Newcomers: Sports, with Nicole Byer and Lauren Lapkus - The Oval (w/ Monique Heart)

Episode Date: May 11, 2021

Monique Heart (RuPaul's Drag Race) guides Lauren and Nicole through their first experience with a Tyler Perry television drama–the pilot episode of The Oval (2019). Follow Monique on Instagram and Twitter, and check out Ace of Hearts with Monique Heart on Headgum. Next Week's Watchlist: Madea Goes to Jail (2009)Like the show? Rate Newcomers 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts and let us know what Tyler Perry hit they should check out next.Advertise on Newcomers via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is a HeadGum Original. I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States. So help me God. You will not ruin this for me. Who the hell do you think you are? I'm the bitch that put you in this damn seat. I don't have a good feeling about these people. Be very careful.

I will send someone to your door. You are the coldest reptile I've ever seen. Nice passion. You're the president. What the hell is this world coming to? God bless America. You're a joke. Let's see if I won't put your head through that wall.

You two are the perfect couple. Yes we are. Aren't we, darling? You son of a bitch. You brought your whore. President gets a plus one. Oh, wow. Okay, this is the ninth episode of our third season. We're working our way through Tyler Perry's body of work for the first time. With the help of Perry Scholars, super fans, and sometimes people who've contributed. This season will now be 15 episodes. We've extended it five episodes because we're so

excited. Oh my God. And today we can say that we have experienced a Tyler Perry TV drama, The Oval, which came out in 2019. And we watched season one, episode one, the pilot. We'll be revisiting more movies and shows in the weeks to come. This is one of the most exciting ones we've watched, I think. Yes. It's available on BET Plus or for a small fee on Amazon, Apple TV and Google Play. Obviously, we're going to have spoilers. We're going to talk about every second of this show because every second of it is the most insane show I've ever seen. I'm so excited. I'm also so excited.

Nicole, really quickly, what did you think just off the top of your head about this episode? From start to finish, it was nuts. The beginning scene, you're like, wait, what is going on? And then I knew it was a presidential drama but i still was like what is that oh what a nice reveal oh my god i know oh my god and then the sex scene in the air the also everything that happened i was like if there's more like this i'm watching this whole thing i truly was like this is the show is fucking amazing there were multiple sex scenes that were like oh so they're just having sex.

I mean, it felt like crazy. Truly. Then there's like the whole sideline story with, I mean, well, there's 20 characters that they're introducing in the first like 10 minutes. So many people. Did y'all introduce me so I can talk about this, please? Like, I want to jump in so bad.

And I'm like, y'all are telling it. Okay. That's our guest today, Monique Hart. Monique, you see Monique on season 10 of RuPaul's Drag Race, season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, where she was a runner-up alongside Naomi Smalls. Oh, Monique,

thank you for being here. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Okay, yes. Now, can we talk about the opening scene, right? She's doing her makeup. He comes up behind her. She then, she gets very just, she's touching.

Wait, this is what did me, right? This is what did me. She touched herself and looked in the mirror. Oh, so beautiful. So, then he comes up behind her to kiss her. And then she takes off her earrings with just the most glaring disdain of this girl. And then they proceed to fight. Right?

Now, wait a minute. Yes. The fight is. When he grabbed her by the lace. And that is not. That is not the first time Tyler Perry has written a scene where someone has grabbed her. A woman is just being dragged around. You know she is wearing a lace runt. The lace

runt is done so beautifully. Shout out to all the Atlanta hairstylists. Shout out to all the Atlanta hairstylists. Girl, but he literally like from the rut and it didn't move. Girl, I said oh, that's a good wig. And then he threw her on the bed, bitch. I was gagged. And then he

says to her, no one's gonna hear you scream. Yes, girl! But then they start tussling and someone immediately comes in and is like, hello. They're at the, and then, well, and that's what we get the reveal of Mr. President.

I was like, Oh my God, Mike, my husband called it like one second before he's like, Oh, so he's the president. And I was like, spoilers.

Like I like to be surprised, but then like like wait a minute when she threw that vase at him oh my god well yeah so she kicks him in the balls and then he like pushed her to the ground and then she grabs a vase and hits him over the head with it it's truly it's very theatrical it's really like a play and it it's very, very theatrical. It's so stunty, like how they're fighting, like, ah, punch! You can kind of see the one, two, and choreography. Yes.

Very much like Cardi B and Meg Thee Stallion doing that little flip turn at the Grammy. One, two, and lift! And it's funny because it did not look like it was choreographed

for television. I was like, wrestling looks a little bit more realistic than some of these hits that she's doing. It's like you could almost see the distance between them. When she knees him in the balls, you could literally see so much distance between his body and her knee. And I was like, oh, yeah. But then you get a huge, it's called a nap that's the sound or at least that's what i was taught in school but the sound the sound when she like slaps his face is so loud but it's like right after you see all that air and you're like this is disjointed this fight

is wild well and that's the slaps like left no marks like the second someone comes in everyone looks perfectly fine i'm like you all should be each other like this is crazy and i love that she was like we're gonna need some hair and makeup and wardrobe her character is out of this world i mean crazy the way she speaks to her own daughter when she ran around the couch i laughed i laughed and laughed with you remind me that like so many things happen in this it's like it's it's impossible that tyler perry just every single page of this is crazy like we have like religious issues we have a rape we but not a rape it didn't happen an accused rape we have we have like slapping with physical violence, domestic abuse between the president and first lady. And then like both of the children.

Then I was thinking, okay, wait. Monique, we saw this clip online from like, I don't know what episode it is, so I'm sure you've watched it. Of a young boy who now I think is the son, right? I think he's the son. Who's like jerking off in front of this woman and then she's like, I don't like this. And then he like throws it at her when he comes. Baby, okay.

So I don't want to give too much away, but this is because the son, which you will later see, has issues, okay? He is one that is not on a scale. He has issues like that Ted and Bundy, girl. You know, somebody should have hugged. Somebody should have just hugged him a little bit more, okay? But you see, his parents are dysfunctional.

They are dysfunctional girls. And the daughter's the worst. Oh, she's rude. I have never, girl, as you see me, I just want, oh, girl, I wanted to take her out myself, girl. I was like, somebody come get this little girl. But she is, first of all, she annoys me because you watch her in other things and she acts just as hard the same way. Okay. But I was like, she, oh, when that whole, when she accused the butler side.

Yes. Bitch, I was like like somebody killed this little girl it was so fucked up but also she like comes in drunk she demands that he shows her to her room

yes and it's like day one of being the day one of being first daughter this is all day one girl cause she throws her purse down and she's like

where's my room like it's like wait have you not been home yet like what is this they also keep showing different outside shots of the house sometimes it's like wait have you not been home yet like what is this they also keep showing different outside shots of the house sometimes it's the white house sometimes it's not the white house and then you're inside the white house and you're like wait a minute what did you also notice that some of the like b-roll of like cars was moving really fast like so like they're like

it's like they couldn't get the clearance so they just sped it up yeah like i was like every moment of this is so packed with information and then they do that dance in front of the crowd and it's like 20 minutes long and i was like wait no like we could get more like we could get more actual storyline in here to explain more of these characters like why we're giving your brain a break he was like just watch these people dance i know i've given you a lot of information and then when she's after the dance and she's like i fucking hate you i was like yeah i'm like people can't see you like i'm sure someone can read your lips like this is crazy can we talk about the intro though the intro for me did it okay because the intro's like it felt like a

bootleg scandal like mad team was trying to do scandal. It was like weird shot and it didn't even look like Washington, D.C. It looked like different shots of Atlanta. I'm sure it is. I'm sure it is. That's what it looked like, right?

Like it's like a picture of the White House and you're like, okay. What was that movie that Eddie Murphy just did? It was on Netflix and it was about a hood film. Oh, Dolomite. It was very Dolomite film.

Like they had great hopes and plans for this to be like some kind of secret agent or whatever. And then you watch the actual intro to the show. Feels like a morning after night. And you're like, i gotta get yours i gotta get mine and you're like girl this the all of the pieces yeah but i do he thinks that no the i'm just so confused and then why they all step up like they in jail like they all step up like they're about to take their photo it is funny to see the entire cast take up your entire TV screen and just like be there in a lineup. Yes. It's so funny because I just as I'm watching this, I'm like, I don't think I would let myself write this because it's

so crazy. And so like, it's so unlike every other political drama that we've ever seen, that it's like there's a part of your brain that goes like well like that can't happen but then this is why tyler perry comes in because he's like literally everything can happen it will happen and it will all happen in episode one in 40 minutes like you will get the most crazy things you've ever seen in your entire life so hooked you every character is damaged yes intertwine his other show, Ruthless. I don't know if you're caught up to that one, girl. No, we don't even know about this show. Oh, my God.

Baby! Oh, baby, girl! Oh, baby! Okay, okay, okay. So here you go. Let me give you a breakdown. Let me give you a breakdown. Ruthless is like the black version of the...

Remember that cult from the 70s that was all like... It was the Indian guy, but it was predominantly like, you know, white people and they was like, oh, and then they found out there was a scandal. No, I don't. I don't know either. Okay, anyway, so it's like they look like black Muslims, but they're not, and they praise the Rakadushi, who is

this light-skinned man who looks like the Jesus that everybody grew up in their mama's house. The bone structure is dead on right um girl it's kind of crazy and so wait those characters are from a whole other show so the woman

trying to steal the oh my god yes the ruthless I mean that makes sense though because that character comes in so hot I'm like what the fuck is this character like it's like I mean she's wild she's in a cult she used to be a drug like a drug user she left her baby in a crack house and now she's coming back to steal her baby and she talks so strangely like she is like

brainwashed the chosen one wants the baby or whatever she was saying now here you go this one so the chosen one is a is is a pure man a pure being, something like Jesus or whatever, you know, whatever one of the crazy ones, right? And then he is pure. He somehow rejuvenates the women with life but doesn't sleep with the women. Okay. Okay. Somehow he has all of these, these brothers around him.

These men, these elders, like brother Daikon and brother other, you see full on frontal, like dick. What? Okay. You have to watch this.

We're into it. Like, okay. That was at least a good eight and a half. Monique, we found a way to sexualize Star Wars characters

because we've been like needing this like this is like the most important season of our podcast like this is Daikon goes up to him and goes

let me see your dick Tyler Perry's mind is incredible girl episode one episode one girl it was full full and then there's another scene in ruthless

where ruth is whipping this no it's ruthless oh god that's amazing too and so ruth is whipping this girl but you see daikon jerking off and then she's fucking she then she starts to ride him while whipping this girl we do not talk about this stuff enough this is like tyler perry it is so like bitch gag they have a gay a gay couple oh and this one they're oh and this one they have a gay couple girl and they do full-on gay sex not like but if you can tell they're straight just did not give it away only because i would say broke back my own let's give it up for them too because they their sex was a little bit more believable.

No lube. They act like lube was non-existent. But I thought there was a little bit more passion. With these two straight men, it's all of this like, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh. And then they'll get real close.

They're going to kiss and then go like this, huh. Oh, God. Yeah, girl's it's crazy like the oval so they connect three or two show it's crazy okay there's so many overlaps in tyler perry things and we are since we're learning everything we have no idea we're like okay it's not this person like i wouldn't be surprised if mr brown walked into the oval i wouldn't be surprised

either i'd be like oh okay he's here now. And I'd be fine with it. I honestly would too. We need some, we need comedic relief. This show has none. None. Not one funny thing happens. Except for everything that happened at the airport. So she's wearing like a slip at the airport.

I was like, this is so crazy already. Terminal seven next to terminal two. And then put a restaurant in between the terminal. No, the gates. They're like at the gates. Sorry, at the gates. And I was like, no, there are no tables. Like, why are they being served at the gate? And then they also, I feel like there was a lot of background

that I was really paying attention to. People who were like, they put a background person in the foreground and then coming past them, I'm like, is something going to happen with her? And then nothing would. And they're like, background person like in the foreground and then like coming past them like is something gonna happen with her and then like nothing would and they're like wait why did i just watch that woman stare off into space before going over to this also she made a phone call on the airplane while it was in the sky that was already i was like no there's no service she's like i'm on wi-fi so it might be spotty i'm like who's ever made a call from a plane an announcement before you? They made an announcement before. You cannot make a call using the Wi-Fi. You can't

FaceTime. You can't do anything. Well, even the guy making the announcement, the pilot or whatever, was so like, we are experiencing turbulence. It was like just not real. He didn't get a good check. He didn't get a good check. Oh my God, no. I love what she says to the flight attendant. She's like,

I have to get to D.C. and I heard something about weather. And it like, I have to get to D.C. And I heard something about weather. And it's like, everyone is going to D.C. They all want to go there. But then the flight attendant said, I'll speak to the pilot. And I was like, say what? This one woman needs to go to D.C.? You know what?

The fantasy, girl. That's what we want. That's what we want, girl. Excuse me. I'm trying to go somewhere. A plane full of people all going to the same place. First of all, did y'all pick up that that is the same lady who played Wendy Williams in the Wendy Williams documentary? I haven't watched that yet.

I also haven't watched it yet. And I need to watch it. Wait, so it's like a documentary slash. No, no, no, no, no. So there is like there's a biopic that the lady from Oval is Wendy. And then there's an actual, I didn't mean to say, I didn't mean to say,

I meant to say biopic. Oh, but I think that's a really good casting choice for that. I gotta watch that. I agree. I need to watch it. The commercials were so fun. I mean, everyone on this show is very well cast.

Wait, have we even talked about the moment when Wendy farted and burped at the same time and like left it on air? Yes, yes. You can Google this. She like is talking and then she goes like, and she's like, it's just like everything. And she just goes like, oh,

and then the audience is like unsure how to react because it's crazy no one no tv host has ever done this and it's so funny that she didn't have it taken out like she didn't she just goes there's no delay i feel like i feel like it's just like they don't cut anything like she's done so many things that are so crazy on that show like when she was the statue of liberty and she just like fell over. I'm like, cut that out. Like we shouldn't have a gif of this.

But you know that game, her show, she said, oh bitch, this is going to do my show in, bitch. This is for the long haul. But also, her show is not live. Do you know what I mean? It's not? It's not. No. No.

This whole time I thought it was live and they just were like not cutting anything. Oh my God. No, I'm pretty sure it's not live girl they recorded early in the morning oh so she just thinks that's funny then i mean that's that's hilarious oh my god okay now i'm more obsessed see who i think she has given me very much maxine from living single she is-skinned girl. I don't remember her name from the oval. The one who's like in the lobby

at the whatever you call it. Yeah, the good bob girl with the good bob girl. Wait, which one in the... Oh, yes, yes, yes. The one who's like, I love the Obamas. Yes.

Such class. How wonderful. I really hope that they're going to be like the Obamas. I know. She said it like four times. I was like, we get it. Well, that was my clue.

I was like, ah, they're not gonna be like that please keep watching because she is a little OG gangster okay her and the son I believe that same issue where he threw that stuff on her I believe that's the same issue

the same episode where baby that bob you know a black woman honey in that neck starts to go baby when the hair is right baby oh girl wait who gets the cum thrown on them that lady is it lily okay it's the doctor oh it's a doctor and she's a doctor oh okay well i i mean honestly i will watch so much i'm going to finish the series i really like it hilarious and fascinating and just so shocking. Every second of it was crazy. Every single second.

Well, I wanted to ask, I mean, I can tell you're familiar with Tyler Perry's stuff, but have you seen like everything or like how deep did it go? No, you know, truthfully, this is what happened, right? Which y'all need to watch. It's P-Valley. I love P-Valley. You watch it? Oh my gosh, girl.

Down in the valley where the girls get naked. Get naked. So P-Valley is like a gothic southern noir drama, but also it's pretty funny, set in a strip club. And Uncle Clifford runs the strip club. And then he has a blind auntie played by Loretta Devine who pops up later and she's great. I love her.

And it takes, like, I would say three or four episodes before you're, like, hooked. Really? I think so. Well, the first, I loved the pilot. The second episode, I was like, hmm, but I'm still interested. Third episode, I was, like, still intrigued. And then fourth one, I was like,

this is my show. I fucking love it. I cannot wait for Sunday night. Okay, okay, okay. Okay, okay. I'll give you. I cannot wait for Sunday night. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. I'll give you that. Oh, my God. Because I fell in love with Apollo and Lil Murda immediately. Oh, yes. There's, like, a whole gay storyline where there's a rapper who you're like, oh.

I love him, girl. Oh. Oh. It's good. Okay. So, anyway. So, I started there, right? And then I was like, oh, I need some more like black television in my life.

What's going on? So then I subscribed to Bounce and saw Satan Sinners. Y'all need to get into that one. And then I switched over to Miss BET. Girl. I think Ruthless did it for me where I went crazy. Ruthless did it for me where I went crazy. Ruthless sounds wild. Because at first I shaded him.

I was like, Tyler Perry, here you go with the light skinned savior again. But then when you see that this bitch is like a Heron, I'm not going to say too much more. You're like, oh, Tyler Perry, you did this right. Thank you. Okay. Now that you see the light skinned bitch do, you know what I mean? Anyway. Right.

Thank you. Finally you see the light skin bitch dude. You know what I mean? Anyway. But maybe this, the drama, like the, my friend,

he taught me like there's an intimacy coordinator that there has to be in the room. They're like really like, cause even in the, I think episode one of the oval, the sex scene where she is gyrating those hips on him. Like the first one, like when it's like the butler's like when it's the butler's son. Yes, the butler's son.

I was like, this is sexy. And then the later one where the guy in the airport is like, yeah, he just like takes her and lifts her up and rips his shirt off. I was like, Jesus Christ.

I was like, you can't get fully naked in an airport bathroom. They did not care at all. She comes in, she's like, I've never done this. And then they're fucking. Can I say, you know what I think that was? Now traveling, you know, abroad and whatnot, enjoying things. When you fly domestic, that first class regular bathroom or the coach bathroom is small. But when you fly international, they give you a little space they give you a little space in that first class

wait but that wasn't that wasn't on the plane oh no yeah they were at they were in the airport airport itself which actually seems dirty oh you're actually yes no you're right you're right you're right you're right yeah that is well because he goes like there's the he's like there's a bathroom over there there's no stall and there's just a lock on the door or something. And she was like, yeah, right. And then she walks in one second and she's like, hi. And then literally fucking one second later, which always drives me crazy. Cause I'm like, okay, she's wet.

Like I'm just like, she walked in and she was like, no one ever thinks about that. No one ever thinks. See, I feel the same thinks see i'm like instantly like let's go like it's just like hold on like it was it was an exciting moment i mean it's possible i guess but who knows i mean but she was probably like celebrating and getting ready when she's talking about it like well he did put his hand on her thigh like really high up which was very scandalous like when they were sitting there having the drinks. But I do think it would have taken a little bit more time. Yeah.

Yeah. They're having sex like eight times, eight ways, like all within one second. I mean, I was into it though. Okay. But this is what I was going to say. It was beautiful, girl. That chocolate man, I want him. And I feel like he's the kind of like a love and fight for you because you know he's crazy.

I love that. Anyway. Oh, well, the preview for the next episode where he comes in, he's like, she's like, get out of my house. Oh, my God. I'm scared. Yes, girl. Crazy. I'm excited. I love how every character is nuts.

It's so fun. Okay. So for me, what I loved about it, looking at his body of work, seeing the Madea plays, seeing the other movies that he's come out with and his other shows. I think that these shows are the most forward, progressive, like...

Because he's not queer. You know, he's straight or whatever. And for the longest time, I think he's really gotten to benefit off of queerness, in a sense. And so to finally see him put forward progressive,

well-rounded relationships and perspectives out there, I think is really, really, really nice. Because I think he's made a lot of cuentadas off of us. Yeah, for us. yeah, for sure.

Yeah, I mean, and there, this show has, because it has 80 series regulars, they really go, they go into like

all different types of people and it is, it is fun. I mean, I think that's, it's very, every moment is surprising

probably because of that. Like, you're just like, what's their deal going to be? Just get into, I promise you, the,

I'm sorry, with these 80,000 characters, each one has this weird, like, of that like you're just like what's their deal gonna be just get into i promise you the the i'm sorry with these 80 000 characters each one has this weird like weird background they kind of like tease you with yeah it's i i just like even the mother like you find out oh my god the mother too girl like there's a scandal with her girl oh my god i was wondering about her too because she seems to have a whole storyline that you can't tell what well she's shading the her son's new girlfriend in a way that you're like why and she's and that girl's normal and then you're gonna let ruth come over and let ruth come over her little, her cloak and her weird whispers and she was just standing out in front of the house.

I mean. Oh my god. Well, okay, well before we, we have to do our news media segment. This is the news of Tyler Perry's world. So Tyler Perry's House of Pain and Assisted Living get early renewals from BET ahead of season premieres, okay?

Due to strong ratings, BET has renewed both series ahead of their upcoming premieres. Okay. Due to strong ratings, BET has renewed both series ahead of their upcoming premieres. House of Pain will return for a ninth season and assisted living for a third season. According to deadline house of pain and assisted living ranked as the number one and number two comedy series, respectively on cable for African-Americans 18 to 49, 25 to 54.

Well, that's all of them. That's everyone. Those are the people who watch to all tv watching people i'm so done um that's amazing i mean i saw i saw that headline i was like before it premieres they get picked up like that's this is tyler perry's world i I mean, truly. He's like... I'm like, this show's been on for nine years? Like, it's just crazy. He's really tagged...

Which is the other thing for me that I'm really surprised by, like, at least these two series. They're so vastly different from his usual typical kind of church, house, family, black, typical black circumstances. Like, I mean, bitch, like, when you see,

let me see your dick, black man, a black man saying that, you're like, what? And then you see a dick, and you're like, oh my god, what? Bitch, rewind the tape. Yeah, wait, what network was that originally on BET so you can see full dick at any point I don't know if it's on BET but it's on BET plus

so it might have been on the after it's a little different yes you could do things differently on streaming but you know BET used to have BET after dark which was yeah but that was just like booties penis is a whole different game. I feel like it's like anytime you see a dick on TV, it's like, wait, what?

Like we're not used to this as a culture. Very true. And I feel like we should just normalize bodies. We should. We need to see more penises so that we can just understand what they're like. There's a penis in the Russian czar's little biopic on Netflix about the czar. I think that's their name,

the czar's little Anastasia's parents, her. Oh, okay. Her family, right? When they're talking about, so I guess when they were in the process of making her a one of them,

girl, you see the king's girl, you should see his pee-pees and whatnot. Wow. I love how in touch you are with the penises on television. Girl, it's gaggy. You remember things like that.

Okay, tell me. D'Angelo's video. How does it feel, girl? Yes. Oh, boy. Those V-lines are forever burned. I remember I was in eighth grade and I saw Wild Things. And there's a point where Kevin Bacon's in the shower and he turns around and you see his dick.

And I was like, like, it was like the most shocking thing I've ever seen. I never forgot that. In my mind, it was slow motion. He's just like turning and then there's a penis. And you're like, whoa. Will Smith's in that one movie where he was gay. What movie is that? What movie?

It was early, early on in his career where he was like a press. Oh, yes. Yeah, like he jumps and you see a little Fandango Dango. Where he lies and he gets into this family. You do, you see it, but you see a little.

What is the name of that movie? Oh, it's really gonna get me. Yes, that. That's the thing, it's like you can't list all the times you saw a breast on television because it's every five seconds. We are shocked by a penis in this country. Yeah.

The FCC, they should have a rule. For every breast, there must be a dick. Marlon Wayans did some kind of serious acting where he was kind of like an actor in the thing or some kind of entertainer and a druggy or whatever. And he had sex with his girlfriend. You saw his penis growl. Wow. That's a surprising one. Mm hmm.

We got to get back to the Oval. Sorry, girl. The Oval season one, episode one. It is the pilot written by Tyler Perry, directed by Tyler Perry, premiered on October 23rd, 2019. Well, wait, we need to go to break, don't we? Really quickly before we hop in this whole thing. And wait, the Will Smith movie is Six Degrees of Separation.

Yes, and it's great. It's so good. We'll be right back because we have to get into this and this is going to be involved. Okay, we're back. Okay, I was jumping ahead. I was so excited to get into the summary. No, I'm so excited. So yes, obviously written and directed by Taylor Perry.

This was 2019. Let's just jump into this summary here okay this episode of television is unlike anything i've ever seen honestly perfect so president hunter franklin i didn't even catch that i didn't catch it either he leans in to kiss his wife victoria but she pulls away and tells him to stop following her when he demands that she talk to him, Victoria threatens to scream for help and spits in his face. As they continue to fight, as they continue fighting, a secret service agent knocks on the door.

He tells them they should get moving for what is later revealed to be his inauguration. It's so crazy because you think it's almost like a Lifetime movie when it starts. She's in the mirror and then this guy comes up behind her and he looks like a killer and it's like super weird and you're like do they know each other and then they're fighting and then they're married and then they're the president and first lady it's like the levels are just and i love how like in the first 15 minutes most of the dialogue is you have to get dressed well you have to get dressed you have to get that's it it's it's the most damaged relationship i've ever seen on television i think okay so after watching coverage of the inauguration

at home nancy halson tells her granddaughter callie to wash her hands for dinner callie asks where her father barry is he has revealed to be having sex with his girlfriend sharon upstairs nancy calls them down to dinner so this is a funny moment too because i was like i couldn't tell that nancy was the grandma yeah and so i thought maybe she was the mother of that child and that she was that her husband was then fucking someone else upstairs so i was like trying to catch up to that uh-huh because the grandmother does look good she looks amazing so good and then i love that she was like dinner and then i was like like, they're mid fuck. She's like, we got to get our own place. And the mom's like,

yeah, you do. And then they just come downstairs after having like crazy sex. And I was like, hi everyone. I'm like, it's just, it's,

it's gross. Don Winthrop, president Franklin's cheapest staff calls his wife, Lily, while she's boarding a plane and tells her to hurry in order to make the event. Don then tells Richard Halston, the head butler, to move all of the president's highly confidential items to the White House himself. I was like, he has to do all of this by himself? In what world would someone have to do that?

Also, the amount of movers moving them was incredible there was 600 people moving boxes and then we're expected to think that that man is going to have to unpack them all himself himself it was just like he'll be here forever this is impossible um barry and sharon come downstairs for dinner nancy receives a call from richard who is revealed to be her husband and Barry's father. Richard asks Barry to help him move boxes at the White House. And so then it's like, he doesn't have to do it by himself. As Barry is leaving the house,

he runs into his ex-girlfriend and Callie's mother, Ruth, who's part of a cult. Ruth, she floats into the front yard. I mean, it's like, literally,

girl. Ruth tells Barry that the highest said she should see her daughter. Nancy intervenes and tells Barry to leave. Nancy promises Ruth that she will talk to Barry about a visit, and Ruth leaves. I do think, like, when the butler says his son can come help, I'm like, is he even...

He does say, like, bring your ID and your clearance forms or whatever. That's what I was thinking. They kind of cut around how he's able to just come work at the White House and do the most confidential job well well also you know did they give this part up yet that they

have been working there for like a long time like no I don't know but kind of because they were talking about the Obama so it's like so they've been there for at least eight years prior. Maybe they, I guess this is a world where Trump was not president

and this was. Yeah, girl, that was the other thing. I said they just skipped completely. I love that. No, that never happened. It never happened. That's amazing. I also really loved it.

That's good. Yeah, because this came out in 2019. Also, I love how they were whispering about Ruth. They were like, this is outside. And you're like, what is outside? And then you're like,

this. I don't know. I don't, I don't, like, I had to like, really piece together like his ex is out there.

It's like, oh, she's there. Oh, she's outside. She's outside. It was like, it was very weird. And I guess they didn't want the daughter to know

or something. But yeah, and truly like, she floats in in this outfit. And it truly feels like it's from a horror movie. It's just a totally different vibe. The Rakadushi. It is a different vibe. It's a whole different show.

And you're like, wait, what? Well, now we know it's Ruthless. It's just literally a scene from Ruth ruthless combined over at the oval which i like so barry arrives to help richard nancy calls and tells barry that ruth needs to see callie and barry says no he's like real mad about it he's like absolutely not after hanging up nancy asks if callie's if callie wants to see her mom and of course she's a child callie says yes nancy invites ruth over against barry wishes, which I was like, something bad's gonna happen,

but I had no idea how. You could never have guessed. Never would have guessed that she planted, I mean, we'll get to it, but she,

there's people planted in the home to kidnap. That was the scariest thing ever and then also like just so funny. Yeah. But Lily calls Don

from her fight, or flight, sorry, and tells him that she's on her way. And when she hangs up, the man next to her introduces himself as Bobby. Secret Service agent Lindsay Yuma. I didn't catch a single person's name on this show. No, there's so many.

These names, I'm like, who? Who is Lindsay Yuma? I have to look this up. She's the Secret Service agent with the buzzed head. Oh, right. Okay. Tells Don they've run into a problem with Gail, the president's daughter. Lindsay tells Victoria that Gail is refusing to get dressed.

Victoria goes to Gail's room and threatens her, insisting she needs to get dressed immediately. She threatens her by saying she's going to send her away, that she's not going to ruin this, that she needs to get her act together. And then she like runs across this couch in a way that only can be described as scurrying. To like lean in and be like, you have to be afraid of me. It was so funny how she's being mean. She's like the Grinch.

Like she like leans into her face and she's like, you better do as I say, or you won't, you'll disappear and no one will ever see you again. And She's like the Grinch. She like leans into her face and she's like, you better do as I say or you won't, you'll disappear and no one will ever see you again. And it's like, that actually is a really scary thing to say to someone, but for some reason it feels fake. She said this would be her last public appearance. And I was like, wow, this is your

mother? This is a mom? And then she kind of like goes at her like, ugh, like you like to scare her like, she doesn't hit her, but she like kind of jolts at her. So Lily's plane hits turbulence and Bobby grabs Lily's hand. The captain tells everyone that the flight is being diverted. Lily calls Don from the plane again and updates him. She tells him she will rent a car and drive to D.C.

Don is furious and tells her not to bother. It's not her fault no lily when lily arrives in charlotte she tries to call and apologize to don but he hangs up on her again while waiting to reboard the plane lily decides to have a drink with bobby at the airport well that's not exactly what happened she sits down she's like one bourbon neat and he's like you could have mine and then like yes i'm like and then the other one arrives one millisecond later i'm like she could have had hers like it does seem weird that have you sipped it yet like i don't know that part i would have been like is this a roofie yes oh my god you wouldn't trust that but i also was like why do they go to charlotte there's another airport

in maryland there's one in baltimore you're so foolish. So like, why not land in Baltimore? And then that's a quicker drive than Charlotte, North Carolina. She's not going to make it. He did go like, it'll be over by then, which is true. I mean, it's going to take her like hours and hours. It's already nighttime and the event's like happening. Like, I don't know. And I love that the pilot was like, all right, we have to emergency land in Charlotte. We are going to deplane, replay in this plane. Make sure you stay near the gate because we're getting right back on this plane. I was like, I've never heard an announcement like that. Okay, so as they're about to enter the inauguration, Jason tells Victoria that Gail refused to attend.

Victoria is furious. But the president insists that they continue with the evening. And this is where I realized this set is nuts. The ceiling is maybe nine feet tall. There's barely any or not nine feet. It's like seven feet. There's no headroom over these people. What part is this?

Like where are they standing? They're in the hallway walking and they're like, your daughter's not coming or whatever. Oh yeah. And I was like, oh my God, this is a strange set.

There's a lot. The set they had the dance on, I was like obsessed with. Okay, so Richard and Barry finish moving the boxes and Barry tells Richard that Ruth won't stop showing up at the house. Richard tells Barry that he's doing the right thing for his family. A fellow staffer, Priscilla, interrupts to let them know that they have run into an issue with Gail.

Yeah, who's Priscilla? I don't know. And then Gail enters the room drunk and asks for a burger. She then asks if Barry can show her to her room. And even when she gets there, she's like, is this it? Or whatever. It's just so weird. she's like, is this it? Or whatever. It's just so weird. I'm like, how do you not know?

And then Richard sends Jean, another staff member, along with them. At her room, Gail tells Jean to leave and demands that Barry stay. When Barry tries to leave, Gail threatens Richard's job

at the White House. She starts kissing Barry. Barry tries to stop Gail and accidentally pushes her in the process. Gail's accidentally pushes her in the process. Gail's knocked unconscious and Barry panics. This is wild.

This is so Tyler Perry to be knocked unconscious when you fall down. Uh-huh. Yeah, I've fallen so many times. I'm sorry. She hit her head a little hard

to be unconscious. I was like... What did she hit her head on? Like the bed? Truly, the end of the bed. I guess the bed had a footer, so there was something hard there. So she's knocked out completely,

but again, no one really... He did panic more than we've seen in other things, but went in, why did I get married? The guy gets hit with the wine bottle and everyone's like, he's dead. It's just like they just let people lay there. And then also when her underwear is up, like her skirt is up. I'm like, adjust it.

Like, it just seems like nothing has happened here. Like, you don't. This is not what it looks like. It's very. It's like in Titanic when Rose is trying to jump and then she slips. And then Leonardo DiCaprio ends up on top of her and then everyone runs over and they're like, get away from her!

Why is her skirt up? Why? And they're like, well, just let me explain. Yeah, there's like a second of explanation that'll clear this up. So Lily and Bobby continue to drink at the airport. Bobby tells Lily he does not like Don based on what he overheard during the flight.

Lily notices Bobby's ring and tells him to focus on his own marriage. Bobby tells her to meet him in the restroom and they have sex. It's so easy. It happened so quickly. So quickly. So easy. And I really do love, you mentioned it before, she closes the door and she's like, I've never done this before.

What are we going to do now? Oh, it's sex. Okay. just nice. And then they're naked in one second. Fully naked. Has anyone ever said that though? Real quick, side note. What, I've never done this before?

Yeah. No. Really? I've never done this before. No, even when I hadn't done it before, I didn't want them to know. And then later I was like, well, why are we lying?

I had someone say it to me. had a one-night stand with this man in houston and he was like i've never done this before and i was like sure and he went okay so he was pretending i think so that's so funny to get called out and just go with it. Yeah, you're right. I'm lying. Oh my God. Okay, so when Nancy tells Ruth her time with Callie is up, Ruth refuses to leave. She tells Nancy that the highest wants Callie. And the group of cult members tries to drag Callie away

from within the house. They all come out of the kitchen. It was too much! It was too much! And I was was like at what point does she get these people in the house that the mother didn't notice that there's people there's like 10 10 cloaked men come out of every hole and door in this home and and she's just going no no and they're literally pulling on this girl back and forth. This little girl. I was watching her because I was like, I just love child actors. And her eyes, they cut off the frame right above her nose that you can't really see.

Because I think she was smiling a little bit. I think she was also smiling. It's kind of funny. Because she's like, ow, you're hurting me. Mom. But her eyes were doing a good job, like being scared. Like her eyebrows were like, oh, no. And so I was like, they thought they could just trim it there.

And they're like, she looks scared. Oh, my God. I love that. It's so wild. It feels like the people, the extras who were the movers, were then just put in cloaks. And then they became the cult members. Nicole, I bet that's 100% true.

Do you know how fast they move on these shoots? There's no way they had time to cast so many back on. They were like, you are 10 different people. Let's go. Especially for Tyler Perry because you know, girl. Also, can I say that the hair selection is a little bit better? Yeah. No, we talked about this in previous things that we've watched. It's a little bit better than what. No, we talked about this in previous things that we've watched.

It's a little bit better than what he normally does, girls. Yes. It seems to be a bit more effort behind it. I think they got a better budget. Yeah. I think. Okay, so the last part. Barry calls for Jean and tells her that Gail fell.

He confesses that Gail came on to him and he was only trying to get her to stop. Gail wakes up. Perfect timing from your concussion. Perfect. Yes. She's like, he raped me. Gail chooses to be the worst. And then the episode ends.

Jean calls for help and tells Barry to stay put. I'm sorry, but like a rape kit would clear that up instantly. There's no evidence of touching nothing and i mean yes believe women but also don't believe this one she's a scary liar outside the door do you know what i mean no time has passed nine he calls for help the second she's knocked out and yes they've only been in the room for a couple minutes. There's no chance. And the only thing that the woman would hear outside the door is him going, no, no. I don't want that.

That part. No, no. That part. The people who live in the White House in this show think that this whole place is soundproof. Yes, that was all the people that got me. I was like, no one can hear them? I think they have to be able to hear you. Like if someone was attacking you in your room and you're the first daughter, they would know.

Like what? Yeah, that's not, that's not right. Oh my God. Okay. So, I mean, I, then it, it ends with like the preview of the next episode. And I was like, I simply have to buy this entire season, I guess. Yes, I think I'm going to. I think this is like the first time

I've been like, well, I've like watched something to review it, but I'm in it and I have to finish this. Yeah, it's a really fun one. I remember I spent a whole summer watching The Secret Life of the American Teenager, which is like a really, really corny like ABC family.

With Shailene Woodley? Yes. And it was like, she gets pregnant at 15 and then it's this whole thing. And I watched like the whole thing and I kind of hated it, but couldn't stop watching it. And this gave me the same feeling where I'm like, I need to know what they're going to do and say. I need to know what every line is of this show.

It's just, it takes so many twists. There was a hundred twists and turns in this. I feel like Tyler Perry sat down and was like, I want to write a presidential drama. And he didn't outline it. He didn't do that at all. He just started writing. It happens at the president's house.

He has no information beyond whatever is in his imagination. None, girl. Just a secret service. That's the only thing, girl. And the Oval Office looks somewhat like the over office yeah it's truly like he just follows his train of thought and he's like and then this happens and it's like it's so crazy i mean this is like it goes back to what you're saying though he doesn't follow like the structure of anything that you've seen before so it's part of what keeps you excited

because you're like i i can't predict at all what's going to happen, but it's also what makes it, I can't believe it is happening because I'm like, everything else follows a specific sort of outline, like a pattern. And there's no pattern to any of his work. Not one thing is a pattern. It's really exciting.

And I love in the coming attractions or for like next week, the president's wife is like, ugh, I mean, look at me, an Ivy League woman married to a hillbilly or whatever she says. And she's like, and I made him the president. Yes. I was like, oh, God. Now when you find out the inside scoop with that girl, there is so much juice. I promise you.

Look, this is what I did. I'm excited. I would just tell you if you have Amazon Prime to just go over to the BET app and then click it. It's $8.99 or whatever. And then you get to watch all of season one. Oh, great. Watch season one for free and then buy season two. I'm going to tell you in season two, girl.

Girl, wait till you see. Now, the grandmother pops up. Her mother pops up in season one in a few more episodes. Wait, who's mom? The first lady. The first lady? Okay. Oh, God.

Well, I mean, I can't wait to see the person who shaped that woman into who she is. Because if she speaks to her daughter like that, I can only imagine how her mother spoke to her. She beats her husband and he beats her back. I'm like, this is so not okay. Have y'all seen, what is it called? Little Big Liars? Oh, yeah. Big Little Lies.

Big Little Lies. Big Little Lies. I like Little Big Liars. I like Little Big Liars, too. It's like a TLC reality show. Was it Nicole Kidman who had that abusive relationship yes where he dumped toys on her and it wasn't funny but i couldn't help but laugh he dumped what on her toys yeah at one at one point they get into a fight and she says something he grabs a basket of toys and like

shakes it over her head and i was like like, I mean, that's very silly. It's so silly. But I was like, yeah, if someone did that to me, I wouldn't feel good about it. No, it kind of makes you feel like that was someone's true story. Because I'm like, what is a specific way to abuse someone? But I felt like it was very much like they were going to be like, you know, abusive. And then it was going to turn into this weird like sex thing.

But it didn't. And they can't stand each other. And you're like, what are y'all doing? Yeah. It's just like, why are y'all playing house? Everybody's miserable. Yeah. It doesn't seem fun.

And especially with this president thing. It's like, so she made him the president, but she hates him. I mean, I'm curious how it benefits all of them in the end or he hates her too wait who hates who first oh we didn't even talk about how they go to the they skip the part in the summary they go to the inauguration ball or whatever and then they have their first dance and his quote-unquote horror is in the audience and she's watching and like when they walk down she like gives him a look and then she she like gives him a look and then she the wife gives her a look and then they get on stage and they're dancing and then at the end

she's like i fucking hate you and then she's like and you brought your whore here and he was like they let me have a plus one yep and i was like oh wait honestly i love that bit of dialogue. It was very crazy. Let me have my plus one is iconic. Now, here you go. Did you see that the lady who is the whore is also? No. Oh, no, I missed it. Oh, God. Wait, what?

You just blew my mind. Now, I'm not going to give you all of the tea. I'm just going to say, did you see? No, I did not catch that. And I am so- Well, it's because Ruth was in the head wrap. With a full body gown on. I'm just going to say, okay, I'm not going to give it away. Okay, well, that was enough.

That was enough. It's not. It's not. It's not. I'm just saying to say, okay, I'm not going to give it away. Okay, well, that was enough. That was enough. It's not. It's not. It's not. I'm just saying she's a twin. What? So that's all of the sex. Okay.

Okay. Okay. Oh, my God. I love this show. Girl. Like, just that tidbit. Tyler Perry's mind is wild. Wild!

I, like, want to interview him and be like, where do you get the idea? What? So, one twin is in a cult. One twin is a mistress to the president of the United States. These girls have aspired to greatness. It's so crazy. I can't believe that twist. I can't believe I missed that.

Both of them get their man. Wow. Oh, boy. Oh, boy. I'm going to watch the second episode as soon as we're done here. Okay, wait. Okay, wait. Well, let's jump into some of this trivia because this is kind of interesting.

So Ruthless was a spinoff of this show it premiered on bet in 2021 and it focuses on ruth and her experiences in the cult which i actually think is very interesting that that's a spinoff of the oval because because then it makes it even funnier that there's like no explanation for her in the pilot she just comes in like so weird and like that's just what it is like i thought we were gonna find out that the oval was a spinoff of that's what i thought yes oh boy so in february 2021 bt renewed the series for a third season this is good we have a lot ahead of us um for the series tyler perry built a okay oh oh my fucking oh my god okay for this series tyler perry built a three-story stucco replica of the White House.

The replica is built to 80% scale. That's why the ceilings were dropped. Right. And construction was completed in 12 weeks. So they built a smaller White House in three months. That's crazy. Which feels unsafe. That's insane.

You said, do you feel unsafe? Yeah. It's a stucco, smaller White House that we're supposed to walk around in, and it just came out of nowhere? I don't know about this. I don't know about this either. And I'm like, why don't you just build sets and then use like a plate, like just a plate that other people have used? There was a whole show called West Wing. I think they used plates in the White House. Because I think all of this, remember, he opened up that new studio.

So I think all of this is on his own. And I don't think plates and whatnot would be from WB or from... But isn't it funny to build the whole building that's three stories instead of having it be one story where you just have different rooms? But you need the the outside the outside so the outside that we looked at is his

version of it i think so and as well as the front because then they're going to do some scenes out there probably too so yeah okay that makes how wild oh my god so the series second season was filmed at Tyler Perry Studios in August 2020. Oh my God. And premiered February 2021. The cast was sequestered in Tyler Perry's quarantine bubble for the duration of the shoot, which is like two weeks probably. Yeah, how long did it take? I really want to know. I would love to know. They moved so fast.

And like the idea that this was all done in quarantine and within quarantine it was also released is amazing I mean he's truly incredible he's so quick at doing things so the series has not received any awards or nominations yet critically the reception was

the series has not performed well a critic from TV line questioned Ruth's cult storyline, specifically writing, it's a baffling, ridiculous storyline that feels completely out of left field, even for a show executive produced, created, written, and directed by Perry.

Oh my God. I do not think so. I think it's just wacky enough for Tyler Perry. Because when it happened, my jaw was on the floor. And that's been true with every single thing we've watched. There's some moment where I go, wait, who is that?

What is happening? And it just keeps you in. Audience reviews are mixed. However, the series does have a dedicated viewership and was renewed for a third season in February 2021. Ratings have stayed consistent with a series high of over 3 million viewers. That's nuts. Tune in to the season one finale in July 2020. It's crazy, girl.

Nothing gets million. The acting is bad. The acting is like bad. Okay. Like the first lady is doing the most. The president, I feel like he just lit a blunt, just had a bottle of Jack. And it's like, oh, these are my few lines. Like, I feel like they got.

These are my few lines. These are my few lines. I'm so serious. Like, only thing he has to do is just say like, fuck off. Oh, I hate you. And then try to sleep with someone. That is it. Everybody else.

That's actually so, that's so funny. If you just pull him out and just go, he only said five things. And they were like, get ready. I hate you it's so crazy but you're like what's gonna happen next week and the more you watch like the sun is correct well that that clip was like someone tagged us in that and we're like we have to watch the show like i need to know and now i'm like i really need to know that is nothing that is nothing nothing compared you thought like that is disrespectful that like i would whoop your ass like no ma'am that is nothing

in comparison to what this little boy this little boy is okay i just i'm telling you I mean I like want to be in a Tyler Perry thing So I can just be poorly behaved Me too The wildest things written for me Scream and fight people And like have no reason for any of it That would be so fun Oh my god I love the oval

I think the oval might be my new favorite show I've been looking for something to binge and now I'm really excited. I'm like, this is... I'm very excited. Girl. I'm gonna share my screen really quick because I need you to see. This is the first lady's...

She has character headshots and I just want to share them with you. Wait, I think I saw her. She is so bad. She has on winter gloves winter gloves and just this like these cute little glasses wait okay she's wearing a blue button down possibly a jacket over it but it might just be sleeves it's like a winter jacket she has winter gloves on and then she's pulling her spectacles down wait they're definitely just sleeves because there's nothing

over her shoulders. That's what I'm saying. Like, look at that. No, I think it must be you know what she looks like? She looks like the bus driver that's about to come pick you up during the wedding.

Okay. And she pulled them glasses down like, if you don't hurry up and stop letting all this hot air out the bus, let's go. Or you're going to get laughed. And then you said

something back and she pulled them down and she said, what you say to me I haven't seen character shots headshots in a while and I

I mean that's her only character headshot yeah it's funny she's like gorgeous in all of them and there's just like one kind of silly one stunning

stunning character he has a cap like what's up stunning stunning that's so funny that's hilarious how wild i wonder who is like you gotta upload this must be like some old thing yeah i love her though her name is cron more i think she's incredible she's got a good name. And I like how mean she is.

I do like so mean when Tyler Perry's women are just so mean. But I will say I was thinking about like when when it first started, because we've talked a little bit about like whether or not he like likes women and like as people, you know, because there was like the first scene where she's just getting the shit beat up. But then I go, go well she fights back and that is one of the things about tyler perry's women is like even if they're being mistreated they always fight back and they might burn your house down like they kind of always win so i don't know it's it's complicated because we don't usually see women you know we don't usually respond well to women being treated that way house down and which one was that um What? Was it not? We haven't seen. Oh, unless

it happened in Acrimony, but I might be mistaken. Well, in Acrimony, she knocks over his trailer with her Jeep. Oh, right. How could you forget, Lauren? No, but I thought Taraji. Oh, that's normal. Wait, didn't I thought Taraji was in another one where she was like a little girl in the house burned down or something like that.

Oh, no, I don't think we've seen that. We haven't seen that one yet. I'm sure that's true because there's so many. Crazy. Oh, my God. Well, we're coming to the end of our show, sadly. Monique, do you have anything you would like to plug before we go?

Yes. So please check out my podcast, Ace of Hearts. That's Ace of Hearts. Also, be on the lookout. I have some skincare coming out. Ooh, that's honestly exciting. Exciting. We're going to keep you dewy and bright and hydrated and mattified.

Amazing. So very, very that. We're very excited. So, yeah. Cool. And what's your social media for people to follow? My social media is i am monique hard on ig twitter facebook um did i say instagram yeah instagram myspace no

can you imagine if they what if they bring another one back are y'all on uh what's that new one that people are talking clubhouse clubhouse are you doing that no no i've heard i've overheard some clubhouse and i'm like i think i'm good i just it seems like it's confusing you like get into a room and then talk and i'm like i know i don't know if i want to actually talk no it's kind of like no thank you i like i like typing and looking at pictures. You know, keep it simple. Right. Okay, well, that brings us to our five hallelujahs segment where we read five star reviews.

So this one comes from Cece Behan, The Real MCU. I'm absolutely loving your review of The Real MCU. Please do more than 10. I can hear that you're both having more fun than the previous Star Wars and Lord of the Rings seasons and it's bringing me so much joy and so many tee hee hees. Thank you for putting out this joyous content.

Okay, so everyone go leave us a review. We will read more five star reviews every episode and we will be back next week with another one of Tyler Perry's works. I personally can't wait. I guess I'll watch all of the Oval from now until then. Truly, the minute we're done with this, I'm'll watch all of the Oval from now until then. Truly, the minute we're done with this, I'm watching another

episode of the Oval and I'm going to make John Milhiser watch it too because I love it. He has to. I'm obsessed. I love it. It's so good. Well, thank you so much for being here, Monique. This was so fun. Thank you. You were the perfect person to break this down with. Truly, that was hilarious.

Okay, well, we'll see you all next week. Bye. Bye. Thank you. That was a Hidgum Original.