24H Inside: The Gilded Age

Who says you can't time travel?!? Well, certainly not Paramount+, who have flown me from Sydney to New York to make my Gilded Age dreams come true! From interviewing the cast to elevator meet-cutes with Railroad Daddy and the pinnacle of my career: chatting with Julian Fellowes, THIS is a vlog like no other! So step back to the 1880s with me for 24 hours in The Gilded Age S4, which you can watch now on Paramount+! Shout out to our incredible researcher Gracie McCamish and editor Jamie Rose for pulling this together. If you're wanting more Hot History you can follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/hothistoryclub/?hl=en, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@hot.history?lang=en, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://substack.com/@hothistoryclub, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@hot.history ! 'Til next week, Ainslie x

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:13Ainslie Harvey?

  On the way to Plaza, guys, we're five minutes out. It's 9:26. Getting excited. I'm keen to like, I feel like I'm, I am keen to talk to cast, but I'm more keen to like, get to the Plaza and do the end part of the night than I am the morning. But it's gonna be good. I feel like the fact I'm not being recorded is like taking the pressure off. Like I've just got the questions on my phone and usually I have cards. But we'll see how we go. I mean, desperate need of a coffee, so fingers crossed the press room has a little coffee for me because I need to wake up.

• 1:07Ainslie Harvey?

  Alright guys, we're going up to level 12. I'm gonna take you guys along as far as I can, but I think it's like a pretty hush hush from here on up. So let's go.

• 1:30Ainslie Harvey?

  Alright, let's go.

• 1:36Ainslie Harvey?

  I just still can't get.

• 1:40Ainslie Harvey?

  Alright, this is where I leave you guys. Love you.

• 1:46Speaker 01

  It's a live Bambi.

• 1:47Ainslie Harvey?

  And Phoe, obviously, obviously, obviously. How are you today?

• 1:51Speaker 01

  I'm very well.

• 1:51Ainslie Harvey?

  Oh, good. Well, thank you so much for chatting with me. So my name's Ainslie. I have a podcast called Hot History, where I basically talk about all the things in history that people should know, but don't necessarily.

• 2:02Speaker 01

  Great.

• 2:02Ainslie Harvey?

  I know. And so we're covering the Gilded Age for the next three weeks. I'm such a huge fan. I'm really excited to chat with you because the Gilded Age as a show and the historical period is all about opportunity. Right? It's kind of the key theme throughout. And Ada is such an amazing character because she at one point had almost nothing, you know, living in her sister's home under her sister's kind of, you know, goodwill. And then she has everything to lose and she actually does. So I'm really keen to hear whether you think the greatest opportunities in life come from having the most to lose or the most to gain.

• 2:39Speaker 01

  Oh my goodness. The greatest opportunities in life, you know, I think the greatest opportunities in life come from having something to gain.

• 2:48Ainslie Harvey?

  That's what I think.

• 2:49Speaker 01

  Because in order to gain something, particularly something that seems maybe a bit out of reach, you have to be brave and you have to believe in yourself and you have to really go out on a limb and you have to use all of your internal and external resources to sort of achieve that goal. Whereas, you know, something to lose, I think when you have a lot to lose, it doesn't always make you brave. I think it often makes you scared.

• 3:21Ainslie Harvey?

  Risk averse.

• 3:22Speaker 01

  Risk averse. And I think we are, you know, not that we should be foolhardy, but I think we are at our best when we are at our bravest and we are trying to do something that's new and different and challenging.

• 3:36Ainslie Harvey?

  No, I love that. Okay, Cynthia was so nice and it went so well. So fingers crossed we keep it going. Also, guys, I saw Larry and Marion. Larry and I had a full on chat. Harry, what a divine little man, but he broke his foot, I think he was on crutches.

• 3:54Speaker 02

  Got it, thank you.

• 3:55Ainslie Harvey?

  Let's go, we're going back to the room to then go into the second interview.

• 3:59Ainslie Harvey?

  I'm so down, let's go. I have a jury question for you guys, don't worry. And I'm actually really keen that I've got you two in the same room to ask this. So Gilded Age, right, as a show and a historical period, for me, it's all about opportunity. Like if you sum it up to one key thing, it's about opportunity. And Oscar and Enid are such fascinating characters because they're both people, right?

• 4:22Speaker 03

  The ultimate opportunists.

• 4:23Ainslie Harvey?

  Who at one point have had everything to lose and then almost nothing. So I'm really keen to understand from you guys, do you think that the greatest opportunities come from having the most to lose or having the most to gain?

• 4:38Speaker 01

  Gosh.

• 4:38Ainslie Harvey?

  Oh, that's a good question.

• 4:40Speaker 03

  Excellent at this. My God, that's a profound question.

• 4:42Ainslie Harvey?

  Take a second, take a second.

• 4:43Speaker 04

  I think, I do think there's something about having like everything to gain. Like when you have nothing to lose, it's like, why not? Life is short, let's go. This is the moment, this is the only moment. And I think there's, there's like an element of that about the two of them. And I think particularly like, you know, Enid has really come from nothing. She's come from poverty and, and you know, you had the opposite experience where you've come from privilege.

• 5:08Speaker 03

  Complete roller coaster, yeah.

• 5:09Speaker 04

  And I think that's what's so lovely about their marriage is they each understand how, how to like rise up against forces that are larger than either of them.

• 5:18Speaker 03

  But there is a remarkable through line, the consistency of Oscar, even in like this kind of lowest moments of just like eyes on the prize, I need to marry a society eras. Yeah, he kind of rises and it's delightful, you know, I love Oscar as a character. And so it's kind of painful to see him on this awful roller coaster as he kind of descends into the innermost circle of hell, but.

• 5:35Ainslie Harvey?

  He's on the up.

• 5:36Speaker 03

  Yeah, oh my God, he's shooting up. He's living his best life this season. And it's such, it's been such fun to play.

• 5:43Ainslie Harvey?

  We are done, guys. That was so fun. Where am I going? Where's like one? That was so fun, genuinely, and it was so nice. I just checked in and I've got a quiet little corner here in the like coffee bar kind of thing. Um, so I thought we could debreath. So Sydney and Nixon first, so sweet. I always feel bad for talent when it's them alone because they don't have like a cast, another cast person to like bounce off. Um, but she was really nice, spoke about Aunt Ada, which we love. Um, and then I had like asked a question about like, what's your version of Gilded Age? Some days like the show is about escapism and so joyful and beautiful.

• 6:28Ainslie Harvey?

  Like, you know, you obviously aren't watching the show yourself on Sunday. So like, what's your version? And then they were like, no personal questions. So totally fair enough. So we had to pivot a little for the second interview, which was Taisa, Blake and Kelly. Who play Oscar, Enid and Gladys. And I literally like, I don't really have it on video because like it wasn't recorded, me anyway. But I walk in, Taisa goes, you're hot history.

• 6:57Ainslie Harvey?

  I go, I am. She goes, I love the show. I saw your name on the thing, I was so excited. I'm sorry.

• 7:07Ainslie Harvey?

  Are we okay? FYI, for those who don't know, Taisa is in American Horror Story, Coven, season one Murder House. Like such an iconic queen and as Gladys is amazing. So those three were such a good dynamic to have. And then Blake and Kelly, so fun. And like honestly, give so much of their real personality, I think, and like their real um, joy and humanity to their characters who at separate times have both been like rather conniving, not like antagonists or like evil by any means, but like, you know, a bit, a bit conniving and cunning.

• 7:49Ainslie Harvey?

  Uh, and now have like started this new journey together, which I'm so excited. And I said to them like, at the end of episode one, honeys, like I was wanting to like go party with Enid and Oscar. And I was wanting to go and give Gladys a hug. And they're like, that's exactly what we wanted, which is perfect. And again, I think why I love Julian Fellows, I go back to Downton, all of the different seasons, some kind of highs and the lows and the way that that show rides. It's like this genius craft of storytelling that he has to like bring audiences on a journey and have so many characters and so many character arcs working at the same time, like as part of a wider story. It is like the mess Jenga and he's just like Chef's Kids, a genius. Um, I mean, I've said it before, I'll say it again.

• 8:34Ainslie Harvey?

  If Julian Fellows wanted me to go to war tomorrow, I'd be packed, ready and dressed tonight, honey. Like obsessed, obsessed, obsessed. So, oh my God, and then, I mean, I kind of reset it, but I saw Larry, he's like, right, Harry, in the hall, still a broken foot, he's like hobbling around. I was like, Larry is down? He's like, oh, Larry is down for the count, like squeezed into these shoes as well. Like we gotta get, we gotta get through the day and we had a bit of a chat. And then, uh, Louisa came out marrying. Daughter of Mael Street, hello. She came out, she was like, oh, hi, how are you? Like, oh, I actually love your toad. So many people, this is such a conversation started like, Bambi.

• 9:14Ainslie Harvey?

  I'm like, yeah, but like a live Bambi, not dead Bambi and it's Phoe, so it's all good. Um, but no, it was really good. I mean, I wish I could have spoke to Harry and Louisa like in a, in a kind of group and asked them questions. I really wish I could have spoke to Carrie and Morgan. I had a question about power that I really want to ask them, but you get what you get and you don't get upset. And this has been such a fun day. So really happy with how it went. And even though I couldn't bring you guys into the room, I was glad I was able to show you a bit of the behind the scenes.

• 9:57Ainslie Harvey?

  Let's go check into the room. The press thing was really fun. It was only like 20 people there, I was really surprised. I got to ask the question to the Russells about power dynamics. Everybody is stupid hot, stupid smart, stupid talented. So loving that. I was gonna go to the tea and I'm going to tea on Wednesday, so I'm kind of like, wouldn't be surprised. And I just. I'll see my room and be prepped for the pod, so gotta go check in.

• 10:29Ainslie Harvey?

  The award-winning American Airlines Advantage program rewards more than travel. It takes your whole life to new heights. Earn miles when you fly, as well as with thousands of your favorite brands, and then redeem those miles for flights, upgrades, and experiences worldwide. Advantage members also enjoy earlier boarding and free high-speed Wi-Fi in-flight. Join for free and start earning towards your next adventure at aa.com/spotify.

• 10:57Speaker 02

  Your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change, your receipt did. The sausage McMuffin with egg extra value meal includes a hash brown and a small coffee for just $5. Only at McDonald's for a limited time. Price and participation may vary. Promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing.

• 11:18Ainslie Harvey?

  I'm so excited to see this the whole way and lottery.

• 11:29Ainslie Harvey?

  Guys.

• 11:32Ainslie Harvey?

  Six receipts, ready?

• 11:40Ainslie Harvey?

  Feel like Kevin in Home Alone 2.

• 11:45Ainslie Harvey?

  Honey.

• 11:49Ainslie Harvey?

  My divas.

• 11:53Ainslie Harvey?

  Are we kidding? A princess bed for a princess? Hello?

• 12:01Ainslie Harvey?

  Look at the little balcony, the little view, guys. This is...

• 12:09Ainslie Harvey?

  Hi, Mrs. Astor. Alright guys, so just whatever. I mean, this is amazing. Look at the chandelier, the little desk. Very professional. Shall we see the bathroom? Oh, I hope there's a bath.

• 12:33Ainslie Harvey?

  Three, two.

• 12:40Ainslie Harvey?

  Sorry. This is literally my dream, guys. I love a bath. Catch me in here after the premiere. Like, I can't even deal. This is outrageous. Other day. The keys.

• 13:02Ainslie Harvey?

  Just outrageous. Can't believe, guys. So yeah, these are the vibes.

• 13:16Ainslie Harvey?

  The end. Let's go get ready to film this pod, have a tea, get ready for the night, and then party in the ballroom downstairs. I went to the award-winning room, the tea room, the little bar. But I haven't been to the ballrooms. It's gonna be a surprise, my divas. Let's do it. The Home Alone Sunday is on the menu. $370 US dollars. 16 scoops of ice cream. I don't think my digestive system would be happy with me after that. Not sure exactly where. I'm gonna film location-wise, couple of options, like center bed, gorgy gorgy, could do the little chair.

• 14:00Ainslie Harvey?

  There's a desk, but then there's like another thing that cuts into the corner, so we'll just play around. But I brought the teleprompter, one light, um, the like portable pink mic, and we'll just play around and figure it out. And now, to make up, guys, and I thought, why don't we get ready together? You know, it's a good way to calm the nervous system and like be productive. So I thought, why don't I tell you a little bit about how this trip came together? Because it honestly was wild. So I am a huge Julian Fellow fan. You guys will know I love Downton Abbey. Like, I've been watching Downton Abbey since I was about 14 years old.

• 14:42Ainslie Harvey?

  And so when The Gilded Age came out, season one, I was watching as a loyal Downton Abbey fan, not as like someone who is necessarily like gangbusters for The Gilded Age as a period or necessarily even any of the actors, but fell in love with season one, which is wild to think it came out, guys, before I even started Hot History. Like, that is just crazy. And when season two came out, I was like dying to do some work with them. It was in my first year of Hot History, and I made a bunch of videos and started talking about The Gilded Age on the page, and it blew up like millions and millions and millions of views.

• 15:23Ainslie Harvey?

  So I knew I found a fellow, a fellow audience who loves this period, loves these characters, loves the show, loves their real counterparts, and have been dying ever since to do something, but couldn't make it work for season two, couldn't make it work for season three, so I was determined to make it work for season four. And didn't really know where it sat. I was like, is it HBO? Is it Paramount Plus? Like, what's the situation? But in Australia, it is Paramount Plus, and I got an email maybe like six weeks ago, saying, hey, we would love for you to do a virtual junket, like a Zoom, right?

• 16:06Ainslie Harvey?

  And so I went back, and I'd done virtual junkets before. I actually did it for Downton Abbey. And like, it's fine, but I'm on Zoom and the quality's really crap, and then they're super HD. And it's just like, you need to like be in the room to vibe, you know? So I went back in all of my delusion and was like, hey, thank you so much. I'd love to do this, but can I pitch you something else? What if you send me to go and do it in real life? And I go to New York for a week, do the junket, go to the premiere, and create a bunch of additional content around The Gilded Age, like the actual history. I can go to the Met, I can go to the Freak, I can go to the Morgan Library,

• 16:49Ainslie Harvey?

  and like create a bigger kind of content slate beyond just this kind of virtual interview or like a paid ad. And I think for me, whenever I'm working with brands, which like you guys will see, I don't do a lot of branded content, I really am so thoughtful and so intentional with what I put out, and I wanna make sure that especially social content, which like has the opportunity to reach, you know, bazillions of people, is really authentic and really on brand and like has a value to give, right? Like from an educational standpoint or an awareness standpoint or something like that, rather than just being like, here's a good show that I like, watch it.

• 17:33Ainslie Harvey?

  So I was feeling really good about presenting that, but like, again, this was not a, hey, this is a potential opportunity. Would you be interested? I was just shooting my shot. And got an email back within like an hour, guys, which almost never happens. And my Paramount diva was like, thank you so much for this idea. Thank you for the initiative. I love this idea. I'm gonna go and talk to the finance people and see what we can do. And so I'm like, hang on a minute, this is like really positive, it's sounding amazing. But, you know, I always kind of hold my tongue because you just never know with this kind of stuff. Plus, guys, it was like meant to be around the same time I got back from Switzerland.

• 18:18Ainslie Harvey?

  Like, I only got back from Switzerland five days ago.

• 18:22Ainslie Harvey?

  I'm in a, literally like gone back to Australia, from Switzerland to the other side of the world to Australia, and then from Australia to the other side of the world here. So I was like, this is gonna be a pretty crazy turnaround if I can make this happen. Like, surely all my wishes and dreams aren't gonna come true, but guess what?

• 18:39Ainslie Harvey?

  They did. And that is a lesson on delusion for you guys. They came back and were like, yes, we would love to send you, um, you know, for the full week to go and kind of do this, do that, do the junket, do the premiere, any other history things that you think would be great, and like have it be like a proper partnership, which again, I love. Like, I don't like to do things that are just like cheap, quick, like bits and bobs, like no paid ads. Like, the divas have to earn their money. No one clicks on comments and shares and likes paid ads from, you know, all of my fellow creative friends, more than me. But I just wanna make sure, because history is, you know, such a niche,

• 19:21Ainslie Harvey?

  and I wanna make sure that the version of history I'm aligning with is one that reflects my values and, um, you know, kind of my interests and things I like. Again, I love this show, so it worked. And so I was really, really excited, but then I was getting a little bit stressed because I knew I wanted to film some episodes of the pod, and I wanted to film them like, I didn't just wanna film them in a hotel room. I wanted it to be like an experience and a moment. So I started reaching out to some galleries and museums over here to see if they would let me film kind of, you know, these two or three videos about The Gilded Age.

• 20:02Ainslie Harvey?

  And it's so funny, almost all of the travel that I've done has been to Europe and, or like history-wise, history Jason content has been to Europe. And I always reach out to museums and, um, you know, things like that before and say like, hey, I'd love to come in and film, or like I'd love to interview your team, or go behind the scenes, or something like that. And they're always just even never reply. It's just like, no. And the Americans, honey, like 24 hours, they're like, we, we're so interested, love this idea, tell us more. Like, we can offer you this, we can offer you this, we'll go above and beyond, like, thank you so much. And like, all with, they're like, how much can we pay you?

• 20:45Ainslie Harvey?

  I'm like, it's, you know, you're letting me into your space, like, it's non-necessary. So that's been really nice and really easy and definitely lightened the load and took the stress off because I was like, filming on location is hectic anyway. And the first episode of the pod I filmed away was in Switzerland. So I was like, I don't have a lot of reflection time in between to be like, alright, this worked, this didn't. But we're just gonna do our best. So started reaching out. I got two yeses, which I'm super stoked about. So I am gonna film them for the same episodes. It's gonna be the Alma Vanderbilt episode, and we're gonna film... Um, do I wanna spoil?

• 21:27Ainslie Harvey?

  No, I don't. I'm gonna keep it a surprise for you guys, but I promise you it's gonna be amazing. But that left me with one episode that I still needed somewhere to film. Again, I just wanna do it for my hotel room and so I was thinking, well, Divas, just for the sake of, you know, saving time and things like that, I'm going to the Plaza on this Monday for the junket and then for kind of, you know, the premiere and the after-party and stuff afterwards. So why don't I get a room here? Like, if you're gonna film in a hotel room, you film it in a near Gilded Age, nineteen oh seven was the actual Plaza that was built. But, you know, you can film

• 22:11Ainslie Harvey?

  like in that kind of environment is what you would wanna do. So plus, again, convenient, right? Because I knew I was gonna be dolled up. So I was like, oh, you know what? How can I, how can I do this? Let me look it up. Looking up the prices, three and a half thousand Australian dollars for like a mid-level room. And I'm like, oh my god, how am I gonna justify this to myself? So I'm like, okay, what can I do to like subsidize this money? You know, like, I'll make a vlog. Hi, um, I'll film the pod episode there, which, you know, like it earns money off YouTube and Spotify. So like,

• 22:53Ainslie Harvey?

  that will earn the money back. And like, I did this, this other brand deal X, X long ago and like, you know, I can, I can put that towards that. It's all making the show better. It's all like taking you guys behind the scenes and showing you as well, which is obviously so valuable to me. Um, I love having you guys along with me. So I was like, I'm just gonna do it. Anyway, again, so much of this trip, I feel like I'm just repeating myself, but so much of this trip has been like divine intervention and the universe just taking such good care of me. Because just as I'm about to book, my Paramount Diva calls me. Okay, firstly, I'm like, oh my god, this isn't happening anymore. Like something terrible's happened. Like, it's not going ahead.

• 23:36Ainslie Harvey?

  So Anne's like, oh hi, she goes, oh my gosh, like, I'm so sorry, like, I don't have good news. I'm like,

• 23:42Ainslie Harvey?

  what? Like, oh my gosh, am I not going? And she's like, so the junket usually has one camera that's on you, like filming you, and then one camera that's on the talent filming them. And for whatever reason, they're not having a camera on you. So like for social clips and stuff like that, like it will just have you, your audio, you asking the question, but not actually any video of you. And like, you know, I feel really bad, like, I asked if you could film yourself. They said no, like da, da, da. Anyway. And I was like, Lauren, it's gonna be A okay. You know, I've got this idea for this vlog that we're gonna film at the Plaza. It's gonna be like a twenty-four hours inside the Plaza.

• 24:26Ainslie Harvey?

  And, you know, like the whole Gilded Age day in the Gilded Age setting, I can put some, I can put the questions on screen. We're gonna make it work. Like, it's gonna be all good, no stress. It's gonna be fine. And she was like, oh, okay. Like, what do you mean, like twenty-four hours in the Plaza? I was like, oh, like, I'm just gonna book a room and like make a whole long-form vlog out of it. And she's like, oh, okay, like, how much is it?

• 24:53Ainslie Harvey?

  And I'm like, oh, I don't know, like the rooms vary from, I think it's like two to three thousand or something like that for the public rates. And she's like, leave it with me. Let me see and speak to our US team and see if they've got some special rates. And so I'm like, oh, okay, that will be amazing. Like, you know, I'm thinking she's gonna go and get me like some corporate rates or something like that. Like, that would be so good. And then I can book that tonight. And then I can film the podcast episode, not be stressing about coming here and there and everywhere. And like, it'll be all good. An hour later, she messages back, hey, I spoke to my boss and I looked up the rates and we're gonna try and make this work for you. A night at the Plaza.

• 25:39Ainslie Harvey?

  And this is what I mean by like being delusional. You all need to be proudly delusional. Okay, because putting things out into the universe, shooting your shot, like, and, and I think there's something to be said about like constantly trying to level up. Right? And like putting yourself in, in rooms and in situations that like you don't necessarily belong in, or like think that you belong in. And like constantly trying to improve and constantly trying to surround yourself and level up. Because things just happen from it. Like, I get so woo-woo of me, but

• 26:18Ainslie Harvey?

  um, I'll post pictures here. I don't know. I would have posted the social content for this, but I was on a billboard here with Spotify yesterday, literally in the middle of MSG, was not pre-planned, was not lined up with this trip. I got like a message a week before being like, hey, congratulations, you've been picked for this program. Plus, it's gonna be on this amazing billboard on this day in New York. I was like, I'm gonna be there. Like, what are the chances? It's insane. Anyway, so that's how this part of the trip came together, um, for this day. And I'm just so grateful to each and every single one of you because

• 26:57Ainslie Harvey?

  I couldn't do any of this if you guys, you know, didn't love history, if you guys weren't entertained by the storytelling that the show brings and followed along. So I'm really so grateful. And again, this is why I'm bringing you on every single step of the way. Because I genuinely, genuinely can't do any of it without all of you and I would never, ever take that for granted. So this is as much you staying at the Plaza as it is me. I may have the robe on, but I've got a robe wrapped around each and every single one of you. But yeah, I'm really keen. I'm keen. I'm, I'm going into all things now with curiosity and like

• 27:40Ainslie Harvey?

  volunteering myself up to, you know, new opportunities and to openness. I think is my new manifestation motto. This is so not the content that you guys subscribe for, but again, I just feel like I have to bring you with me every single step of the way. You're like my little security blanket. Chatting with all of my Divas. What else can I tell you about? I don't wanna spoil any of the stuff I'm doing later in the week. That's the thing. Wait, I'm gonna pause you while I do my outline and no one needs to see this. I'm back from that journey.

• 28:19Ainslie Harvey?

  Sometimes it's just like

• 28:22Ainslie Harvey?

  trying to plan a holy on a campaign.

• 28:29Ainslie Harvey?

  The award-winning American Airlines Advantage program rewards more than travel. It takes your whole life to new heights. Earn miles when you fly, as well as with thousands of your favorite brands. And then redeem those miles for flights, upgrades and experiences worldwide. Advantage members also enjoy earlier boarding and free high-speed wifi in flight. Join for free and start earning towards your next adventure at aa.com/spotify.

• 28:57Speaker 02

  Your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change, your receipt did. The sausage McMuffin with egg extra value meal includes a hash brown and a small coffee for just five dollars. Only at McDonald's for a limited time. Price and participation may vary. Promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing.

• 29:13Ainslie Harvey?

  I think those are drying. I got so out of breath. I just put my skins on.

• 29:21Ainslie Harvey?

  I don't know how she wears these things like all the time to different events. I am feel like I've just done the beep test or something.

• 29:32Ainslie Harvey?

  Actually, I'm not gonna let you guys watch me do this. Come back. Done. Alright, Lippy Lippy Lippies. I'm just gonna do a lip stain. I'll put like the actual lipstick on before.

• 29:47Ainslie Harvey?

  But after this, I'm gonna do the pod, get that out of the way. And then take some pics. And just not have a stressful time. That's the thing I picked up going to different events and press stuff. You just wanna get it all done with like the most ridiculous amount of time to go. You know, you don't wanna be stressed city, which I'm stressed city twenty-four seven anyway, so.

• 30:15Ainslie Harvey?

  But I wanna be adding more stressed city to myself.

• 30:29Ainslie Harvey?

  And that is the end makeup look. Just fresh, fun, fruity. My makeup routine never really changes. So.

• 30:37Ainslie Harvey?

  What's going with time for the dress? Alright, I'm gonna see if I can get the full outfit in. I don't know if you can from this angle, but.

• 30:48Ainslie Harvey?

  Can you see it all? You may disappear. Little princess of the Gilded Age, me and Gladys. We're out in high society. Oh. Actually, I feel like this fit is kind of giving. You know that John Singer Sargent portrait with the yellow dress? I'll insert it. Here. It's kind of giving that same, you know, shape and vibe. And the shoes.

• 31:18Ainslie Harvey?

  Anyway, that's it. Let's go film this pod. Hi guys and welcome back to Hot History. You're on the internet where we cover all the things in history that you probably should know, but don't. We did it. We got it done. Now we're gonna take some pics, film some content, get in the cab and go to the premiere.

• 31:40Ainslie Harvey?

  Guys, the daddies you run into in the elevator at the Plaza. They're everywhere. We're all going to the same place. Love. Guys, I just got in the elevator. Open the elevator. Daddy Russell's in there. What the hell? Wild.

• 32:07Ainslie Harvey?

  We are seated in the theatre. It's very different to Aussie premieres so far. This is like in like a corporate office kind of thing. This is like a downstairs auditorium. Um, or maybe like an NYU building or something. And the carpet is closed, but it doesn't matter because we had a crazy encounter in the elevator. Doors open. Who was standing there? Daddy Russell.

• 32:34Ainslie Harvey?

  Literally before me, but I'm really keen to re-watch episode one. And hopefully there's like a little Q and A or something. I want to hear what all the divas have to say. Now that this room is filling up.

• 32:49Ainslie Harvey?

  Presentation is about to begin. Julian Fellows. I mean, I've said it before, I'll say it again. If Julian Fellows wanted me to go to war tomorrow, I'd be packed, ready and dressed tonight, honey. Like obsessed, obsessed, obsessed.

• 33:06Ainslie Harvey?

  Been interested in the Gilded Age for a long time. I think it's a very interesting period of American history. Uh, in many ways, and this is not the original thought. Uh, I think it was the beginning of modern America. Thank you very much.

• 34:08Ainslie Harvey?

  Alright guys, walking the whole ten metres back to the other entry of the Plaza. We need to debrief ASAP. That was insanity. I can't deal.

• 34:28Ainslie Harvey?

  Oh my gosh, my feet. Goodie bags? We got some.

• 34:37Ainslie Harvey?

  Tea, I think they sell.

• 34:41Ainslie Harvey?

  Look, Gilded Age Scott Garden, black tea with jasmine and flowers. Russell Gold, smoked black tea with fig.

• 34:51Ainslie Harvey?

  Van Ryan Silver, black tea with osmanthus and pear. I love a thoughtful little take home moment after these events.

• 35:03Ainslie Harvey?

  How cute is that? But, PJs, room service, let's go. Alright guys, I'm so tired. I can't even stand up anymore. So let's debrief. What a crazy twenty-four hours, guys. Starting off in the day with the junket. Really different from how we do it in Australia, but still really good. Especially, I felt like the vibe with Taysa. Um, Blake and Kelly was so fun and like the fact Taysa knows the show. Are we okay? Like what on earth? That is ridiculous. Then going straight from there to the press conference. Again, never been to a press conference, wasn't knowing what to expect. It was actually really fun. Twenty or so people in the room.

• 35:48Ainslie Harvey?

  Got to ask a question, which was awesome. And just like seeing all of the cast assembled is wild, like such hot people. The hottest cast on television for sure. Then coming back, checking into the Plaza Hotel. Again, insanity. Getting ready, doing the pod. We got it done, guys. Thank goodness. Then heading to the premiere. It was just wild. We're like taking pictures, filming in the hallways, getting the content. Press the button on the elevator, go to get into the elevator, doors open. There's a man with a white jacket on. He turns around. Daddy Russell.

• 36:31Ainslie Harvey?

  Like, I manifested him. And the elevator brought him to me. It was like a scene from Grey's Anatomy, guys. Honestly, it was like McDreamy was there and like I was Meredith and it was just like, you know, the thing with elevators and ferry boats, except it's railroad tycoons and history podcasters, I guess. Then to the premiere. I will admit, okay, this is an honest vlog. I got to the, like the screening and I was like, oh, is this it? Because there was a massive press wall, massive, definitely biggest press wall I've ever seen. Totally roped off, can't really look at it, can't really get to it. Nothing. In Australia, we all walk it, get our little piggies taken by professional photographers in the paps.

• 37:18Ainslie Harvey?

  Which like, I get it, you know, Australia doesn't have kind of as big a celebrities constantly as these, as these divas in New York. But yeah, we go down into this amphitheatre thing and it's kind of like a student theatre, uni theatre kind of thing. I'm like, oh, okay. And people dressed in ball gowns like us and then people dressed in like jeans and t-shirts, which like no shape, but I was like, who are all these people? You know, such a dynamic mix. Um, but then we got on the shuttles and came across back to the Plaza, down to the ballroom. And any thoughts of like, oh, this is a little, like,

• 38:03Ainslie Harvey?

  modern? Maybe? I guess it's the right word. It was very like, it didn't, it didn't feel very Gilded. All of that went away in my divas because my god, did they outdo themselves. Like not only doing it at the Plaza, which is amazing. The food, the lighting, the florals. There was psychic readers. There was the like drawing lady, all of the cast just mingling amongst everyone. Again, for all my American divas listening, they're probably like, so who cares? For us Aussies, never in a million years would they let celebrities just mingle in a room. They would be swamped by Aussies because we're so like

• 38:48Ainslie Harvey?

  starstruck because they're not a normal part of our daily lives. Unlike over here, people just like leaving them alone. So it's like you're standing there and like get a drink and you're next to Louisa Jacobson or getting into the elevator. We got into the elevator with her. I'm chatting with her. Then you're standing there getting a drink and Carrie Coon's next to you. And you're like, oh, Mrs Russell. Just like, hi, how are you? Shakes your hand. Da da da. Yeah, we'll get two of these drinks. Da da da. Yeah, good to, good to see you. Yeah, you too. And then there's like, you're dancing and you turn around and there's railroad daddy. And then you like go pee and Mrs Astazan, which is just like so wild.

• 39:29Ainslie Harvey?

  Um, so that was amazing. And again, the team just like outdid themselves with the level of food, the lighting, the flowers, the like general decor. Um, and pretty much all of the cast was there other than Christine. Aunt Agnes, which big sad for that, but such a fun night, like danced, laughed, had some cute drinks, spoke to some incredible people. And just had a really fun time, but the highlight of the day, absolutely for me, if I talk about it too much, I'll cry.

• 40:07Ainslie Harvey?

  Got to surprise, did not know this was happening.

• 40:13Ainslie Harvey?

  Got to meet one man who I have been, like ever since his Hot History journey, there's been a couple of things that he's done and I'm like, if I met him, if I even locked eyes on him, I would burst into tears, like pinnacle dream, forget all the celebrities, forget all the stars, like goodbye. Julian Fellows. Man wrote Downton Abbey, right? He's written the Gilded Age as well. I've been watching Downton Abbey since I was fourteen years old. I've watched it maybe ten times through now. I usually watch it like once a year. Gilded Age, again, I've watched seasons one through to three, maybe five or six times now. Much shorter than Downton Abbey.

• 40:59Ainslie Harvey?

  And I just am like, in, in a world of, you know, Christopher Nolan's who cannot write women for anything, to have a Julian Fellows who's able to craft and create and share these incredibly compact, complex, incredibly real, incredibly human women is like nothing else and just like have fallen in love with his stories, you know, again, since I was about. Fourteen, so he at the screening got like wheeled out in his wheelchair. And he's doing this incredible kind of monologue about the Gilded Age and the Great American Age

• 41:44Ainslie Harvey?

  and World War One and World War Two and the rise of, you know, America as this kind of noble peacemaker. And all kind of originated from this Gilded Age period. And I'm sitting there sobbing and then get to the after party and he's there at a table. And I'm like, this is my chance. And this whole video, I've been saying, be delusional, shoot your shots. So I'm like, I've got to go do this. So I go up to him, instantly start crying.

• 42:17Ainslie Harvey?

  I go, oh my God, I, I, I just wanted to tell you, I've got my Kim Kardashian cry face on. I just wanted to tell you, like, I'm such a fan of your work. I think Dalton Abbey season six is the greatest season of television that's ever been made. You mean so much to me. Thank you so much for your stories. Thank you so much for speaking about women, the way that you do and writing these characters. And I'm jammering on and yammering on and fammering on. And he's, and he's like sitting there like, yep, yep, yep, listening to me goes, where are you from? And I never know what to say when people ask me where I'm from. I'm like, the internet? I don't know, like podcaster, I'm from myself, hot history. Like it's hard to answer. So I was like, I'm a, I'm a history podcaster.

• 43:01Ainslie Harvey?

  I make history content, talk about history things. And he goes, well, we've got to keep the history alive. Um, and then he looks at me, he goes, do you want to take a photo? Yes, I want to take a photo and the whole time my eyes are just full of tears. I had to literally, guys, this isn't even exaggeration. I had to walk to the opposite corner of the room and like have some downtime afterwards. Because I was like so teary and emotional afterwards. It's like my kryptonite. I was like, I'm, I'm weak at the knees when I'm around you. Like what an incredible man, an incredible storyteller. Who, I don't even want to try and calculate how many hours of television that that man's written

• 43:47Ainslie Harvey?

  that I've consumed in my life. I reckon it would be like a year. But all in all, just an amazing, amazing experience. Thank you so much Paramount Plus for organising all of this. I like, I can't, I know I've said it a million times, thank you so much to you guys. I can't do any of this without you. And I'm gonna go and eat my Meadow Lane chicken salad and pita chips for dinner.

• 44:16Ainslie Harvey?

  And then wake up at the Plaza tomorrow, fresh new day, going to the Met. Um, doing some other bits and pieces and kind of editing all of this together. So I can get it out to you ASAP. But I think that's it for me tonight, guys. Love you, bye.

• 44:35Ainslie Harvey?

  And some witty comment about the Gilded Age, which I cannot conjure up from my brain. And will insert here on the screen. Love you. Night, night. Guys, I'm so tired. I've got these on because my eyeballs are humongous. Cause I'm so tired from last night. My feet are so sore. And this was literally the comfiest bed. We were meant to get up at like eight AM. And it was nine thirty and then I didn't get out of bed till like ten. So this has been such an incredible stay. I've loved my time in the Gilded Age, covering the Gilded Age.

• 45:19Ainslie Harvey?

  But it's, it's time to go home. Don't want to leave the Plaza. Plus, I feel really lucky. It's been closed for like four years after this. So we got to, you know, stay in it while it still looked like this. And I guess for one of the last times in the next kind of, you know, half decade. So yeah, off to the Met today though, guys. So the history tour doesn't end here. But the Plaza tour does. Hope you guys enjoyed. Thank you so much for coming along. Um, again, Gilded Age season four premieres November second. How fabulous. You guys need to go and watch it ASAP. I've seen episode one.

• 46:00Ainslie Harvey?

  I just like, watching the show after such a long break, not having new episodes. It takes me right back. Like you're straight back into the story and that's the genius of Julian Fellowes and the whole cast. So make sure to go and watch the Gilded Age season four on Paramount Plus.

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