logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2018
43m 47s

The Basement Affair

Slate Podcasts
About this episode

Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes of shows like Dear Prudence and Slow Burn. Sign up now to listen and support our work.

What are the real reasons people go on reality TV? This episode follows the story of Ann Hirsch and Cathy Nardone, two women cast on VH1’s “Frank the Entertainer...In a Basement Affair”, a show about an adult man looking for love—while living in his parent’s basement. How did one performance artist and one accidental performance artist make it onto the show? And how did they behave once they made it there? Their story highlights the ways that reality television distorts narratives, obscures intentions and stereotypes women, yet is still irresistible to audiences and performers alike. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Aug 13
How to Hunt a Mammoth, and Other Experiments in Archaeology
Experimental archeology is, simply put, archeology that involves running experiments. Where traditional archaeologists may study, research, analyze, and theorize about how artifacts were made or used, experimental archaeologists actually try to recreate, test, and use them to see ... Show More
57m 3s
Jul 30
The Bad-Mouthing of British Teeth
From The Simpsons’ Big Book of British Smiles to Austin Powers’ ochre-tinged grin, American culture can’t stop bad-mouthing English teeth. But why? Are they worse than any other nation’s? June Thomas drills down into the origins of the stereotype, and discovers that the different ... Show More
51m 1s
Jul 16
Mailbag: Drug Names, Cow Abductions, and the “Ass-Intensifier”
In this episode we’re opening our mailbag to answer three fascinating questions from our listeners. How did “ass,” a word for donkeys and butts, become what linguists call an “intensifier” for just about everything? How do pharmaceuticals get their wacky names? And why do we all ... Show More
48m 1s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2022
The Sleepover Club: The Fall Of The Wife Guys
Whether its the Try Guys cheating scandal, Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wildes latest drama, John Mulaney's infidelity or any number of other male celebs who have been caught behaving badly; we're living through the fall of the wife guy. This week, Ione and Eden are discussing the r ... Show More
28m 40s
Sep 2021
TikTok Killed The Radio Star
In this episode, the ladies discuss the D’Amelio family’s depressing reality show, how TikTok rewards mediocrity, and why every random influencer has a singing career. Digressions include more male art discourse and a summary of the Disney princesses’ mental illnesses. Patreon: p ... Show More
1h 14m
May 2024
Ep522 - That DAM Podcast
This week we’re checking out another amateur show with three guys who really crack each other up. Whether they’re pretending to be newscasters or conspiracy theorists, one thing remains the same - they’re Zany with a capital Zzzzz. Producer Chris joins us to discuss their amazing ... Show More
2h 3m
Feb 2021
Reality TV | 2. Manufacturing The Real World
More than 25 years ago, MTV debuted The Real World. The cast of 7 artists had no idea what they were getting into when they moved into a Soho loft together. They had been told the show was a documentary following their lives. But they weren't prepared for how producers stirred up ... Show More
44m 39s
Jul 2021
Ep. 25 "Sex Escapades" feat Zola
This week the ladies spoke to author, writer and sex worker Zola about her new movie based off her real-life experiences she had with a woman she met one random weekend. But before that AJ and Tambam gave their raw unapologetic comments towards the controversy surrounding 80's an ... Show More
41m 36s
Jun 2022
We Started As An Affair
Esther says in this session, “a love story is between two people, a marriage engages an entire community of people.“ Here we see how that plays out when the relationship in question is the result of an affair; when it means the dissolution of two prior marriages and the breaking ... Show More
56m 33s
May 2022
What Next: Depp v. Heard
Johnny Depp’s defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard is making headlines—not just for the spectacle taking place within the courtroom, but for its implications for victims of domestic violence.  In a case of domestic ugliness, is it possible to know the truth? And does tryin ... Show More
27m 29s
Feb 2021
Reality TV | 1. An American Family
In the first episode of season 1 of Spectacle, we'll go back to the show that started it all -- An American Family. Most probably haven't heard of the 1973 PBS docuseries but many argue it inspired reality TV. The series that followed the Loud family of Santa Barbara became part ... Show More
43m 5s