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Yep, Joy Reid and The Real Housewives of Potomac Appeared on The Irrational
According to The Irrational's Alec Mercer, there might be a psychological reason behind our obsession with The Real Housewives franchise on Bravo.
Criminal justice reform might have been at the forefront of the most recent episode of The Irrational, but there were also a few familiar faces gracing the screen.
Behavioral science professor Alec Mercer (Jesse L. Martin) was two steps ahead when investigating the shooting death of Joshua Hill-Jones (Rhys Williams), a home inspector killed at the hands of a tactical law enforcement unit known as the Viper Squad during the issuance of a no-knock warrant.
Twists and turns abound in Episode 6, including an appearance from some celebrities.
The Irrational’s Alec Mercer joins The ReidOut
MSNBC’s Joy Reid appeared as herself on The Irrational Season 1, Episode 6, wanting the scoop as to whether Joshua’s death was warranted and legal. Once the press caught wind of the civil trial’s expert witnesses — which included Dr. Dustin Atwood (Malcom-Jamal Warner) for the defense — producers from The ReidOut reached out to Alec’s research assistants, Rizwan (Arash DeMaxi) and Phoebe (Molly Kunz).
“Joy Reid wants Alec and Atwood,” Rizwan said.
“That’s really exciting,” Phoebe responded. “Only the presser says he’s not doing interviews about this trial, and he’s not giving Atwood free press.”
“But aren’t these cases won in the media?” Rizwan questioned.
Alec would have a change of heart, deciding that going on The ReidOut to have a public debate with Atwood could get inaccessible members of The Viper Squad to come forward.
Joy Reid asked audiences whether the death of “an unarmed, innocent man shot in his own living room” could be deemed negligent in the eyes of the law, tapping Alec and Atwood for their expertise. Atwood argued that police acted in self-defense, while Alec criticized how law enforcement assessed the situation.
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Reid listened intently in the center of the three-split screen, not unlike her real-life conversations with politicians, newsmakers, and experts on The ReidOut, airing weeknights at 7 p.m. on MSNBC.
The Irrational’s rational obsession with The Real Housewives of Potomac
Joy Reid wasn’t the only high-profile appearance on The Irrational. As it turns out, Alec’s sister, Kylie (Travina Springer), is a fan of The Real Housewives of Potomac, now available to watch on Bravo and Peacock.
Kylie tuned in to a dramatic episode of RHOP, featuring a shocking fight between cast members Candiace Dillard Bassett and Mia Thornton (specifically, RHOP Season 6, Episode 14, on the women’s first day of a trip to Maryland’s Eastern Shore). Wendy Osefo, Karen Huger, Ashley Darby, and Askale Davis also appeared in the clip shown on The Irrational.
Alec commented to his sister that she’d been watching the show since the previous night, beginning to offer up one of his infamous “Mercer monologues,” as Kylie puts them. Both agreed the show distracted Kylie from her emotional response to the police shooting of Joshua Hill-Jones.
“All I want to do is watch The Real Housewives of Potomac and focus on other people’s problems,” said Kylie.
“You’d rather suppress your feelings by watching Housewives throw lettuce at each other,” said Alec. “It probably isn’t a good idea, but OK.”
Later in The Irrational, Kylie sat with her friend and Joshua’s widower, Mason (Emidio Lopes), when Alec tried to support the grieving husband once the case was solved. The siblings were offering ways Mason could cope with the loss of Joshua when Kylie invited Mason to spend the night to watch TV “like old times.”
“You know, I hear there’s a reality show set in Potomac that will help you forget all your problems,” said Alec. “Even if it’s only for an hour, we should tune in.”
Kylie answered, “Hell, yeah,” before they resumed RHOP — which audiences can watch before the Season 8 premiere, airing Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 8/7c on Bravo.
Watch all-new episodes of The Irrational Mondays at 9/8c on NBC, available to stream the next day on Peacock.
