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 / AvalonncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcWpiZn9ye8mopZigkaK6oLvNnJyYmY%2BnsqK4yK2wmKuYpMSgtMCtnKuXnqTEoLjOr5ysl6KdvK%2B2vq%2BYp5yVp722uc%2BYqa6klah8