrina Carpenter, Addison Rae. Yeah. Brian Balthazar (46:20) I like Sabrina. I like Sabrina Carpenter. And there are a lot of them that I don't always know. I know I like, Tate McCray has a song I like, Addison Rae, I know some of them. I don't know all of them. I just kind of pop something on. I love Clare Lee Clarkson too. She could sing anything. She could sing the ingredients of my hair gel and it would sound great. Hair gel? Yes, she does the best covers. Like yeah, be careful if you're an artist. She will do your song better than you. Madelyn Cunningham (46:35) Absolutely. Yes, yes, and she can cover anything. Yes. my gosh, I love that. Are you into movies? Do you watch a lot of movies? Brian Balthazar (46:48) I love movies. mean, I love, yes, I love all, I really do love all of those things. I really do. Like, I love scripted. Anything scripted I love, yeah. Madelyn Cunningham (46:56) Yeah. Okay. So any, me a scripted movie or series that you are into lately. Brian Balthazar (47:00) Okay, there's a three season arc of a show called Big Boys. It's a British show about two students in college. It's on Hulu. It has the qualities of Ted Lasso, even though it has nothing, no similarities in the storyline. But I think what I mean by that is quirky characters who have really incredible moments of heart due to their authentic stories that are happening behind the scenes of their lives. Like things that are happening. You know how like the characters on Ted Last We Were a little weird, but then there'd be these tender moments where you're like, oh my God, oh my God. the storytelling is so sweet and the end, the last season just tore me up inside in the most beautiful way. did you watch the unknown number, unknown caller on Netflix? my God, did you watch it? my God. Madelyn Cunningham (47:41) Brian, I'm interviewing the director in a few weeks. I know. So I knew the twist just because it had been spoiled for me on TikTok. Yes. Brian Balthazar (47:47) Yeah, so did I. predicted it. I predicted it anyway, but I knew it had to be what it was. It didn't matter, I still was like blown away. Madelyn Cunningham (47:55) I just, I have so many questions for the director and I don't know what she's gonna be able to talk to me no one was mad enough for me. There was not enough outrage for me. It was so strange. but that everyone is, it is getting talked about. Brian Balthazar (48:01) Right. Right. Yeah, Madelyn Cunningham (48:09) like wildfire on social media, it is nuts. Brian Balthazar (48:10) yeah, well, I agree. And I also, like, we are so accustomed now to, like, watching these things, these whodunits or these mysteries, and watching who they have access to, and that sometimes tells us, well, it can't be them, because they have access to them. Like, the person's probably in jail, or they're refusing to talk because they did it. That is not how this is. So if you don't know who did it and you're watching, you think, you can eliminate those people. No, you can't eliminate, the person who did it is in the show. Madelyn Cunningham (48:22) Right. Right, well especially given the nature of how, I mean how embarrassing how humiliating like for you to participate, apparently it was she participated kind of out of atonement almost apparently. Brian Balthazar (48:37) my god. I think it seemed like that had to be it. Like I need to do this for the sake of my family like too. And also maybe she thinks that, I do think she thinks that she has some sort of insight into why, which I didn't accept. I mean, understand, know, mental illness is a very tricky thing. Most of us have either knowingly or not knowingly dealt with someone with mental illness. And there's a very fine line between. having that sympathy and then also allowing yourself to be abused by that person. And sometimes you have to make really difficult choices to protect yourself from someone that's having that struggle. But also you care about that person. It's a terrible struggle, and you don't know what to do. And I think there was probably a little of that happening in that household. When the daughter found out, which we see on screen, I thought... Madelyn Cunningham (49:26) It's a horrible situation. Mm-hmm. Brian Balthazar (49:35) I don't know that she looks that surprised. I think she looks stunned, but I don't think she looked, like, it almost is like she was putting it together like now it makes sense. Because even if that person who did it was able to hide it for that long, what she probably couldn't hide was that she had some instability. Like, I don't think you can hide that completely. You know what I mean? Madelyn Cunningham (49:38) it. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I don't know. like, how are you texting for hours and hours a day from another phone and no one notices? Like it was just, that was a wild twisty tourney. know, ⁓ all of those Netflix docs that come out lately, I mean, they've been, I literally think I see one a week are just, they do a good job. I think everyone could put themselves in this situation and be like, what if my mom, like, Brian Balthazar (50:03) Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yep. Yeah. Yep. Madelyn Cunningham (50:16) What if this was me? If I'm a mom or if I'm the child and it was absolutely wild. Yes, that is one that everyone's talking about right now. And we're getting close to awards season. it'll be, obviously we have so many great films coming out. All the film festivals are happening right now. So it'll be, if I'm also a movie lover. So I'm excited to see what's coming up. But thank you so much for chatting with me today. Brian Balthazar (50:18) Mm-hmm. Unbelievable. Yeah, yeah, totally. Yeah, yeah. Me too. Thank you, I love chatting with you. Let's do it over cocktails next time. I'll bring the beet juice. Thank you. Madelyn Cunningham (50:39) Absolutely. Yes, please. 100%. Well, thanks so much, Brian. And I will talk to you later this week. Thanks for joining me. Bye. Brian Balthazar (50:45) Talk to you soon. See you later. Bye. Madelyn (50:48) We recorded this episode before the announcement that Taylor Frankie Paul was the new Bachelorette or else I'm sure that would have taken at least 10 minutes of the show. But I hope you enjoyed that Fall Reality TV preview with Brian. Something a little different for The Unscripted Files, but I was really liking it. I hope you'll join us next Friday. We have some amazing guests lined up. Don't forget, like, subscribe, rate, review. Follow us on Instagram at Unscripted Files Pod. If you have guests that you want to hear from, shows you want to hear about, particular positions on a crew that you want to hear more about, just let me know. I hope you guys have a great weekend and we'll see you next Friday.