Entertainment

Spencer Pratt Thinks Heidi Would ‘Upstage’ the ‘Real Housewives’ Cast on September 16, 2023 at 3:01 am Us Weekly

Published

2 years ago

September 16, 2023

Courtesy of Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images

Spencer Pratt thinks Heidi Pratt’s reality TV background may be too much for the women of the Real Housewives.

“She’d upstage. I know that’s my love for her, but I truly think she’d upstage all these basic ladies,” Spencer, 40, told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Friday, September 15, adding that he’s “heard” people claim his wife is “too polarizing.”

Heidi, for her part, agreed when she was asked if she thought Andy Cohen was the reason for not being asked to join the cast. “I think so. He made a statement a while ago that he would never want me on it and that I wasn’t for their franchise, but I think that he’s so wrong,” she claimed, noting that it would “make sense” for her to be part of a show like The Real Housewives of Orange County or The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills now that she’s a mom of two.

Referring to her longtime feud with former costar Lauren Conrad, she continued: “I don’t know if [Andy] is just a Lauren fan or what, because I would think that he would appreciate the reality star that I am.”

Following the end of The Hills – which ran on MTV from 2006 to 2010 — both Spencer and Heidi have made a name for themselves in the reality TV landscape. After appearing on shows like Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity Wife Swap and Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars 2, the pair returned for The Hills’ short-lived spinoff, The Hills: New Beginnings in 2019.

Now, in addition to parenting their two sons, Gunner, 5, and Ryker, 23 months, the couple have one of their “biggest dream team projects in the works.”

“It’s an idea Heidi and I’ve been saying, I can’t believe no one’s come to us for 10 years to do. And then this big heavy-hitter came with that idea,” Spencer teased to THR. “So the paperwork’s just getting signed and if it goes through it would all come together just like a vision.”

While some reality TV stars are considering joining the ongoing Hollywood strikes, Spencer and Heidi have made it clear they aren’t on board. After Bethenny Frankel urged her fellow reality TV personalities to join her in fighting for fair pay alongside SAG-AFTRA and WGA earlier this summer, Spencer and Heidi clarified via social media that they will go “on any show” and networks can “treat us however you like.”

Spencer clarified his thoughts on Friday, telling THR that he and Heidi “do support the WGA” but were “frustrated” when their name got “mixed up” with Frankel, 52.

“[She] made people think there really was a reality strike,” he explained. “I was clowning when I jokingly said, ‘I’ve been on strike. That’s why you haven’t seen me.’ No, I don’t have a TV show. That’s why you haven’t seen me. But Heidi and I have learned this so many times, the amount of pilots we’ve shot with big production companies and big producers, and how many times those pilots never get to air, once you’ve been in that game and know how hard it is to be a reality TV person on a television show, until you’ve been on the other side, you don’t get what a privilege it is.”

The WGA (Writer’s Guild of America) and SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), who kicked off their strikes in May and July, respectively, are seeking similar new contracts with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) in regards to wages, the use of artificial intelligence and streaming residuals. In July, Frankel weighed in on the situation and claimed she hasn’t seen “a single residual check” for reruns of her past reality TV appearances.

“I’m well aware that unscripted talent aka ‘reality stars’ should have a union or simply be treated fairly and valued,” the Real Housewives of New York City alum said via TikTok video at the time. “The mentality that we were nobodies and that these streamers and networks have given us platforms and that we can capitalize on them is also moronic.”

Courtesy of Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images
Spencer Pratt thinks Heidi Pratt’s reality TV background may be too much for the women of the Real Housewives.
“She’d upstage. I know that’s my love for her, but I truly think she’d upstage all these basic ladies,” Spencer, 40, told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Friday, September 15, adding that he’s “heard” people claim his wife is “too polarizing.”
Heidi, for her part, agreed when she was asked if she thought Andy Cohen was the reason for not being asked to join the cast. “I think so. He made a statement a while ago that he would never want me on it and that I wasn’t for their franchise, but I think that he’s so wrong,” she claimed, noting that it would “make sense” for her to be part of a show like The Real Housewives of Orange County or The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills now that she’s a mom of two.
Referring to her longtime feud with former costar Lauren Conrad, she continued: “I don’t know if [Andy] is just a Lauren fan or what, because I would think that he would appreciate the reality star that I am.”

Related: Celebs That Love ‘The Real Housewives’ Franchise

Just like us! Many stars have opened up in the past about ending their day with a nice Real Housewives binge watch. But over the years, some celebrities have managed to take their love for the Bravo hit shows to the next level. Nicki Minaj managed to potentially score herself an invite to host the

Following the end of The Hills – which ran on MTV from 2006 to 2010 — both Spencer and Heidi have made a name for themselves in the reality TV landscape. After appearing on shows like Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity Wife Swap and Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars 2, the pair returned for The Hills’ short-lived spinoff, The Hills: New Beginnings in 2019.
Now, in addition to parenting their two sons, Gunner, 5, and Ryker, 23 months, the couple have one of their “biggest dream team projects in the works.”
“It’s an idea Heidi and I’ve been saying, I can’t believe no one’s come to us for 10 years to do. And then this big heavy-hitter came with that idea,” Spencer teased to THR. “So the paperwork’s just getting signed and if it goes through it would all come together just like a vision.”
While some reality TV stars are considering joining the ongoing Hollywood strikes, Spencer and Heidi have made it clear they aren’t on board. After Bethenny Frankel urged her fellow reality TV personalities to join her in fighting for fair pay alongside SAG-AFTRA and WGA earlier this summer, Spencer and Heidi clarified via social media that they will go “on any show” and networks can “treat us however you like.”

Related: ‘The Hills’ Original Cast: Where Are They Now?

When The Hills first debuted in May 2006, it looked a lot different than the revival, The Hills: New Beginnings. No matter what version they’re watching, fans are still hooked on the cast’s unwritten chapters. The MTV reality show, a spinoff of Laguna Beach, followed Lauren Conrad from Laguna to Los Angeles where she moved

Spencer clarified his thoughts on Friday, telling THR that he and Heidi “do support the WGA” but were “frustrated” when their name got “mixed up” with Frankel, 52.
“[She] made people think there really was a reality strike,” he explained. “I was clowning when I jokingly said, ‘I’ve been on strike. That’s why you haven’t seen me.’ No, I don’t have a TV show. That’s why you haven’t seen me. But Heidi and I have learned this so many times, the amount of pilots we’ve shot with big production companies and big producers, and how many times those pilots never get to air, once you’ve been in that game and know how hard it is to be a reality TV person on a television show, until you’ve been on the other side, you don’t get what a privilege it is.”
The WGA (Writer’s Guild of America) and SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), who kicked off their strikes in May and July, respectively, are seeking similar new contracts with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) in regards to wages, the use of artificial intelligence and streaming residuals. In July, Frankel weighed in on the situation and claimed she hasn’t seen “a single residual check” for reruns of her past reality TV appearances.

Related: Relive the Biggest Reality TV Feuds

Ever since reality TV began, one of the biggest draws has been the drama — specifically, the fighting that breaks out while the cameras are rolling. Through the years — from Laguna Beach and The Hills to the Real Housewives and beyond, the claws come out when action is called. Although Lauren Conrad butted heads

“I’m well aware that unscripted talent aka ‘reality stars’ should have a union or simply be treated fairly and valued,” the Real Housewives of New York City alum said via TikTok video at the time. “The mentality that we were nobodies and that these streamers and networks have given us platforms and that we can capitalize on them is also moronic.”

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Entertainment

Selling Your Soul in Hollywood: The Hidden Cost of Fame

Published

22 hours ago

October 20, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

By all appearances, Hollywood is a dream factory — a place where charisma, talent, and luck collide to create stars. But behind the camera lights and red carpets lies a conversation few inside the industry speak openly about: the spiritual and moral price of ambition.

For actor Omar Gooding, the idea of “selling your soul” in Hollywood isn’t a metaphor — it’s a moral process that begins with tiny compromises. In an October 2025 interview, Gooding explained that no one in Hollywood makes a literal deal with the devil. Instead, it’s the quiet yeses, the moments when comfort overrides conviction, that mark the beginning of the trade. “They don’t say, ‘Take this or you’ll never make it,’” he said. “They just put it in front of you. You choose.”

Those choices, he argues, create a pattern. Once you show that you’ll accept something you once resisted, the industry notices. “Hollywood knows who it can get away with what,” Gooding said. “One thing always leads to another.” The phrase “selling your soul,” in this context, means losing your say — doing what you’re told rather than what you believe in.

That moral tension has long shadowed the arts. Comedians like Dave Chappelle, who famously walked away from millions to preserve his creative integrity, often serve as examples of where conviction and career collide. In resurfaced interviews, Chappelle hinted that he felt manipulated and silenced by powerful figures who sought control of his narrative, warning that “they’re trying to convince me I’m insane.”

This isn’t just about conspiracy — it’s about agency. Hollywood runs on perception. Performers are rewarded for being agreeable, moldable, entertaining. Those who question the machine or refuse the script risk exile, while those who conform are elevated — sometimes beyond what they can handle.

“We see the ‘collections’ all the time,” Gooding explained. “When the bill comes due, you can tell. They made that deal long ago.”

But the story doesn’t end in darkness. Gooding also emphasizes that in today’s entertainment landscape, artists have more control than ever. With streaming, social media, and creator‑driven platforms, performers don’t have to “play the game” to be seen. Independent creators can build their own stages, speak their own truths, and reach millions without trading authenticity for access.

Still, the temptation remains — recognition, validation, quick success. And every generation of artists must answer the same question: What are you willing to do for fame?

As Gooding put it, “You just make the best choices you can. Because once it’s gone — your name, your peace, your soul — there’s no buying it back.”

Entertainment

California Bans AI Clones from Replacing Real Talent

Published

6 days ago

October 14, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

California just made a dramatic stand for human creativity, defeating the threat of AI actor clones with a sweeping new law that puts people—not algorithms—back in the Hollywood spotlight. With the stroke of Governor Gavin Newsom’s pen in October 2025, the state has sent a clear message to studios, tech companies, and the world: entertainment’s heart belongs to those who create and perform, not to digital facsimiles.

California Draws a Hard Line: No More AI Clones

For months, the entertainment industry has been divided over the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Studios, lured by promises of cost-cutting and creative flexibility, have invested in software that can mimic an actor’s face, voice, and even emotional range. But for performers, this wave of synthetic reproduction has triggered alarm—encouraged by chilling stories of deepfakes, unauthorized digital doubles, and contracts that let studios reuse a star’s likeness indefinitely, sometimes without pay or approval.

The new California law, anchored by AB 2602 and AB 1836, changes everything:

Every contract must explicitly detail how studios can use digital replicas or voice models, preventing once-common “blank check” agreements that overlooked this risk.
No one—not studios nor streaming giants—can create or release AI-generated clones of an actor, living or dead, without clear, written consent from the performer or their estate.
The law gives families new powers to defend loved ones from posthumous deepfake exploitation, closing painful loopholes that once let virtual versions of late icons appear in new ads, films, or games.

Actors Celebrate a Major Victory

The legislation rides the momentum of the recent SAG-AFTRA strike, where real-life talent demanded control over their own digital destinies. Leaders say these protections will empower artists to negotiate fair contracts and refuse participation in projects that cross ethical lines, restoring dignity and choice in an industry threatened by silent algorithms.

Stars, unions, and advocacy groups are hailing the law as the most robust defense yet against unwanted AI replications.

As one actor put it, “This isn’t just about money—it’s about identity, legacy, and respect for real artists in a synthetic age.”

A New Chapter for the Entertainment Industry

California’s move isn’t just a victory for local talent—it’s a warning shot to studios everywhere. Companies will now be forced to rethink production pipelines, consult legal counsel, and obtain proper clearance before digitally cloning anyone. Global entertainment platforms and tech developers will need to comply if they want to do business in the world’s entertainment capital.

These laws also set a template likely to ripple through other creative fields, from musicians whose voices can be synthesized to writers whose work could be mimicked by generative AI. For now, California performers finally have a powerful shield, ready to fight for the right to shape their own public image.

Conclusion: Human Talent Takes Center Stage

With its no-nonsense ban on AI actor clones, California draws a bold line, championing the work, likeness, and very humanity of its creative stars. It’s a landmark step that forces the entertainment industry to choose: respect real talent, or face real consequences. The age of the consentless digital double is over—human performers remain the true source of Hollywood magic.

Entertainment

Chaos and Comedy: Darby Kingman’s “Camp Wackapoo: Rise of Glog”

Published

7 days ago

October 13, 2025

Bolanle Media Staff

Darby Kingman’s “Camp Wackapoo: Rise of Glog” redefines summer camp comedy with a wild, energetic story about ambition, chaos, and the joy of embracing the unexpected. The film centers on a relentlessly competitive camp counselor who’s determined to finish first—only to face a motley crew of unruly campers and a summer unlike any other.

As Darby puts it, “Not everything is that deep. It really honestly was to make people laugh. She has all these kids that are not working with her and she’s just losing her mind. It’s crazy, silly, goofy, and it was a blast.”

What started as a simple scene for Darby’s acting reel evolved into a full-fledged film with encouragement from her mentor at Debbie Reynolds Acting School. Darby dove into every role—writing, directing, starring, and meticulously preparing each prop and costume. “Plan and prepare, but also be flexible and ready to be in the moment—that’s when the magic happens,” she advises.

Working with a handpicked cast of her own dance students, Darby built an atmosphere of real teamwork and camaraderie. She credits the “precious” energy of her young cast, her creative director of photography, and the overall spirit of her production team for turning the project into something bigger than herself. Her experience is an inspiring blueprint for indie filmmakers:

“Take initiative and control of your career. You can’t just sit around and wait for somebody to pick you. Figure out what you’re good at and go for it. Create something that brings joy to others.”

Her production motto? “Preparation is key, but you have to be ready to go with the flow—that’s when the magic happens.” Darby’s fearless creativity, focus on collaboration, and love for comedy shine throughout “Camp Wackapoo: Rise of Glog.” It’s more than just a camp satire—it’s a heartfelt testament to hard work, original humor, and leadership from the ground up: “People need to laugh right now. That’s a win.”

Catch “Camp Wackapoo: Rise of Glog” and experience Darby’s infectious energy and comic genius at the Deluxe Theatre on November 1, 2025. Get your tickets now at Houstoncomedyfilmfestival.com.