Back in 2012, Jon Hamm was riding high as the star of Mad Men and we hadn’t learned about his violent frat-boy hazing past yet. In an interview, Hamm blasted reality stars like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, saying: “stupidity is certainly celebrated. Being a f–king idiot is a valuable commodity in this culture because you’re rewarded significantly. Incuriousness has become cool… It’s celebrated.” He spoke about his disdain for stupid, incurious reality programming several times over the course of the year, and Kim Kardashian even got mad at Hamm. Crash-cut to 2023, and suddenly Jon Hamm is a huge fan of reality programming.
New Jersey. New York. Beverly Hills. Jon Hamm isn’t picky: He’s into all the “Real Housewives” franchises. On TODAY June 12, Hamm appeared with his “Mad Men” co-star John Slattery to discuss their new movie, “Maggie Moore(s).” During the conversation, co-anchor Savannah Guthrie asked Hamm whether it was “faux news” that he is a “Real Housewives” fan.
Hamm sighed heavily before relenting, “No, that’s real.”
Savannah prodded a bit to learn which “Real Housewives” were his favorite.
“Well, I’m a Jersey man,” Hamm responded.
“Jersey?” Slattery questioned. “Not what I thought you were going to say.”
“Oh, yeah,” Hamm confirmed. Savannah managed to squeeze out of Hamm which other franchises he’s tried.
“I’m a Vanderpumper,” Hamm said. “I’m a Beverly Hills-ian. I like New York. We’ll see what this whole new New York thing is all about.” (“The Real Housewives of New York City,” on Bravo since 2008, was rebooted with a new cast, while several “legacy” cast members are appearing in a “Girls Trip” series for a spinoff.) Hamm joked that he’s obligated to watch “Real Housewives” because he and Bravo host Andy Cohen are both from St. Louis.
“I have to support the home team,” he said. Savannah didn’t blame him for getting caught up in the franchises’ webs.
“Once you start watching, you do get sucked in,” she said. “I started watching that real estate show ‘Selling Sunset’ — have you tried that one?”
“Not yet,” Hamm replied. “It’s only a matter of time. It’s a universe, it’s a vortex. It’s going to get us all eventually.”
“It really is,” Savannah agreed.
I mean… he’s either a sellout or a hypocrite or both. People change, for sure, but maybe he shouldn’t have been so judgmental and strident back in 2012 about how reality shows suck. Now, I’m not into any of those Bravo shows either – they seem so tedious to me, but I assume an air of snobbery about reality programming, I don’t write off every reality star as a stupid, incurious moron. I don’t make my art-snobbery about reality shows into a whole moral issue, you know?
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
-
- Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones celebrating the 94th annual Academy Awards at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California,Image: 673516037, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon
-
- Jon Hamm arrives for the Top Gun Maverick Premiere, London, UK,Image: 692788394, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: James Shaw / Avalon
-
- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – JULY 20: American actor Jon Hamm and girlfriend/American actress Anna Osceola arrive at the 2022 ESPY Awards held at the Dolby Theatre on July 20, 2022 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 708815152, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jon Hamm, Anna Osceola, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
-
- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – JULY 20: American actor Jon Hamm and girlfriend/American actress Anna Osceola arrive at the 2022 ESPY Awards held at the Dolby Theatre on July 20, 2022 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 708815165, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jon Hamm, Anna Osceola, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
-
- Jon Hamm, Anna Osceola attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Celebrating the 95th Annual Academy Awards Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California,Image: 762328867, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jon Hamm, Anna Osceola, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon
Most guys come around because they see/love the drama. Little boys especially will start watching. Basketball wives seems to be a favorite.
It’s best to change the channel when the come in. You don’t want them to think all women are like that.
Maybe his fiancé is younger than him so maybe she turned him onto it. I can’t ever stick to a reality show because I get bored easy. But my first reality show favorite was the very first Real World and then Road Rules. But the newer unscripted/scripted shows are kind of wack.
At the time actors were real snobs about reality programming for a real reason – it was a direct threat to their livelihoods as reality programming is way cheaper and people found out you don’t have to have a lick of talent to become famous and have everyone want you for endorsements. But everyone’s been worn down by now. And Hamm is an Andy friend with a young girlfriend who probably eats that stuff up and it’s always on their TV because of her. I can see it. I’m the opposite. I was into reality when the housewives were just beginning with the real HW from OC, there was no Kardashians but there was the Osbornes. Now I can’t stand to watch it.
The Osbournes was pretty funny (if kinda gross with all the dogs). Also I don’t think it was very scripted, just edited.
The best parts were Ozzy, fumbling to use the giant remote and totally failing, and lecturing the kids before they go out to be careful, “and if you have sex, for god’s sake use a condom” and they were both like “DAAAD!!!” Also throwing things into their feuding neighbor’s backyard. I actually got to understand wtf Ozzy was saying without the subtitles.
JH was so good in Mad Men, at the height of his looks and his breakout role, I was a fan.
Since then the stories of his college hazings, and the way he treated his long time GF, drinking troubles, mid life crises new younger GF (who looks a LOT like a much younger version of his Ex) and on and on have really put me off him.
Don Draper/Mad Men was the best role he will ever have had.
Yes, he can do comedy. But, for me knowing his personal stuff has broken the wall of enjoying him as an actor.
Btw, I watched Top Gun: Maverick and any unknown character actor could have filled that role.
And he is aging badly, he looks close to 60 to me.
Yeah. My only thought now when seeing JH is “I wonder how Jennifer Westfeldt is doing?”.
Holy crap! I just read the story about the “hazing” (actually horrific physical and sexual assault) and OMG. I’ve never cared for him and don’t remember seeing it before but that’s one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever read. Wow. Throw the whole man away.
https://www.celebitchy.com/422474/jon_hamm_was_the_ringleader_instigator_of_the_1990_frat_hazing_incident_/
He’s had a lot of time between gigs. Just saying.
I used to say I didn’t watch reality shows, but then people would get talking about them, and I realized that I had seen a lot of them. I’m a New Englander, so I’d watch the Bravo marathons in on cold, snowy weekends. Now that the back episodes are on streaming, you can catch up if you’ve got a friend into a show. Pandemic may also have been a factor.
I’ve never been a fan of reality shows (but have absolutely been following Scandoval via the gossip stories) and one thing that really surprised me was that during covid my boyfriend got really into Below Deck and then I discovered my neighbours husband was all over it too.
I don’t know about the others but I refer to BD as candy floss, your keep going back for more but there’s no nutritional value. Every scene is all drama but nothing ever actually happens. I’ve found myself standing in the doorway watching for half an hour having just gone in to say goodnight. It hooks you in.
Way back when, I watched “The Bachelor” and my now-husband (then fiance) would cruise through the living room and make snarky remarks. Then he’d make his remark, but hang around to see what was happening. Then he started casually making sure he was in the living room when I cued it up. 😂 It just gets you.
I haven’t fallen prey to any of the Housewives, but never say never.
Honestly, this is old news he spoke about his love of Reality shows on Howard Stern. Back when he was promoting Fletch. He said he likes to watch them when he is making dinner with his now Fiance. I really do wonder if she will be the one to get him down the aisle.