On Jeff’s radio show today he spoke a bit about tonight’s episode. Everything seems to have gone to hell when Lea Black decided to interview the employees on Jeff’s behalf so some unknown reason. Jeff says that Jenni told Lea that working at JLD was humiliating for her and she wanted to be an actress. Really Jenni? Being on a hit Bravo show is humiliating? Didn’t you voluntarily make a commercial for toilets? Jeff claims that Jenni embarrassed and angered him with that comment. He goes on to say that the thing with Lea was supposed to be a supportive and encouraging space. When has JLD ever been supportive and encouraging? Jeff says that Jenni worked part time for him five months out off the and Jeff allowed her time off for auditions and she had the seven months of the year totally free to work in show business.
Jeff and Gage tell us to pay attention to a lie that Jenni told at the very beginning of the episode that gets obfuscated by the end as she tries to make the issue about something else. They both say this is the best episode of the season because it has the least amount of editing and is show in real time. Jeff said he wished he would have handled it differently. It was not losing a friend over, even though she lied, he regrets how he handled it. Jeff says there are not right sides in this situation both of them were wrong.
Okay, let’s start the show! We start with Jenni drying her tears in an interview, and with Jeff in a separate interview looking sad with his head bowed. They are both taping their finale interviews of the season.
But first we flash back to find out how it all came to this. And it starts with Lea Black. Jeff apparently thought the best way to work Lea in to the final episode would be to have her give a seminar to his employees. Apparently, she is there to motivate Jeff’s employees to be more productive. You know what would make them more productive Jeff? Not constantly mocking them. Seconds before Lea walked in Jeff and Gage were mocking the young gay kids white pants. That’s highly inappropriate behavior right there and would be cause for a sexual harassment suit at any other business. It’s not a good look to start off with.
Lea says that it all starts with attitude and gratitude. Apparently she means the employees, not Jeff and Gage. I’ll spare you all the other excerpts from Tony Robbins sermons that are so very popular with west coast celebrities. It was just a regurgitation of a Tony Robbins cult follower.
Jeff then takes the floor to say he would love to hear feedback without anyone being afraid to speak up. This is a trap and I can’t believe anyone is falling for it! The new guy says his background as an architect is being underutilized. Megan smartly say she has no complaints. Lea randomly says everyone needs to have business cards when talking to the young man in the white pants.
And then we get to Jenni. She says that she had two choices, she has another career she pursues and she could have put this opportunity to the side and said she wasn’t going to do this anymore, it’s humiliating to her and focus just on acting. She chose not to do that. Jeff points out that the conversation at the moment is how to improve JLD business. In his talking head he says he has been questioning how present Jenni has been with JLD lately. No one seems angry after this is over. It certainly doesn’t seem like the end of a very long friendship.
But when Jenni leaves the room, Jeff starts badmouthing her to the rest of the company. He says they were talking about how to improve the company not her nonexistent acting career. He admits he is really mad.
Next, Lea, Jeff, Jenni, Megan and Tyler are out to lunch together. Leas says that she never knew that Jenni wanted to be an actress. This seems to irk Jenni who tells Lea that of course she knew that. She wanted to be on SNL, she had a one woman comedy show, she wanted to move to NYC. Lea says she should audition for sitcoms because she would be good at that. Jenni says that she doesn’t audition anymore. She seems bitter about that. On the radio show Jeff said that Jenni only worked a few days a week and he was always flexible with her schedule if she had auditions. Jenni says to go full force with auditions she may need to be off four days a week and he would not be okay with it. This is right after the Tony Robinson sermon and these two are simmering in anger.
Jeff says that he doesn’t believe that Jenni would blow off a good audition to come in to work for him. Jenni says that is absolutely not true. Jenni starts to tell a story about two years ago when she could have gone to talk to a head guy at NBC about sitcoms and she chose to work for Jeff instead. How the hell is that Jeff’s fault? Jeff says he doesn’t believe her. She never turned down some dream acting job to be his assistant. Jenni says that since the day she met Jeff he has minimized her acting. While they are arguing, Lea is laughing hysterically. What’s up with that? Jenni says that he has mocked everything she has ever done including her rapping. I believe that. But Jenni chose to stay.
Jeff says that Jenni has been in every room in LA trying to get acting roles and nothing has worked. He suggests that she reflect on why she hasn’t gotten the roles she has wanted and assess how to make changes to her strategy. Jenni says she has things she doesn’t tell him about. So she is hiding some major roles somewhere? Jeff says that he thinks Jenni is embarrassed to be his assistant and he is more than willing to accommodate any auditions she has. That was good, Jeff. Right until you added “which is not very often” to the end of that sentence. These two know how to push each others buttons. Lea keeps randomly laughing as if this is somehow funny. Megan and Tyler are mortified by the entire situation. On the way out Jenni sarcastically thanks Lea for her help.
We move on to the car to head to work. Jenni forgot Jeff’s schedule and goes running back to get it and almost gets hit by a car. Once everyone is safely en route, Lea starts in on Jenni with more of her not so inspirational at all memes and platitudes. Then Jenni tells the lie that he was referring to on the radio show. She claims she had some great role last year that she was offered but she didn’t take it because it would have meant two weeks off of work at JLD. First of all, unless it was during filming, she wouldn’t be working for him at all. Secondly, she never mentioned it to Jeff her BFF. Jeff says she talks about every little thing she does with her acting pursuits. I believe him when he says she would have definitely told him about an actual offer. The role is now supposedly a movie with Nicolas Cage. Jeff tells her she is lying and there is no way she would not have told him about that immediately.
I should take a moment her to point out that Meghan is in the middle of the back seat with Tyler on one side and Jenni on the other. Meghan is practically sitting on his lap and they are both staring out the window as if they are looking for a safe place to flee. Jeff calls Jenni a liar multiple times. I agree with Jeff on this.
Jeff said the first 27 minutes of the episode are completely linear for a change and follow this fracture in their relationship very accurately. We return from commercial still in the car! Now Jenni is changing her story. She didn’t get an offer to be in a Nicolas Cage movie, they wanted her to come in and film some tape. Oh Jenni. This is not a good look for you. Meghan is trying to stick up for Jenni but she is quite literally stuck in the middle of this shit storm. Jenni says that she is sick of Jeff being mean to her. He’s been way worse than this over the seasons. All he is doing is saying she doesn’t come to work everyday and leave acting jobs on the table to carry around his schedule and be the soothsayer with the clients Jeff pisses off all the time.
Finally we get to the lighting store and everyone is stressed except Lea who seems to be having the time of her life. Since when does it take five people to purchase lighting? Lea continues her loud cackling all the way into the store. Is she drunk? Then Lea randomly tells Jenni she sort of knows how she feels because her husband doesn’t believe her whenever she tells him about new projects she is working on. Jenni says Jeff respects Lea but doesn’t respect her. You can tell that Jenni is furious. Her chest is bright red. A gaudy light fixture is found among the chaos of the browsers and the lighting.
Back to the car we go.That has to be vodka in Lea’s water bottle. She now tells Jeff that he should apologize for calling her a liar. Jeff says he doesn’t think she lies about everything. Lea asks Jenni how she is feeling right now and she breaks down crying and says she is done. Jeff’s face is tense. Tyler is in the middle seat this time and puts his arm around Jenni to try to comfort her. She is crying hysterically and tells Lea that she can’t continue to be in this environment if that is truly who he thinks she is. Jeff sends Jenni home early because she is too upset to work.
Back in the office Gage is given the rundown. Jeff sent her a text telling her to take a week off and that he will reach out and talk to her then. Gage says that the relationship between Jeff and Jenni is a dysfunctional brother and sister one.
Finally we get to some job sites. I’m already approaching two thousand words for this recap so I’m not going to cover the logistics of the site issues too much. Old Hollywood looks fantastic and I believe recently sold for a good price.
Jeff, Tyler, Meghan, and Jeff’s business partner Julie go out to lunch. Jeff lets her know that he has fired Frankie and Paul, Meghan is quitting and Jenni has taken a week leave of absence and he plans to meet with her right afterward.
The sitdown with Jeff and Jenni is going down. Jeff gets up to give her a hug. She tells Jeff he looks good. He brags about losing five pounds. Jeff apologizes to Jenni for losing his cool with her. Jeff says that he needed the week apart to process what was going on with them. He says what he heard is that she isn’t where she wanted to be in her acting career and it was his fault because she had sacrificed so much for him. He tells her he was really hurt by that. But after he thought about it for a few days he realized that she probably did turn down some things to be there on Wednesdays to help him with designs for Alder & Tweed. He understands where she is coming from. He apologizes again. This is going well.
Jenni says she just doesn’t want him to get to that level again not just with her but with anyone. To me this fight wasn’t any worse than others they have had, but clearly for her it was the straw that broke the camels back. She also says it wasn’t sacrifice for her to work there, it was her decision. Then she says that she felt minimized. I can see that. Jeff does constantly mock people sarcastically. I don’t think he realizes how hurtful that is. After the break Jenni says the same thing. He doesn’t realize how many things he says are actually hurtful. Also, as a father, she doesn’t want him to ever say someones dreams are stupid because they are not. Jeff agrees that he wants to support whatever Monroe wants to do. He also believes in Jenni’s talent and wants to support her too. Jeff tells her he believes in her and thinks she will accomplish all of her dreams. This is going exceptionally well.
Except Jenni is still mad. She says she was hurt that he said she never wanted to work for him. Well, she said a lot to give him that impression. And she is angry he repeatedly called her a liar. Again, I don’t believe her. Sorry. She is hurt that he would ask her to be the godmother to his child and invest his time with her if he thought she was a liar. Jeff says he doesn’t think she is a liar. They seem to have both listened to one another and seem ready to move forward. Jeff tells her Anthony quit. I have a feeling that was the hot underutilized architect. Yes it was the architect. Jeff said Anthony quitting made it clear to him that he is holding Jenni back from her dreams. Jeff says for his dreams to expand, he needs employees whose goals and dreams align with his goals and dreams.
Jeff gives her the most polite firing in the history of the world. Jenni didn’t see that coming. In Jenni’s finale interview she cries and says the future is scary with Jeff. Oddly Jeff uses the same description in his final interview when he says it is scary to move on without Jenni.
Wow that was a lot. Jeff claims that after this lunch Jenni went batshit with Bravo and made several allegations to them about a hostile work environment. Jenni denies this. Jeff said she may or may not have made an official complaint to the Bravo suits but that lawyers flew down from NYC to interview both of them so it sure felt like an official investigation. Tons of raw footage was viewed and Bravo found no evidence of inappropriate behavior by Jeff. Jeff was hurt and appalled by the allegations.
So do you think this will be the last episode of Flipping Out? I really thought I would be more on Jenni’s side, but I’m not. I do not believe that the Nicolas Cage story had any truth to it at all. What do you think? Can the show go on from here? Will you miss it if it is gone? No decisions about the upcoming season have been made yet.
Jeff called his first partner a liar, and booted him out of the business. We’ve seen Vanina cry, Zoila cry, Jenni cry, how many nameless assistants come and go. If I were Gage, I would have my own money, my own separate bank accounts, and my name on Monroe’s birth certificate.
Is Gage not on her birth cert? I agree with you 100%.
Jeff is the bio dad; i think they are planning on having another with Gage’s sperm so they both have bio kids …
if a ‘divorce’ day ever comes for them, it will be ugly. i’ve been doing entertainment divorces for almost two decades (stenographer) and there is NOTHING meaner, dirtier than a divorce that involves kids and money.
The way they did the last surrogate dirty (allegedly), it may be a little more difficult getting another one. They have money so they will obviously find someone, but it may be a bit more challenging to find someone up to their standards.
Jeff and Gage are not married.
I completely agree with HarmonyHW. I hope Gage has been smart with every aspect of his life with Jeff from Monroe to finances. I wouldn’t trust Jeff Lewis as far as I could throw him. Perhaps he and Lea Black could go into business together?
I feel like there will be another season and it will be Lea replacing Jenni as jeff’s female foil. The only problem with that is Lea is sort of a female Jeff. The female friend of Jeff needs to be someone more likeable than Jeff like Zoila or Jenni…
More likable than Jeff is a low bar on most days. Although, Flipping Out is my fave Bravo show, and I watch every episode religiously. I do believe Jeff has a big heart, and loves his friends. His temper? Awful…. Don’t hurt his feelings, and don’t give him a chance to see your own vulnerabilities, and you’ll be fine. Jeff…don’t hire your friends anymore!
Why would you want a friend you can’t reveal yourself to out of fear your feelings will be used against you. Jeff is damaged. He is mean. Everyone will leave him. Gage will leave. He will take Monroe. Jeff is exhibit A in the argument that it is in Monroe’s best interest to be with gage not jeff.
There may be a lot of truth on Lea becoming a foil to Jeff. However it must be said, Jeff n Jenny became those siblings… I have 8 brothers, we all bounce off each other in both positive n negative ways. Jeff n Jenny both expressed views in a forum where words do not go away. Lea has none of that background so it is an uphill battle. Should this argument had happened off camera, more forgiveness may have happened before boiling point. However, now both should look at their responses. Forget their business ties, they care for each other. Let that lead them. Lea can bridge the gap until then, but so many of us are invested in what we know. Real closure for them should happen.
I am hoping you are right and Flipping Out will continue. I’m not sure how I feel about Lea Black possibly being Jeff’s female foil. I like her though so we’ll see. I have never found Zoila to be very likable. She has always gotten on my nerves and I was happy when she retired.
In this case it has been Jeff who created the dynamic n Jenny played to it. No matter if it was Zoila, Jenny, Paul or whoever. Jeff played his part. He needs to accept or change. She needs to accept her decisions to placate n collect the check. The blame game only works if you can walk away. Neither can say this is a true unemcumbered outcome.
Agree. I mean didn’t TT explain earlier this is really Jenni’s show & she worked for Bravo, not JLD. That makes this whole episode kind of bizarre anyway. Also, when I look at Jenni, I see someone playing a role on FO who is now a mother with 2 young children, husband & all of that life. So the earlier pursuit of acting roles comes with all that scheduling if it ever worked out for her. There’s a core issue here with Jenni being called a liar likely. Lea’s advice to audition for a sit com WS actually great advice in LA. Eileen worked all those years in the soaps & raising her family. And she wouldn’t have to travel with JLD….Also, I noted the white pants comment too early in episode. Anywhere else that is harassment in the work place. The network makes a lot of dough on this series—-it’s all a s—tfest. I believe Jenni did go after Jeff to the network. Unsure if show will be back. The show also turns on Jeff’s combined talent & inappropriate direct insulting behavior…..how much did Jenni make in this “job” with Bravo?
Oh gosh this is hard for me. There is WP harassment… But, it takes a lot. Derogatory components aside, the proof requires a lot. One of the reasons I have bowed out. Better to say FU then starts pursuing things and I am a 50 year old Hispanic woman who has heard the gamut from my employers. Its a true undertaking to start a law suit with these accusations.
Zoila never liked Gage. She could see right through him. Gage smiled when hearing about the blow up. Jeff and Gage would be Impossible to work for or watch.
I quit watching for a couple of seasons because he was just too gross and mean. Now I remember why. She didn’t deserve this. No one does. Yuck. Yeah. I’m done. I listened to his radio show the other day and he was such a suck up to the guest. There is nothing endearing about either he or Gage.
I am actually more on Jenni’s side with this one. I don’t believe the Nic Cage stuff, but I think she has just taken enough of his abuse. She is the only constant he has had in all the seasons of this show, every single person has left him and she feels stabbed by the firing after taking all his shit. I see Jeff’s points and feel many are valid, but his reactionary combat has lost him this for me.
I don’t think there will be another season of this show. Him and Jenni were the yin and yang. Their relationship will not recover from this.
I also think none of this fight would have happened if Lea Black did not continue instigating
I agree with you BlahBlah! I dont care for Lea Black at all. She strikes me as a mean girl hiding under the umbrella of “nice” and “helpful”, when all the time she is enjoying whatever shitstorm is occurring. Her insane cackling at Jeff and Jenni’s misfortune was very telling. I think she was the cause of some if it. She should have kept her big mouth shut.
Omg thank you for saying this. I couldn’t believe she was laughing like this was all some fun game. I feel like she urged Jeff to get rid of Jenny bc she’s a thirsty woman who wants her face on tv no matter what. If she hadn’t been there this wouldn’t have happened. She was laughing the entire time! Her plan was totally working.
Funny you should say that about Lea Black and Jeff going into business together. This all started a couple of episodes back when Lea told Jeff he should be at a higher level, at the international level. Jeff agrees and decides it his employees holding him back. then Lea is brought in to give a motivational presentation to the group and two people wind up fired. I think Lea is stirring the pot for her own benefit. I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts to work with Jeff and becomes more and more involved in his business.
Oh Lord, let’s hope not. But that could be the basis of the whole thing. If Jeff threw Jenni over for Leah and that becomes “public” it will not go well for Jeff Lewis Designs.
I agree. Jeff used to be Amy it he hurts people. He pushes and pushes and pushes to see what their breaking point is and then is surprised when they leave
I love Jenni and I decided to stop watching once the surrogate sued – I completely believe her! And I just kept up with the recaps bc I wanted to know about what happened to Jenni.
To be true I am resistant to say either is wrong. Jeff did go overboard but he had reasons. Jenny was right but the hurt added tension. What she has done previously is added to the suspect action. He’s been dismissive of her comedic antics also. Yet, both luv each other n opened themselves. Truth is, it was a bad situation, magnified by cameras. Both need to step back n reevaluate. Playing to the crowd becomes old when they leave and you are standing alone.
TT, super recap, thank you so much! I wish we could have all sat down together and watched this episode as a family!
I freely admit that I love Jeff, and I agreed with him that Jenni was lying about the Nicholas Cage movie. How could she blame Jeff for life choices she made as an intelligent adult woman?? As a business owner, he is absolutely within his rights to only want employees who want to work full time, and whose ambitions and goals mesh with his. It’s a business, not a charity. Did he let himself get too angry at Jenni, and was he too angry in front of his other employees?? You bet, and he owes them all apologIes. But he’s been an accommodating boss, and he’s been who he’s been since Day 1. If you don’t like his business, you aren’t an indentured servant.
I’ve always liked Jenni, and she had one heck of a good deal at JLD. She hasn’t really “worked” there in years, and she made a lot of money, and got famous. I think she’s unfairly blaming Jeff for her lack of progress in her acting career, as she wanted it to go.
I’ll miss this show terribly. I hope they all come to some peace with each other.
Brilliant lady, I concur every point. Jenni being busted lying is the reason she was so awkward on WWHL. I won’t miss Jenni but I would love to see the show pivot into more flips and Monroe. Now that Jenni is free let’s see how many movies she books.
I do NOT think it was an intentional lie. None of us really know what she was told. She may have been led to believe something that they had no intention of honoring. Again…..WE don’t know.
To be called a liar is the worst. Especially, if you care/love someone. Jeff emphatically said it many, many times. It must have dug at her soul. Hash, good handle given your comment.
It was an intentional lie. When Jeff called her out on it she backpedalled and said it was an offer to tape an AUDITION and that she was sure she was going to get it. The is the admission of the lie. But that too was a lie because if she had an opportunity she would have told Jeff. She tells him everything. They were close friends. There was no reason not to tell him.
I also don’t think it is harsh to say let’s see what bookings come her way now that she is free of the highest paying job she has ever had. She cut off her nose to spite her face, realized it and then went to the Bravo suits to try to screw Jeff over.
Exactly. She was shocked that he actually “fired” her.
That Bravo money was already part of her household budget. She involved Bravo suits to get a final payout, in my opinion.
Orthopedic surgeon money and Bravo money do not compare.
The 2 paychecks together make a great lifestyle and new fabulous house with plenty of money left over.
I like Jenny but she has amnesia, I remember her first husband and their situation .
She has made out pretty well by sticking with Jeff.
I agree with everything you said. I really hope we get another season.
This.?
The whole movie thing last year, I have a problem with. She had her second daughter in June of 2017. Given how hard it was for her to get pregnant, I doubt she would have risked too much. Secondly, and I must justify this comment, I am not picking on Jenni’s looks; I am pointing out that if she were serious as an actress, she would have had more work done to her face. The housewives have all had more work done. Let’s face it, Hollywood is ageist. I was surprised at her reaction when Jeff let her go, it sounded like that was what she wanted.
Wtf???? I’m just going to sit back and watch THIS take-down!
Character actress is what I believe Jenni would have gone for-not “babe” roles. There is nothing wrong with how she looks. She wrote the WWHL theme song so we know she has musical talent. IDK, this is heartbreaking. Jeff is a prick, Jenni a pushover, Gage is a eunuch and Lea WAS probably drunk. No bueno.
The WWHL theme song shows how talented she is?
I couldn’t write the theme song for WWHL. They even changed it for a while and as soon as it came back I know I was satisfied. Jenny is talented.
Well said. Jenni had a great thing going with Jeff. Work very little, make tons of money and have many months off. Now the gravy train has left the station. I think she realizes it now. My heart did hurt for Jenni in the car as she was busted lying and felt obviously humiliated at that fact and the fact that she gave up on her dreams. When they sat down to talk she still blamed Jeff. I wish she’d give herself a break; it’s ok to get comfortable in your happy marriage with beautiful children, new mansion and wealth and not want to go into humbling auditions. I think the tears were disappointment in herself and not about Jeff. He held up an honest mirror and she didn’t like what she saw. After that talk, I’m still confused why they’re not friends?
It was a coulda shoulda woulda moment. Maybe. I haven’t seen it yet!! But I don’t think I could stand this sort of public scrutiny. Hell, I can barely deal with THE WORLD!! (As TT sez!!)!
Whaaaat? Out of all of this, your takeaway is that if Jenny was serious about acting, she should’ve had more work done on her face? Are you trolling us?
Jeff is an abusive prick and I quit watching years ago because of him. He thrives on dysfunction. If you think he won’t make what he thinks are funny but are in fact abusive comments to Monroe then you aren’t paying attention. He is a horrible human being and that girl is going to have serious issues in her future.
Really?!? Say what you will about Jeff but I think it’s horrible of you to make that kind of assumption about Monroe.
I’ll say really. He is an abusive prick, and if you think Monroe won’t get any of that abuse, you are a fool.
You’re an asshole! Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!
You are my people, FFP!
We’re all assholes. And happy Thanksgiving to all the assholes.
xo belladonna
So sad to watch the end of the “Dynamic Duo”. I cried when Zoila left but when Jenni cried . . . it broke my heart. Jeff’s narcissism seems to interfere in all of his relationships. Is EVERYONE expendable in Jeff’s life? In every relationship/friendship someone always loves more. In this one, it was Jenni. She trusted Jeff to be her loyal friend for life. Tears . . . . .
I think I cried when Zoila left as well. I didn’t get the slightest bit misty over this episode. If I hadn’t known in advance that Jeff “fired” her, AKA essentially saying he didn’t want her filming anymore with the business, and the huge fallout that happened afterward, I would have been surprised by the ending.
Jeff was his usual assholey self but Jenni doesn’t have clean hands in the situation either. And bringing in the Bravo suits was the fatal blow. I think they would have come back from it if she had not done that.
After all the show is called Flipping Out because that is what Jeff does. If she was so held back from her career on SNL then she should have quit the show. I thought the SNL comment was as ridiculous as Jeff did.
Right– and wasn’t Jenni an “actress” by being on Flipping Out for a decade? I vaguely remember the show concept being her idea. I don’t think (and she admitted this) that Jeff would fire her. They were in this together, but jenni was the side kick. Lea Black needs to tone down that laugh. I think the show will be back with Lea but Twitter does not like her. I’d like to see Jeff back, asshole or not.
Completely agree with you TT. Great recap again. I won’t miss Jenni but I do miss Zoila. She was a mom to Jeff. I think that’s why I cried over his grandma as well.
Well said, TT. Jeff can be a pill but not a liar. He got tired of pretending she worked for him and deceiving fans that might cause him to lose business. The last few seasons she just stumbled around with no input probably making 1 million a year. Jenni had a nice “acting” gig. Team Jeff.
Did anyone else feel like Malibu Country Orange County in a House of Mirrors during the episode?
Jenni appeared blindsided by the “firing.” I was left wondering if she had more to say. If she had done a lot of self reflection as Jeff had done. Then he ended everything for “her own good” and to “make her happy.” I don’t know if she knew what she wanted yet, or if she did know she didn’t expect her “job” with Jeff to be over. Her reticence on WWHL shows she wants to make things right between them and not just for the show.
Though once again his delivery was shocking, I was so proud of Jeff at the lunch I was begging him not to tell Jenni she needed to go. He almost acted like an adult. He took a break. He spent an entire week looking at his actions and looking at her actions. He apologized. He explained his hurt feelings without Flipping Out. Jenni watched a grown up Jeff right before her, but she wanted more from him. She got it alright. It all makes me sad.
I think a lot more happened behind the scenes than we know. Jenni was so well prepared and ready to try to explain her original hopes and dreams that (out of context), it made her appear to be a little bit nuts! She says she chose (maybe even compromised her choices) Jeff and “Flipping Out” and after a few seasons thought the two of them had a lifetime bond that would take each other to the end of this very successful series and propel them even further.
As far as Lea Black laughing or finding anything funny about this situation would make her a “monster”! Jeff lost two (2) employees after her motivational speech! And . . . a BRAVO series! Great job, Lea!
i wonder if Lea Black has a nervous laughing tick’ish thing .. my best friend since age 9 has it .. he laughs and giggles at the MOST inappropriate times; i.e. funerals, break-ups, etc. because it’s how he deals with stress, anxiety. it’s REALLY weird, not at least my normal and if we weren’t friends for almost all our lives, i would think ‘what a heartless dick.’
Well, we’ve never noticed it before on RHOM that I recall. She’s only posting her usual political stuff on Twitter tonight and ignoring the trolls about her inappropriate laughter. I like Lea but I think that water bottle was Vodka and she was just buzzed.
I think Lea was drunk or on something. It was so odd
I think Lea has no time for feelings. She recognizes that people have them but she really doesn’t want to deal with them.
This. She then laughs inappropriately during awkward pauses and moments.
But she wasn’t ONLY laughing. She was essentially forcing the whole scene by continuing the dialog every time it was simmering down.
She sure did have an odd relationship with her sisters and Mom. On RHOD. They went to see them (with Brandi or Cary or Stephanie?) and she acted super AWKWARD. Her mom and sisters were very nice. And “normal” WTFTI!!
The whole thing just doesn’t make much sense. It’s obvious Jenni hasn’t worked for Jeff in years. She has a role in a reality show and is paid by Bravo to pretend that she still works for Jeff while the show is filming. Everyone has always loved Jenni so Bravo kept her around. She’s married to a doctor and has an enormous mansion… and still works for Jeff? No. She posts a lot on her Instagram and there’s never any references to her working at all, whether on the show or in an acting role.
I wonder if this whole thing is manufactured drama to get people to watch. It worked for me, I had only semi-watched the last few seasons, but have tuned in for this one.
Sigh, Jenni has worked for Jeff for over decade. They have been close friends. For the past three seasons she has worked for him only when the cameras were rolling doing what she has always done for him. The only change was she was paid by Bravo for the past couple of years and not Jeff.
It’s like if you worked for Taco Bell for ten years and a reality show started while you were working there. Then you married well and no longer had to work there. You wanted to quit because you didn’t need to work for Taco Bell anymore. Then the show paid you to still work at Taco Bell five months out of the year. You are still making Taco’s and keeping the sauce packets ready to go and ordering napkins. You still work there, but only when the cameras are on and you are paid a shitload more for the same job.
I think things changed back in 2012 when Jeff got really upset she put out a book with him in it. I think he felt really betrayed by that and that things haven’t been the same between them since. They probably agreed to move on to continue on with the show but I don’t think Jeff could fully trust her and that fueled his anger during this blow up. I haven’t trusted Jenni since she did that as it seemed like she was putting her own personal interests before her friendship with Jeff because deep down she resents him.
I hear what you’re saying, but they must of moved on since Jeff asked her to be Monroe’s Godmother and she accepted.
Does anyone else recall something about Jenny using one of Jeff’s clients to get a free vacation around the time she got married? Jeff was really angry, as I recall. And she didn’t seem to realize how embarrassing it might be for Jeff for his employee to ask for a favor from his client. Haven’t liked her since then, whenever that was. I think that she has looked at this show as her meal ticket “out” of reality TV. We shall see how she does on her own; I had never heard of her until this show.
So true. This is what I meant by her playing into the dynamic. She forgot he had a business to run outside the public venue. He also provided openings towards these scenarios by not providing guidelines to avoid conflicts of interest. This would not have happened if they had worked as a team with open, honest communication. Even a loose plan would have forestalled this ending.
GREAT explanation. Thank u. I commented not being clear about the pay arrangement. I also teared up when Zoila left. On WWHL when Jenni said she hasn’t been in touch with Zoula except when her 2nd baby was born. What about Jenni reaching out to Zoila. How is Zoila with her family & grandkids. I hope the show comes back. The design work and clients are the other great part of this show. And as you said the title of the show is Flipping Out. We know what we’re getting if we watch. Lea Black is a wealthy well connected client. I see her staying in that role. She was on RHOM. Maybe there too. I don’t think her social stature would lead her to be a regular beyond what she does now. Also, the Tony Robbins seminar was no “safe space.” Megan is a smart cookie. And in that restaurant meeting with Jenni & Jeff, with what Jenni was saying there was no way Jeff was coming out of that without saying bye bye Jenni. One up.
I agree, something doesn’t make sense to me either. If Jenni is working for Jeff just during filming, then that leaves about three-quarters of the year for her to go on auditions. So why would she need more time off? Unless she really does work for JLD year round, despite what Jeff says?
Perhaps Lea should interview some RHOA cast members and get the same result as she did with Flipping Out.
Lol. RHOA could certainly make a few advantageous changes.
Jenni s upset cuz she’s not on an actress or on SNL… but she is married to a doctor,
has 2 small children, a theme song of a late night show that plays almost
every night, EP credit on a successful show and co-stars on said show. She also made commercials and had potty traning video raps. She is msdirecting her frustration. She mossed the whole attitude of gratitude Lea was talkng about.
Indon’t dislike Jenni but she’s not a stand-out IMO. She is right to he upset Jeff called her a liar in front of others, but f she isn’t lying, she’s exaggeratng ALOT. IDK, if your that interested in a acting carreer, work for it! She stopped going to aiditions why? She went on a honeymoon & took maternity leave. She lves in LA, she can’t audition for non-Nic Cage SNL/NYC gigs. She’s totally msplacing her frustrations.
I agree with Roxanne. I absolutely adore Jenni, but I think her anger is misplaced. Not that Jeff wasn’t very wrong calling her a liar, but the responsibility for not becoming a successful actress lies with her and the universe. She in IMBD with 36 acting credits. As someone who did not go for her dream until I was 42, I know it can leave you frustrated, unfulfilled and finding all sorts of excuses why your dream hasn’t happened. But, in my case I always knew the fault lay in front of my own 2 feet! Jenni is amazing in her “side-kick” role in all the Jeff Lewis Designs – but to diminish that and call it “humiliating” was too too much. I think Jeff showed restraint for not blowing a gasket that very moment! If any of my employees called working for me humiliating – they would be shown the door that second so they didn’t have to endure that humiliation another second!! The exposure she has gotten from the show has opened many a door for her I’m sure. She has been on television for how many years? Most actresses would KILL for her situation! Jeff was right for ending their work relationship. If she is placing blame with Jeff for not being a successful actress, she needs to go at it off-screen with JLD and see what happens. Without Jeff and her schedule to blame, she will be able to see if she really has the chops to make it as a full-time actress or rapper or what-ever. Sometimes a break-up can be a great motivator to move you towards your goal – and I hope Jenni uses it that way! Jenni is funny as hell and I hope she gets her big break.
Very well said. She’s mad at herself not Jeff. After calling his job and generous compensation a humiliation. I see why Jeff called her a liar….. since she WAS lying. There was no movie offer on the table. She was upset she was caught.
This is a great comment and spot on perspective. I love that at the end you werent rude like “go see if you can be an actress girl good lick!”. You made it nice.
Good luck not good lick lol.
I think you are right that Jenni is misplacing her anger. It does seems like she is just realizing she is a middle-aged mom, who although successful in many areas in life, is never going to be the Hollywood star that she thought she was going to be.
But she started on Flipping Out over a decade ago, and ostensibly was auditioning from before then (before kids, while with her first husband and after her divorce, etc.). She wasn’t getting any real parts when she was young, so wasn’t that a clue that her career wasn’t going to reach the heights she thought it was? I mean, SNL? So few people make it onto SNL, and though I like Jenni, she is not really that funny. She’s the sidekick, not the star – and that’s the role she’s been playing well.
And she’s being paid basically a million dollars a year to play that sidekick. In my opinion that’s a prettttty good gig. Nothing to be humiliated about!
Is she getting paid that much? Wow, I didn’t know that, 90% of the housewives don’t even make that much. I’d be the opposite of humiliated, I’d be amazed at my good fortune and just keep riding the train. Her husband must make around that much too, orthopedic surgeons make so much money. I wonder what Jeff must be making….
Devils advocate: Jenny may had hit her wall. It happens, and with their dichotomy it’s not the money but the relationship. Weirdly. Cause for many that is the deal, money rules. However,if you had that n faced with a dysfunctional relationship, you may bug out. The true is that they need to talk. Decide one way or the other whether to continue or face their demons. It means both need to stop talking to others. Regardless of feelings. My mom has a saying which I live by…tell the truth and shame the devil.
She doesn’t make that much. But she makes a LOT. Way more than a small movie role or a stint on SNL would ever pay her.
Also Jeff can’t and didn’t “fire her from Bravo” he basically told her she didn’t have to be his part time assistant on the show. He has said he assumed she would still do the show but as his friend in a more genuine role. I don’t think Jenni could stop herself from doing JLD stuff during filming though, she knows the job better than anyone else and is good with clients.
I watched this show from the beginning and all of this is so sad. I saw Jeff Lewis and Gage when they were going to home shows and the way he talked about Jenni was so sweet. I feel like there is more to this though. I will miss the designs too. Ugh, Lea Black was not a good idea….
So sad. The problem with Jeff’s business is Jeff. He can’t relinquish control, then turns around and berates others for not taking control. He publicly berates his staff. Etc, etc. It hurt to watch the show.
Jenni made her choices and it’s too easy to blame Jeff for her unhappiness. It may be easier to use the job as an excuse for why her acting career didn’t take off than to accept that there are plenty of talented actors hunting down work.
I like Jeff. I don’t understand his love for Lea or Beador but to each his own. He was horrible in the car but he did give a good explanation and a sincere apology when they met for lunch. Unless he does it for the show I have never understood why he picks these people to work for him. Lea should have given him hiring advice. Quit hiring people that have their foot out the door.
I like Jenni and I will miss her but I also believe Jeff about the movie. I believe she would have talked about it, not that being in a Nic Cage movie is that great a thing IMO. Nic’s been off his game for awhile. I believe there is a side to Jenni that we don’t see, same with Gage. I think they both enjoy watching Jeff take the heat for being an asshole while they sit back and look like the long suffering employee/partner. If she has been attempting an acting career for all this time and it hasn’t panned out maybe she should rethink or change her strategy. I agree with Jeff about that. LA is full of people that are trying to be actors. Jenni has been luckier than most with a successful reality show that has given her other opportunities. She could be waiting tables somewhere.
I would like Jeff to do another show. I do like the real estate porn he offers up. Old Hollywood turned out great and I really need to see Valley Vista finished.
When Jenni said that it was humiliating for her to be working as Jeff’s assistant when she really wanted to be an actress I think it hurt Jeff to the core. Humiliating? She thought so little of his business? I was surprised that he didn’t say more about that until much later. It’s like she is having a mid-life crisis and reassessing her career goals and blaming he lack of success in acting on Jeff. We all understand that Jeff is no saint and that working for him will give you a pass to skip Purgatory but this was her choice to stay there. And her lies about not accepting job offers were a mistake. This is a sad end to their friendship.
I realize Jeff is an ass. I loved his scenes over the yrs with Jenni. But I’m mid-forties and I “get” the whole wondering what might have been. Plenty of career regrets. But actresses are a dime a dozen and she has probably achieved more money and fame in this Bravo capacity than she would have on her own. I think she had the best of both worlds and only has herself to blame for not going for it. As Jeff mentioned on his radio show, she did not mind cashing the Bravo checks.
This episode was so sad to me. I have loved this show from the beginning. The main reason was because of Jeff and Jenny. My theory about their relationship is that it is very Will and Grace. They have used each other to fill roles over the years. Jeff was there for her during her divorce and she was there for him during his debacle with Ryan. Jeff’s fatal flaw is his OCD. He is the ultimate control freak. When Jenny got married to a very successful doctor, Jeff felt unneeded. He liked having control over Jenny with work and her career. I don’t believe Jenni was lying about the offer and I also believe she has turned down other auditions to avoid abusive tirades and ridicule. His handling of situations is abusive. However, I have always found him to be honest and endearing even with all of his faults. Jeff needs to control everything. If he can’t- you are out. He couldn’t control Jenny so he found a way where he could. He fired her when she didn’t see it coming. In the end, he DID take away her acting career with taking away Flipping Out. Jeff Lewis uses the scorched earth method.
Also, I don’t think Jenni was embarrassed by working with Jeff or working on Flipping Out. I think what she thought she was implying to Lea was that she wanted to be a respected actress. For whatever reason, reality stars are completely jokes in the acting world especially in Hollywood. Jeff and Lea both know that and for them to not realize it’s not a personal attack but more a frustration is on them. I think Jenni sees herself more like a Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She is funny. I hope she achieves her dreams.
That ship has sailed. Jenni has two little girls to raise and her potty videos were a disaster. She needs to get off her high horse and be thankful for what she has.
Hear Hear!
And HEAR! Although a lot if talented women with children do have acting careers. Eileen Davidson. Case in point. Jenni seems not internally connected to a talent that might help her stand out. IMHO.
@Spunky I’m with you, that acting ship has long sailed and Jenni needs to get over it. She’s a mom now, has reality TV success, and a wealthy husband. Much more than most people I know. I guess I am just baffled that she is harboring all this and thought the falling out was over something much more serious (as the lawsuit suggests).
I agree with this – sad.
Things end, if I recall correctly, Jeff begged Jenni to return to JLD – because people were inept. I believe Jennie – she is on nationial TV – there is no reason for her to randomly throw out a “nicolas cage” knowing someone will call her out – like his representatives.
of course Gage takes Jeff’s side – but Gage is getting Jeff’s version of “you won’t believe what happened”, which is why Jeff gave Jenni the rest of the day off.
So Jeff is back in the same position of – down to one staff and the nanny. Even if this show does not come back, Jeff needs to work on himself before considering another TV show. To leave the show in this manner, and return next season – would be an ocean of denial being fed to the viewers.
I believe Jenni, and I believe Jeff will never realize his participation in the implosion of this relationship or show.
In the movie, “Mr. Holland’s Opus”, Mr. Holland was always trying to write his grand life’s work- his opus, but at his retirement party he learns that his students were his life’s work- his grand opus.
On “Flipping Out” I feel Jenni doesn’t realize that the part she plays has been her opus or signature role.
It is what she is publicly known for and has given her a platform for commercial work and selling kid’s video’s, rapping, doing all the music for WWHL, etc. The show has showcased her talents to a large audience. Jeff and Jenni make a great team.
Anyway, I don’t think Jeff should have called Jenni a liar. Jeff tends to involve all of his employees instead of dealing with things privately. He blows up like a damn grenade and that is why the show has its’ title, but he needs to stop trying to gather everyone on his side of things like a school yard bully.
Lea Black needs to find another show crash. She’s annoying and needs to piss off.
I feel like Jenni is a kind, gentle person and Jeff took it too far. I don’t think Jeff should have let her go and I don’t think Jenni should stay gone. I hope they can work this out. She said, on WWHL, that she did not go to Bravo execs and claim harassment. So, hopefully we get Jenni back.
correction: Lea Black need to find another show TO crash.
Lea Black aggravates the absolute shit out of me.
Im glad we got to see how it all went down. Jeff was a little over the top when he kept calling her a liar but he was right. He probably could have been a little more tactful but she had just said that working for Jeff has been humiliating. Lea Black did not help things at all with her laughing and interjecting. I am not a fan of hers and I hope they don’t bring her on the show if they bring it back.
I do not think that Jenni was expecting for Jeff to fire her, I bet she thought they would take a week and let things settle down and they would move on like they have in the past.
I really hope this show comes back, it is one of my favorites. I don’t think the show needs Jenni, there has been plenty of episodes in which she hasn’t appeared or was just in the background. The show only needs Jeff and Gage (and Monroe of course)
I think you missed the point. It is not about. Nicholas Cage movie. It’s about being shit on in one way or another every day by someone who can’t take it back. He maintains himself on another level than those he claims to love. He is employer. He has money. He is control over you. He is above you. He can cut the conversation off. He is not just mean, he is gleeful as he exposes the nerve of someone he supposedly loves. And he just doesn’t stop. If your friend wants to say they could have been a Nick Cage movie so what. Jeff constantly berates her and says you do not give me enough. You do not care about me or my business enough. She was trying to say yes I do, and I have put you and the job before other things, like this audition. And he shits on her again. And then rubs her face in it. Notice how anyone who loves him is chewed up and spit out?
I agree Dexter
Yes Dexter! Any business consultant would tell Jeff you cant get to the next level until you seperate your business from your friends. He is a reckless boss but more importantly a friend whose insecurities demand that he has power and control over you.
Also, if you value the friendship over the business relationship you negotiate perhaps off camera, “Do you want off the show?” And you don’t humiliate the F.out of your best friend/ godmother of your daughter, as a failure on national television. We can’t unsee that. She had to choose her self respect over the relationship. He forced her hand.
Ok this is a little too self serving. I have worked for some tyrants in my life but I have never blamed them for my choice. I just left. No one is in control of your worth but you. I know what it is like to walk away saying holy Crap what am I to to do? It is not something you shirk unto another individual. Mistake made. Correction made. Put on your big girl panties n deal but don’t ignore your part.
Sometimes in life you have to take the road less traveled by. When you have 2 small children at home and a husband who just can’t up and leave his Ortho practice to move or stay home and take care of the kids, your opportunities are limited due to HER CHOICES in life. SNL? she would have to be on the East Coast all week. Movies? unless they are filmed near her what is she suppose to do with the kids? If she was so talented I would think she would have been sought out from her being on the show for lots of acting opportunities. I think she is bitter that she has not been as successful as she would like but she also has other priorities that she needs to remember and that is what has limited her NOT JEFF. Many women would love to have what Jenni has and has achieved. I thank Jeff for being so generous to Jenni over the years. She had a easy gig with this show and it worked well with her family.
She needs to be grateful for the life that she has.
Honest and well said. Jenni was a victim in that car ride. As an actress digging deep and finding a way to take the control from Jeff and turn it toward HER and somehow bringing humor & turning it back on Jeff….she would have empowered herself & probably shocked everyone. I’m not sure she could have done it. Jeff takes advantage of Jenni, because he can.’
Ugh. Haven’t watched in a while. I am now at that horrific car ride and want to smack Lea upside the head. That cackling and laughing was so tone deaf on her part. At this point, Jeff is being a total ass to Jenni by calling her a liar. I believe she had an opportunity she thought would pan out, and wasn’t particularly articulate in recounting the story. How could she be when Jeff and Lea are so dismissive of her from the front seat? Did Lea think this was just all for show?
I looked at Jenni’s twitter and she is doing a lot of publicity, appearances and charity stuff. She’s a hustler, that’s for sure. Maybe this break will be best for her in the long run.
I put off watching this episode as it would appear to signal the end of the show. I will try to watch tonight if I am emotionally up for it.
I could be mistaken, but I believe on his radio show, Jeff said that he only intended for Jenni to move to a “friend of” role instead of her working for him on the show. He said he thought he was giving her what she wanted by changing her role on the show so she would be able to pursue the other opportunities she says she gave up for the show. I think Jeff really does love the people in his life and I think he doesn’t mean harm in a lot of what he says, but I think he has a sarcastic personality and it’s a strong personality and he’s definitely not for everyone.
I agree! She said she wanted to be gone 4 days a week with the option to leave for two weeks at a time. I thought in that moment she was saying she wants to leave. I knew that was what she meant when she said “I’m done”….. so what happened after that caused all this trouble at Bravo
I feel like this was supposed to be setting up a new season with some changes, and we were supposed to watch to see how Jeff deals, but he probably torched that with his postings and comments about his contract.
Sorry I believe Jenni. Every word. Jeff is a douche and as we have seen in the world too much lately, just because he has a bigger platform for his story- it doesn’t make it true.
This is the first episode I have watched of the series because it was getting so much buzz. So from an outsider’s perspective, I can’t believe the terrible way Jeff treats his employees but I did get the vibe that Jenni was lying at worst and fudging bits of her audition stories at best. Will someone here explain yo me why Jeff is so far up Lea’s ass?? I watched every episode of RHOM and Lea is obsessed with being around celebrities, even D-list ones, so that explains why she is fawning all over Jeff but why does he think the sun rises and sets on her?? Someone please fill me in!
Well, Lea Black is married to Roy Black, a very famous attorney. They have several homes and I guess they have been doing remodeling/redecorating on several of them. She doesn’t seem to give Jeff a terribly hard time about budgeting since money is not a major concern for her. She likes to have fun and tends to laugh things off rather than “sweat the small stuff”. She is probably a lot more fun to work with than most of his clients.
That’s probably why, IMO.
I enjoy the show. I hope it returns.
I will miss Jenny. She has tolerated a lot and she has a great personality.
She’s also benefited from dealing with Jeff.
I’m not blaming Jeff for this one.
Now that I’ve seen the show, I don’t think she expected to be fired. She was hurt by Jeff calling her out. And definitely fed up with his behavior but 2 things surprised her:his apology and her termination.
She realized Jeff was genuinely moving on/ not “rehiring” her (no more Bravo paychecks) and then went to Bravo suits in order to get a final paycheck/payout.
I’m sure as a mom of 2 children with a new house—–she was counting on that income
Also I could not wait for TT’s recap. I know how you love this show and have been anticipating this episode. You wrote a great recap. Captured everything perfectly. It was everything I wanted. Thank you TT for existing.
Here’s how I see it – Jenni changed when she married Johnathan. I think he was a little embarrassed about some of the stuff she got up to, and that in turn embarrassed her. But she has become too ‘famous’ as herself to really make it in the acting world anymore, which was not the outcome she expected when she decided to get into the reality show business. So she regrets her choices, and then goes and blames Jeff for them.
Jeff got stuck on her calling working for him humiliating, and stopped listening after that. Everything that came out of his mouth over the hours that followed was based on that one sentence. He should have just come out and said that he was hurt over that. I don’t think Jenni even realized he had heard her say it or how much of an effect it had on him. I think the whole conversation would have gone very differently if he had.
I disagree that Jenni got too famous to make it as an actress! Oprah Winfrey just had a role in “A Wrinkle in Time” and was also plenty famous when she had a role in “The Butler.”
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were in the tabloids of the day for their personal lives when they filmed “Cleopatra”.
Being famous opens more doors than it closes.
I think famous was the wrong word. She became too ‘well known’ in her current role, but she’s not famous enough for people to overlook the fact that she is a long time reality star in order to cast her in another role like Oprah is. I mean who says no to Oprah anyway?!
Would not be surprised if there was a “rapprochement”right in time for next season. Bravo loves fighting and reconciliation and their cast members like being Z list celebrities.
I think the Nicolas Cage story was probably exaggerated on Jenni’s part. But Jeff should not have kept calling Jenni a liar repeatedly in front of everyone like that, it was awful.
In Lea Black’s defense, early on in the car when Jeff started going off, she was laughing, yes. It appeared to me that she was laughing mostly at Jeff being dramatic and she initially did not realize how bad this was about to get. Lea initially said in the car that she didn’t think Jeff was being disrespectful or unsupportive or something like that… then Jeff started calling Jenni a liar and Lea immediately started saying (to him) “No, that’s not right, oh that isn’t right at all”, referring to Jeff saying Jenni was lying.
It was hard to hear because Jeff and Jenni immediately got into a back and forth. But she did immediately respond to the “liar” stuff, negatively to Jeff. I believe Lea Black laughs to dismiss and to try and avoid getting too deep into the middle of a conflict. But as you saw, she took him aside and told him (again) in the lighting store about the “liar” business being not right. Which she did from the first time she heard it in the car.
All in all, just a terribly sad ending for 2 old friends. I think Jeff was hasty in firing Jenni, and I hope they reconcile their friendship at some point in the future. Might take some time.
Guys the show is called “Flipping Out”! You shouldn’t even show up to the interview with a guy who has a show called “Flipping Out” if you don’t have balls of steel. If he was calm and collected and made good choices all the time, we wouldn’t have tuned in the first place. I get that people get worn down over time, but he makes peoples’ careers too. I’m sure Megan & Vanina can set a very, very nice rate for their design businesses after the publicity of being with JLD. I am thoroughly entertained by Jeff – but he will need a Jenni-like sidekick to soften him. From his radio show, it seems like Megan is filling that role.
I will miss watching this show. It has been a favorite of mine since I discovered it. Jeff & Jenni are at a crossroads. I feel bad for both of them. Jeff has always pushed the people he loves away. I understand the why & hows but at his age it’s time to take accountability. I see his love for Monroe & his grandmother but not with anyone else. I am not judging him ( or trying to imply he doesnt love Gage, his father etc ) but he has to evolve. Zoila, then Jenni left him.I hope when he no longer has the show or a camera in his face he will up to his behavior. I think he is a great designer with unlimited skills yet he sabotages himself. Its painful to watch. Maybe a reunion show in the near future when the dust settles. Would love to see him happy & surrounded by his friends & family. Such a detailed recap!
Jenni never gave up acting. She’s been acting as Jeff’s assistant on Bravo for several years.
OMG THANK YOU!
The most insulting part of this episode is the way Jeff shoots “knowing” “ looks at Jenni’s coworkers. It’s clear they’ve all discussed how annoying her “I want to be an actress” dream is. The gray haired woman even said she couldn’t hear it from you to Jeff. It’s also clear that Lea was pushing the issue because Jeff complained about Jenni constantly. They were all annoyed by her and Jeff felt empowered to resolve it. They just felt bad that he blew up in front of them. Jeff knows he’s bad with people when there’s a need for deplomacy. He admits to it. Some people don’t want to hear the truth and some people don’t know how to say the truth in a kind way. I really like Jeff. He just needs to understand when you’re close to someone you shouldn’t use that closeness to hurt them. Ever.
I kind of wanted to know what this Nicolas Cage movie was that she supposedly had in the bag. I don’t think any of the movies that he was a lead in have done that well in the last few years. I see he had a small role in the Teen Titans animated movie, I can see her having a voice part in that one. But that wouldn’t explain her needing to be on tape, unless she meant audio tape I guess.
Thank you TT for this recap and insights. I missed the show due to early Thanksgiving. I hope it airs again, but I realize it probably will not. It was my favorite Bravo show. And your are my favorite recapper!
Why is everyone being so nice to me? Am I dying and everyone knows except me? Um, I mean thanks! I think it will probably reair. You can watch it here if you know how to log in with your cable provider. And if you know how explain it to the rest of us. https://www.bravotv.com/flipping-out/season-11/ep-10-the-final-flip
I was more on Jeff’s side as well. Jenni made it sound like Jeff was holding her back from being a great big star (when Jeff made her a star on his show). I could tell right away that he was hurt and as we all know, when Jeff gets hurt, he gets mean–thus the yelling about Jenni being a liar. I will say that the most annoying part of the show was Leah’s stupid ass laughing. I wanted to choke her and I generally like her. I’m not sure if that was a nervous cackling, but it was annoying and inappropriate.
I don’t understand Jenni’s motivation with lying about her career like that because now she’s out of a job and I’m sure that job helped fund her privileged lifestyle. It almost felt like Jeff was saying at the end, “So I held you back? Well, I’ll get out of your way and we’ll see what happens.” Sort of a “be careful what you wish for” thing. All around sad!
The reason Jenni went to Bravo screaming about being fired (FROM THE SHOW) was because she craves attention, I think she didn’t quite understand that what Jeff intended was for her to be on the show in between all of the myriad of auditions she is getting as a friend. Go get your Emmy Jenni, and be on the show that pays for your lifestyle whenever it doesn’t inconvenience you from reading for Speilberg.
Touche’.
She called bravo before the sitdown. Lea was trying to talk her out of calling bravo
Why is EVERYONE missing that jenny called bravo BEFORE jeff fired her and thats why he fired her. He got the call from bravo right before their sit down
I never realized how much Jeff attaches to specific women and his need to have them in his life. He seems to be doing this with Lea who is kind of acting like a mentor to Jeff. Lea also is trying to re-direct his thinking and responses to others, kind of like cognitive therapy. She has a way of explaining things with another point of view that does not cause him to lose control. He listens to her different perspective on things without blowing up at her. I think this incident with Jenni was a real eye-opener for him as far looking himself and his communication skills.He accepts that he could have handled things better. He has a desire to be more in control of his emotions and I believe Lea uses laughter to not offend or bring lightness to the conversation. He says he is working on his grief now so that is a good thing. He will be spending Thanksgiving with Lea this year.
This was from Jeff’s radio show that aired today but was taped on Wednesday.
Jenni had a midlife crisis. With all the women in the room, I figured folks might be a little more understanding. She was questioning her career path taking a turn she hadn’t anticipated, was regretting that she never found out if she could have made it as a real actress, and was being paid big bucks to be humiliated by Jeff, as if she were the hired help when she was the one who got him on television to begin with.
She is at a do or die point in her acting career. Either she puts up or shuts up, but I think she was just wanting to talk this out for her own sanity. I don’t think she intended for Jeff to call her bluff. Or to be so fucking mean to her when she had her meltdown.
Ill never understand why the response to a young woman being super emotional is crazy, if they are over 35 its automatically a “midlife crisis” or “menopause.” So dismissive & usually by someone who forgets we all get older LOL but not the go to reason for a situation like this. If anything, Jeffs got menopause LOL Jenni was calm, didnt yell, aside from crying. To say Jeff didnt mean to be so mean is forgetting this has been Jeffs MO from day 1. The reason for the shows title. She made a decision [as she said] long ago which direction she wanted her life to go, & even in the 1st few seasons this was a frequent topic of conversation. He cant have it both ways- his recent comments that she was only a paid p/t actor, not an employee is contrary to what we saw & I bet their clients would disagree with him.
Come on Lea black instigated the incident She is a pot stirrer who wants publicity. She could have shut it down when all this happened but she kept it going She just wants to be on TV She met her husband while she was a Juror on a case he was trying/.who was acquitted She had poor boundaries then and still does. Does Jeff really believe he can be an international commodity? If so he is delusional He has no people skills. Jenni bailed him out time after time with the clients he alienated. He drove everyone away with his bad behavior He makes fun of everyone and pushes their buttons until they go off and laughs about it. It is a surprise that he has not been questions about having a hostile work environment. Jenni is not perfect but did not deserve this behavior and if she did go to BRAVO good for her for sticking up for herself He had it out for her from day 1 when she came back from maternity leave he had no place for her and she picked up on it Jeff deserves to loose his show then we will see if he gets work
Sadly, Jeff has been the Sally Sabotager in every good relationship in his life thats gone sour. Some hes lost, others just stick it out. His issues have made him a self fulfilling prophecy, I think the root is the loss of his mom. Wont hurt as bad if HE ruins the relationship, then he can confirm his insecurities. Dont get me wrong, I love Jeff for who he is & have come to realize this is Jeff Lewis. Watching this play out has been so sad to watch, I 100% believe we are watching the future demise of his relationship with Gage & especially Monroe if he doesnt figure it out.
Jenny has no reason to lie about the Nicholas Cage movie, for those who think she did for what purpose? She just picked him from all the actors in the world? No proof or indication shes lied, its not her nature. From season 1 weve her desire for acting & theyve even fought over it many times. No one stuck up for her, crickets from the back seat. Jenni has been catalyst in helping Jeffs business flourish, hes lost a GREAT co worker, friend, supporter, confidant. No one as good as her work wise, not even Gage. She gets Jeff. Even hes said that.
Lea grossed me out with her laughing as this all unfolded. Ive been a fan but shes got issues, your response is to laugh at such a highly emotional fight while Jennis crying & Jeff is yelling at her. Calling her a liar with NO proof?? So demeaning. Guess Lea & Jeff are more alike than we thought LoL