Stream It Or Skip It

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Erika Jayne: Bet It All On Blonde’ On Peacock, An Eye-Opening Look Into Jayne’s Legal Turmoil And The Making Of Her Highly Anticipated Las Vegas Residency

Erika Jayne first joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2015, flaunting her lavish lifestyle as the wife to the once-respected Erin Brockovich attorney Tom Girardi. However, her world came crumbling down in 2020 when shortly after she filed for divorce, Girardi was accused of defrauding and embezzling millions of dollars from his clients, most of whom were victims of horrific tragedies. Jayne, who has maintained her innocence in the scandal, was eventually dismissed from the lawsuit, though she continued to get flack for what fans and her own castmates felt was a lack of empathy toward victims.

In light of the legal mess — and a lot of therapy — Jayne worked to bring her career back, showcasing a softer side of herself in the latest season of RHOBH and ultimately scoring her first-ever Las Vegas residency in 2023. Bravo’s new two-hour documentary Erika Jayne: Bet It All on Blonde follows the reality star’s journey as she looks back on her life, specifically the last four years, and prepares for her highly anticipated comeback.

ERIKA JAYNE: BET IT ALL ON BLONDE: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: It’s less than 24 hours before opening night. Jayne doesn’t feel “confident” about the show. She says she’s “not here” mentally. And she hasn’t had the chance to “throw it all away and really perform.” But she’s swiftly reminded that this Las Vegas residency is everything she’s ever wanted, and that she needs to “make the most of it” because she’s “not going to get this moment back again.”

The Gist: In Bet It All on Blonde, Jayne takes fans on a journey through her life, from her childhood to meeting and marrying Girardi, to her Bravo fame, to the legal turmoil of the last four years — all while working with her team to put together her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency. But with budget constraints and Jayne’s struggles to get in the zone mentally, putting on a comeback show proves to be much harder than it looks.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? If Madonna’s Blonde Ambition Tour, Bravo and a legal scandal had a baby, it would be Bet It All on Blonde.

Memorable Dialogue: “To have that many people pulling for you and rooting for you and feeling for you, I realized I wasn’t alone,” Jayne says as she breaks down in tears for the first time following her successful opening night performance. Whether it’s her vulnerability or her sweatpants, there’s something universally relatable about this moment with the reality star.

Sex and Skin: No, there’s no sex. But Jayne has never been one to shy away from showing off a little skin — especially when it comes to her risqué costumes and seductive dance moves.

Erika Jayne
Photo: Getty Images

Our Take: Bet It All on Blonde offers a refreshing take on Jayne, who, for once is able to tell her own story outside of the often-hostile environment that is The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. We’re reminded that underneath the fame and fortune — and notoriously callous attitude she once portrayed on the show — there’s a real person with real feelings who felt betrayed by a man she once trusted. This isn’t just a documentary about her Las Vegas residency — it’s more than that. Jayne treats fans to a deeper look into her new life — one that doesn’t consist of $189,000 Cartier rings, but, rather, a more modest (albeit still fabulous) life in Beverly Hills with her beloved dog Tiago.

Of course, that doesn’t mean she’s completely rid of the drama her estranged husband has left behind. In one particularly unsettling scene, Girardi’s public defender shows up at Jayne’s doorstep unannounced. In another, she’s denied a loan merely because of her legal last name. While Jayne clearly can’t run from her past, that doesn’t stop her from trying to change her future.

As the days until opening night wind down, the pressure is on Jayne and her choreographer Mikey Minden, who breaks down in tears following one of their many setbacks. Despite his direct notes and frequent frustration, Jayne takes his feedback like a champ, proving she is there to put on the best freaking performance she can. She’s a showman, after all. She’s giving the people what they want!

Our Call: STREAM IT. Bet It All on Blonde is not only a documentary about Jayne’s comeback as a performer — it’s also an emotional glimpse into the star’s marriage with Girardi, the turmoil that followed and how she’s reclaiming the narrative about her life going forward.