Reality TV Fallout for 3/24/26

We bounce between headlines that are funny on the surface and heavy once you look closer, from reality TV chaos to real-world safety failures. We keep asking the same question in different forms: what happens when entertainment, systems, and trends move faster than accountability?

• ABC canceling The Bachelorette after a violent video and what “proof” changes in public reaction 
• double standards in domestic violence conversations and why it has to cut both ways 
• the ripple effects on contestants, crews, and contracts when a season gets pulled 
• the LaGuardia crash details and what it signals about air traffic control staffing and pressure 
• balancing fear of flying with the reality that air travel is still statistically very safe 
• an LA woman salvaging Oscars red carpet and why reuse beats landfill 
• FinTok as accessible financial literacy plus the risk of misinformation and get-rich-quick scams 
• different money “styles” like budgeting hard versus earning more and outsourcing time 
• Inside the Manosphere on Netflix and how “masculinity” gets warped into misogyny and hate 
• a restaurant dancing robot meltdown and why rushing robots into service feels premature 

Please continue to watch us on elrodtvnetwork.com. Elrodtvnetwork.com, besides our show, you'll also have the opportunity to see other things as well. Or you can continue to listen to us on all of your major podcast platforms.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Transcript

Welcome And Weekend Check-In

SPEAKER_00 1:13

Hello everyone. Welcome to this week's episode of Thirsty Topics. Um, thank you for tuning in to Thirsty Topics podcast. I'm Lawrence El Rod.

SPEAKER_01 1:24

And I'm Merrill Climo, and so happy to be here.

SPEAKER_00 1:27

Oh, glad to have you. How was your weekend?

SPEAKER_01 1:30

It was really good. We went to Yosemite National Park, which is a beautiful national park if people haven't been there. And I I camped, don't tell anyone, but I like stayed in a cabin.

SPEAKER_00 1:42

Really? Yep, it's humiliating. I want to get my wife to go camping, but um I could probably get her to go camping if we're in a cabin because she won't do the tent thing.

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Yeah, I did have a freak. Yeah, when we first like arrived, I was like, why would we make our life harder? And I felt like we were staying in prison, and it just it was like I'm like, why would we like vacation to make our conditions worse? But um, it ended up being really fine, and it was very fun.

SPEAKER_00 2:09

Oh, good, good, good. Did did you do any any hunting, any fish or anything?

SPEAKER_01 2:13

Uh hiking, hiking, yeah, lots of hiking. So, like walking, hiking, but our camping too is like there's a village nearby where I get iced coffee and I could get like pizza. So it's it's not very, but we did we saw two coyotes, one deer, and two foxes.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

Oh, very nice.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Yep, so very much.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

At least you didn't see any bears or cougars, so you're you're gonna roll bears.

SPEAKER_01 2:38

Yep, exactly. How about you?

SPEAKER_00 2:40

Um, weekend was pretty good. Um, actually enjoyed the weather. Uh went next door with my neighbors, we sat and relaxed and enjoyed the hot weather on Saturday. And then, of course, when you know it, the very next day it's cold again.

SPEAKER_01 2:56

So of course, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:58

I think we're probably gonna be doing this up and down thing for at least another month or so, but it's better than snow, right?

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Exactly. Well, once again, if anyone wants to switch, it's supposed to be like 90 here this week. So uh anyone's welcome to come here for a week.

SPEAKER_00 3:14

Oh, I would love the 90s.

Bachelorette Canceled After Violence Video

SPEAKER_01 3:18

I know. Okay, well, I'll start us off this week. Um, I'm sure everyone has heard the news that ABC canceled the latest season of The Bachelorette with Taylor Frankie Paul um just three days before its planned premiere. The network said that the decision followed the release of a 2023 video following Taylor Frankie Paul appearing to punch, kick, and throw chairs at ex-partner Dakota Mortenson while her young daughter watched. Um, the cancellation is being described as unprecedented for the franchise, and ABC replaced the scheduled premiere with a rerun of American Idol. Now, just a brief thing of like Taylor Frankie Paul is most known for Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Um, she's the one a few years ago that had like a big swinger scandal where it involved like other couples and other things. So she's no stranger to drama, but obviously this is like next level of a toxic relations or like abusive relationship. Um, I mean, my thoughts, I I don't know legally what this means, if ABC could sue her or if she could sue ABC, but I also just think of everyone involved on that show, whether it's like the editors or producers and the other contestants that took time off of work and everything. And I feel like we forget that this impacts a lot of people, just besides like us and her. What do you what do you think about all this?

SPEAKER_00 4:41

I mean, I gotta I have a few thoughts on it. First, I am shocked that they did not find out about this ahead of time.

SPEAKER_01 4:48

That's the exactly, yeah, because we all knew about they've had a very public toxic relationship for a long time.

SPEAKER_00 4:55

Oh, yeah, but you know, the thing is, is one of the videos came out, I was stunned to see how violently angry she was. I mean, she was throwing metal stools at her boy uh ex-boyfriend. One, she could have hit her daughter because um there was a child in her. So that child could have been hit and injured, or she could have hit that TV that was on the wall. And she threw multiple stools. And I mean, the anger and the violent, I mean, the one thing that that that I noticed is that if a male were to do that, not only would the show not be on the air, but they'll be calling for his head to be he should never act again, you know, he should be brought up on charges. I'm a little surprised that there isn't a lot more outcry because just like a no man should ever put their hands on a woman, I don't know why some women think it's okay to put their hands on a man. That that goes both ways. Everyone should keep their hands to themselves.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Yes, I think it was kind of even a waste of a season to even have her on because her track record, it's just she's been in this back and forth toxic relationship for a really, really long time. Like they seemed as of taping, I've I heard that this all came about because they just recently got into a fight and supposedly they were still somewhat together after after her taping. So it's just kind of like a waste of everyone's time because it didn't really seem like she was a viable bachelorette to begin with, you know, besides even besides all of this.

SPEAKER_00 6:24

Well, I think part of the problem is is that especially when it comes to reality TV, is the networks want that they want that that hot, that pizzazz, that you know, something that makes people want to go, oh crap, let me watch this. Oh my god. But this is a great example of how wanting that kind of attention for your show can backfire as well, too.

SPEAKER_01 6:46

Yeah, definitely. I mean, there's like mug shots because I remember even seeing um, I think this was a different altercation, too, that she had separate from the video that we saw. There was another one that landed her in jail that she was also um under the influence for. And like I've seen interviews with her, and it seemed like she was kind of on the straight and narrow and like wanting to repair again. But just I think she's in like the most toxic relationship with this one, with this person. And it just um oh yeah, it's in March 2025 she faced several charges, including uh felony, aggravated assault, blah, blah, blah. So yeah, uh it's a very odd decision to have her on as a bachelorette, especially when like what she's known for originally was like a swinging scandal and just kind of like I feel like usually the bachelorette is very wholesome and very like goody-goody, and this just seems like an out of nowhere kind of pick.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

Oh, yeah. And and you know, the other thing that's really crazy too, Merle, is that the information you just shared is public information. So it's not like they couldn't have found this up.

SPEAKER_01 7:49

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. No, no, this is a tricky one because I saw one TikTok creator say, um, okay, then are if we're gonna cancel every person that has done domestic violence, then like say goodbye to sports and football, basically, because a lot of those players and a lot of the baseball players like have domestic abuse allegations. I mean, my thought is like definitely, obviously, if we're gonna hold someone accountable in one end, we have to do it like all around. Um, but obviously, I don't think like a whole football team, it's not like everyone from the Eagles or the Bears or like not everyone is a domestic violence person, you know. So I think it's a case-by-case situation. But I I agree with you that if it's like men and women have to be held together, like you know, on the same end of things.

SPEAKER_00 8:37

Yeah, I mean, I I do understand where where that um that person had made that comments coming from, but there's a big difference in this situation, and to me, the the biggest difference is that besides the track record, okay, besides the previous arrests and stuff like that, she's on video throwing these metal stools.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

Yeah, yeah, with her kid right there.

SPEAKER_00 9:00

So it's not like it's a he say she say moment, you can actually see it for yourself. So yeah, um, I can tell you right now, if a football player did that and there was video, I could honestly tell you their career would be over. It would not be a question. That career would be over. So we gotta be careful about that. Allegations is one thing, but when you have proof that you can show, that's a whole different argument altogether.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Totally. It's really interesting too because there's rumblings that leaking the video came from Dakota, you know, the guy that just seems to kind of always pop up. But but I've also heard a theory that ABC was annoyed that she went back to Dakota and kind of like made a joke out of the whole season, and pretty much they knew that like once the season aired, Taylor Frankie Paul was going to be shown with Dakota anyway. So to like bomb the whole thing, they pretty much just showed this video and kind of said, Okay, well, if you're gonna like make a mockery out of this, then we're gonna release it and like you know, kind of screw the pooch type of thing. But um, I don't know. I I don't know how this came to be really. Maybe like as the time when we're recording, I don't know, maybe they'll say where this came from. But I mean, someone had to leak the video to someone.

LaGuardia Crash And Safety Warnings

SPEAKER_00 10:15

And you know, the other thing that's interesting, too, which I don't understand why they're doing this, but the network is enforcing um that no talk clause that's in all their contracts. So not only are they not gonna show um the season of the bachelorette, but uh the people on the bachelorette cannot talk about it, period. They can't say I went. That probably surprised me a little bit that they did that.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

I did too. So yeah, I think it was a it's bad all around. It's a bad decision to have her on as the bachelorette. Like, I think she when she's normal and healthy, I feel like she does make good TV and she is like a reality personality, but that's not for like a show finding love. If anything, she'd be good on one of those like Fear Factor, you know, traitors or something like that. When but but obviously, too, if someone is throwing metal chairs with their kid nearby, they need to like not worry about being on TV, I think, and really go somewhere to make it safe for everyone and work on things until they're healthy.

SPEAKER_00 12:13

That is definitely true. That is definitely true. Well, the next topic is actually a sad one. Um, I'm quite sure everyone has heard by now, um, but there was a deadly crash at LaGuardia Airport. Um New York uh AP um has reported that an Air Canada jet carrying more than 70 passengers collided with a firetruck while landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, killing the pilot and co-pilot and injuring several others, officials said. Firetruck was crossing the TAMAC after being given permission to check on another plane recording an older on board. Before the collision, an air traffic controller can be heard on airport communications frantically telling the fire truck to stop. Roughly 20 minutes later, the controller appears to blame himself, saying, We're dealing, uh we're dealing with uh an emergency earlier. Uh the controller said, I messed up. Oh gosh. You know, I mean, this this to me drums up a lot of different conversations. We talked about with the shortage of air traffic controllers has gotten worse. Um, right now, I don't even know if air traffic controllers are being paid now because of the government shutdown. Um, and then we have more and more traffic in the air. So it's basically like this perfect fireball of things that can happen. And uh I I mean it's just amazing that that kind of mistake is made. And and granted, we're all human, we make mistakes, but um, this is a mistake that costs people's lives.

SPEAKER_01 14:14

Yeah, absolutely. I think I just saw that there was like they found a flight attendant still buckled into her seat, like nicely on, I think it was the Air Canada flight. And it's just so scary. Like, I live right by the Burbank Airport, and there's a lot of talk. Uh I think we talked about it a few weeks ago, where like someone went uh from the FAA went like on record saying there's going to be an accident if we don't uh you know take care of this because a lot of times like helicopters will kind of be in the way and everything. And it's like we have the professionals that can ring the alarm doing it, and a lot of times we just are like, yeah, it's not paid attention to or it's not taken seriously. And LaGuardia is such a busy airport, it's like thousands of thousands of people going in and out every day, and like a main it's this isn't like a little tiny small town. This is like in New York, you know, so it's just so sad and scary. Um, and then I think they're probably I think they shut the airport down, I would imagine, to until they can fix things.

SPEAKER_00 15:09

Yeah, as far as I can tell, um, the airport is still shut down. Um, but it's just it's just a real sad situation all the way around. And you know, I think the thing that's probably sadder than anything, Meryl, is that a lot of people are saying that even though this is horrific, it's not totally surprising. That's the scary part.

SPEAKER_01 15:32

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, very scary. I think I think in May I fly into LaGuardia. So I'm I'm almost like, I'm almost like, okay, look, I'll put that away from and and we have to remember, because I think especially as a fearful flyer, I think this can set people like me back a whole bunch of like, oh God, we worked to feel calm in the air, and now it's like this is another thing. We also have to remember, even though this is so sad and so tragic, like this is still so, so, so rare to happen. And I think flying is still really safe. So while this is tragic, like I wouldn't want anyone to not like travel or be too afraid to fly because I still think it's like I still have faith in our planes and our pilots and everyone.

SPEAKER_00 16:16

That's true. Um, I mean, even with this accident, flying is actually um the safest form of of travel uh out there. So yeah, it's very, very sad. Um, it kind of makes you a little nervous, and it just you know, just comes to all the craziness that's going on right now in this country. And exactly this doesn't make it any better.

SPEAKER_01 16:41

No, and it's so funny because I feel like you usually flying, fear of flying is such a specific thing, but now it's been so crazy that I can see why everyone would feel like apprehensive flying just because of all like the random needless mistakes, you know, it's just all these things.

SPEAKER_00 16:57

That's true, that's true. Um, a key question uh in my notes here for investigators will be examining coordination of the airport's air traffic and ground traffic at the time of the crash, said Mary Chaval, a former Department of Transportation Inspector General. I don't know how many wake-up calls uh the Federal Aviation Administration needs, but this has been happening for years, and sadly, some of the most horrific air crashes in history happened on the ground at the airport.

SPEAKER_01 17:31

Yeah.

The Oscars Carpet Dumpster Find

SPEAKER_00 17:32

And that's such a sad statement, but it's true. I mean, if you think about even just over the last few months, how many near misses, you know, yeah, planes clipping each other's wings, planes get too close, you know, air traffic controller has to tell someone to stop because they're about to cross the path of either a plane landing or or taking off. Something's gotta change. I mean, we can't keep doing this.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

No, and I've even seen like even from arriving, like the the lines are so so so long, and it's like hundreds of people deep, and then just to have that experience, and yeah, it's just in the and it's not like oh a huge thing happened and like the plane fell out of the sky. It's like this really could have been avoided, and it's like however many lives lost is too many by this, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:20

Oh, yeah. I mean, you know, some people are scared of flying and they're worried about the plane, you know, coming down. No one really thinks about losing their life while the plane's still grab.

SPEAKER_01 18:31

No, I'm I'm staying off of my uh fear of flying Reddit page that I'm usually on today because I don't want to, I don't want to do it. Well, um, yeah, we'll we'll keep flying, but we'll keep uh being scared at the same time. Okay, this next my next one, I'm I'm so excited, I'm obsessed with this one. Um, an LA woman, not me, took home a piece of an Oscar's red carpet. So uh an LA woman named Paige Thalia went viral after retrieving a section of the Oscar's red carpet from a Hollywood dumpster that morning after the ceremony. She told CBS Los Angeles that she had recently moved and got the idea because rugs are expensive, and she figured the carpet setup might be discarded after the event. Um, I am totally obsessed with this. And I think like it showed a video of her and the carpet looked like you know a little bit dirty, but I think that to me that's so funny and cool to like if I was gonna go visit my friend and they had an Oscar's carpet at their house, like I think that is so hilarious and a very funny, like silly thing to do. And it it's a good use of someone's free will in this lifetime.

FinTok Help Versus Money Misinformation

SPEAKER_00 19:42

I agree, and you know the thing too, Meryl, is uh a lot of people don't realize you know, they buy that carpet new. That's brand new carpet that they're putting down, yeah. And literally they're just throwing away. And what what's interesting about the story is she didn't just go dumpster diagnose, she actually asked permission and they said go help yourself. And yeah, I'm like, you know what? If they're gonna let you get that carpet, brand new carpet. I mean, worst case scenario, you may have to shampoo it or vacuum it, whatever. You may not shampoo it, but I mean, carpet is very expensive. And tell if you can get it for free, lay it down yourself, or get someone laying down, by all means. That is a great way of recycling.

SPEAKER_01 20:21

I think so too, and I think that's just so funny and to have in your house and such like a good conversation starter. And um, I I think that's hilarious. Like, I I love that.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

I'm actually surprised that the Oscars doesn't put out like an ad or or you know, on social media saying, hey, we're throwing out all this carpet, you know, I know let us know, and we'll give you permission to grab some carpet because it's better than just you know throwing it into a dumpster going into uh into a waste field, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 20:50

Totally, but they probably think in this day and age that someone would pick it up and like like get like a splinter in their nail and then like sue the Oscars. Someone will be like, I picked up the carpet and now my wrist is broken, and I'm now I'm suing the academy.

SPEAKER_00 21:06

So that is so true. That is actually a good story, though. I like that.

SPEAKER_01 21:13

Yeah, me too.

SPEAKER_00 21:15

What this is something interesting, and this is the fascination with fin tok. Merle, have you ever heard of the term fin talk before? Oh, yes, I have. Ah, okay. Well, for those of us who don't know or just finding out about this, fin tok, or as is professionally known as financial tick tock, is a popular subcommunity on TikTok dedicated to finance-related content, including budgeting, investing, saving, and cryptocurrency advice. Creators known as FinFlucers provide bice-sized ornament aimed at increasing financial literacy, but space carries risk of misinformation. So I actually like this. Now, of course, whenever you get information, I'll say internet, yeah, you definitely want to make sure you verify it first. But you know, some of the key aspects that I like is that it's content focused, covering debt repayment, stock trading, credit scores, taxes, and side hustles, often gaining billions of viewers under tags like uh hashtag personal finance and hashtag stock talk. Um, one of the things that I like about this, Merle, is that um, especially in the in the African-American community, financial literacy is not taught in schools. A lot of times you don't learn about financial literacy until you become well into your adulthood. Um, I would love to see that change because um once you know how how money works and about financial literacy, um, you're like a thousand, a thousand steps ahead of the game to me, once you graduate from high school. Um, but the thing is that uh a mix of everyday people are sharing personal finance journeys, professional, uh financial advisors, and influencers. Popularity resonates strongly with Gen Z and millennials seeking accessible financial education beyond traditional methods. Now, there are risks and benefits to this. While it helps normalize conversations about money and boost uh financial awareness, it can promote dangerous get-rich quick trends and non personalized advice. So you definitely want to make sure that you you check this stuff out before you do it. Um the comments and stuff about working budgets and stuff like that, knowing how credit works, definitely you want to do that. But you know, if you start seeing, hey, invest in this, you know, you'll triple your money, whatever, uh be a little careful about that.

SPEAKER_01 23:53

Exactly. Or especially if they end all their videos with like, and the only way to learn is to buy my course, or you know, if they're selling a course and then then I don't really want that either. I I think it's so interesting because it's like I think uh there's like a financial philosophy for everyone, and you can really curtail it to what you believe in life. Like I think some people like to save more and they're more interested in like learning how to cut corners and save and budget. I'm definitely of the mindset of like I'd rather kind of be sometimes a little sloppy with my money, but then just try to like earn more all the time. And I'm kind of more of like a let me just try to make more and like not invest energy too much into couponing and you know all that stuff. So I think anything is right as long as it works for someone. And I love that online there's like a community for everyone, whether you're trying to just make more money or you're trying to pay off debt. Um, but I know like you know, there's different philosophies for paying off credit cards, and I think it's just finding which one works for you and which one works for your family and your goals. Um, but yeah, like there's some financial influencers that I really look up to and I really like. And uh I always like the people too who aren't super braggy about it, like they tend to just be more normal, everyday people that are like more interested in just like financial freedom rather than flexing a million different things.

SPEAKER_00 25:18

That's true, that's true. I mean, I have to admit, this is probably one of the the the one of the more trends that I really do like, uh, because you know, people do benefit but this information. So I think this is a great thing.

SPEAKER_01 25:32

Yeah, definitely. And even growing up, like I didn't really want, I'm sure I'm not alone here that like once I first got credit cards, I was like, we, you know, like let's go. And so it and even to this day, I think with the addition of a firm and all these buy now pay later, like I've fallen victim to that too. So I think having people explain like why these things aren't a good idea, or if you're going to use your credit card, here's like a smart way to do it to earn more points. I think that's never a bad thing. And so um, I also love there's there's a lot of uh FinTalk people that even talk about like uh credit card points and how you can maximize like getting travel points with it and just using it in that way, and I feel like that's so cool.

SPEAKER_00 26:16

Oh, absolutely. I mean, if you use it the right way, um, especially if you have the right kind of credit card, you're gonna have to pay bills anyway. But if you almost pay your bills cash or just pay them off, you know, if you smart and you're disciplined, you know, you can use your credit cards, pay your bills, and then just pay the amount at the end of the month. You still don't have any debt. But what happens is is like you say, you start gaining points where, hey, maybe you get a free trip out of it, maybe you get a free airline ticket out of it. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 26:47

Yeah, yep. And I'm always interested too. Like I just watched some video about a family that it works for them where they outsource a lot of their other stuff, like laundry, other things, and they're not like super, super wealthy, but they do it because they want to be able to work even harder at their jobs to earn money, you know. So it's like every that may make no sense to some people, but but to some people that's like, oh, okay, yeah, let me pay for a meal delivery service so that I don't have to spend like three hours a week cooking and I'll spend those three hours, you know, at the law office that I work at or whatever. So um I think it's so interesting. I think part of like life is just finding like what money style works for you. And so I think it's cool that we have all these people available.

Inside The Manosphere And Masculinity Myths

SPEAKER_00 27:28

That's true, that's true. And actually, that's um a lot of people do that where if you're in a high-pay position, like a high paid sales position, and let's say it takes you a few hours to make a sale versus clean the house or cook dinner, it might be a better financial decision to put more money, put more time into making more money and paying other people for you know the miscellaneous stuff that needs to be done. Um, and then so for some people it actually makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 28:00

Exactly. Except I want to outsource everything. I'm like, okay, let me pay someone to make my coffee, do this, do this, but I just need to make more. So, yes. So um, I think that's wonderful. I'm a I love I I love Fin Talk. Um, wait, that was yours, right? I forgot if that was that was your that was your one.

SPEAKER_00 28:20

That was my one.

SPEAKER_01 28:22

Okay, yeah. Uh okay, my last one is oh my gosh, really interesting. There's a documentary now on Netflix called Inside the Manosphere uh by Louis Thoreau, a documentarian. And um basically he he follows around several male prominent influencers tied to kind of what's called like the manosphere culture, also also kind of caught called like red pill in some communities. You know, they call it like red pill, blue pill. This if you hear red pill, this is kind of what it means. Um and he follows around people, uh Harrison Sullivan, Myron Gaines, um, this guy known as Sneeko. Uh, and so pretty much they investigate this kind of growing ultra masculine online network, and they speak with influencers and podcasters for kind of the fringe. And this isn't like Joe Rogan, like more palatable. This is very like uh women or men should have like multiple wives and girlfriends, and like very some of their beliefs are kind of fringe. Um, uh it's a lot of different like beliefs on gender, power, masculinity, and relationships and stuff. So it's it's bringing up a lot of controversy about um now these people are a lot have a lot to do with even politics. You know, a lot of these people kind of had a lot to say about the elections, and that is seemed to have an influence on a lot of like younger males. And I don't know, my thought is like, because I definitely understand where some of this is coming from, but this community, I feel like some of the initial thoughts are correct, where it's like, oh, okay, like women want men to be masculine and stuff, but then they go a different then they like ruin it and instead of then they're like, oh, so that means we have to like cheat on our girls and have them, and I'm like, no, no, no, that's not what it means, or you know, and so I feel like there's there's some good seeds of what this group believes, but then it all turns to like I mean, honestly, one of the big things they believe is that like Jewish people are horrible and like uh to blame for a lot of the media like crisis, and just like a lot of it comes down to like hating Jewish people, which is super weird, but like a lot of their initial beliefs, I'm like, oh okay, I could get on board with that, and then it like spins off to just like absolute craziness. Um, so I don't know if you've heard of this documentary or if it's like familiar to you.

SPEAKER_00 30:49

I haven't heard of it, but um, I know to me there's a lot of uh misogynistic type of attitudes in this. Um probably some um racial bias that's in here. Um I think that uh if something's gonna be pure, it's pure. You can't have it both ways, where you have a good message coming out, and then all of a sudden, you know, they go off the deep end on the other side. Yeah, you know, that there's some stupid stuff out there that you hear people say. Like the one that that makes me cringe when I hear this is well, you know, if you're a successful man, you know, you're gonna cheat. No, you don't. You're just a cheater, you just make it all rules. Like, no. Exactly. Or yeah, you know, or you hear, and I know, and I I hate that that decision you said is like, well, the Jewish people run everything. You know, that's really kind of racist, you know, to say that kind of crime. Or where if it's this kind of crime, it's a black person, white person. You know, that stuff is real cringy, and I I don't like any of that nonsense, you know.

SPEAKER_01 31:52

I know, and this uh documentary like showed it's funny because all of the people they profiled, like, yes, they have these giant houses and Miami and cars and everything, but then their actual like familial structure is like not one I would ever want in a million years, where like the wife is in some other house with the kids and like knows that the husband is out, you know, having relations with other women, and it's just it's like what what they're offering in lifestyle is actually not that appealing. And I think most people wouldn't really want that. Like, it's like okay, you could be in Miami like by yourself working out, but it's like you don't really have like a warm family or like actual, probably real friends or anything. So and I I'm someone that I actually I don't hate these men as much as I think a lot of like people do. Um, and I it's like I can see how they're thinking where it's kind of like counterculture, but then it just goes off to like bizarre, wrong things, you know.

SPEAKER_00 32:49

So oh yeah, I mean, I think what it does, it just kind of shows um how some of these people think. Um, just because a person has money doesn't mean they're a good person. And yeah, unfortunately, there's a lot of people out there that have these sick beliefs, and you know, you gotta be careful who you deal with. Um, and again, the way a person acts in a boardroom may not be that same person in the household.

SPEAKER_01 33:16

Exactly, yeah. And it's funny because I I think most women would agree that like what they think is masculine, we're like, no, no, no, give us like men that are like you know, like setting up a camping area and being nice to everyone, and like I think I think they're a little bit confused on like real masculinity. And I don't mean it in like a patronizing way, I mean it in like a real way, you know, because I I I think they're they have like a weird view of masculinity.

SPEAKER_00 33:41

Yeah, I I think that everyone's entitled to their own opinion on what they think masculine tea is, but I think it's up to that individual man to determine if if they feel they're a masculine male or not, because some men may feel that hey, you know, um I'm a masculine man, I like working on my cars, I'm not paying for all change, I'll do my own. Um I'm here to tell you I'm not doing any of those things.

SPEAKER_01 34:10

Yes, I have exactly, but but what you're not doing is like sitting that sitting around like rating women on their looks and being like you're a sick, so you're worthless, and you're like, I think the real men I know like love all types of women, even as friends or just like you know, peers. Yeah, like these women have people on their podcast and they're so crazily mean about like their physical appearance and everything that it's just like that's not what like real men do.

Dancing Robot Meltdown At Hot Pot

SPEAKER_00 34:37

Oh, and here's the reality of it a lot of people are gonna disagree with this comment, but there is no such thing as an ugly man or ugly woman. Reason why I say that is you can line 10 men up and put one woman in front of them. Every last one of those men is gonna have a different view of that woman. Some of them, wow, she's beautiful, I like her. Some people are like, uh, she's not my type, I don't think she looks too nice. And you can switch that and do the same thing. You can have 10 women line up and put one man in front of them. Some women could be like, oh, he's handsome. I really like him, you know. I like his manner, this and that. Some are like, no, he's not my type, uh, I don't like his body style. So that's why I say there is no such thing as ugly, it's preference. Everyone has a preference, and there's nothing wrong with that. But to say that a woman's ugly or a man is ugly, it doesn't exist. Because again, exactly may see it one person one way, another person may see it a different way.

SPEAKER_01 35:34

Yeah, a hundred percent. But it's really interesting if people are are interested in this type of world, it's it's good, and I actually think the guy Luis Darau did a good job of not like he didn't humiliate them, he didn't he just kind of showed what was up, and I think that's the way to do it. And and even like some of this group on like a Venn diagram, I believe what they believe like conspiracy-wise, a lot of times, but then when it goes into like, and this is because Jewish people are bad, I'm like, wait, no, like that's not the that's not the case.

SPEAKER_00 36:06

That is true. Well, my last topic is actually a funny one. So girl, you may have heard about this. Have you heard about the the uh the the rock the dancing robot in the restaurant?

SPEAKER_01 36:23

Um oh yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 36:27

Well, for other people that maybe haven't heard about this, staff in a California restaurant had to restrain a dancing robot after it went out of control. And for some of you people looking going dancing robot, yes. Uh this month, March 2026, staff at the Dalio Hot Pot restaurant in Corporino, California had to physically restrain a humanoid dancing robot after began smashing tableware and shaking uncontrollably near a customer's table. The incident which was caught on video required multiple staff members to finally gain control of the machine, which was performing uh in a confined space.

SPEAKER_01 37:18

So funny. I love like the robot meltdowns. I saw the video and it looks insane.

SPEAKER_00 37:24

It's so crazy, and I'm sitting there like, wow, okay. Yep. So um the incident, uh, the robot was dancing to a popular song. Must have really put him over the edge, I guess. Um the movements became too broad for the space, resulting in it knocking over plates and utensils, causing a scene for diners. So the restaurant statement said that um stated to NBC News that the robot was not malfunctioning, but rather uh was operating in a close than usual setting at a guest request. Doesn't make me feel good here. No, no. So tell me, Merle, if you were in the restaurant and they had this dancing robot and it just like went ballistic and started breaking plates and cups and stuff, would you get up and leave or would you still still be?

SPEAKER_01 38:19

I would get up and leave immediately because like I I don't know what it's gonna happen with like the steak knives or the the glasses or you know, like before they go over to the kitchen and start like chucking carrots at me or something. I'm I'm leaving because I don't know where it's gonna go.

SPEAKER_00 38:33

I don't know. I I I think that we're maybe a little bit too early having a robot serve people because I agree with you. You're talking about glasses, yeah, knives, forks, and to hear it say multiple people, I have to restrain them. Now, one person online had a good question, in fact, a few people, and this may be a dumb question, but why didn't they just put an off button on it? Just say it.

SPEAKER_01 39:01

That's true, exactly. There has to be some type of like just just unplug it and start over, like when your computer's not working.

SPEAKER_00 39:08

Because I'm thinking, Joe, that would have really stopped it right then and there.

SPEAKER_01 39:14

Yeah, I also I also think too, you don't I wonder if it could overpower, like, you know, it's gonna overpower the hostess and the chefs, and and then there's frying pans and like a lot of like heat back there. I don't I don't want to know what could happen.

SPEAKER_00 39:28

Yes, yes. I'm wondering if they're gonna put that robot back in uh service and let them continue to dance in front of people.

SPEAKER_01 39:37

I think so.

SPEAKER_00 39:40

Yeah, I think people are trying to rush into this uh AI and robot thing a little bit too fast for me.

SPEAKER_01 39:47

Yeah, yeah. There's a video I'll have to, I think I've talked about it before, but there's one where it's like the uh they're testing a robot in the kitchen and it's like falling on the floor, and then like all the like the pan of eggs comes down, and it's like the robot is now slipping on the eggs, and like every time I watch it, I'm I'm like crying, laughing. So I feel like that's gonna be a new trend in 2026, is like robot melt meltdown videos, the same way that we had like America's funniest home videos.

SPEAKER_00 40:13

That's true, that's true. And something tells me maybe those two robots are related. What do you think?

SPEAKER_01 40:19

Yeah, they're cousins for sure, but then they'll probably like fight to the death one day by accident.

SPEAKER_00 40:27

Well, Merrill, what do you have coming up?

SPEAKER_01 40:32

Oh my goodness. Um, well, let's see. Next week I have I'm at Flappers. Um, I've mentioned this a bunch of times, but my good friend Miles, um, a comedian Miles Otway has a show called Miles Mates, and it's um Tuesday, March 31st at Flappers and Burbank.

SPEAKER_00 40:52

All right, everyone, if you in the area, please go out and support Mel. Uh Merrill would love to see you. I would. Not the robots, though. You go on stage and all of a sudden half of the half of the the audience is robots.

SPEAKER_01 41:10

I mean, honestly, sometimes they're bet that would be like a welcome change to what's happening in real life, but sometimes I don't even know what what the audience is, but but yeah, it's great.

SPEAKER_00 41:21

That's true. That's true. Well, everyone, thank you so much for watching us. Thank you for supporting us. Please continue to watch us on lrodtvnetwork.com. LROTTVnetwork.com, besides our show, you'll also have the opportunity to see other things as well. Or you can continue to listen to us on all of your major podcast platforms. So we're on Spotify, we're on YouTube, uh, iHeart, Apple, and all the other major ones as well. So thank you again. I'm Lawrence Elrod. I'm Merrill Quemo. Bye, everyone.