Comedian & pop culture critic Jolenta Greenberg has a theory: reality TV isn’t ruining culture - it is culture. Join her and a cast of sharp, funny guests as they dig into the details behind the drama and unpack why we can’t get enough of those iconic scenes and unforgettable characters. This is the place for highbrow conversations about “lowbrow” TV
All seasons By the Book & How to Be Fine are also in this feed. To hear back episodes, just scroll down!
Chart trend
Position in the TV Reviews chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#97#193JunJulAugSep
#21
all-time peak
39
days in the top 50 since Aug 2025
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Zack Attack: The Nemesis Archetype
Zack Wickham from The Valley is a polarizing character, you love him or he drives you nuts. Either way, it’s because of his archetype that you feel some type of way about
Sep 1 23 min
Tinsley the Victorian Ghost Child with Laura Mayer
Jolenta is joined by author Laura Mayer (Tryhard) to talk about a moment from Real Housewives of New York City that flew under the radar - the time Tinsley did a multi-la
Aug 25 1 h 14 min
Amanda Batula’s Journey to Pessimism
Why did we all start hating Amanda? Obviously because she betrayed her best friend. But why did she do that? What led her to think that was okay? The answer will surprise
Aug 18 27 min
Salt Lake Sprinter Surveillance with Jonquilyn Hill
Jolenta is joined by journalist Jonquilyn Hill (Explain It to Me) to talk about that time Britani Bateman recorded the ladies fighting in a sprinter van on The Real House
Aug 11 55 min
Sonja Morgan the Joker
When you think of old money you don’t think of ad-lib burlesque shows - unless you’re thinking of Sonja Morgan. She’s the epitome of the Joker Archetype. Join Jolenta for
Aug 4 29 min
Just Be Cool with JoAnna Ross
Jolenta is joined by comedian JoAnna Ross (You Only Wear it Once) to discuss a very cool favorite scene: the “just be cool” scene from RHONY Legacy. Together, the two div
Jul 28 1 h 22 min
Dammit Janet: Why Don’t We Like Janet?
Even though The Valley’s Janet is often right, she drives lots of us nuts - BUT WHY? This week Jolenta introduces us to the Investigator Archetype, part of the Rival fam
Jul 21 30 min
The Secret Lives of Mormon Husbands with Honeydew Me
Jolenta is joined by Cass Anderson and Emma Norman from the wonderful Honeydew Me Pod, to talk about one of their favorite scenes from season four of Secret Lives of Morm
Jul 14 1 h 13 min
Mentor Hubbard: Analyzing Lindsay Hubbard
This week Jolenta does a deep dive on Lindsay Hubbard and The Mentor Archetype. The star of Summer House and In the City gives off strong mentor vibes. The Mentor loves t
Jul 7 34 min
A Special Announcement
Jolenta has some news, not unlike many cast members of In The City...
Hit up the poll on the HMT Insta
Stay tuned for the next regular ep dropping shortly!
Learn more a
Jul 2 4 min
We Love New York with Jazmine Henley-Brown
Jolenta is joined by TV critic and podcaster, Jazmine Henley-Brown (The Queue, Reality with the King) to talk about a classic reality TV moment - when Flavor Flav rejects
Jun 25 57 min
Bummer House - The Aftermath
In the final installment of our Bummer House Recap Series, Jolenta dives into all aspects of the surprise Aftermath episode. Is Amanda getting a victim Edit? Can we trust
Jun 18 40 min
Bummer House - Reunion Part 3
It’s time to sit down with Jolenta and discuss Part 3 of the Summer House Reunion. There’s much to analyze: Is West a sociopath or just a pathy? How do you show up to a r
Jun 12 44 min
Bummer House - Reunion Part 2
Jolenta dives into the Summer House Reunion, Part 2. It’s time to recap and overanalyze the behavior of our favorite reality characters during the most upheaval their sho
Jun 5 49 min
Bummer House - Reunion Part 1
Jolenta dives into the Summer House Reunion Part 1. No stone is left unturned, everything is analyzed. What was with West and Amanda’s demeanor? Why does Amanda’s relatio
May 29 57 min
Bummer House - Summer House Season 10 Finale Recap
This week Jolenta recaps the highly anticipated Summer House season 10 finale! Join her for in depth analysis of West's flaws, Ciara's perfection, and Amanda's tendency t
May 21 51 min
Bummer House - A Summer House S10 E15 Recap
Jolenta pauses our regularly scheduled programming to do a special recap of this week’s Summer House episode. All hot topics are addressed: breaking bravo news, the concl
May 14 32 min
Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind with Katie Compa
Jolenta is joined by comedian Katie Compa (new special, Incurable Optimist out now!) to talk about a revealing reality TV moment from Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Re
May 7 54 min
Lovergirl: The Ciara Miller Story
This week Jolenta does a deep dive on Summer House’s Ciara Miller, and The Lover archetype. The Lover is that magical loving person that all the other characters are draw
Apr 30 31 min
The Dinner Party From Hell with Margaret Ables
Today we finally tackle The Dinner Party From Hell from season one of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Jolenta is joined by the wonderful Margaret Ables (What Fresh
Apr 23 1 h 03 min
Chart positions
Where Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 6, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
I’m a fan of By the Book. I totally understand and agree that these wonderful, talented hosts deserve to be compensated fairly for the awesome work they do. At the same time, this would be my most expensive single podcast subscription, if I understand the pricing tiers correctly, and slightly more expensive than a few of my streaming/audio/reader subscriptions as well. I’m usually quick to jump on my fave creators’ Patreons; this one is just a bit steep. Also, the scripted tone of the show stands out to me lately. I’m not sure when that shifted.
Shalma M. · Nov 2024
I’ve been following this podcast for years and I love every iteration this show has taken. I adore Kristen and Jolenta. Their thoughtfulness and vulnerability and senses of humor with their lives has gotten me through many tough situations. (Nursing school, my parents getting a divorce as an adult, my partner’s chronic illness, and the pandemic, to name a few). I just moved and this season about friendship is being so helpful and fun as I strike out on yet another adventure!
P.S. I just learned that they BOTH use handkerchiefs. So cute and charming.
sopey2000 · Oct 2024
Jolenta and Kristen are two smart, funny, kind women who review past and current self help type topics and give well considered, compassionate advice to folks who write in about a sorts of issues.
PBlue1968 · Jan 2024
I used to dip in occasionally to “By the Book” and always enjoyed it, but wasn’t a regular listener. I recently heard Kristen talking about the revamped format when she was a guest on another podcast, and I LOVE the direction they’ve taken and the down-to-earth approach to cutting through hype, finding the truth and value, if any, in [hot topic], and bringing context and perspective to the conversation. Thank you, Kristen and Jolenta!
bklne · Jan 2024
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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
