Cat

You are right, it was Beth. I was just on such a Cassie rant that I was typing her name everywhere! God, I remember that. Everybody knew it was for his toy boy too, so really P&G should take its share of the blame for green-lighting a clearly ridiculous waste of money. I also remember how blindingly, brightly lit the show was under Conboy.

I can only concur with everybody here. Potomac P2 reunion did not let up for a second, and Karen and Robyn were STANDOUTS. Robyn was so chill and matter-of-fact throughout, what a difference from her grumpy self last year. I also liked Monique giving it as good as she got, though it makes me sad how Candiace sold her down the river for a chance to kiss Gizelle's ass. Be careful, Karen! Candiace may not be loyal to you either! Questions: do you think Ashley and Michael will be back next season? And is Robyn angling for a fake paid-by-Bravo wedding to Jusn? I'm sure KYLE will claim she is the one taking the photo! Or she and Teddi were at home, braiding each other's hair. Sutton's hair is too young for her, and I didn't even recognize the woman on the right. It's not just the wig; Rinna's face looks completely different! Garcelle looks AMAZING.

19th century Latin America was kinda ruled this way (Mexico's first and last 'emperor' Maximilian was Austrian-French and parachuted in there by his cousin, French emperor Louis-Napoleon. He was swiftly executed). But in 20th-21st century GL, it made no sense. I think they wanted to reap the benefits of the 'See, we have latinos!' trend by inventing a stand-in island for Puerto Rico. But then the show became enamoured with a bunch of WASPy theatre actors (David Andrew MacDonald, Bradley Cole) who could do semi-passable British accents. So some bright spark decided they could be 'princes' of this possibly-Caribbean, possibly-Spanish speaking, island. It was a horrific era on so many levels, not least because they wanted to give GL a telenovela edge but basically only to showcase these non-Hispanic newbies. Mostly I hated how it finally gave the writers an excuse to put Cassie on every day, even though she had flopped in her previous, Springfield-based SLs. I can't believe they wasted a shitload of money on location shots (Cassie hanging off the wall of a real-life castle; people running around sunny grassland for no reason; Cassie screaming from a helicopter). Given the horrendous budget cuts GL later had to endure, I feel like this giant SC spendfest is what prompted P&G to go hard with the fiscal austerity.

I concur. The Krystle wig is perfectly done. Yeah, I'm kind of glad that Eileen kept her dignity to a certain extent and went back to acting. It's funny how when she's acting on soaps, she exudes this warmth, complexity and humanity through her characters that makes me love her again. Don't feel too bad for Rinna and Kyle. I don't think that was ever a real-life long term friendship so much as a passing, friend-of-a-friend acquaintance. Kyle and Kim OTOH... Also, I just want to say re: Atlanta that even though I dissed seasons 4 onwards, I really, really rated S8 aka the first season without Nene aka the season with Kim Fields. Cynthia kicking Porsha off her on that boat was just . Not that I condone violence or anything!

Updated the link to the Harpers Bazaar article (https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a28900567/kris-jenner-yolanda-hadid-channel-dynasty-characters/). The pics are... holy [!@#$%^&*] I can't describe them. Look at this one -- it's like two facial expressions battling against botox:

WHAT in the name of all that is holy ??? @DaytimeFan needs to see this mess! https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a28900567/kris-jenner-yolanda-hadid-channel-dynasty-characters/ That ain't Lipsa btw

Sometimes (in Kenya's case) Drama picks Drama! (I hear you about personal luck with guys tho). It's like when she got married with Marc and she suddenly went all coy about 'keeping it private' and no filming of Marc. That made no sense and ran against everything we know Kenya is about. That's why production lost its rag and decided to fire her. Because she got her wedding all over the blogs but didn't want to share it on the show. So, either Marc put his foot down about being filmed and Kenya acquiesced (likely), or Kenya did not want the cameras around to delve too deeply into this marriage and her pregnancy (which, some people have said, was a pillow shoved up her dress and a secret surrogate on the side. Hey, Kenyoncé!). Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching Kenya for the drama she creates -- she should have been on last season for that reason alone! I also think the WWHL episode where she effortless DESTROYS Michael Rappaport was the best WWHL episode ever aired. But I also don't like the precedent she has set with RHOA. I will call Kenya out on her fakery and disingenuousness, and you best believe there will be some of that this coming season. Totally. I don't need to see another 19 episodes of fakery about how they are all BFFs now that the cause of ALL their problems is gone. These bitches never take accountability for doing the same [!@#$%^&*] they accused LVP of doing, and the hypocrisy comes off of them in waves. I want to see them turn on each other like the gang in Reservoir Dogs ! BTW where did you get "it looks like more and more Lipsa is coming for Kyle" ? Is there stuff happening on Twitter or IG I don't know about?? Spill the tea!

I agree so much with this. First of all S3 and S4 are the finest seasons of any HW show, on a par with S3 NY and S2 BH. The cast chemistry was perfection, and so was the comedy, shade and drama. And people diss Cynthia for being a bore but I really loved her from the get go. Her drama was real and relatable. With Kenya's arrival, there was from Day One a problem with authenticity. She is incredibly self-produced, and was constantly baiting the women. It really damaged her credibility that first season, especially when Apollo accused her of coming on to him, and people believed him over her. Since then, and as much as I appreciate a Scarlet Letter SL, Kenya's antics have put pressure on the other HWs to self-produce and manufacture story in much the same way. And little by little, I started enjoying ATL a bit less, because drama became increasingly scripted.

That's because Kenya produces her entire life like it's a RHOA episode. She wanted the marriage/baby thing for the show so bad, so she jumped into it with this willing participant and it turned out he was not so willing. I'm betting he was basically a glorified sperm donor. The thing is, she could have got Brandon to help her out with a donation and it would have been so much easier, but no she wanted the crazy drama and the 'I got my fairytale!' narrative, because she was banking on cameras being there. She really seems to pick assholes too. Anyway it's too bad the cameras weren't there last season to showcase all this because the drama would have been insane. I guess we will see it this season.

There was a moment last week when Leeanne talked about getting together with Rich. She said that she had never been faithful in any of her previous relationships. That, coupled with her pronouncement that she is not maternal and does not want children, made me respect her honesty (even though I am someone who would love to have children). Obviously, a lot of this is tied up with her childhood, which we got a lot of insight into this episode. I had not realized the full extent of her childhood abuse. It was powerful and raw, as you say. Even seeing Kameron struggle with the luggage off the carousel or *that toilet* is real in a way we don't see on other shows as much. It's interesting because Dallas gives us this, but at the same time it is like a 90s soap opera, like an episode of 90s AMC. (And in the second half of the episode, it went full telenovela). To end with that raw bombshell was strong and unexpected. I really liked the episode because of all the different shading. Leeanne was pretty insufferable through most of it. but her outburst made me understand her a bit better. Comic genius Kameron is back! I felt like I hadn't really seen her much the last few episodes. Travis and Stephanie are a couple I like as much as Monique and Chris on Potomac. The chemistry and complicity they share is very sweet and loving. I was feeling D'Andra before but she lost me here with her blowing off a meeting with Travis. So unprofessional and stupid, especially when her firm is on the brink. I sure hope the ratings go up for this episode. Dallas is giving us a LOT. It is clear they were not getting along at all in her latest Insta story, like he couldn't stand TV Kenya and the filming. Rumour has it that he is not getting a good edit on RHOA next season.

Always respect your and @Chris B's opinions, of course (I love Eileen too, I know it doesn't seem like that when talking about Bh!) -- personally I felt like she was 'on.' Like she was playing 'Ashley Abbott, the JFP Years.' It made me wonder why she was doing that, because one of the things I respected about Eileen on BH was that she was true to herself and didn't really care what people thought of her. On WWHL, I felt she cared. And that made me wonder if she cares because she wants to be asked back onto the show. I don't begrudge her beef with LVP anymore. She had her reasons. The one thing I didn't like about Eileen was the way she treated Eden at reunion -- she shut her down with a "buh-bye, Eden, buh-bye" when Eden tried to say that Rinna used her to get at Kim. I thought it was maddening how she shut down another person's right to speak, and I figured that she of all people would be acutely sensitive to how wrong that was. Even if Eden is a kook. Yeah, Eileen and Dorit had peripheral beef, mainly because Eileen was defending poor widdle Erika and she thought Dorit was LVP's minion. It kind of exploded on the boat in Hong Kong, when Rinna, Eileen and Erika all went in on Dorit. LOL that crossed my mind too. 'Studying for the bar' is the new euphemism! Can't wait to watch OC tonight. Unpopular opinion but I think so far, RHOC has been far better than last season. That is not because Vicki is no longer there -- I still want her to come back full-time. But I feel like there is momentum to the season, like people's stories are going somewhere. Also, I am really warming to Emily aka Budget Jeana.

She does, and that's what it felt like -- playing a role. In fact, it felt like an audition. Eileen is a workhorse, and since Sony did her dirty, I'm not surprised she is open to returning to the Real Housewives of Encino -- where she will out-rank pretty much all the others by default, because she lives in Malibu. Her dislike of LVP is so strong -- Erika Jayne and Lisa Rinna emit the same kind of irrational hate. It feels very personal. You know, I am actually considering watching Real Housewives of Encino next season. One reason is Garcelle Beauvais. The other is my irrational need to see KARMA be served in the direction of Rinna, Erika, Kyle, Dorit and Teddi. Individually and together. (I also wish Kathy Hilton and Nicollette Sheridan would have joined to make the aforementioned lives' hell, but that is wish-casting). On another note: I wonder who will host all the chi-chi parties now that LVP is gone and PK is broker than broke? For sure Teddi will host a budget cook-out off that cliff-face she calls a home. But freeloader Rinna hasn't hosted a damn thing ever (Harry's backyard bbq does not count!). Kyle is such a fool -- she stays doling out money for these parties and Rinna swoops in to guzzle the free booze and steal the spotlight.

I dont think I have seen Andy have fun at a reunion like that in a while. He seems invested in Potomac, like he watches the reels for fun. The women seemed to be having fun despite everything too. And I have to agree with whoever called Candiace MVP this episode. She was loud but laser-focused, and her shade hit their target. Ashley put up a solid defense, but she's on a slippery slope with this entire season. And what was that weird ass editing with Michael supposedly on the balcony, and all the 'reactions' from the women below? It felt like some highly creative editing to me. Also thought the way Karen put Gizelle firmly in her place about the fragrance was what I've been waiting for all season. I have never once seen Karen put down Every Hue, unlike Gizelle with everybody's side projects. Sad that any mention of Katie has been almost entirely scrubbed from this episode. I wonder if they will bring her up at all in the next two eps. The fashions were even more atrocious close up. Gizelle's greasy ass hair was especially horrible. What was her lovely hair guy thinking?? Ashley with a white fly-catcher curtain slung over her shoulders and across her chest was the worst, though. I thought Candiace's Great Gatsby dress was actually the best outfit of the night.

That's disappointing, because it's a fun watch. I don't think RHOD was helped this year by a VERY poor season trailer. That trailer almost turned me off watching -- and you know I love my neurotic D"Andra and Mama Dee! It was so dull! First episode was a little wispy, content-wise, and we barely saw Kameron. Ep2 was much better, and next week, we are already heading out on a cast trip! That villa in Cayeres reminds me of Melbourne's cast trip to Mexico last year, and that was a doozy. So I'm looking forward to it. Hope Dallas builds an audience over the coming weeks on word of mouth. Not feeling Leeanne so far. She is complaining too much about whatever BS happened last year: "Ah was so hurrrrt." Also I thought her words to D'Andra, about how Leeanne doesn't need to keep in touch with her mom because she doesn't rely on her for financial support, were shockingly cold. I honestly do not know how D'Andra didn't deck her then and there.

I heartily preferred Katie over Charrisse, partly because she doesn't quite realise how much fun she can be to watch. Shes kind of oblivious and un-self-conscious, and that's quite watchable on a reality show Charrisse was so envious of Karen and Gizelle! But I think I really disliked her when she sold her friendship with Monique and Chris down the river for some airtime and relevancy. Preach. Karen was a delight this season, and much more down to earth than in previous years. I have always loved her but this season has confirmed what great taste I have. Lol! I kid. It confirms what a fundamentally lovely, gracious, funny person Karen can be. I think the financial troubles and the death of her parents really changed her perspective and made her more reflective and aware of the people around her.

No disrespect to Wes Kenney, who showcased some of Y&R's more luxurious sets, but that moody lighting is EVERYTHING. It is like something out of film noir, and so is the music. It creates such an atmosphere! It's like the subtext behind the characters' secret motivations, deepest desires, and most tortured fears. Bill Bell was in advertising before he got into soaps, and advertising at the time was extremely taken by psychology and psychiatry as a marketing tool. Especially the helpfully-visual Freudian theories. You can really see the Freudian and the psychological underpinning Bell's writing, as well as production's lighting, directing and musical choices. Like many other people on this thread, I was thinking about how I would love some soaps (certainly Y&R!) to return to this kind of... way of being. Not just the almost claustrophobic focus on telling the story, playing all the beats, the focus on people and families (and not just cyphers), but the music, the lighting, doing so much with (relatively) little. I can just imagine how a SL like Jennifer's mastectomy might be pitched to -- and rejected by -- the networks today. Because on paper it might seem boring or heavy. But back in the day, CBS gave Bell total control (network honchos were just there to make sure the scripts did not mention the word "breast"). They trusted in his writing to make the story not just about a mastectomy, but about Jennifer's fraught relationship with her family, her husband, her lover, her own body. I loved how the episode touched on her attractiveness, her need for affirmation and love. And we have the production crew underscoring all those themes with their skill in close-ups, lighting and music. We would need the people who wield power over the soaps to rethink story-telling, such as it is today. That the so-called mundane can be lifted up and become as tense and as thrilling as any mob hit. It requires an investment in writers and crew who care to do a great job, who care about the characters and world they are going to write. It requires stepping back from overt interference. I was definitely taken by how beautiful all the women were, their glossy hair, their soft, almost identically-striped lounge suits (how well those 70s fashions have aged, the men's less so). One close-up of Trish playing Chris was honestly so breath-taking. I love that Giorgio's of Beverly Hills mention bringing instant glamour to the soap genre, too. Aesthetically pleasing, but the story-lining is so strong, their lovely looks folded into that of their characters, that it is never a distraction.

Right? And it was a blessed relief to watch. Nothing to detract you from watching the wonderful, nuanced acting (although I am kind of obsessed by all the Brooks sisters' gorgeous, wavy hair), the time taken so that ALL the beats of the SL get played out without being rushed, the complex relationship between the characters. Also, the skill of production to use clever, moody lighting and meaningful close-ups to accentuate the intensity of the SL. And possibly to play down a relatively nondescript set. Although I did enjoy Stuart Brooks' walk from the front porch with his morning newspaper, through the dark, wooded, roomy entrance hall, into a living room so dark, it's like he hasn't yet gotten around to opening the curtains (the darkness a metaphor for how worried and down they all feel about Jennifer?). It was such a solid opening 10 seconds (helped by the signature dreamy music) to establish place and feel.

I loved Potomac's last 5 mins with all the stuff happening to the women off season. Real life does not wait for the Bravo shooting schedule! Just goes to show that the show is rooted in authentic events. Gizelle was awful, as usual. Why people invite her to their events, I will never know. She's an embarrassment.

I loved the siren music which had a touch of the classic 70s GH opening to it! I also liked the fact they SAID the names, and didn't sing them. The sudden singing is like.... LOL. RIP the old opening which made Quad look like a demented poodle. I always loved that they shaded her with her old face & wig year after year after year.

In some ways, I am proud my plucky Potomac managed to get where it is today on word of mouth. It shows that it is the real deal. But IA with you about BH getting the bulk of the promotion and favoritism on Bravo. Early on this past season, Rinna bragged on Twitter about how BH surpassed ATL in viewership, and I just saw red. How can this show, which is at a complete creative nadir, attract even more viewers?? I really do feel the tide is turning, however. Viewers gave BH a chance this year but their patience has run thin. Meanwhile, Potomac is getting a lot of attention on social media and in the ratings. People are really feeling it this season, and I suspect reunion will see more people tuning in (partly because Michael will be showing up). Potomac is taking off, and Dallas is on its way up IMO. I think BH is in big trouble, and ATL has gone through a bad patch, but if NJ can regenerate itself after the wilderness years (dont judge, I loved it the last two years), so can any franchise. Oh, and totally agree about M2M, which is putting most of the RH shows to shame. I love the way it focuses on marriage and relationships. These people shine in all their multi-faceted, contradictory glory. Even Quad. Agree with so much of this. Sometimes I just adore Leeanne, but sometimes she lays it on so thick that I just cannot deal. Case in point was her victimhood this episode. Either you can forgive, or you can't, so just say you can't and move on. I think it's so interesting the way D'Andra and Leeanne's tortured relationship with their mothers led them to each other. It dictates a lot of how they interact with females, specifically their need for constant validation from women.

This year AND last year. Potomac has been battimg 2 for 2. It is the best show of all the franchises, on a par with NY for me. Finally caught up on the last episode and I'm so glad I did. Katen came into her own this epi. This was not La Grande Dame, this was *Karen* being real with Ashley, and also very empathetic regarding Katie's smarts and vulnerability. Even Robyn backed her up. Gizelle tried to paint it like Karen didnt care about Katie's whereabouts, but she was completely exposed by production as a fool. It is exhausting watching Gizelle and her heavy-handedness. With Karen, it feels effortless.

Ahhh I'm enjoying the RH franchises lately (especially Queen Potomac which I don't want to end). Its almost like not enough time to watch everything! I'm excited for NJ to come back, though. Dallas So I think that D'Andra had quite a lot of work done (though I merely speculate). Besides fillers and botox, it looks like she got a facelift. Her jawline is that of a teenager! Her mouth got plumped up, subtly. And she got a nose job. I think she looks good but like others here, I prefer both Leeanne and D'Andra as brunettes. As far as SL, her codependent, toxic relationship with her mother continues to make for compelling TV. It is what makes her so prickly, needy and unconfident. D'Andra is desperate for people's approval. Viewers may hate that, but i really like that we get to see this character study. Also, the Lee-D frenemyship is always watchable. I still kind of root for them to make amends. Stephanie and Travis are such a solid couple. Their complicity and connection jumps off the screen. D'Andra is not the only one to have a facelift: Brandi got a tiiiiight one and then tried to cover it up under her white kabuki makeup. Ugh. I am least interested in watching Brandi on this show. I was ready to FF the new Kary as I love the OG Cary and wish she hadn't been demoted. But guess what, I love New Kary. She's a fireball of energy, funny, interesting background and family.... looking forward to seeing how she fits into the cast. Absolutely! Vicki did her usual "I know her secrets, if she doesn't want me to spill them, she better not piss me off!" Tamra was the one who said train, then she pretended Vicki had said it and Shannon passively backed her up. Hope Vicki and Kelly nail their asses to the wall.

Even though it seems like a new production company is doing RHOC this year, it felt like old OC with the Emily- Shane and Braunwyn-Betsey Johnson scenes. I thought it was the most solid episode in a long while. Shane clearly cannot stand his wife. I know Mormons are shy about public displays of affection (which is why this sexy Vegas dance thing is such a bad idea), but he seems utterly disgusted at the idea of touching his wife. I like Emily; he is awful. No, Braunwyn's Selfish Mom. Tamra is not a good friend calling Braunwyn to account. She is gaslighting her. Tamra and Shannon feed on each other's viciousness. Shannon redeemed herself a bit by being kind to Gina, but Tamra set up the Kelly thing and then ganged up on Braunwyn. Kelly is clearly the target this year, but I hope Tamra is the one who gets called out at Reunion. Nice Lizzie mention! And FYI a train is not 'sex'. It is rape. Why has no-one mentioned this?? Looks to me like Bravo was playing hardball and left Erika off the S10 roster when negotiating with her. Erika quickly signed up for the season because glam squads dont pay themselves! In a way I am glad she's back. She is one of the four witches I hope get called out for all their [!@#$%^&*] next season. Here's hoping.

Joan is the face of Charlotte Tilbury's new foundation campaign! https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/head/article/45714/1/joan-collins-shines-in-new-charlotte-tilbury-foundation-campaign

A lasting image of Kathryn that stays with me is her empathy towards Kim, a woman she did not even know. When she told Kim she was rooting for her at S6 reunion, Kim blew her a kiss and Kathryn blew one back. I thought it was the mark of a good soul. Yep. The Erika Jayne persona totally overtook her and she became imprisoned behind that facade.