Everyone Wanted to Party With Our Reality Masterminds

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Nick Viall was the first to arrive and the last to leave Vulture’s Reality Masterminds party. He showed up at Lawn Club in a light blazer, perfect for the garden party vibe, and happily chatted with everyone at the bar. At the beginning of the event, it was sometimes hard to tell who was one of the reality TV stars being honored and who was just another guest. Vulture had grouped this year’s honorees for photoshoots, but the big question of the night was: what would happen when all these stars – from Bravo, gaming, and podcasts – mingled together? After walking the black-and-gold carpet (sponsored by Gold Bond!), guests stopped by a livestream for interviews and behind-the-scenes moments. Early on, people tended to stick with those from their own shows. Rob Mariano and Rob Cesternino from Survivor stayed near the bar, which served custom cocktails, while the cast of Summer House headed to the DJ booth to support and dance to Kyle Cooke’s set. “I never thought I’d be at a party where Kyle Cooke is DJ-ing,” one guest commented as she walked across the lawn. Throughout the night, people repeatedly praised his DJ set, which featured popular songs from the 2000s (like Jason Derulo and P!nk) with a few ABBA classics thrown in.

As the party grew busier and people wondered when Andy Cohen would arrive, Ariana Madix quickly became the center of attention, arriving with her boyfriend Daniel Wai. She warmly greeted everyone and seemed to be the life of the party. Kristen Kish and Carl Radke both stopped by to say hello. Wearing a striking silver dress, Madix was surrounded by people most of the night. The party was lively and full of surprises – you could turn a corner and find Tiffany Pollard and Jonathan Cheban deep in conversation, likely planning their next project. Fans of makeup and supportive spouses enjoyed the e.l.f. booth, where they could personalize lipsticks. When Cohen finally arrived, both Bravo stars and fans gathered nearby, hoping to feel some of his energy, but keeping a respectful distance.

Shortly after 8:30 PM, Cooke announced it was time for the awards, and everyone headed to the DJ booth sponsored by Vulture. Frances Berwick, head of Bravo & Peacock Unscripted, presented Kathy Hilton with the Forever Icon Award, playfully acknowledging how quickly things move in the world of reality TV thanks to group chats. Hilton accepted the award with grace, saying she enjoys observing things from the sidelines and repeating that she doesn’t watch reality TV – though she does enjoy reading. Maybe it’s time to share that Goodreads account, Kathy!

Carole Radziwill presented Andy Cohen with an honorary degree, but first gave a playfully teasing speech, knowing he’d joke about how heartfelt and lengthy it was. After jokingly referencing her hangover, she announced that RHONY is officially returning and then praised Cohen’s creativity – as a host and even for once distributing pot brownies that led to a memorable night for her, involving a bathtub, a red silk gown, and an Italian prince. When Cohen began speaking, the crowd fell silent. Lindsay Hubbard and Radke, both tall, stood on benches to get a better view and film his speech. Cohen kept his remarks short and sweet, saying, “I’m all about fun, and Bravo is fun.”

Cooke went back to his DJ setup while Cohen, Radziwill, and Hilton chatted nearby. The cast of Summer House moved to the front of the house to dance to the last songs of Cooke’s set. As the party ended, some of the most dedicated attendees – including Viall, Madix, and Pollard – kept dancing, with Pollard still enjoying the music as she left late at night when the lights came on. It seems many of the people who helped start this event would rather be experiencing life out in public than anywhere else.

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2026-05-08 21:57