Devin and Carolina are feeling mentally ill and the only thing that's helping is venturing to The Valley where Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright are single handedly reviving the Bravoverse and a former Miss USA is crying about a former child star getting pantsed. Plus, a brief trip into Buying Beverly Hills where they make it look really easy to buy things! Which it's actually not that easy!
Oh I want you.
Hello, and welcome to true romance.
This is Carolina Barlow and this is Devin Leary.
We are both currently battling what our doctors called depression, so bear with us. We are both people who have been victims of moves. We both moved homes and so you know, lost, afraid, and despair. All of these things apply to us. Some would say, be in gratitude. You know you have a roof over your head. I'm not able to get there yet, and I would like to ask for grace and patience on this journey.
Well, it's actually like.
Kile Richard says on buying Beverly Hills to uh, Sophia, I believe it is who's having insomnia. And she says like I shouldn't even complain about anything because I am like privileged. And Kyle says, just because you are like blessed doesn't mean that you don't have problems and you're allowed to have your feelings.
Oh hello, No.
I couldn't agree more. But I am a little bit like, all right, Well.
These people are making moving and like buying things look so easy when it's actually really hard. I mean, yes, it's easy for me to buy random stuff like a unicorn painting that I bought today for forty dollars. But it's hard to it's hard to relocate your home, and it's hard to buy Beverly Hills, and they're acting like it's easy. And let me also say this, I am having a moment where I'm just like, you know what, I'm sick of just being mentally ill, Like that's like actually something that I would rather not have to do for a while, and I'm so sick of it. I'm so sick of a feeling of dread, of logging on a psychiatrists they say, what's the dread caused by?
I don't know. I feel like there's no point to anything. I don't know why.
And then it's like, you know, my cats give me purpose, but then the second they have a problem, I'm supposed to be the caretaker here and it's just really hard. But you know, I wanted to share some things that help. One is when you're feeling mentally ill, you're pissed off because you're like, why do I have to have mental illness and OCD? Why does everything have to be so exhausting? Why does hanging up a picture frame lead to me thinking I dropped a nail to me thinking that the nail is going to like roll into the hallway and someone's going to step on it and it's going to be my fault if they get like tetanus, which leads me to think, like, actually, do I have tetanus? Why does my brain work like this when I'm having moments like that? Something that helps rice potatoes. I got gluten free bread, starchy food like that, so buttery, oily as you can get it. One two watching a TV show And that's where buying Beverly Hills comes back in.
Is that today?
Oh and this is another thing telling yourself, you know what, I actually can't do that today. And that's okay because I had this whole plan of like cleaning out my car today because the move was like I used the car and whatever, and I said, I walked to the car, which is parked far away from my apartment. I said, I actually can't handle this today, and I'm gonna keep on walking, walked home, laid down on the floor where my couch is gonna go, where I don't even have a couch right now, And I turned on buying Beverly Hills, and I laid there and stared at the screen for.
Hours.
I mean, I'm on episode six. I started this afternoon, So I recommend that. And I'm actually really grateful that Buying Beverly Hills came into our lives again for season two.
At this moment, it compared to Selling Sunset.
Much more boring.
In a way that's like almost comforting though, Like there's not really serious drama, like they're of course playing up like every moment between Kyle and like Mauricio. Meanwhile, I'm like, this is regular couples. Like I'm actually almost watching it. I'm almost believing more in the idea that they like created this drama of like their separation, because I'm like, this is just how.
Normal couples are.
Like he's like, oh, I have pickleball and she's like, oh, I didn't know you had that, And they're like don't don't Dawn like in tig music, and you're like okay, but like that just happens, and she's like I forget. Like she's like reading and he's laying next to her and he like goes to kiss her and she kind of like is like eh, and it's like that's just being in a relationship like that's not like divorce is imminent. So I'm curious to see like how that plays out because that's interesting. And there's another relationship that's falling apart, and then there's like some sexual tension between some of the agents. Like I love that, but it doesn't have the trash intensity that selling Sunset has, like that that West Hollywood Strip energy doesn't have that, or has Beverly Hills Energy, which is just different, but it's a little bit calmer and it's a little bit like all right, well, I like to just look at these serene views and like a whole storyline will be about like making a video for TikTok, you know, and I like that.
That's that's what I would say about that.
Yeah, I have gotten a little sick of like the Kyle and now we're kind of hearing Marucio side after you know, real houses of Beverly Hills, and I'm kind of like enough, you guys, yeah, you know, should have get off the pot, kind of like I'm just like I was never I'm over you know, being sad that your partnership didn't work out. I was never that upset about it. I don't know, I do these that they seem to have like nice children.
Question Mark, I agree they do.
I will say that like children capable of nice children. I will say that Mauricio seems like kind of a party boy, and as we all know, Kyle Splitz McGee was party girl and now she's not. So I do think like that is tough, like to wake up and be like, who have I been spending the last decades of my life with? Now that I'm in clarity and not hungover like everyone, I will say it seems like this cast gets much more drunk than the other cast. Even though there was drug allegations on selling Sunset and there's not any here. I'm like, there's definitely some powder going around the office and it's not the baby kind.
All right, Well, I'll dip my little toe into buying Beverly Hills. It's so funny too, because I'm like, who the fuck we want to live in Beverly Hills?
Really, it's looking nice. No, But I will say.
I hate the type of house that Arion and Maddox actually just bought, like that like square on the edge of a cliff, where it's like that just looks like a square and like it looks like a video game house. Like I like the old Spanish mansions. I mean, sue me, but I like old Spanish mansions.
Personally me, I tend to gravitate towards mansions mansions. Yeah, I know, I did say that arian is moving out. I'm really happy for her, and I actually can't believe they've lived together for a full year after he cheated on her, Like it's actually crazy and one of the better It's like the more of the more interesting parts of this first half of the VPR season, which has not been interesting at all, has been the camera traveling through the house to see where Arian is, what Tom's doing, and you're like the fact that these two people are living under the same roof, which must happen all the time, like someone does something psychotic. But it's like, yeah, I still can't afford to move out, you know, and you're but poor literly assistant Anne is just traveling in between them. MVP of the season so far goes to Anne.
I agree.
And also, I think I've said this before, but I really can't be championing Ariana anymore. I find her drab, boring, repetitive. I feel like, get the fuck over it. It wasn't that Like I honestly feel like it wasn't that big of a deal. That's like where I'm at, I'm just like, all right, shut the fuck up already, Like, yes, it was great drama, but it's like, worse things happen in people's lives. You didn't want to be in the relationship anymore, you clearly weren't meant to be. Yes, Raquel is like a horrible friend. It's just like, I feel like I'm a little over the like, well, if you're gonna talk to him like you're not my friend, It's I'm kind of with Laala where I'm like just like shut up.
And also let me.
Say this, I need better delivery. Yeah, this woman has the energy. This woman has the energy of flattened gum on the sidewalk.
Like I'm still team Arian and I still think what she went through is pretty insane. But all that being said, watching The Valley, my new favorite TV show, I literally was like, this is what I've been missing. I've been missing sheer chaos, like horrible energy from men just like not the Brocks of the world who are like she know, when are we gonna spend time together? Like I'm what I'm missing is you know, the new car Wreck is Jesse and Michelle. The Jesse, of course, is the guy who called La La his mistress in front of his wife. And he's also the guy who when his wife Michelle said, do you want to go find out where our daughter is? He walked by her and said no. And I was like, so this is what I'm tuning in for. I am here to watch sheer chaos, people who aren't realizing, you know, the full reality of being on camera. Kristen Dodi, Jax Taylor, Britney cart Right, you have.
To have like it's the delusion. It's it's why Miami is so good. It's the delusion. We need the delusion for it to be good. And I mean name a person on this show that doesn't have it.
Back to the Valley, Yes, just like Miami. These people are so delusional. We have like a child actor Danny Buco, who's like most people who see me, This man is fully like fifty years old. He's like most people see me, they think they recognize me from the I Carle Hannah Montana.
Then he's like, but and that did make me feel old.
I was like, I to me, this man looks the age of my father, and he's like, I'm actually your same age, like I want. And then meanwhile, speaking of delusion, the delusion is kristin the lead into these characters is Kristin Dowdy saying, what are their names again?
Jesse and Michelle?
Jesse b Michelle are like the like the couple that ends up splitting up at the end of the season, Danny Buco and Nia Buko. Nia is missing USA and Danny is the former child star.
Right, So Kristen's like, Danny and Nia are who I want to be when I grow up. And it's like a former Hand of Montana star who's fifty and still talking about it and like, I couldn't notice a single thing.
What did he keep saying three three under two two?
When Jacks was like, I like really don't feel bad for him when he keeps saying that.
I know also like Jax does have star quality in those skinny jeans.
Jax is a star. I believe it to be the best television show of all time. Jax Taylor was the star of it for many years. He was and that's why I'm so excited to have him back on my screen, it does not look like he's a very good husband from the teaser for the rest of the season, especially when Brittany is like you said, it's like I can't have any emotion and he's like, no, you can't.
He's that awful.
That's the thing is like it's different than Sandoval because like, like.
Sandoval, that's the other thing.
I believe he's a narcissist, but he's not like a sociopath, so he doesn't have the charisma like to.
Pull off like he's like being a slimy and gross.
Sandoval is like someone that you come across in as we've talked about, in like your early twenties and you're like, oh my god, I can't believe I was obsessed with that guy. He's actually so disgusting, and then you run into him in broad daylight when you're in your thirties and you're like, oh my god, that's you. That's who I even ever thought twice about. And Jack's Taylor is someone that if you ran into him in your thirties, you would still fall for him again because he is evil charisma. He is Monica, he is Jen Shaw, he is Spencer Pratt, he is all THEO. I mean, actually, Spencer Pratt is a good man, but Jax has that yeah, and he will just fucking say it, like when they're even when they're doing that montage of like I guess like intro for anyone who hasn't seen vand Pump Rules, as if anyone is just watching the Valley Fresh with no background. But it's like just seeing him walk in and be like, yeah, I did Okay, Yeah I slept with her and Britti's like raw in Hall, but he's like he's always just like, yes I did, Yes, I received a blowjob from Kristen, my best friend's girlfriend who is also best friends with my current girlfriend.
Yes, I did do that. Like it's just like I can't get enough.
I will be Christon being like I hate you and him being like became twice sweetheart.
See this is what I'm saying here, I mean, see what I'm saying.
They also couldn't have like balanced him. A casting director couldn't have found a better counterbalance than Britney cart right, Like they found someone who does seem like a saint and at the same time brings her own form of sheer chaos and has she is sad though, no, she is like the best. She like wants to grow up and work for like with special needs kids. She she's like, I live for my kid, I know.
And every time she sees someone she that's the thing, though, like that is someone who does not have mental illness at all.
It does not have the darkness, does not.
Like, can drink as much as she wants and never go to a place that she regrets.
You know, the craziest thing about her is that she married Jax Taylor.
Yeah, and she's like every time if you notice, like that's what it's like to be happy. It's like every time she sees someone, she's genuinely like so happy to see them and like comment something personal about them and is like, oh.
My god, and I see you have a new.
Dress or something and you're like, okay, so you're just like a good person and like you're so cute and then you're with actual evil in skinny jeans and also what's with all these friends that this is the thing too.
I said, I'm not sure about this show.
And then as soon as the words we met in male Modeling was I heared.
I said, yep, I'll be here.
I'll be sticking around, I'll be hanging around this town on the cot together in.
New York, and I was like, who, I'm so sorry, Like who lit? Jesse Lally is his name?
Model? I know, I know, I don't.
I mean Tom Sandoval was quote unquote a model for Jessica Simpson's dad, Joe Simpson during the photo shoot Jessica.
Joe and Danny Pellogrino says, Joe takes pictures of men.
Now Simpson.
Speaking of Jack's as a villain and as a TV star, he pants is Danny Buco, I Carly Starr at their party, Nia Buco, who is like the prettiest person on the show and was Miss Usa. And another example of how like Lola bar is that she clearly thinks her husband is like the best person of all time. Immediately burst into like runs and it's like my heart is beating so fast, burst into tears. I am five years old. Because I was like, that would be objectively funny if that happened at a party I was at, and.
And especially that they were posing for a photo, like when it was happening.
It's genuinely funny, like genuinely, but I want to echo what you said about Brittany, because Brittany goes to her and it's like, I'm so sorry. I just want you to enjoy the party.
I hate that.
You wouldn't something that would happen that would make you not enjoy the party.
I'm sorry, it's a stupid joke. I didn't see anything at all.
Yeah, I know, everyone's like, we didn't see anything. I said, if it's like, I mean, that was my first response to I'm like, is she upset?
Well, okay, this was my first response.
Okay, she's upset that people are seeing her husband's Is that because it's small, it's micro, it's got a weird shape, it's got a weird rash. And then I thought, this is a kid's party on national television.
Could this be like a legal thing?
Like and I honestly think that, Like she was like, in this moment, I need to especially, he's coming from this world of quiet on set, which is that Nickelodeon documentary about like how dark kids shows.
Are, Like he's coming from that world.
She's she's coming from Miss USA, like aka Donald Trump works there somehow, Like they're coming from these dark worlds. So I think she was like, oh my god, husband's naked penis among children that are not my own on national television, like I have to play this off, that this was an injustice to us, and.
She was like, oh my god, this is so upsetting. We would never want anything like this to ever happen. This is so awful. We don't approve of this, We did not want.
This, and everyone else is just like we didn't see as junk I had.
I am a first responder as well, and my first response is mirror yours. And at first I thought, is she said that everyone saw her husband's penis and what's up with that? And then it was like, oh my gosh, you're Miss USA. You're a pageant queen and like gett into Miss USA, like.
That is your life. Pageants aren't a life deal. Yeah, that is. As we know.
Raquel blames not getting to whatever miss like local down home princess for her whole downfall. She's like, I was going to be a pageant queen and then I couldn't be one, and now I'm evil.
Yeah, I know.
She was very said by that that was so funny. When she's having lunch with Peter and immediately starts crying about like not making it to miss California and aging out of the system as you do.
I actually have to rewatch that whole season because it's just like such gold I forgot.
I have watched that season two times and both times glued, completely glued.
I need to watch a second time.
Literally had the thought today, I'm sad that I didn't get Demander pump rolls until later in life, Like that was my thought, like, oh, how sad that I only embraced this after the scand.
Of all the scanned the scanned.
I'm very excited to see what's to come. Christen Dowdy seems on her shit. There's also h my God, a character named Zach who is Brittany's best gay friend from Kentucky, and he's performance could only be described as homophobic, Like.
He is a caricature.
He is like he's like James's friend, that other gay guy on vander Pum Logan that logan. Yeah, he's like logan where you're just like, it's a lot, you're doing too much. But can I just say that I have never like Laala is the voice of the audience in so many ways, especially when she says like whatever she said about Kristen's vagina. I've never agreed more because it's like so true that Kristin is objectively mentally unhinged in a very well documented way. And also you don't even need to see the documentation because every interaction she has, she comes across as unstable and completely delusional.
And yet she never doesn't have a boyfriend.
She's never gone like a week without a man who's like obsessed with her, and they become over time increasingly more nice, seeming normal guys.
Yes, Laala says that she thinks that Kristen's shooting diamonds out her vagina, out of her pussy. She's not wrong, like you said. The interesting about Kristin too, is that we've been with her for so long that in your twenties, it's kind of like you always have that crazy friend. Kristen's forty now. You know the fact that she's forty. The fact that she's forty. Kristen's forty now, and she still brings chaos with her, and it looks like she's bringing a lot this season, and I'm I'm so excited by that. I again, I'm so grateful to have trying to get pregnant as a part of my lineup. She's trying to get pregnant.
She's trying to meet this guy and she's dating who lives in Colorado, and it.
Seems like too nice. It's like he wandered out of the Colorado woods and ended up on TV. It's like he looks so out of place.
And in classic Jack's Forum, he's angry because, like Kristen triggers something in Jack's because he knows he's also psychotic. So he's like, okay, and you think that you can It's like the same way as like when I get annoyed at people for like being late. It's like, oh, and you think you can do that. Well, people who think they can do that should hate themselves and go to therapy because they suck and they always have. It's like I'm mad at something that is my same behavior.
That's how Jax is where he's.
Like, oh, okay, so I just want you to know that I think it's a little delusional that you think you can just have a kid with this guy from Colorado.
And he keeps saying like out of wedlock. Yeah, And he's like, I do you know how to webhood? And he's like, do you know what parenthood? Entails. Remember when he got the girl pregnant. This like, like it.
Just you know, it's fine to get a striper pregnant in Vegas when you have a girlfriend, but like then, don't later tell someone that they don't know what it takes to be like married and have a child.
This is yeah.
And also, can I just say what you just said about Kristen being forty. That fact that you just stated, which is that Kristin is forty, It made me realize that the Valley is to Bravo verse what this is forty is to jut Appatow verse, and Jax Taylor is jut Apatow.
I'm trying. I'm carrying the one I'm doing.
The math I'll I'll say is that you think the drama is in your twenties, like I you know, that's where people are their craziest dada da watching this. I'm like, no, this is where the shit hits the fan. You bring new lights.
The drama is always.
The drama is always, but like marriage, children, like this is what I want to see at this stage in my life.
Yes, and it's for us. You're so right, this is why this show is perfect. We've grown up with them, we've grown up with them.
We had really always and we've always been able to feel better than them and think about like the stories that you're interested in now, like if my friend got blackout drunk and hooked up with like like cheated on her boyfriend.
I'm like, okay, that you know is an interesting When I hear about like, oh, a marriage showing up part because my name she just had. The wife has evolved as a mother, the father's not evolving as a father. That's when I'm leaning in. That's what I'm saying. Tell me more. Tell me everything he does, tell me everything she does. Tell me how they met, tell me how it was before the kid, tell me how it.
Was out the kids.
Tell me who pays the bills, Like I need to know everything. And so that's why like this show is already so valuable to me, is because you're watching like men be bad at parenthood, like Brittany, and they're all openly talking. At one point, Brittany and the other moms about how like they like the husband, one of the husbands wants them to have more kids, and they're like, well, we're the ones who do all the work. And at one point, La La even points out She's like, there's three men talking in the kitchen about motherhood, not one of them as a mom.
Like, we're already. What I'm saying is this is you're you're saying such truth right now. You're saying such truth right now.
Of course a couple separates by the end of this that needed to And of course again it's that guy Jesse who seems who pinches Kristen's nipple after she pinches his. Well.
It's also it's also Jackson Brittany multiple culples.
That's true. It's Jackson Britain.
Most half the cast is getting divorced by the end of this show.
That's a tagline. That's what they needed to put on the poster. It's so true.
And you're like, I guess it must be stressful, like bringing cameras into your home, wife, But at the same time, I think why you're breaking up is because you have a witness because you realize that I'm going to be witnesses to this, and.
You're like, oh my god, I can't make this seem normal anymore.
Yeah, exactly, that's so true.
It's truth. Did you drink truth juice before this?
I drank Gatorade truth before this episode.
It's coming out of your pause.
We also have to talk about a little show called Summerhouse the Other Valley of Death, which is a summerhouse. The funny thing is, first of all, we have Craig in the house.
Thank god.
He seems a little sleepy right now. I'm waiting for him to wake up and stir the pot. Kyle is, you know, really carrying the show right now by bringing up Jesse on page at dinner, which was so good. Thank god.
He does his job.
He's doing work. But we of course don't have Carl because Carl has decided to This is when you can tell relationships on the right track. Carl has decided to skip going to the house on Friday night because he does not want to get into a fight with Lindsay. It's like you are actively avoiding being around your partner, probably because they're going to be drinking and because you don't want to get into a fight with them.
It is very jarring.
And then her like trying to twist it into like Carl's not here because he's gonna be bringing a very special surprise to the party or whatever, and it's like this is actually so fucking dark. Also, can I just say I have never rooted harder for a Bravo couple than I am for Wes and Sierra.
What they have is so special, I am. I Also, I love watching a new relationship like it's been a while, and it's so funny watching them all in their sleeping tints, because you know, West and Sierra are cuddling and kissing, and then you see Amanda and Kyle, and Amanda's like, don't touch me.
I'm hot, don't touch.
She's always saying don't touch me to him, which I kind of love, like it's kind of like a nicey with it.
It's like sheped what was the best part of everyone's week? Mine was that Kyle left like she.
Ha'ts this man. I actually love it. I actually love it.
Well, it's nice because she's so open about it.
She is so open it.
Carl and lindsay like fighting in a death match for her to be like, Kyle, your a good husband this week and for them to kiss and have like the literally the only nice moment I've ever seen between the two of them except for their wedding day.
Okay, So can I I just say two things that.
Bothered me this week, though, I want you to, yes, why.
Is Paige and Or and Slash or anyone paying eight five hundred dollars in rent? And how is it possible that she has that kind of money? And I am hoping my cats don't get sick so that I don't like have to pay a vet bill. You know, that is something that's tough, and also it's just like stupid. Like I just to me, I'm like, if you can afford whatever e eighty five hundred times twelve, you should afford that you need to buy a home.
It's crazy. I have the exact same thing. I was like, I love New York not that much.
I know. And then she's like, and then Craig, She's like, my boyfriend is sitting across from me, and he's like rolling his eyes because he lives in Charleston, so he doesn't get It's like, no, I've lived in New York for twelve years and I don't get it.
I don't get that.
And I also want to say, I'm kind of sick of this dynamic of like and now like we just don't even care if we break up or not, because like we'll actually be fine It's like, that's fine if you're that healthy, but I don't really need to be watching couples like that. It's just not interesting, especially given everything else that we've been blessed with. I just like don't want to see another conversation where it's one of them being like, we've decided that we love each other, but we would be okay if we broke up. It's like, I don't care. Move on, go back to West and Sierra on the couch and Sierra saying you talk a lot, and then them both giggling into each other's arms, or go back to Lindsey.
I'm trying to think what they did.
They didn't do anything this week because carl wasn't there because he was like he's scared. He's a scared man. I want to say that. I think it's because I'm single, and like I want page to just move to Charleston. I do too, I just do it. You are gonna waste, sorry, an opportunity of a man who is bettering himself for you, Like Craig has literally legit stopped drinking Yes because he cares about like his potential. He Yes has become like a different person since I've been watching him since he was like running around the house like yelling, like red faced, and he has told you like he doesn't think he's gonna ever like someone as much as he likes you, Like I don't know, it's just a little bit like I get. I'm just like, oh, you don't want to move b listen, I don't really want to move to Charleston either, But for love, for love.
We all know what we would what Caroline and I would do for love, first of all, and second of all, I was gonna say, what's the point of bettering yourself if it's not to like get married and trying to partner? But I then I realized, okay, that is like kind of anti the point of like healing. But I will say he he mentioned that he was like, well, I don't care if it's for a page or anyone else. It's like, okay, obviously it's for Paige. But he was like a certain point, like girls want like the fun boyfriend, and then at a certain point they want like a husband who can be like a father to their kids.
And Amanda like glares daggers.
At Kyle and she's like, Kyle hasn't gotten that lesson yet, And I thought, imagine being like married to someone who's like, well into.
Forties, Kyle question Mark, who you're like.
I'm waiting for him to get the message that I don't want a fun boyfriend anymore.
I want a husband and a father. Imagine that, Imagine that I can't.
I just can't imagine being married to anyone with a mullet. I'll take a mustache like, I'll take like a mustache. I'll take a hipster mustache over a mullet.
Well, I mean, if you come to friggin' Bushwick or Ridgewood, you're gonna be seeing mullets everywhere. And it's it's that's why I go for the balds.
Maybe I say no, no, hair is better than bad hair. That's what I say.
We at True Romance have always been of the position that bald is hot.
Bald is beautiful. The drama is ever what else did we say? What else did we say? And Jack's jet apatow.
Jack's jet appatoo and a star And I can't wait. I cannot wait to keep up to date on the valley. I believe that we are going to have our winner for the Bachelor tomorrow. Night, which is very exciting.
Who do you think it's going to be?
I did read a spoiler, so I do know who's going to be. And I'm very happy with Joey's choice. It's so funny. I've come to this point in my life where I don't like suspense anymore.
Like I'm just the same. No, I want to know.
I just I was watching the TV show Expats and I was like, let me know how and when they find this kid. I'm not watching this show where a kid is lost and I don't know where he is.
Wait?
Is that good?
Though?
That show?
I only watched a couple of episodes. It's fine.
So no, I've been watching like pretty much all of Apple's Fall under the Tree or whatever, how is it from the tree. It's like nothing and I'm enjoying it like it's like not bad, not good, and I'll be taken in every episode. Let me say a real sincere recommendation, though, really, such Brave Girls on Hulu. If you like this podcast, you will love that show. It's very funny and great. Okay, such such Brave Girls Hulu. I'll take it all right.
Well, on that note, catch us in the valley.
Love you Carol, love you, devined.
I won't.
Suits so umantic, lovely baby, don't leave me, haggin, I won't true.
Were not nams.