Trashy Divorces

Some people live with nostalgia for all that's come before, but this isn't an issue that acting legend Sir Anthony Hopkins contends with. To whit: the demise of his two marriages and his long estrangement from his only child are met with a classic stiff upper lip. "Life is life," Hopkins has said, "you get on with it." If his earlier decades weren't especially touchy-feely, it does seem like he's...

Some people are born great, while others have greatness thrust upon them. In spite of honest efforts to thrust greatness onto Australian actor George Lazenby, he has instead built a career and life out of a series of cascading bad decisions - in work and love. His single turn as James Bond could have heralded the start of a glorious career in show biz; instead, it represented a high water mark for...

In light of the eye-popping $1.6 billion defamation case between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News, we thought today would be a fine day to roll out something we've been thinking about for a while: update episodes about subjects we've covered before. First up at bat is international media mogul and apparent democracy skeptic Rupert Murdoch, who's had an extremely eventful four-ish years since w...

When it comes to the Real Housewives franchises, we have a very Godfather-esque take: "Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in again!" So it is that Alicia brings us the three-alarm trashcan fire of the marriage of Real Housewives of Potomac cast members Ashley and Michael Darby. This one's all over the map - a big age difference, allegations of infidelity, allegations of same-sex se...

Think you grew up with family dysfunction? Wait till you hear Alicia's story today, about writer and TV personality Victoria Gotti. As the daughter of Gambino crime family Mafia boss John Gotti, her childhood was anything but normal, and her adulthood - with an ongoing effort to steer clear of "the life" - hasn't exactly been a walk in the park either. Victoria has been a lot of things in her life...

Newly minted Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser certainly couldn't have predicted the twists and turns his life and career would take when he burst onto movie screens in the 1990s. After battling injuries, the emotional scars from a sexual assault, and an acrimonious end to his marriage, suddenly, Brendan's lost decade or so came to a crashing halt with his acclaimed, and much awarded, role in 20...

Bringing us back for our Season 18 kickoff, Alicia has the story of screen legend - and original Bond Boy - Sean Connery! While he had just one divorce, he was kind enough to gift us decades of questionable commentary about the appropriate treatment of women, as well as engage in some potential tax shenanigans in Spain. When it comes to Season 18 premieres, "There can be only one!" (That's a Highl...

Everybody has had them. Everybody can relate to them. And now it's time to laugh at them on BAD DATES, a hilarious new comedy podcast hosted by Jameela Jamil. Each week Jameela's favorite comedians, celebrities and funny friends share their epic and true dating nightmares and misfires. Like the tale of the guy who could only get frisky on top of a pile of stuffed "Garfield" toys, or the enraged be...

As we close out another season, Alicia wanted to update us all on a group of past profilees: the Brown family from TV's Sister Wives reality show. Where Kody Brown once had four wives, he's down to just one - but there's reason to believe that monogamy isn't suiting him. We are off next week to get set for Season 18! We'll be back with you Wednesday, April 5, with more Trashy Divorces. Want early,...

Today, Stacie adds to the show's nerd credibility with the weird but true story of that time that Bill Nye the Science Guy was married - maybe - for a whopping seven weeks. The end was bad, particularly for the famed science communicator's rose garden. Want early, ad-free episodes, limited series, Zoom hangouts, and more? Join us at patreon.com/trashydivorces! Sponsors Mau Pets. Get 5% off your ca...

Today we are joined by friends of the show - and podcast besties - Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg. Kristen and Jolenta have spent years living the self-help lifestyle and documenting it all on their podcast By The Book. Their new show, How To Be Fine, puts the wellness world under their funny and humane microscope. They are also astute watchers of Royals and Housewives, and we hope you enjo...

The Brady Bunch offered the vast middle of America a place of quirky, family-oriented respite in a time of enormous change and social conflict. Real-life Brady matriarch Florence Henderson, beloved as "America's Mom" for the rest of her life, was as changed by the times as anyone. She'd grown up poor, married young, and spent much of the 1950s and '60s trying to balance a thriving career in entert...

And now for something a little lighter: no, journalist and Oprah Winfrey BFF Gayle King has not lived a charmed life, but through thick and thing, marriage and divorce, she's had a voice of reason to help her stay centered and sane. Alicia brings us the awesome tale of the enduring friendship between Gayle and Oprah, as well as Gayle's marriage, divorce, and latter-day liberated public persona. Wa...

Some losses feel impossible, and when news of Robin Williams's death broke back in 2014, the world grieved his passing. Stacie shares the surprisingly tragic story of the actor and comedian's life, including close friendships with Jim Belushi and Christopher Reeve, as well as two divorces.  Want early, ad-free episodes, limited series, Zoom hangouts, and more? Join us at patreon.com/trashydivorces...

From Sitcom Moms to True Crime Moms, Alicia has it all this season! Today, she has the kidnapping story that shook the world back in 2016, when California wife and mom Sherri Papini went out for a run and didn't come home. Her husband found her phone and earbuds along a stretch of road on her usual route. American and international media flooded the zone with coverage of the case, and when - mirac...

Sometimes the story just get worse, and worse, and worse, and that's exactly the case with the life, career, and relationships of washed up action hero Steven Seagal. From his extremely messy marital (bigamist?) history, to his deep bond with a certain Russian dictator, to the many, many allegations of sexual misconduct, Seagal is truly one for the ages - but not for any of the reasons he may beli...

As Sitcom Moms go, the arrival of Peg Bundy on America's television screens was something of a cultural moment. Katey Sagal's path to the role was not linear, but the early tragedies that defined the start of her career have made her subsequent success sweeter. Read More: Grace Notes: My Recollections, by Katey Sagal (Amazon link) Want early, ad-free episodes, limited series, Zoom hangouts, and mo...

Inspired by Alicia's stories about Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy, Stacie takes a look at the difficult road that David Cassidy's sudden Partridge Family stardom propelled him down. Further Reading C'mon, Get Happy...: Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus, by David Cassidy and Chip Deffaa (Amazon link) Want early, ad-free episodes, limited series, Zoom hangouts, and more? Join us at patre...

For a while, it seemed like Shirley Jones had it all: a roaring career, a gorgeous, famous husband, and even an Academy Award. But away from the bright lights, Shirley's husband Jack Cassidy was growing more and more extreme in his behavior, until an unavoidable - and terrifying - breaking point brought their long marriage to an end. Want early, ad-free episodes, limited series, Zoom hangouts, and...

Some people have all the luck, and at least when it comes to breakthroughs in show business, stage and screen legend Shirley Jones was certainly charmed. After somewhat accidentally - and also successfully - auditioning for Rodgers and Hammerstein, her career took off. It led her to an intoxicating love affair with the charming but not exactly faithful actor Jack Cassidy, who would become Shirley'...

It's a mid-season palate cleanser! Stacie brings us the serial monogamy tale of Welsh actor Michael Sheen, from a very public misadventure with actress Kate Beckinsale to a very amicable split from comedian Sarah Silverman. About the only thing Michael hasn't done by now is, well, get married. Join us Thursday, February 16, for That Trashy Show – A Valentine’s Day Decompression Session! Get your t...

As Alicia continues her exploration of Sitcom Moms this season, we get a treat instead of trash this week! Actress Julie Bowen, best known for playing Claire Dunphy on all 11 seasons of ABC's Modern Family, is a delight who, like so many people have, has been through a divorce. Alicia has the all the deets, including a parenting catchphrase for the ages: "Pits, Nuts, and Butts!" Join us Thursday,...

We covered the long and tumultuous relationship (and oh-so-brief marriage) of singer Miley Cyrus and actor Liam Hemsworth, but that was before we learned that Miley's parents, Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus - he of the Achy Breaky Heart - had themselves parted ways. It wasn't the biggest of shocks: by the time of the April 2022 announcement that they'd been separated for at least two years, Tish and Bil...

After introducing the troubled early years of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Sunday's episode, Alicia brings us right up to the present day in the life of the notable womanizer and vaccine skeptic. With three marriages under his belt, he's experienced disappointment and tragedy in love - but it's never stopped him from continuing to try! Join us Thursday, February 16, for That Trashy Show – A Valentine’...

We've covered the Kennedy family in some detail during the show's run, but like any sprawling dynasty, there's always more to explore! This week, Alicia brings us the back story of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of slain Attorney General and presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy. Let's just say that Bobby experienced a troubled youth, which was certainly not helped by the high profile murders...