Soaplovers

I agree that Carlton doesn't quite fit on the show, which you can tell by her expressions whenever she enters a housewives events and a fight is going on LOL It seems that Carlton has only clicked with Brandi and Kim, to a lesser extent, and no one else. Like I said before... Carlton fits on BH like Quinn fit on OC like Deshawn fit on Atlanta like Cindy fit on NY. I always thought that Luann held out to0 long and was told when she signed on that it was possible she might have a lesser role? Regarding Jennifer Gilbert, it was believed she would be a housewife and even filmed for several months. I think she would have fit in better had the franchise kept it's original intention of showcasing the day to day life to working New York moms. But since the franchise was evolving past that point, the producers didnt think she would fit with the petty dramas of the other women.

I totally agree! She works best as the friend with her sarcastic put-downs, but not as a main character.. if that makes sense. Plus, I enjoyed her and Ramona as freniemies during most of season 5 after their 'feud' was over.

When Sonja's sober, she can be awesome and very on-point with her views and opinions. I did like her one talking head about how Aviva was pissed about them not throwing a party for her husband and Sonja basically stating that he just flew down with her, he didn't discover the Atom LOL. What I'm not remembering was if she hated Sonja just as much as Ramona, or was Sonja mostly caught in the cross fire of her dislike of Ramona?

I had heard rumours that Aviva and Luann had held out for money, and then both were given privisions that they were still welcome but in a reduced role. I know Aviva signed back first but then a week later Luann signed as well. I'm wondering if Aviva bought more drama then Luann during filming? Luann is more interesting when she's in a supportive realm as opposed to the main s***stirrer. However, for stirring the pot effortlessly.. honors for that does go to her with Lydia from RHOC a close 2nd. I also heard that this season of RHONY was even more heavily scripted then normal due to talk of the show being boring in season 5.

What's interesting is that Pam Long wrote for Hilary for over a year, even pairing her with Jim Reardon. It even looked like the show was flirting with a Tony/Jim/Annabelle/Hilary quadangle with Fletcher and Claire thrown in before Hilary was killed suddenly. I had heard that Mike/Lillian/Alex was suppose to be a triangle but then Mike left suddenly so I'm unsure if the show fired him or if he quit on his own. I was also curious on how Pam Long wrote Mike's daughter Hope vs how Marland and the Dobson's wrote her.

According to a brief bio for new housewife Kristen: She is a former model, married for ten years, has two small children, is obsessed with Elvis, and 'tells it like it is'.

Kyle's charity event with Jamie Lee Curtis appearing is one of the things I wish I could see more of on the RH shows. I want more parties with little drama, champagne, and cameos by famous people. Kyle always has had an interesting fashion sense, and the store reflects that so I'm not surprised that the store isn't glitzy. ITA that Carlton isn't a horrible person, but she doesn't fit on the show. Just like Quinn didn't fit on RHOC (she was nice and sweet, but just didn't fit with the catty, somewhat tacky element of the OC.. even with her Roxy wig LOL).

Eva would have been perfect! There were hints that she and Peter were getting along well while there was friction between her and Carla that could have evolved beyond just work politics. Plus, Eva's half-sister is Leanne who is Peter's ex wife. Not only would it affect Jason (which would send his mum Eileen on a warpath against Eva plus more clashes with Eva's mum Stella), but would also have affected Leanne as well and had Nick question if her disgust was due to still buried feelings for Peter and being more vocal about it due to his head injury. Plus, I could see Eva's good friend Kylie blurting it out during a drunken fight with Tina at the Rovers.

What is the story with Liz? Was she a fun-loving character in the past, a long-suffering character, or somewhere in between? I also don't get Tina's about face especially given what I've read about the character in the past. This new story twist seems out of character for her. I would probably have bought it if the show spent the next six months building up to it and explaining why Tina's so suddenly latched onto someone old enough to be her father. Did she have a bad relationship with her father? If so, I could have bought if it was due to daddy issues as opposed to actual love or lust. I think Tina would have been better used in the David story moreso then being thrown into Peter and Carla's story. If the character of Peter needs to stray, what character would you rather have been used in place of Tina?

Looks like RHOC has officially cast a 6th housewife... interesting backstory if true http://allthingsrh.com/exclusive-details-meet-new-rhoc-danielle-gregorio/

In a way, I think GL being so different year to year was one of its strengths but then its weakness at the same time. It seems like the 1979 and 1980 were both from December, correct? If so, the reason could be that December 1979 was when the Dobson's were leaving and Marland had just taken over.. while December 1980 was the result of Marland gradually changing the show to where his stamp was firmly on the show.

Was Diana ever on the show before the Nene spin-off? She looks familiar to me. It just hit me that if talk of the new housewives on OC is true, that three of the franchises have a housewife that competed in Miss USA. Kenya, Joyce, and Elizabeth (Lizzie). I wonder if New Jersey, Miami, and New York might start to do that in future seasons

Lizzie is a former Miss teen Kentucky and Miss Kentucky that competed on both Miss Teen USA and Miss USA. She didn't win, but I've seem pictures of her and she's an attractive plus wasn't a blonde! Plus, she has a degree in Fashion Merchandise and Business. I had a friend who majored in that and she said it was harder then she would have ever imagined. I bet they only have two housewives added. I really think Lydia's decision to quit was last minute. It's telling that the show didn't call Gretchen or Alexis to come back so I bet both had burned their bridges with the show.

I think the Dobson's tied Sheila to either Steve or Nick Andropoulis.. but I do think she didn't last too long.

I think Faye would double the toxic levels of the show. I'd rather both her and Brandi had been gotten rid of and the show focus less on manufactured fights and more on organic interactions. The reason the Dinner Party from Hell, Scary Island, and theresa's table flip were successful was because those things were not manufactured.

As long as Gretchen/Slade stay far away from the RHOC, all is right in the world Still a shame that Lydia quit, she got some good zingers in on Heather.. makes me wish she'd get a few in toward Tamra

Didn't Sheffer have Carolyn Culliton as a co-head-writer his first year or so? That could explain why it was pretty decent

I totally agree... I was fearful in season 8 of OC when Alexis was bought back last minute that it would be the same vibe with the same 5 women (i.e Tamra/Gretchen/Heather bullying Alexis with Vicki mooning over Brooks). I think the producers realized that as filming started and added Lydia to the mix. Lydia and her honest retorts were refreshing while her mother Judy was a delightful Tinker Bell Hippie Plus, she did help broker truces between Heather/Alexis and Tamra/Alexis... while finally telling Slade that he was d bag and calling Gretchen a malibu barbie LOL What surprised me was that Tamra and Vicki didn't bully Lydia because she was the new girl like they did with Gretchen, Lynne, Alexis, and Peggy to a lesser extent. Atlanta kept the same cast, yet new things have been happening to most of them so there wasn't a need to change up. Though I think I would have changed out Kenya with someone new if a cast change was needed. I think season 6 should be Porsha's final season though I'm intrigued with the dynamic that she has with her mother. It's like she was coddled and sheltered by her mother and she ended up marrying someone that did the same thing... just in a more controlling manner. Now that she is divorcing, she has returned to her mother instead of truly striking out on her own. Like Kandi's story this season, Nene's story, and even Cynthia's story. Btw, do you guys notice that the new season's have had more focus on the housewives within their own families and less in big group settings? I know RHOBH have had two episodes in a row, and I like that better then all the catty big group gatherings.

I think Bravo did add one new woman when there were contract issues with the women. I don't think Luann officially came back on until filming had been going on for like a month or so. Not sure if the new woman will be an official cast member, or a friend. we shall see.

I didn't realize how matronly Ellen was back then, I think the 80s was much better fashion wise for Nancy and Ellen, imho.

I had a feeling Jill was just a legal go to throughout most of 1982, but I did fine a summary that Hollis Kirkland was flirting with Jill when he first came to town and wasn't sure if anything was pursued with that. Given how Rae was a spoiler for Jill and Frank, I figured that the show would have Jill be a spoiler for Rae and Hollis... plus add the whole Kim/Arley/Seneca custody fight.. and that would have been a good story to play out in 1982... oh well.

The writer's inability to let the characters evolve and be stuck in a hamster wheel was the first undoing of the show. When Frank was gone from the fall of 1981 till early 1983, did Jill do anything or was she just the friendly go-to?

Bless Tamra's big mouth LOL Nice to know she can't keep her mouth shut in person nor on the internet. In this case, I think it's a good thing since Bravo won't say anything.

I think Joyce stated in her blog that she was repeating herself numerous times because she thinks the thoughts in spanish and works to translate them into english when talking.. so she says a point over and over until someone says they understand. She stated looking back she wishes she hadn't stated her point so many times.

While I think Wheeler had passion and wanted to make GL a great product, she didn't have the right instincts to make it happen. It was as if they saw Springfield as some small little town in the mid-west, when it was always established as a decent sized small city. What's funny is that there are some decent suburbs in the Chicago land area with tall buildings, malls, and businesses that could have been used as a model for Springfield (such as Oakbrook/Oakbrook Terrace, Schaumburg, etc). I know on UK soaps that the EP has story power/vision and that the writers have to utilize that vision, but I always figured up till the late 90s that US soaps had the writers determine the overall story with the EP making sure that the story/ideas fit within budget plus running the financial aspect of the shows. It seems like ATWT and GL, in the last years of their show, put more of the power for story in the EP's hands instead of the writers. From what I understand, Jill Lorie Hurst was pretty decent but it seemed like Wheeler had final say on all stories.. true? false?