Cat

Porsha is literally the luckiest women of all the RH franchises. How on earth has she clung on for +5 seasons?? Nobody wants to interact with her! Nene's wig disaster in that photo was to be expected, but I can't believe they did a gorgeous supermodel like Cynthia so dirty. Yikes! IA @MrPrezident ATL is in trouble, as is BH, OC and possibly NJ. They are having real trouble with getting together a good cast with plenty of chemistry. Should they bring back Phaedra?

As someone who actually really enjoyed NJ last season, it pains me to say it but... maybe they shouldn't have fired Siggy so quickly? Yes, she really was the worst, most unhinged HW in recent times, but she also drove story. Maybe with two untested newbies this year, they might not have the content for even a reduced season like last year was. I did see E! News talk about Danielle Staub a few weeks ago, and they showed footage from the upcoming season of her then-BF' s marriage proposal -- which as we now know, has ended in divorce after mere days of getting hitched! So this season has been filmed. Maybe they are doing extra filming around Danielle and her soon-to-be divorce!

Apologies for my post earlier which maybe sounded a bit shouty! It wasn't meant to be. Marlo has been entertaining in the past but I'm not sure I want to see her in the regular HW line-up lol.

Marlo is an insurance liability because of her criminal record and the violent nature of that record. She repeatedly slashed a woman's face, leaving her almost bleeding to death. A couple of years later, her badly disfigured victim ended up committing suicide. For that reason alone, I'm glad Marlo does not have a peach. She has been rewarded enough as it is.

I would absolutely agree with you about Moonves preferred type -- except that if he kissed Angela Lansbury (or whoever it was) after cancelling her show, it wasn't a sudden act of attraction. It was a demonstration of power and HIS disdain of HER. He'd cancelled her show. Now she was only fit to get on her knees and service him. THAT was the message he wanted to give. Right. And compound it with the fact that a WOMAN, Shari Redstone, has a controlling interest on the board, and the men defending Moonves at all costs couldn't stand the idea of being bossed around by 'that woman.' By any woman! They weren't going to let 30 or 300 chicks dislodge 'their' guy Les from the CEO position! It's sickening, and imo CBS needs to do a full clean-out.

Yeah, Toya has grown on me a lot since her first season! I always appreciated her sense of humor and quickness in figuring people out. But this was a tantrum from a spoiled child. Moreover, it embarrassed and emasculated her husband in front of his work colleagues and the viewing public. LOL you are right, I know a lot of couples like this, and I never know what to make of it, except maybe the guy was treated like this by Mother growing up, and therefore this is the standard by which his chosen female is measured!

@YRfan23 echoing what everybody is saying here. Thank you for posting this glorious episode. I keep rewinding it in a bid to figure out why it grips me in a way soaps today no longer do. After all, it is 'just' 22 minutes long. It is 'just' three sets. It is 'just' 6 members of the main cast featured! Firstly, 22 mins feel like a full-hour show in terms of content. A lot of that content was unspoken, or an undercurrent. There is the dialogue, and then there are people's true motivations and desires propelling the scene. Like when Lance locked eyes with Leslie, or when Jennifer Brooks opened the door to Mark, the tension! For a moment I wondered if she was afraid of him. Contrast that with Lorie and her father's scene, the intimacy, the closeness. I have a feeling Freud would have had a field day with the dynamics of that scene. It is so clear that Lorie once felt estranged from him and it hurt her deeply, and that this relationship with her father is extremely important to her. The feelings implied and expressed could be interpreted in a tacky, heavy-handed way... but it is clear that the person writing this scene -- the great William J Bell himself -- has such love for these characters, such understanding and empathy for them, as if they are real people. Consequently, we care for them too -- within seconds of a scene starting. I think this is why Y&R was successful for so long. Because Bell cared about the characters he was writing and their story. That kindness in the way he treated them, it is a kindness we don't see anymore among many writers today. These characters would be mere archetypes to them. Also Janice Lynde's voice is STUNNING and she delivered such a showstopper! On a superficial level, she looks like a goddess with that gorgeous hair and stunning jumpsuit "from Giorgio's Beverly Hills" (I want one!). Apart from the designer clothes though, it is clear that with a little moody, cinematic lighting and gorgeous background music, a soap can do SO MUCH with very little. I've harped on about Y&R's background music before being an additional character, but truly -- that music is the emotion and psychological underpinning of all these characters' motivations. And like all of you, I would PAY to stream these episodes from 1973 onwards. I think writers, scriptwriters, and lovers of the genre would learn so much from seeing Bill Bell's 70s work up close.

Wow. I am literally stunned by the last two hours worth of revelations. First of all, I have always admired Linda Bloodworth Thompson, but now after reading her article, I have never been prouder of her! Talking about the legacy of strong women in shows which CBS and Moonves totally squandered. Her delineation of the misogyny in those CSI shows is especially on point, illustrating the misogyny of the man and the network. Secondly, as someone who has worshipped Angela Lansbury and MSW since I was a child -- and who had the honor of meeting the great Dame Angela a few years ago; she was even more wonderful, whip-smart, gracious,and kind than I could ever imagined -- if Les Moonves assaulted her... I hope he rots in hell! I do think it might be Sharon Gless though -- another actress I long admired. Btw that statement by Fager where he basically admits to threatening a CBS reporter -- this hasn't been said yet but some journalists on CBS News and CBA This Morning have been doing good work reporting this story -- despite the obvious impediments to their being able to do so.

Your first sentence made me LOL. Yeah, she does have a certain slickness. Those home convos with Shane are v contrived, and Shane, bless him, doesn't always play. I enjoyed Jimmy Edmonds (HATED his wife) for this very reason. Gina is clearly overwhelmed raising her little kids on her own. Also, parents today don't really discipline in the same ways my parents did. Refusing to sit at the table? Hitting my mom on the head? Yeah, no. That sh*t would not fly, and you best believe my quiet butt would be on that chair. Yikes! I refuse to watch that season of NJ, but that guy stood out as being skeeze of the highest order! I don't think Shane is in that league. In fact, I give him credit. The women have been after him for a few episodes, and he doesn't engage. He has the right to throw anybody out of his home that he chooses, first of all. Second, when Kelly called him all those names, he did not get nasty or physically confrontational. He laughed at her obvious drunkenness. He handled her well, all things considered. I don't understand the Kelly stans praising their KWEEN all over SM for going apeshit on him for no reason. Sigh. I mean, this is better than fighting over panties, stemware or linen napkins. But c'mon. LVP is wrestling a pig here (yes, I called Dorit a pig). She's going to get dirty and what's more, the pig likes it ! Coked-out Dorit is always going to start something on this show -- even if it means abandoning some poor puppy at a rescue shelter. That $3.6mn Bellagio gambling debt isn't going to pay itself. (https://people.com/tv/dorit-kemsley-husband-pk-sued-casino/). That news story needs to be what everybody on BH is talking about, not widdle fluffy animals (and yes, I blame LVP for starting this cute-animals-instead-of-actual-SL trend) ! And once again it is a non-story which doesn't truly address the resentment Dorit feels for LVP, or the jealousy LVP feels for Erika, or the hate Rinna feels for LVP -- ALL this stuff we know is happening under the surface, but which the women don't want to openly discuss, for a fourth year running! I still say this franchise should be completely revamped, with Kathy Hilton putting the fear of Big Kaffay in Kyle, Faye Resnick as resident pot-stirrer, Linda Thomson (Bruce Jenner AND David Foster's ex-wife!), Camille, and TayShanna. Kris Jenner can be the well-connected FOH. Dana/Pam and her house-arrest anklet can also be FOH.

It was a v enjoyable episode! Mainly because there was a good mix of individual family scenes and drama with the ladies all together. It's taken them 8 episodes to get there but better late than never! IA with you that Kelly was trying to start something. Kelly was looking for a fight with Vicki, didn't get one, with Steve Lodge, didn't get one, then with Shane and Emily. As the flashback showed, she knew full-well Shane was Emily's husband. Having said that, Shane gives me douchey Josh Taekman vibes. Also, I have to give it to Kelly for this incredible drunk Tweet: Full Disclosure: I like Tamra. And this after hating her for YEARS. She is indispensable to this franchise. I dig seeing her zoom around on that scooter with a MAS TEQUILA sign on the front. I also hope she and Eddie get through this health scare and don't break up. BTW, Eddie's 90s headshots were full-on channeling David Charvet from Melrose Place! Shannon is my favourite, and I am warming to Gina too with her self-contained marriage drama and having to raise her kids herself. I like Emily ok but there is something a bit fake/untrustworthy about her that I just can't put my finger on.

Speak it, Gayle!

I don't know how Chen can come back after what her Talk cohorts said yesterday. Sharon Osbourne's words were especially blunt about Moonves, even though she seemed to be quaking with fear. And if i knew my evil boss was still going to be around CBS in an 'advisory position' (that could mean nothing, or it could mean he's still helping to run the network), I'd be scared too! Even if Chen leaves him, it's all too humiliating for her. And every time people look at her, now more than ever, they know how she got those gigs, and maybe speculating what she had to do to get her start in this business (given what we know of Moonves M.O.). The attitude of CBS in terms of paying him off and trying to keep him around is shocking... until you realise all those execs are probably abusing their positions like Moonves did. The example is set by him, and by most people of power in Hollywood. This is their 'playground.' So by covering for him and protecting his assets and benefits, they are protecting their own. I don't expect this internal investigation to reveal anything new except the narrative that 'Moonves alone did this and nobody here knew anything, we are so shocked, etc.'

Toya showed her ass big-time at that party. Putting Contessa on speaker and trying to humiliate her in front of her guests. Speaking of Contessa -- how fast did she grab her daughter and save her from choking?? That was an unreal moment, she was so on the ball and afterwards acted like all in a day's work! Eva Marcille was sort of... engaging to watch on M2M....? Can't believe I am saying that. Apparently Dr. Jackie will be appearing on RHOA as her ob-gyn. Heavenly is so unsettled by Mariah, lol. I really do like Dr. Damon, though. He looks very cuddly. The Fraudster continued frauding her way through the WWHL episode that followed. Dr. Jackie was there to hold her hand while Quad leaned into the role of heroic victim. What was especially interesting to me was how engaged and present Andy Cohen was! He really, really enjoys M2M, probably because the marriage drama is pretty authentic.

I cant believe all this breaking news I missed overnight! I mean, I wish he was going on trial, but at least there is a chance (a small one) that he won't get that $100mn payoff. He is really a pig. That New Yorker article made me sick. And the one involving his doctor too. LM had zero curbs on his power and was literally above the law. Those women who reported him were so brave, even though it cost them their careers and livelihood. Julie Chen won't be on The Talk today? Oy. Why not? She should face the music too or step down.

Thanks for correcting me. I kind of snoozed through all those vegan cookbook pitches and ki'ens scratching up Lee Radziwill's couch. Season 9's a charm! *fingers crossed*

I did like how she embraced Kristen into the fold in s6. But yeah, s6 was when she became very haughty and humorless (more accurately, during s5 reunion). She turned on Aviva and Luann big-time that season. Wasn't that also the season she began dating Adam and started getting obsessive anxiety about how she "only had 5 good summers left" ? I guess if I was stuck with Adam as the last guy I'd ever f***, I'd be pissed, too! lol I thought I was the only one who noticed that even-numbered seasons were awful for LVP! Seasons 4, 6 and 8 are cases in point. And s2 was a great season for her, but that was the reunion Adrienne and Kyle engineered that Bobby Fischer takedown -- which failed.

This ^^ just makes me boil with rage even more. A $100 million golden parachute as thanksfor ruining a lot of women's careers and their chance to put food on the table. As head of not just CBS but Viacom, his reach was extensive and all-encompassing, as illustrated by Yashir Ali's Tweets regarding Janet Jackson. To the point where even a random book deal at Simon & Schuster gets kaboshed. Moonves went out of his way to target all these women! He must really have a hate-on for females, because Justin Timberlake kisses his ass and gets helped to the next level of his uninspiring career, while Eric Braeden gets to play golf with Moonves every month. It seems like targeted, systematic attacks on women and their careers.

This. She looked awful throwing Tinsley under a bus -- just to prove a point against Bethenny. I too would have liked to see Tinsley call her out (even though I would have hated Bethenny smirking throughout that interchange). Carole was such a fresh presence in S5-6, especially her friendship with Heather. But she's become such a mean girl, very strategic, and very superior. It has sucked all the youthfulness out of her. Bravo always starts filming while the wounds from reunion remain fresh. I live for Ramona-Sonja and Sonja-Luann tbh. I really enjoy watching Ramona and her Ramonisms a lot.

This world's priorities are so screwed up right now. People be frothing in delight at seeing little Latino children in cages in the blazing Texas desert ("That'll teach em!") -- but boo-hooing about gun owners not allowed to put silencers on military-grade assault rifles. Keep fighting the good fight, Colin! Freedom of THOUGHT is what it is all about!

This in a nutshell! He should be facing charges by the NYPD and LAPD (though he prob has high-ranking influence there too). Instead he's going out a billionaire. What a slap on the wrist!

An 'internal investigation' which gives him a $100mn golden parachute and absolves all the other CBS execs of any knowledge or wrong-doing! "We had no clue this was going on blah blah." This is institutionalised sexual harassment and assault, everybody. They all knew, they set up the system that way to benefit them and their coercing women into sexual favors. They covered for him, and for themselves. The assistants knew and covered, the junior execs knew and covered, the legal departments printing off NDA after NDA all knew too. This is exactly the same set-up as Harvey Weinstein -- and on a similar scale.

I don't think it's a shot at him -- I think she's being playful. And he is being sincere in his statement. A few weeks back (on her timeline) he said something similar and she tweeted him back super-friendly. I don't think she meant anything damning towards him.

Glad the NYC reunion is over because it was a toxic and stressful watch. I appreciated Carole this season holding Bethenny to account. But she showed her ass this episode, so desperate to prove Bethenny wrong that she disowned Tinsley's friendship. Bethenny is a manipulative emotional-vampire -- but Carole is a cold, heartless friend-jumper. Now that Carole is no longer double-dating with Adam, Tinsley is surplus to requirements. So I am Team No-One at this point. Both Bethenny and Carole are cruel, vengeful people whose friendship was built on feeling superior and going after 'weaklings' like Sonja, Luann and Jules. Two bullies falling out? Good [!@#$%^&*] riddance. Is it too much to hope that Bethenny gets demoted next season? Tinsley and Sonja (and perhaps Ramona) were the only people who came out well (not to mention the stylists). Tinsley was funny and light; Sonja was full of equanimity and her obvious closeness with Ramona and Luann gives the show heart. I am really looking forward to seeing her new life in Columbus Circle without that financial/emotional albatross of a townhouse around her neck. I keep saying Kathy Hilton needs to become a full-time BH housewife! American Woman is coming to the UK and is being marketed as a 'US sleeper hit.'

Finally caught up with RHOD's Beaver Creek episode. First of all, I enjoyed this Beaver Creek stuff more than the Bezerkshires and hope it becomes an annual thing on RHOD. I like the mix of this group, and Kameron, who I didn't enjoy all that much last year, is REALLY growing on me. I find her hilarious, -- especially when Brandi tries to prank her and K is like "I feel so wanted." There is something light-hearted about their trolling of each other. Stephanie is growing on me, too. Leeanne has been a quiet figure in the background these last few episodes. I'm guessing the next episode is her break-out. D'Andra is apparently meant to be this season's Big Bad, but the fact that she doesn't trust or get along with Brandi is a sign of discretion in my book! D'Andra also looks a thousand times better and younger without all that heavy makeup. Damn. I hadn't realized until your list that RHOA has essentially half of the cast which are new (or newish) HWs. I'm hoping they do the amazing country of Japan justice on this cast trip, but I have a spooky feeling we will be getting Porsha grossed out at all the delicious sushi, a la Erika and Rinna on BH.

I listened to the interview over my lunch break! I have to say this is one of the better (and professionally-produced) RH podcasts I have listened to. It helps that Heather is a fan/connected to RH because she is an engaged interviewer. She asked solid questions, PLUS follow-up questions (take note, Andy), and harked back to past episodes of RHOA. I get that Heather wasn't going to go all Bob Woodward on Kim. Wig's favourite subject is, of course, Wig, so Heather let her talk and contradict herself, like how she 'never' got work done. KZB finally admitted to fillers and boob jobs with Dr. Lenny Hochstein of RHoMiami fame. Listening to this, it's crazy how Wig builds up this bunker mentality around her children and husband, creating this narrative that Toxic People (like her parents and Kroy's) are trying to 'destroy' their love and that's why they have to isolate the family unit from everybody. It creates a lot of co-dependency on Mommy and is, of course, very narcissistic. When Wig talked about Reunion, it made my blood boil how she referred to it (and the women) as violent. I thought the ATL HWs were purposely very restrained, coming at her one-by-one with their valid points. Kim got bested by people smarter than her, who were in the right, and who were over her. She cannot stand that. It is SO very clear that Wig is desperate to move to LA and land a spot on RHOBH. So! Thank you for the podcast rec! However, I am still side-eyeing Heather for this FB meltdown. Also, she'd better be careful not to trigger Andy's wrath, as she is a 'friend of Bravo'. She launched that Facebook poll about who should replace Andy as reunion moderator, expecting to win, and at a time when he is in a weak position with the network. He can be vengeful -- just ask Kathy Griffin.