Soaplovers

If all six are coming back, they need a 7th housewife because I like cast changes from season to season.. hence why I don't watch RHONJ.

If i have to choose the most meatiest season then I would choose season 3. Her alcoholic behavior was in full swing, she had some fun flings with David James Elliott and Brian Bloom, she was head bitch in charge for a short time, and ended the season drinking her sorrows away after witnessing Billy and Brooke marrying. However, in terms of character stability, I would have to say season 1 and season 2 though she was less whiny in season 2 then in season 1 for sure, imho Season 5 was like the show had amnesia and forgot that she had been on for 4 previous seasons. I thought she and Jake were an interesting match.. but having them exist in a separate island from the rest of the show hindered both of them.

I don't like nor dislike anyone that isn't conventionally attractive.. lord knows I certainly have no room to judge nor make fun of someone's looks. I will say that I find myself laughing at and with Lydia. Her intro episode alone, I found myself laughing at her and I found it to be a nice break from the toxic behavior of the other five women. Though I will say that i did like Alexis/Jim in scenes by themselves in the first two episodes of the season, which says a lot about how toxic the show is that I found their scenes to harken back to the old style of the show. You know, an inside peak at families in Orange County. I do think that the show started changing in season 4, but it didn't become apparent that it had strayed until season 6. I do know that Quinn was fired because she wasn't mean enough, plus she worked a 9 to 5 job that prevented her from being filmed during those times.. at least that was the explanation she gave for why she wasn't asked back for season 4. She said she didn't want to say anything mean spirited, because it would be forever seen by her family, friends, and the public. It's kind of funny that her donning the blonde wig and trying to get her boyfriend to like her seems tame compared to what the show is now.

I agree that Jo really suffered as a character through most of season 4. There was one scene near the end of season 4 where she and Jake were talking.. and they talked about why they never could make it work.. and she was preparing to go on a trip of some sort. I would have had that be her exit because she was leaving Melrose for a new start, but then she returned and got involved in a story involving Sydney's friend and her little boy. I will say that Jo's character near the end, did regain some of her former essence until her last scene where she tearfully wondered if she should go with her new boyfriend to Bosnia... even though it had been reported for months that she was leaving the show. Taylor.. the character was on for two seasons and it felt like it was two different characters. I think season 5 Taylor was written for Hunter Tylo to play until she was fired suddenly for being pregnant. I think Lisa Rinna was an odd choice, but she made that Taylor work very well and it was shame that they turned her character into a cartoon in season 6.. since I think Lisa was up to playing Taylor as written in season 5.

I do agree that Gretchen is majorly bullied by Tamra and Vicki, to a slightly lesser extent. Part of me wonders why she would be friends with Tamra after all the crap that Tamra pulled on her.. but then I know that she is probably doing it for survival. It's said that if someone is bullied, they can sometimes end up being a bully themselves as a way to protect themselves from being bullied. If the season previews are correct, then it looks like Gretchen will soon be back in the bullied role again. Even though season 8 is not as toxic as season 4 of NY nor season 6 of OC.. it is showing signs that it could possibly become like that. I do think that a reboot is in order if the series comes back for season 9. I'm not sure if they need to toss out Tamra, Gretchen, or Alexis... or all three. Tamra seems to be the lead mean girl, but if she is tossed out.. then either Heather, Vicki, or Gretchen could take her place.. Alexis seems to rile them up, but if she is gone.. then the mean girl focus might turn on Lydia, or even Vicki. Finally, Gretchen doesn't seem to have a story right now.. but then none of them seem to. I wonder if perhaps the show should become a hybrid of what it use to be, and what it is now. I read something awhile back that Andy Cohen had been trying to get Lauri back since season 6, but that she was hesitant due to the fact that the show had vastly changed in tone/focus since she had been on. Hence, why she agreed to come visit again in season 8.. to test the waters. If she has any secrets she wants kept secret, that could be why she is hesitant to become a full time housewife again. Since the first 3 or 4 seasons, didn't really showcase any of the scandal stuff as much from what I can recall... and watching season 3 recently confirms that I might be right.

While I agree that Alexis is no angel, I think that Tamra and friends have come off much worse then Alexis right now. Obviously, these three women should know that if you gang up on someone then people will usually side with the one being ganged up on.. no matter who is in the right or wrong. Plus, I do agree with Alexis. She is being bullied by these mean girls. Makes me think she really needs the money if she chooses to stay around all of that toxic mess. Hopefully, the Skyzone venture does well enough that she can quit the show.. and the family can have a sustainable lifestyle. I'm kind of hoping the show is revamped if it comes back in season 9... it is reaching season 4 NY toxic levels. Time for Tamra and Gretchen to go! And I loved Gretchen up through last season.. guess being friends with the devil warps anybody LOL. Though I loved Dr. V on WWHL giving it to Tamra. awesome!

This why prime-time soaps can never make a major comeback, unlike the 80s and 90s. The premises presented are too limited. Season 1 actually faltered a little once the show was picked up beyond the initial 13 episode story. I know Mike Kelley had planned to resolve the dead body issue in the 1st 13 episodes.. but when ABC picked up the show, he ended up adding filler. I would have resolved that story in those 13 episodes, and then plotted out the fall-out/next step in Emily’s revenge for the remaining 9 episodes. Shows like Knots Landing had 30 episode seasons, but they had several ongoing story lines that were paced at a different speeds. One story would just be starting, another would be in the midst of buildup, another would climax, while another story would be resolving/moving onto the next arc. Revenge is sometimes too limited in scope/story to do a 22 episode season successfully… I think the show should have been a one season- 13 episode mini-series as opposed to an ongoing show.

I always saw Victoria as the everywoman of the show, when Alexandra left the show, I think a part of the show died with her leaving. Despite the show attempting to replace Victoria with Maggie, Roxanne, and Daphne... it seems as if Victoria was a vital piece that couldn't be replaced. Why else would the show have gone to Alexandra to have her come back. I'm sure she would have agreed to come back as Victoria if she was given another character to play at alternate times. It wasn't as if she was asking for a pay increase, just a new challenge,.

I think the home was suppose to be a wedding gift to them by Elizabeth, but there was a clause stating that only a member of the Collins could reside in.. It was a 100 year clause.. and they were several years away from the clause expiring. Elizabeth stated that once the clause expired, she would give them the house. I bet that the plan at that time was still to have Vicki be Paul's daughter, not Elizabeth's daughter. I read a blind item that Art Wallace & Dan Curtis clashed over that very story.. Art Wallace wanted Vicki to be Paul's daughter, while Dan Curtis wanted to go the Elizabeth's daughter route. I think by the time Art Wallace had left, the focus was primarily on Barnabas, Julia, and on Vicki to a lesser extent. She would mention being an orphan all the way through the 1795 story.. but not sure if she discussed being an orphan once the 1795 story concluded or not.

It seemed like when Barnabas became a breakout character, all efforts to write for the other characters went by the wayside... I remember in one episode after Jason Mcguire was exposed, he and Vicki had a confrontation at the Blue Whale where he made mention that he regretted not staying in town long enough to see Miss Morality (Vicki) fall from grace...and asked her who she was and where she came from... hinting that he knew something about Victoria's past, but wouldn't give any details. Nothing was followed up on... I think that Vicki's past should have been the next story to run at the same time as the Barnabas story...

They actually filmed a housewife riding a bike??? Man, I would have downgraded Kathy to a friend of status.. and had her play neutral to Melissa/Theresa... since we all know this is scripted. Then added one new housewife.. an objective voice.. the voice of the audience.

Yeah, I agree that Maggie became the victim of choice in the later years of the show. I did like that barnbas thought original recipe Maggie was the reincarnation of Josette, but then so found out after kidnapping her.. that she was nothing like Josette in personality.. and that Maggie was pretty fiesty during that story. I think the post hostage stuff with Maggie was pretty good, and that she still had some fire.. but after 1795, she became the put upon victim.. moreso then Victoria was.

I knew about Diana Millay slated to return to the show. Though would she have come back to 1841 PT..or perhaps in 1971 (if the show were to return). I didn't know Alexandra Moltke was asked back that late in the game? I knew they asked her back sometime in 1969.. and when she refused to play Victoria and wanted to play an edgier character.. they killed off Victoria. Watching the first 75 episodes, and knowing that the original intent was for Victoria to be Paul Stoddard's daughter.. do you think maybe they should have cast Moltke as Carolyn (since she looked so much like Joan Bennett).. and had Nancy Barrett play Victoria? She could have easily darkened her hair. Then Moltke could have played a different part in 1795.. since I know the actress was jealous that the other actors got to play different parts while she was stuck playing Victoria.

Yes, if Groves had played the Rachel part.. it would have been 'she looks a lot like Victoria Winters'.. and maybe they could have given clues that she would have been a descendant of Peter and Victoria. I noticed that once Victoria returned from 1795, the show had shifted the focus away from providing individual characteristics to lumping everyone under the same character archtype (anyone that wasn't supernatural). I recently watched episode 478, and the girl looked like Maggie.. but had neither her sarcasm, nor personality of the Maggie from the first 75 episodes. Victoria, at this stage, still seemed to have some of the personality of the early Vicki. I tend to think Victoria was still smart due to her knowing that Cassandra was really Angelique.. but I think she blocked out knowing about Barnabas due to denial since she cared so deeply for him. I often liked Barnabas best with Julia and Victoria. I even liked that Julia/Victoria were kind of close as well.. which surprised me due to Barnabas loving Victoria and all.

Is Aviva one of the housewives holding out for more money? If so, that would be a big no no since she is fairly new. I can understand why Ramona asked for a pay raise, but double her current salary is too much.. She doesn't have the name marqee that Nene/Theresa/Lisa have... I'm all for a new housewife coming on for NY.. irregardless if the 6 from last season came back. I guess that Sonja and Luann are coming back then?

I could have seen Carolyn Groves playing the part of Victoria long-term and I figured that they would have bought back Victoria with all the mention of rescuing Victoria from being hung.. and her clothes returning to her closet... Disappointed that they didn't have Carolyn G. play a part in 1897... I think she could have played the Rachel Drummond part.. while KLS could have just played Kitty. I've watched the first 75 episodes of Dark Shadows, and I just love how distinctive each of the characters are. Victoria is totally made in the mold of Jane Eyre, Maggie is the smart sleck waitress, Carolyn is the poor little spoiled rich girl, Elizabeth a private martiarch wanting to cover up the truth to not smudge the Collins name, Roger a pompous rich boy grown up, and Burke a chip on his shoulder man out for revenge. I still don't understand why they never revealed Victoria's past, I bet if the show had indicated to her that the next plotline after Adam/Eve would have been Victoria's paternity being revealed... I bet Moltke might have stayed on longer to resolve that story and then could have been written out once Moltke left to have the baby.. with the knowledge that Victoria's mission of finding out her past has been completed and can move on with her life.

This is Andy we are talking about... he wouldn't know suitable if it bit him in the ass.. though I blame that partly on his vision issues. If you think about it, he really should be a cast member on these shows since he is the biggest [!@#$%^&*] stirrer of them all.

If I'm reading the article on radar correctly, it seems as if the only reason Taylor was allowed back was because the show is having trouble finding suitable replacements.. makes me think that could be true with Rod Stewarts wife saying no, Lisa Rinna outright saying she wouldn't fit in, and I'm betting the duchess is not too keen either. So I guess Beverly Hills will be slower to go through cast members.. as opposed to the OC.. and Atlanta/NY to a lesser extent.

I actually found myself laughing out loud numerous times during the new girl Lydia's segments. There was something whimsical about her, like she is young at heart. Though I do kind of view her as a burnette Gretchen in personality, only less grating thus far! Awhile back, Tamra was interviewed and she said that Lydia was very sweet.. but if you crossed her then watch out.. then concluded by saying she is a little scared of her... hmmm. That said, I can see why she was hired due to the fact that she seemed goofy and comedic (international and unintentional) thus far.. and provides a nice balance to the toxic that is the other 4.. though I did like Alexis and Jim featured alone since it harkened back to the early years of the franchise. From what I could see, it looks like the housewife who dropped out at the last second was at Heather's clambake since they showed her husband briefly. I think she had dropped out right before filming was to start, but she still came to the party due to her friendship with Heather.. only wasn't featured. It could explain why Alexis didn't go since maybe the other women didn't know about Alexis coming back at that time hence the speeches from heather/Tamra about not wanting Alexis in their lives anymore. Hence why the scripted Vicki/Alexis meeting.. and Vicki asking to bring her to Tamra's gym opening... a scripted way to bring Alexis back into the mix. At least Lydia's introduction made sense, even if scripted.. since she does help run a magazine and Heather is the type that hungers for her home to be showcased in those types of magazines. Not like last year where Heather was looking for a new home and tamra happened to be her agent LOL

It seems like Kandi wasn't very relevant this season, nor really at the reunion. Makes me wonder what the reasoning was for inviting her back for season 6? I can understand Nene, Cynthia, Pheadra, Kenya, and even Porsha now (given the pending divorce, the show could showcase her starting over again.. trying to work.. all the comedic potential of her living on her own.).. but why Kandi? She doesn't bring the drama, and doesn't really have major beef with anyone on the show anyway. I doubt very much that the lawsuit goings on can be broadcast anyway so why?

I love that some of the shows seem to have events that carry over from season to season. Beverily Hills seem to have Kyle's White Party OC for a long time had a huge party in the last episode of the season (Vicki's house most of the time, this past season at Heathers). Miami seems to have Lea's annual gala. NJ seems to have an annual gathering at the Porsche establishment since season 2.. not sure if season 1 had anything or not. I'm not sure if NY or Atlanta have anything of that sort. I know NY has the Hamptons, but they haven't really been filming in the Hamptons for the last two seasons.

I agree that Lisa not engaging would infuriate Nene.. and if Nene uses one of her classic put downs then Lisa would match her with her own put down. Sadly, I think the two would be unstoppable if they joined forces. If Nene being fired in season 3 would have caused the show to eventually be cancelled then so be it because there are lines that shouldn't ever be crossed. In fact, Kenya threatening to beat up a pregnant woman has me raising my eye brow a bit to be honest.

I do wonder if Lisa dislikes Nene as much as Nene appears to dislike Lisa? I remember one time Nene was asked if she watched BH, and she said she didn't have time but did see some scenes where Lisa was being served. She had this look of pure glory at the though. She was referring to the scenes that appeared as if Camille was going after Lisa in Vegas. What is even funnier is that if Miss Nene bothered to watch that episode, it was the other way around. I wonder if they had Lisa and Nene on the stage, who would serve who? I think they are both evenly matched so I think it would be a draw. Personally, I can't stand Nene and it is blatant how much Andy Cohen favors her. If it were anyone else, she would have been kicked off the show after she tried to choke Kim on the tour bus. It doesn't matter what Kim did, or said, the fact that Nene tried to choke her should be grounds for automatic dismissal from the show. Same with Theresa on NJ when she lunged for Danielle in the season 2 reunion and pushed Andy out of the way.

If all the women are back for season 6 for Atlanta, then they need to add an additional housewife so the show doesn't become stale. Hopefully, next season we can see Kenya act more like herself.. but sadly maybe her antics this season are really her LOL

It is one of my favorite seasons ever as well! It left me waiting to see how season 4 would fare, but secretly I knew that it wouldn't be able to top it. but had no idea how quickly season 4 dissolved. I was so happy/surprised when season 5 was gutted though it seemed to reset the show in a way and now am waiting to see if season 6 builds upon season 5 with hopefully one new addition to add more layers to the current cast.