The Viall Files

E1076 - Jesse Metcalfe, Traitors w/ Carolyn, Winter Olympics, Super Bowl, Below Deck Down Under & RHOBH

February 10, 2026

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  • Jesse Metcalfe launched his gender-neutral skincare line, NUTRL, based on his personal history with skincare and a desire to simplify the cluttered market. 
  • Jesse Metcalfe discussed the challenges of maintaining career momentum and self-worth after early fame, noting he now values personal relationships over popularity. 
  • The hosts briefly touched upon the Super Bowl, praising Bad Bunny's performance and the inspirational stories from the Winter Olympics, particularly focusing on athlete Lindsay Vaughn. 
  • Jesse Metcalfe is open to reprising his role in a potential sequel to *John Tucker Must Die* and expressed interest in working with Taylor Sheridan. 
  • Carolyn Wiger apologized to Nick Viall for her appearance at the reunion being negatively affected by an overdeveloped spray tan, which she humorously blamed on him. 
  • Both the hosts and Carolyn agree that Rob is playing an exceptionally strong game on *The Traitors* due to his deep alliances, making him the likely winner, and that fans often forget the emotional toll of the game despite it being 'just a game.' 
  • The discussion on *The Traitors* suggests Rob is in a very strong position to win due to his numerous allies and the group's dismissal of evidence against him, while Natalie is seen as having few allies and being essentially 'screwed.' 
  • The *Real Housewives of Beverly Hills* segment critiques the other women for trying too hard to discredit Amanda by focusing on her cult admission, suggesting their efforts look inauthentic, though Bose's perspective on the unnatural environment of forced friendships is acknowledged. 
  • The hosts and Carolyn Wiger agree that Kyle's approach to discussing Dorit's divorce with Dorit is unhelpful because Kyle's divorce experience is vastly different from Dorit's, leading to a lack of genuine support. 

Segments

Coop Pillow Endorsement
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Coop adjustable pillows allow users to customize firmness and height by removing or adding fill, and their Cooling Collection is beneficial for hot sleepers.
  • Summary: The Coop adjustable pillow is designed to conform to individual sleep styles, offering customization via removable fill. The Cooling Collection features breathable, temperature-regulating materials to prevent overheating during sleep. Listeners can receive 20% off their first order risk-free with a 100-night guarantee.
Podcast Intro and Headlines
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(00:02:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Nick’s daughter, River, slept through the night for the first time after being put to bed with a ‘Tony box’ featuring the character Belle.
  • Summary: The host celebrated his daughter sleeping through the night, attributing it to a new music box toy called the ‘Tony box.’ The episode will feature Jesse Metcalfe and Carolyn to discuss The Traitors.
RHOSLC/Below Deck Crossover Analysis
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(00:05:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The Below Deck Down Under crossover with the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast provided unique insights because Below Deck typically frames guests critically.
  • Summary: The crossover revealed tidbits not seen on RHOSLC, such as Bronwyn’s reaction to a unicorn decoration and Heather Gay’s comments about Brittany flirting. The dynamic is interesting because Below Deck focuses on the crew’s perspective, often being critical of the guests.
RHOSLC Cast Rumors and Storylines
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(00:09:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Brittany announced her breakup with Jared via an emotional social media post, potentially signaling a strategic move to secure a storyline for the next season of RHOSLC.
  • Summary: Brittany’s breakup post suggested deep love but an ultimate decision to move on and ‘date herself,’ which the hosts speculated could be a bid for relevance. Rumors about Amanda Francis’s contract status were also addressed, with confirmation that she is booked for the reunion.
Farmer Wants a Wife Announcement
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(00:15:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The Viall Files exclusive ‘Going Deeper’ segment this Wednesday will announce the next three farmers for the upcoming season of Farmer Wants a Wife.
  • Summary: The announcement of the next three farmers is scheduled for Wednesday on the ‘Going Deeper’ segment. The show is noted as being highly successful, attracting interest from celebrities like Kendall Jenner.
Super Bowl and Winter Olympics Recap
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(00:16:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance was highly praised for its creativity and emotional storytelling, including a segment featuring a real couple’s wedding.
  • Summary: The Super Bowl was deemed the ‘Bad Bunny Super Bowl,’ with his performance moving the hosts despite language barriers. The host is paying closer attention to the Winter Olympics as a girl dad, inspired by resilient athletes like Lindsay Vaughn.
Jesse Metcalfe Interview Begins
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(00:31:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Jesse Metcalfe, who grew up in a sports-heavy environment in Connecticut, did not pursue acting until age 20 due to a lack of confidence in high school theater.
  • Summary: Metcalfe revealed he was always artsy but lacked the confidence to audition for high school plays, only starting acting at 20. He has also attempted to pursue theater roles on the West End in the UK.
NUTRL Skincare Line Details
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(00:34:22)
  • Key Takeaway: NUTRL skincare utilizes cutting-edge peptide complexes, including ‘Giroline’ (natural Botox) and ‘Matrixyl 3000,’ which signals skin cells to produce more collagen.
  • Summary: The line was created to cut through market noise, offering clean ingredients without fillers, silicones, or parabens, making it gender-neutral. The products are designed with a gel consistency, which keeps skin matte for men and works well under makeup for women.
Career Reflection and Future Roles
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(00:39:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Jesse Metcalfe feels he has underachieved in his 27-year career and is now ready for more complicated, mature roles, valuing peace and personal relationships over fame.
  • Summary: Metcalfe admitted that his early success tied his self-worth to his career, leading to challenges when momentum slowed. He no longer values fame as much as he values his peace and relationships. He is interested in playing roles in dramas with rich emotional arcs, similar to Good Will Hunting.
John Tucker Must Die Sequel Potential
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(00:51:36)
  • Key Takeaway: A script for a sequel to John Tucker Must Die exists, and most of the original cast, including Jesse Metcalfe, have expressed interest in participating.
  • Summary: Metcalfe stated he would embrace a sequel, suggesting a plot where John Tucker is getting married and the college cast reunites. He confirmed that the script is solid and development was previously spearheaded by castmate Arielle Kebbel.
John Tucker Sequel Discussion
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(00:51:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Jesse Metcalfe confirmed interest in a John Tucker Must Die sequel script being developed by 20th Century Fox.
  • Summary: Jesse Metcalfe is open to participating in a John Tucker Must Die sequel, noting that Ariel Kebbel was spearheading its development. He suggested a plot where John Tucker is getting married and the college cast reunites. Metcalfe stated he is currently ‘along for the ride’ regarding the project’s iteration.
Jesse Metcalfe Interview Wrap-up
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(00:53:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Career longevity in Hollywood is attributed to outlasting others, handling highs and lows, and maintaining humility.
  • Summary: The conversation concluded that success in Hollywood often depends on outlasting peers and possessing resilience to handle extreme highs and lows without losing humility. Metcalfe’s next career chapter is expected to manifest positively based on this principle. The segment ended with a lighthearted movie quote game.
Reality TV Commercials and RHOSLC Crossover
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(01:05:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Andy Cohen defended the casting of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City against criticism about confusing cast members, comparing it to early seasons of other shows.
  • Summary: The hosts noted Andy Cohen’s Super Bowl commercial and Paige DeSorbo’s appearance in a Bueno commercial. Andy Cohen addressed fan complaints about not being able to distinguish between Lisa Barlow and Meredith Marks in early RHOSLC episodes, calling it lazy critique. The upcoming Real Housewives of Salt Lake City crossover on Below Deck Down Under is anticipated for drama.
Love Is Blind Ohio Location Reveal
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(01:09:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The location for the upcoming season of Love Is Blind is confirmed to be the entire state of Ohio, with significant driving distances between major cities.
  • Summary: The new season of Love Is Blind will feature contestants dating across the entire state of Ohio, a location that was reportedly a poorly kept secret. The driving time between Cincinnati and Cleveland is over three hours, suggesting long-distance dating challenges. The hosts expressed excitement for the new Netflix show Age of Attraction premiering after Love Is Blind.
Below Deck Down Under Season 1 Recap
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(01:12:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The first episode of Below Deck Down Under featured immediate crew drama, including a deckhand leaving due to a family emergency and a guest threatening to throw a unicorn overboard.
  • Summary: The Below Deck Down Under premiere saw the sous chef crying unrelated to work, and deckhand Joe leaving due to an emergency, leaving the crew short-staffed. Chief Stew Daisy was confused by room drama and guest Bronwyn’s threat regarding the unicorn prop. The segment highlighted the tension between the chef and sous chef, particularly over basic culinary instructions.
Traitors Season 2 Game Analysis
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(01:20:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Carolyn believes Rob is playing one of the best games in The Traitors history due to his strong, genuine relationships, making him nearly impossible to banish.
  • Summary: Carolyn Wiger joined to discuss The Traitors, noting that players who claim ‘it’s just a game’ fail to grasp the emotional weight of the experience. She observed that Rob’s success stems from building deep, genuine relationships, contrasting with her own season where she failed at relationship building. Carolyn noted that Candace’s aggressive targeting of Rob at the roundtable ultimately sealed her fate.
Traitors Rob’s Strong Position
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(01:41:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Rob’s strong alliance structure and the group’s tendency to dismiss voting evidence make him the likely winner of The Traitors.
  • Summary: Candace writing Rob’s name twice was brushed off by the group, indicating his strong support base shields him from suspicion. Johnny and Natalie are identified as the next likely targets for elimination due to a lack of strong alliances. Tara is noted for openly following Johnny’s voting instructions.
Carolyn Wiger Farewell
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(01:43:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Carolyn Wiger’s Instagram handle uses zeros instead of the letter ‘O’ in her name, which she finds inconvenient to communicate.
  • Summary: Carolyn Wiger thanked the hosts and confirmed she had no plugs other than her Instagram handle, which is ‘Carolyn Rose’ with O’s replaced by zeros. The hosts joked about the difficulty of changing old social media usernames. The segment concluded with positive remarks about the podcast’s new studio appearance.
RHOBH Amanda Critique
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(01:44:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The RHOBH women’s concerted effort to scrutinize Amanda’s cult admission appears forced and potentially counterproductive to their goal of making her look bad.
  • Summary: The hosts questioned why Dorit, Kyle, and Erika were so focused on Amanda’s admission of being in a cult, especially since she openly admitted it. Bose’s point was highlighted: expecting everyone to react calmly to accusations in an environment designed for conflict is unrealistic. The dynamic is compared to a ‘girl’s group chat at lunch’ manifesting in person.
Kyle and Dorit Conflict Analysis
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(01:46:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Dorit likely resents Kyle’s perceived lack of empathy because Kyle’s divorce experience with Mo is significantly less contentious than Dorit’s situation with PK.
  • Summary: Dorit’s frustration stems from Kyle presenting advice based on her own ‘dream divorce’ experience, which doesn’t align with Dorit feeling PK is actively trying to destroy her. Kyle’s consistent defense of PK, despite conflicting reports, makes Dorit question if Kyle is truly on her side. The ideal interaction would be Kyle offering validation (‘I hear you, I see you’) rather than unsolicited advice.
Kyle’s Show Motivation
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(01:53:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Crystal Kung Minkoff suggested on Humble Brag that Kyle might be continuing the PK narrative to generate better television content rather than solely supporting Dorit.
  • Summary: The possibility exists that Kyle is prioritizing the show’s narrative over genuine friendship by pushing the PK storyline. Mo’s new career as a DJ is noted as a new midlife crisis trend, contrasting sharply with the severity of Dorit’s marital issues. The hosts joked about Mo and Kyle potentially having separate DJ shifts at BravoCon.
Episode Wrap Up and Previews
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(01:55:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The next episode of The Viall Files will feature the announcement of the next three farmers for Farmer Wants a Wife.
  • Summary: Listeners are reminded to purchase tickets for the upcoming Temptation Island live event with Nick Viall and the cast. The hosts thanked guests Jesse Metcalfe and Carolyn Wiger. The following day’s episode promises to reveal new contestants for Farmer Wants a Wife.