The Hoboken Girl Team 
Hoboken resident Danny Murphy got his big break by superimposing his eyes and mouth over inanimate objects on TikTok, and the rest is history. Now, Danny is the co-host of two podcasts, Virtual Reali-Tea and Sirius XM’s Page Six Radio; a writer for Page Six; a regular contributor to Betches Media; and a stand-up comedian. This month, Danny and his co-host, Evan Real, will hold the first-ever Virtual Reali-Tea Awards on September 17th. The Hoboken Girl got to chat with Danny about the VRT Awards and what viewers can expect. Read on for more about Danny Murphy and the Virtual Reali-Tea awards.
Photo Credit: Charles Sykes
Editor’s note: The answers have been lightly edited for clarity and conciseness.
The Hoboken Girl: What would pandemic-era you think of where you are today, career-wise?
Danny Murphy: Pandemic era me would be feeling like Anne Hathaway at the Oscars when she said “it came true.” A mix of disbelief but also gratefulness of what has come to be my career! Back then, I was making silly social videos into the void for fun, which grew into a niche passion for me — after the lockdown stopped me from being able to perform stand-up and host live comedy shows that I was doing for years. Coincidentally, I got into hosting those shows as a way to get my name out there as a host in hopes for some more traditional media opportunities!
It was also during this time that I started recapping Housewives for Page Six, hoping [the recaps] would gain traction. Fittingly, the first show I covered was Real Housewives of New Jersey. The recaps were very scrappy, being shot on my iPhone the second the episode ended and being published on Page Six’s socials and on the site. Also at that time, I was podcasting on the side for Betches Media and doing guest correspondent work for SiriusXM’s Bennington show. The team at Bennington is the best, and I actually interned for them over a decade ago and during that time I dreamed of maybe, one day having my own show on Sirius. And somehow, luckily, that day has come! What might be the biggest shock for pandemic me though is that I have been waking up consistently at 6AM for Page Six Radio because while I am a coffee drinker, I am not a morning person. Well, now I am!
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HG: What are some ‘Jersey boy roots’ things that have been part of your journey?
DM: My entire office knows me as New Jersey’s biggest spokesperson, so the roots are potentially too strong for everyone. In true Jersey fashion, my day does not start without a Dunkin’ iced coffee. I also have maybe gotten into,… a spirited debate with a Real Housewives of New York star about *why* Asbury Park is better than The Hamptons. Plus, I feel I have related to reality stars on numerous occasions about the beauty of the malls (and outlets) within arm’s reach here. Why does anyone ever pay full price?!
My friends who aren’t from Jersey also get a kick out of the fact that small talk isn’t really a thing here, and we just sort of dive right into the topics we want to get into. Who needs to chat about the weather when you need to let someone know about something that’s pissing you off at a normal speaking volume that other states may qualify as ‘shouting’? This may be the biggest Jersey skill set that has prepared me for my job as a media host and interviewer!
Photo Credit: Page Six
HG: Why reality TV?
DM: Reality TV, to me, checks every box I need in entertainment. It usually is the best comedy ever on television — I have 100% laughed out loud more frequently during Miami Housewives than The Office. But also the people on the shows really open up and give the audience their all, which I respect — and as an interviewer, that makes it so much more fun and engaging to talk to them. They’re all characters, but none of them is playing a character.
HG: What gave you the idea to launch a reality TV podcast, and then an awards show?
DM: The podcast launch came about in 2022, when me and my then co-worker Evan Real were starting to interview some cast members of Housewives for articles on Page Six, but our conversations were so fun and engaging with these stars that the team decided they should live on in the world — and here we are three years later with a full on award show!
The idea for the ‘VRT Awards’ came about in a meeting last year, when Page Six was preparing content for award season overall, and we all were thinking, “where is the show for the people who will get to ‘Succession’ at some point, but quote Heather Gay daily?’” So we are here to fill that void! The boys of Watch What Crappens and Las Culturistas have award shows that really lean into the humor of their shows, so while we definitely have fun with these ladies, we wanted to make our categories as serious as we can be in regards to reality TV.
HG: Why do you think people like reality tv?
DM: Everyone loves reality TV, even if they say they don’t! Check their Peacock history! People love it because it is equal parts relatable and so outlandish. I will probably never get into a screaming match on a private jet with my best friends, but I definitely have had moments where I have wanted to flip a table. I guess that’s just the Jersey in me!
Photo Credit: Dave Allocca/StarPix
HG: What’s a myth about reality TV that you think needs to be cleared up?
DM: A lot of my friends will even ask me if it is all fake, and I can really say that when talking to these stars, it is real and real to them! The drama lives on for them year-round, even though we just watch it for a few months.
HG: Do you have a favorite show or spinoff of a show?
DM: Omg, this is impossible to pick because I love all of them (and a lot of the stars can DM me if I piss them off by not choosing their show lol). Kathy Griffin’s My Life on the D-List definitely got me into reality TV back in the day, and I kind of also am demanding we bring back Gallery Girls!? But I do have to shout out Next Gen NYC because I went in with the lowest expectations TBH and it blew me away.
HG: Tell us about the VRT awards — what can people expect, etc.
DM: Expect a dream come true — if you’re a reality TV fan! We are honoring some iconic stars, including New Jersey’s Melissa Gorga. We’re giving her the ‘That’s Mother!’ Award, because she really does embody being mother in all of the ways. Alexia Nepola and Marysol Patton will also be in attendance, receiving our lifetime achievement award *and* their BFF Award that they just won, because those two have been thick as thieves for decades! Jessi Ngatikaura from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives just won our category for Boss Babe, and will also be there in addition to Candiace Dillard Basset, hot off the heels of her time in The Traitors castle, who is performing while winning ‘The Magic Mic’ Award!
We’ll be having interviews with all of these ladies on stage, catching up with them and what has been going on in their lives — on screen and off. We desperately need some RHONJ updates, so we can hope for that! Plus, some of our other winners may be in attendance or sending in acceptance speeches virtually. It wouldn’t be an award show without a step-and-repeat, fun drinks, and some celeb presenters as well, right?!
Our shows in the past have been referred to as ‘mini Bravocons’ which is an honor — plus, City Winery is easier to get to than Las Vegas!
Photo Credit: Brian Zak
HG: What are you most looking forward to about the award show?
DM: I’m *SO* excited for the award shows! We’ve been fortunate to do a lot of sold out live shows for our ‘Virtual Reali-Tea’ podcast over the past few years, so this feels very fun and fresh while also elevating our show to a new level. I can’t wait to give some of the stars we all love watching on TV the recognition they deserve — while also interviewing some of them on stage, because while it is at City Winery, you know we will need to serve some tea…
HG: What Hoboken businesses would you give awards to?
DM: This is so fun.
Best Mood Booster would have to go to Baking Mama, because how can you be sad when you’re eating those sea salt chocolate chip cookies?
The Drip Fitness and Elevate Pilates will definitely tie for the Best in Sweat — and if you’ve ever been next to me in a class, this needs no explanation. I’m fully hooked on the reformer lifestyle now!
Otok Bakery would 100% get my Best ‘Me Again!’ Award, since it isn’t a weekend without me going their both Saturday and Sunday.
And I hope I can give Northern Soul a Comeback Queen award! I miss their vibe and food so much!!
Photo Credit: Sarah Goodell
HG: Do you have favorite NJ housewife? (are you allowed to say this)
DM: They know who they are 😉
HG: Are there any Bravolebrities you’ve seen in Hoboken or JC? Any inside tea?
DM: I feel the Jersey girls definitely pop up all around Hoboken! Melissa and Joe have definitely been here for some St. Patrick’s Days, and I feel Amanda and Kyle from Summer House also make cameos as Amanda pushes the good fight to make Kyle a Jersey boy. And it isn’t Hoboken fully, but Jenn Fessler runs point at the American Dream mall!
An honorable mention for reality TV star Chris Allen, who is a Jersey City boy I interviewed for his Netflix show!
Photo Credit: Page Six
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The Virtual Reali-Tea Awards will take place on Wednesday, September 17th at City Winery, located at 25 11th Avenue (Pier 57) in New York, NY. Tickets can be purchased online.
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