Cat

I've seen one or two teaser clips today, and I am so here for OC. Love em or hate em, bringing back Heather, Tamra, Alexis, Vicki and keeping Shannon has been a good move. These women are natural drama queens and hark back to when the RHOC was effortlessly entertaining. It is almost a return to Shannon's origin story this season -- that is to say, her fatal obsession for awful men who manipulate her insecurities, withhold their love and glean off her inheritance. Jeff Lewis said Bravo was cruel to Shannon for bringing Alexis into the mix. However, in Shannon's case, Bravo may be like that old saying about the Jesuits: they break her down to build her up. Once she admits to the drinking problem -- and it is a problem, according to her cast-mates -- the audience will very likely embrace her. This looks really good! I'm excited for it.

RHODubai: So maybe Caroline does actually have big money. That giant bonsai tree! The house! The thing about old money is how cheap it can sometimes be, which might explain living with Michael for free in his guest room. As usual Caroline shows us the messy with the good. That includes her daughter saying she was raised by nannies and her mom wasn't around much. Even Stanbury agreed she was more nurturing with dogs. The feeling I get is that Caroline mostly lives her life and the cameras come along for the ride. One reason she is Queen Bee on this show. You know who isn't Queen Bee and terribly insecure about it? Brooks. Taleen exposed Brooks' machinations this episode while Brooks sat there dressed like Judy Jetson (with some much-commented-on edge work). Brooks is this season's insecure villain and everyone is calling her out on it. She even tried to do a drama queen exit, and Taleen broke character and giggled. I rather liked that. I do think Taleen is being somewhat Jenn Fessleresque. She's dumped her longtime friend and transferred her loyalties to Stanbury, the clear boss on this cast. But Brooks sounds like she is also a lot more controlling and emotionally manipulative than Stanbury. Sara's beau is Hot with a capital H, and her little boy Maktoum is adorable. Ayan defending Lesa sweetly and not wanting to speak out of turn made me sad knowing what's coming. I also realised that Ayan has been somewhat in the background in all these early episodes. Oh, Jeff Lewis is working overtime trying to get involved with Real Housewives drama. My guess is he's positioning himself as Andy's successor should AC ever stop doing the reunions or WWHL. But I worry that what he said had more than a nugget of truth. I love Sonja and don't want to see her spiral. I'd like to see her and the OGs back on Bravo one day.

LOL I hope this is the point where some people step in. Sonja IMO is a wonderful Real Housewife sober. Her early episodes of Crappie Lake were delightful. I wish she didn't lean on the alcohol to become her RH character because the moments that touch me the most are when she is sober and just herself.

I love that you are watching Dubai as close to real time as you can -- this must mean you really like it! (As I do). RHODubai is batting 4 for 4. This episode was a great mix of individual scenes and group. And what individual scenes they were. Taleen has a Boot Camp business, and I need to join it. Sara is dating Akin and he's super hot! Brooks is struggling with mom guilt as her son acts out. And perhaps the rawest scene of all, Caroline and Sergio having an ugly, lowdown fight. Got to give it to Stanbury, she really does not hide the bad or the humiliating. Whether it's her business (in LoL) going into foreclosure, her kids telling her she was a cold mother, or this fight. What a terrible look for Sergio. He obviously feels insecure and emasculated but, wow, going after Michael the host? Does Michael even talk to them anymore? He's probably praying for their divorce so he can get his BFF Caroline back. Also, Sergio whining to the other guys about Caroline's kids not showing him respect... not the time or place. Stepkids are always going to troll, and you have to reaffirm boundaries and show that you don't care. What it boils down to is his need that Caroline choose him over everyone else in her life -- over her kids, over Michael. And she won't. Caroline values a circle of people in her life and not just him. I'm starting to think this marriage may not last. You know who else is tense? Brooks. Throughout the episode, her face was rigid with tension. I wonder if it's because Zoran is back in her life, at least financially,. It's very hard to regain trust and banish fear after an abusive relationship. She was also hardcore grimacing throughout that dinner. She is really bothered that Caroline is unbothered. And by Taleen trying to buddy up with Stanbury. But I also think she's devastated by where the Caroline friendship has ended up. Sara and Saba had a cute scene, and if there is ever a S3 (pleaseDubaidgetgreatstreamingnumbers), I want Sabotage to join full-time.

Like I indicated, I'm not sure what's true and what isn't anymore with these competing leaks and stories, but I thought I should post the B. Scott one here because it was quite the opposite of the other scoops.

Those WWHL moments where he ogles the bartenders have always made me cringe. They also feel like a lawsuit waiting to happen. But Bravo have stayed with Andy thus far and that says to me he's not a liability to them. Yet. I wonder if Andy's legal advisers have locked down a lot of this stuff with NDAs and consent forms, and have done so for many years.

My feelings largely echo the below. I know Kenya has many die-hard fans on here who I respect, but IMPO she has an over-inflated sense of her own importance. Will she be as big a loss as Nene? Porsha? Suddenly I'm wondering. And now we've got Love B. Scott, who has clearly been briefed by Bravo, saying she was fired. This could be a negotiating tactic on Bravo's part to warn Kenya away from any potential lawsuits, but nevertheless, I post the Tweet here: I felt in my gut that Kenya was looking at legal proceedings for unfair dismissal in one of my posts from yesterday, and I wrote as much. I don't know how trustworthy Love B. Scott is as a blogger, and this could be one big projection by Kenya haters, but it seems like 'firing' may increasingly become the story on the Kenya front.

She may have been cleared by Bravo, but a day or so ago, the implication was that Kenya would be consulting lawyers -- perhaps a rumor dropped by Keyoncé herself? And what happens if Britt pursues legal recourse against Kenya AND Bravo? I'm sure she threatened to, and that is what prompted an internal investigation, so Bravo could be seen to be 'doing something.' I have no doubt that Truly Original is involved up the eyeballs in this nasty little 'takedown.' It smacks of TO's handiwork on late-era Potomac -- something Giz & Ashley would agree to do in a heartbeat. But much as I may dislike Kenya, she's not a complete fool. For the life of me, I do not understand why she didn't tell production that this is a bridge too far! The idea is clearly bananas and all kinds of legally dubious. Kenya knows what it's like to take the fall for production. Hell, so does Phaedra. As for edging Kenya out and lowballing her on her paycheck, that could also be true. Given that this is her only steady paycheck, I would have considered taking the hit, but Kenya has been clearly over this production team for a long, long time. They should have gone after last season's borefest and brought back Carlos King. He's the only one who had the magic touch with this show. @NothinButAttitude Oh snap -- we definitely agree that production needs to be fired at RHOA.

IA very much with your assessment, even though I hold out hope that the RHs will continue strong because the franchises have essentially become my Daytime soaps now! Given the level of allegation against Kenya, and the fact that she has been 'paused,' and she's basically headlining RHOA now, my take is the show has been hit with yet another body blow (no Nene, failed seasons, failed production team which Bravo simply will not replace) and probably cannot recover. I wouldn't be surprised if this goes the way of UGT Morocco and disappears. Or reshaped into a Porsha Family Matters 2. One day maybe a nuRHOA could be reborn, nuRHONY-style. NJ is toast. SLC without Monica -- I'm sorry, I don't think people will tune in for the same-old contrived nonsense in a sprinter van. BH will be last man standing if it maintains 1 million viewers. But its last season could be a stepping-stone to an even weaker season this time around. Also, if they lose Kyle, I can see Bravo pausing BH for a while in order to rebuild the cast. IA Potomac is make-or-break. Miami, Dubai and nuRHONY are not getting the TV ratings they deserve IMO, and I can only hope they are making up the numbers with streaming because I really love those three franchises at the moment. OC eventually righted the ship by bringing back Tamra IMO, and I thin this season is going to be very watchable. The question is, has its audience left permanently, never to return? Speaking of OC -- you guys brought up Naked Wasted and I remember how there was zero sanction for Tamra at the time, not least from Gretchen herself. Gretchen seemed to 'accept' that this was the price for being on the show, that she could milk it at reunion, but she never pursued legal recourse. Maybe she was too dumb, or maybe times have changed, but it's crazy to think how things would have changed if she had. Gretchen lawyers up --> Tamra is fired --> OC goes a totally different direction.

I don't think there is anyway of getting around how despicable (and fireable) this allegation makes Kenya look. Looking at the bare bones accusation (Kenya allegedly blowing pictures of the newbie doing sexually explicit acts and plastering them all over a public event), I'm not sure Kenya has much legal ground to declare unfair dismissal. Unfortunately, Kenya is a polarising figure, and many people can already picture her doing something like this. This is a long way from "Kenya Moore Hair Care" marching bands, though. Moreover, Bravo is in the driver's seat here. They have the footage, and can release that to negotiating legal parties (and drip-feed it to social media). If it is damning, there is no getting around that with "But Whitney on Southern Charm...." We know that certain people get a free pass that other's do not. The Southern Charm cast has always been incredibly problematic, from institutionally-corrupt (and drugged-up) Thomas Ravanel and what he did to Kathryn, to very creepy Whitney, to the good ole southern frat boys now populating the show. Kenya might, legally, score some points on that front. However, in the event of potential litigation, Bravo will work overtime to reduce the story to the allegation itself. And the allegation paints Kenya in a dreadful light.

I did not expect to read so controversial a statement this early on a Sunday morning! *clutches pearls* I've mostly seen his work on YouTube, in classic clips of episodes from ATWT, GH, GL. I personally enjoyed watching his material (80s to early 90s ATWT is chef's kiss) but different strokes for different folks! Some people adore classic OLTL, others live for 80s Days. That's soaps for you -- and, in turn, that's RHs for you. BH out-trumps the other franchises in terms of ratings currently, but IMO low rated Miami and Dubai have been the best watches of the year so far. And yes, I know we are only 3 episodes into Dubai S2.

It was a really good episode. One of the reasons why -- echoing the discussion we used to have in the GH or Y&R threads -- was because the drama stems from the women's personalities/characters. Remember the rules of soap writing that Douglas Marland developed? One of the most important ones was how character, not plot, is everything, and it must drive plot, not the other way around. I was reminded of that maxim watching this episode. So much drama revolves around the evolving character of the Queen Bee, Caroline Stanbury. How Stanbury talked about being vulnerable and in a sad place, and Sergio and Brooks were drawn to that. And now she doesn't need saving.... what that now means for the relationships in her life. For all her toughness, Caroline talking about her cold upbringing ("The British keep their dogs at home, and put their children in high-class kennels"), you understand why she married Sergio, who despite his clinginess, is also warm, outgoing and not shy about his feelings. Caroline needs him to replicate a warm family dynamic she never had, as much as he needs her to mother him. Another character reference -- Lesa and Brooks talking about each other. Lesa saying Brooks is panicking because she was able to manipulate people (Stanbury) when they are down; Brooks saying Lesa is projecting, because she is terrified of Stanbury and Ayan's friendship. Two things can be true at the same time. The sit-down between the two Carolines. Stanbury's look on her face when Brooks spoke in circles readd to me her realisation that Brooks is manipulative and almost gaslighting her at times. Brooks is becoming a bit of a villain this season -- but a vulnerable and relatable one. Sara talking with Makti about dating while both were getting scalp massages -- another moment that stuck with me. Saba the Sabotage! I must disagree @Taoboi I think Snobby Saba the Pakistan Princess is a great FOH addition. A wealthy place like Dubai is bound to have snooty gatekeepers, and she is it. I hope we see more of her! Another reason this season is clicking is because these women are pretty closely integrated in each other's lives. The way they greet and hug Yasmine, Caroline's daughter, and chat with her. The way Lesa's mother loves Ayan. The way Sara and Sergio are close (brother/sister close -- I don't think Sara has a thing for Sergio. If anything, and if she wasn't in Dubai, I sometimes wonder if Sara might decide to date a woman), and have the family-trip photos to prove it. This is how Stanbury maintains her Queen Bee status -- she folded these women and their families into her close social circle, and socialises in the off season, and not just when the cameras are rolling. She's the social director.

I'm late to responding to this post, but just to say that I feel this in my soul! My adopted hometown has gone through similar changes. The wealth here is insanely huge, usually oil wealth, beyond one's wildest dreams, people driving in reinforced bulletproof Rolls Royces, but im not sure i envy it. There is definitely something empty and soulless about it. Like an episode from The Kardashians! Here too, in beautiful neighbourhoods, houses and apartments lie empty 10 months out of the year. I've become more like that too -- enjoying my own company and the space I've built for myself. However, I also don’t want to give up on the idea of love! Seeing Sara sort of flustered and awkward about dating and being set up endeared her to me this last episode., because she fronts so confidently but I think deep down she is shy and insecure about herself, and worried about sending the wrong image. I think she takes her role as Emirati representative on the show very seriously and puts pressure on herself about it. Caroline so far this season has channeling LOL Caroline, and it has been great!

I agree. If anything, I think it throws Kenya under the bus. For someone like me, who is on the fence about Kenya's tactics (to say the least), this looks like par for the course (digging dirt on the newbie) and makes her look really bad. O loved ep. 2, but i hear you. My take on Sara and the dating is that she comes from a culture which is strict about this sort of thing. And she's a shy person about romantic relationships. She doesn't want it on TV but she knows she has to show something. As for Brooks -- yes, it felt like she's looking for a TV Time rivalry. Stanbury knew it, and that's why she walked out in exasperation.

Ayan had some great looks this episode-- although her confessional looks like she's auditioning for Coming to America. The polka dot dress and gloves! The imperial purple goddess dress! I love that we got to see her beauty business too. She seemed the most relaxed and happy then. So this season is not shaping up like I expected, and I'm not mad about it. I thought Ayan would be getting the sophomore season edit, but it looks like Brooks is instead. The drinking, the rivalry with Stanbury... I'm looking forward to the mess. I was also pleasantly surprised by Sara this episode. Yes, Sara thinks she's the greatest humanitarian that ever lived, but she also made up with Ayan and it's nice to see her welcomed by the group and their husbands-- a feeling that these girls hang out on the off season too. (Also she had a great Dior dress at the party). That look Stanbury gave to the camera when Baby Sergio said she couldn't give him a child so he bought a dog -- uhoh. You marry a baby, you get a baby, girl. Lesa is stunning, and i like her standalone story. I'm liking Taleen, too. She's a good addition.

That is a fun, entertaining trailer. I want them to screen it ASAP. Pure soapy drama with a sprinkle of Traitors thrown in. It didn't feel like the typical OC trailer, and it felt like money had been splashed out on the season. Also, Shannon got a facelift. A decent one. And that first BH cameo -- such an effing b!tch who lives to pick on Vicki for relevancy. Looks like Heather isn't crazy about her either.

In honor of a soon-to-be-dropped trailer -- RHOC locations:

@DaytimeFan You probably already knew this -- but here is where the RHOBH (and I use 'BH' loosely) live:

You know, if Switzerland Dolores decided to go the Traitor route, she could be great at it. Sleepy Robyn better throw back a couple espressos and invest in some vitamin B12 to get her energy levels up. I do think she is moderately smarter than Sheree who inevitably, like clockwork, picks the wrong person every time. LOL, People gave her the Demi Moore Special! She looks great. Judging by the hashtags, she is doing this alone.

@NothinButAttitude I'm not sure Lesa is quite at the point of becoming most popular HW on Dubai in the way that Karen Huger or LVP came to unexpectedly dominate their respective franchises. Lesa is quieter, more strategic, and definitely careful about what she is putting out there. However, I have been wrong before, and that's what I'm looking forward to the most about S2 Dubai -- having my preconceptions thrown to the wind! Lesa is absolutely one of the most gorgeous women to ever grace Bravo, IMO. She is breathtaking. Meanwhile, Chanel Ayan is actively campaigning for top-dog spot. She has been charged with the bulk of the Dubai promo interviews (what little there is) by Bravo, and is actively courting other, more popular HWs (Kyle, Teresa and Tamra, most notably) in order to get with Andy's in-crowd. This is not a bad strategy. As I said before, she is dominating the narrative -- for now. But clearly, like many of you, viewers are tiring of Ayan's OTTness. There is every reason to expect that Lesa will make her case to the audience over the course of the season. Because viewers are now asking questions about what happened between the two of them, and are Lesa & Stanbury really copacetic? It's a mystery that viewers want to piece together for themselves. @Antoyne so pleased you enjoyed S1. IMO reunion saved the show which had slow, unfocused direction early on, to say the least. The show was let down IMO by Stanbury refusing to engage and thinking she could Kim-Zolciak it throughout the season. And Sergio is cringeworthily thirsty and annoying. He wants this more than she does. I actually cannot believe that someone as cold and strategic as Stanbury married this guy after luxuriating on Oil Money for so long. This couple are clearly finding it hard to make ends meet in notoriously-expensive Dubai. As for Lesa & Stanbury -- keep your friends close and your enemies closer! They don't trust each other, but they're not going to poke the bear, for now. I think Lesa is jealous that Ayan is kissing up to Stanbury. Lesa went after Stanbury and pretty much accused her of being on J*ffr*y Epst*in's books at reunion -- which is a HUGE allegation. Now, I'm not sure Stanbury was ever an escort for hire, but what is interesting is we are now getting whispers of Lesa having been an escort in Miami, which is how she met her husband (whose business is currently being sued -- a rite of passage for every RH franchise, it seems!). I don't know if any of this is true, I'm just saying it is interesting that we have mirroring rumors flying around. Tit for tat?

@Cheap21 So RHONJ's cast trip didn't happen this season -- the house they were meant to go to had a fire. So the season may well have been cut down from its usual 14 to 10 or 11. I totally have been loving it... but im bummed to hear Fellner (the JFP of RHs) will be EPing. How does this guy keep failing upwards? He damn near ruined Potomac.

Ugh I have had such a fun time rewatching nuRHONY, I can't even tell you. It's underrated. It had a better first season than Dubai. That's not to say I don't love my OG RHONYs and want to see them back on my screen -- my love for Luann and Sonja alone knows no bounds. Throw in Kristen, Heather, Carole, and I'd be a happy camper for a new season of OG RHONY. What I would give for a couple to pop up on the revamp! We know that Sonja and Jessel hit it off during the Alexis Mabille Couture ad campaign, and apparently Ramona and Erin have met and hit it off (yes, you read that right -- the latter makes so much sense when you think about it). But back to nuRHONY! Wait til you get into reunion (which I am currently watching). It's a mess, but it sets up this coming season quite nicely, and I honestly cannot wait for the trailer. They're all coming back, including Jenna, and I'm pleased. The cast is a good one to start building around IMO, because they have actually forged friendships with one another. But yeah, Erin? As Jessel said at reunion (not to give anything away, but I'm going to drop this tiny nugget), the Circle of Trust was really just the Circle of 'let's b!tch about others behind their backs.' Trying to dress it up as some kind of Trust forum is ridiculous. Also Erin with "You're being aggressive" in Anguilla -- she can dish it out but cannot take it. That is going to cost her in S2 now that everybody knows she crumbles at the slightest pushback. With the help of Sai, she stirred up others against someone in the group (Jenna, Jessel), she thought she was being all cool and strategic, but when she got caught out on her own hypocrisy, she had a meltdown. Sai, too. But Sai is made of sterner stuff. I'm not sure Erin is. You are going to love Brynn during reunion, lol.

RHODubai A much tighter opening episode for S2 than the S1 opener. Chanel Ayan has become the force mutiplier [(c) Carlos King] of the show. Don't underestimate it. She has carefully centered herself to be the 'victim' of Sara's Daily Mail interview, and we all know what is coming down the pipe with Lesa. Lesa declared in her VT that Ayan was territorial of their friendship and didn't want to share her with others. But the impression I got was the other way around: Lesa was being 100% territorial of Ayan. She was doing the most to stir up Ayan against Sara, and is silently jealous of Stanbury and Ayan's new-found closeness. Stanbury telling Ayan and Sara to hash it out elsewhere because she wants to eat in peace was old-school Ladies of London Queen Stanbury. I almost applauded. Stanbury still has 'It' and everybody kisses up to her. I sensed this was also her way of slapping down Lesa, who was inflating the Sara-Ayan animosity. Sara is considered the weak link and therefore a target this season. Nevertheless, she has the backbone to stand her ground. What she said about Ayan wasn't wrong, and at least someone is pointing out the victim gamesmanship (a classic RH move, and Ayan is an assiduous viewer of the RH shows). Brooks remains an enigmatic but significant presence. She is unofficial kingmaker on this show. While Ayan/Stanbury/Lesa battle to be top dog, Brooks can afford to sit back, pick her battles and decide which horse to back. I also love that she has a real-life spa business and will be showing us that. It's been a while since we've seen a RH actual in-person business, and not just someone slapping their name on Shein gear.

Agree on the reunion episodes. There have been times when I have not completed a season but tuned into reunion to catch up (Drew singing her Ballad of Goodbye to Ralph, for example). Reunion can save a season. As for a hard reboot of RHONJ -- we are just 4 or 5 episodes into the current season, but NJ seasons are historically short, and Bravo must have finished editing and thought 'There is nothing here to save the show.' Personally, I would keep Dolores, who knows everybody and is a bridge between old-school NJ (not that I need the Manzos back) and current NJ. I would keep Danielle Cantin who has a sunniness about her that so much of the cast currently lack. I would give Teresa and her daughters a spin-off -- I believe the most watchable part of Teresa is her interaction with Gia, Gabriella, Milania and Audriana, who are stars in their own right. The rest can go. Jennifer is now up to her neck in toxic mire, as is Marge 'private detective on speed-dial' Josephs. I never want to see Joe Gorga drinking out of an inflatable doll's a-hole ever again. Melissa is inalterably tarnished by her longtime betrayals of her SIL. The Fudas are po-faced, humorless and contrived -- nothing about them says 'the future of NJ.' Thirsty Fessler can come back, though, lol. The shocking thing is that you are right -- RHONY didn't implode like this, although it did implode. Part of the RHONY problem was current events got the better of everybody. NYC's Covid lockdown was a major external negative factor (cast trip to Salem, anybody?). The message the HWs got from Bravo when they renewed the season with the entire cast intact was "You're doing great, sweetie/More of the same." These women really thought they were intrinsic to the show and could dictate cast selection. And it's not like NJ hasn't peered over that precipice before. Hello, Seasons 5 and 6. Let's hope the Potomac cast is smarter than that.

Yikes. That's a bargain. I imagine because the townhouse is in need of much renovation. That's the UES now -- everything is either renovated to shiny-but-soulless Dubai-glitz standards, or else it is considered old-fashioned/out-of-date. As long as Sonja is happy with the deal, that's the most important thing. End of an era! Please. Lisa may be many things -- a spoiled, insulated chihuahua, for example -- but she is also 90 pounds soaking wet. Lenny has a hefty, towering bear of a man in comparison. While I can imagine Lisa hitting Lenny in a fit of anger, I cannot imagine it would be considered abuse in the way most courts think of spousal abuse.