Cat

1 hour ago, Antoyne said:

I can’t really see him doing a hatchet job to NYC though, that cast for the most part actually like each other and know how to play the reality TV game. The Atlanta cast is literally going through the motions so production is working overtime to make this season watchable which it really isn’t. I’ve skipped like 3/10 episodes and haven’t missed a thing.

Agree with your last statement (though this last episode was better) and I really hope so to your NY statement.

Yikes. Michael Beck is also the new EP on RHONY this current season. I am definitely afraid for my faves over there.

Kenya would probably have been willing to open up more of her life if Production hadn't been so antagonistic with her. They definitely rushed to find Eva as a Kenya replacement.

Seems like Beck only wants to represent the one person who is not even a regular castmember.

10 hours ago, DaytimeFan said:

Melbourne

 

If anyone else is watching this season, I can't recommend it enough to anyone on the fence. It is so much fun!

 

The last few episodes have focused on Lydia trying to undermine Jackie and Janet's friendship, the girls taking a trip to Mexico and Janet injuring herself after too many tequilas!

Ugh I can't believe I forgot Melbourne is also airing currently! What episode are you now up to? If it's feasible, I will try to catch up this week.

In any case, I need a palate cleanser after Sydney!

ATL:

SO.... is this Kenya's 'Kim walks out of RHOA while Kroy shoves the cameraman' moment?

And was Porsha somewhat... bearable this episode? Is this the reinvention of Toyota?

3 hours ago, Gray Bunny said:

Loved Camille's comment. That's the Camille we know and love. 

 

 

I actually loved the dog scenes with LVP. I'm a sucker for helping poor dogs that have been abandoned. I look at their sad faces and I melt. 

 

I don't know the details of the Ken assault allegations, but I'm sure we'll be treated to a lame flashback of the time he placed his hand on Yolanda. 

 

New Jersey's reunion was mostly a letdown. Soggy looks so checked out and foolish. She's sitting there like an enormous oaf with a dress that resembles a chenille throw. She's still holding on to the most flimsy of reasons to be angry at Margaret. It's a pathetic, weak storyline. 

 

Meanwhile, her bestie Dolores looks HORRIBLE! Nevermind the weight gain, she's got her Mariah Carey tittles sloppily spilling out and her face is a sloppy mess!  She looks nothing like she used to and it's all bad. 

 

I appreciated the mention of how Melissa contacted Danielle back in the day via Facebook, but again, she scooted right past being in the hot seat of how underhanded she and Joe were at contacting Bravo and getting on the show back in 2010.

Omg don't get me started on that scene when Yolanda accused Ken of assaulting her. He touched her elbow. And I'm not saying that as an LVP apologist, either. What Bravo never shows with that flashback is Brandi and Yolanda goading him to try and get a reaction. I think Brandi even called him "trash" which is astonishing considering she looked to him as a father figure and he defended her against Paul and Adrienne. Yolanda really had to backtrack on her accusation when they showed the footage and he wasn't doing anything she accused him of (like shoving her).

I was shocked at the change in Dolores. Like I wondered if she was this way on NJ this season and I just never noticed?

1 hour ago, MrPrezident said:

Mid season trailer for Atlanta is up! Finally! Some Eva the diva! And just a warning for some of y’all... it’s very Porsha heavy and Kenya lite. 

 

http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/season-10/videos/still-to-come-this-season-on-rhoa

Porsha heavy.... sigh... you know that means we're going to get a 15 minute segment at Reunion about her being 'baby vegan.' And they are really trying to erase Kenya from the show, huh. 

Btw did you all hear how Kim responded to Kandi calling her out about the lick the box lie? Kim said Kandi can't take a joke. A 'joke' ! This feckless liar. 

What did I just watch?? 

This pretentious poseur. He has zero self-awareness. LOL that line about being a 'generous lover' makes him be a better feminist. Lorrrd that's what the MeToo movement needs!  You're so woke, Justin. 

The song is bad. And that ending, cringe. 

ETA: I read somewhere this mv is JT's Kendall-Jenner-Pepsi-ad moment. 

1 hour ago, Cheap21 said:

either that or I was gonna said she looked like an extra on Game of Thrones

Or Cersei's 45-year old sister

omg @Cheap21 'Renaissance Fair'

@alwaysAMC I pray for Aunt Caroline's return! Jacq can stay gone tho. 

14 hours ago, DaytimeFan said:

Kyle always loses me with her hypocrisy - she says that it isn’t right to say someone is drinking too much, yet she’s the one who screamed “you’re a liar and sick and an alcoholic” at her sister in season 1? 

lol don't get me started. I heard some interesting gossip yesterday, which is that, firstly, Dorit & PK now partly own that horrific monstrosity of a house with the dangerous driveway. Emphasis on partly: they cannot actually afford to own the house in full, so it is shared ownership with Sam Nazarian, the original owner. Anyway, they have put it on the market in order to get some quick cash, I presume. They had to drop the asking price significantly. And who has the listing for this house? The Agency, and specifically Kyle's daughter, Farah. So when Kyle defends Dorit to the hilt this season, you'll know the reason why!

Kyle skated over the fact that the Hiltons are pissed about worker bee Mauricio leaving their real estate partnership and making a success of his new business. Because that meant Rick Hilton actually had to work for a living.  This is the real reason they are mad at the Umanskys. I also think Kathy despises Kyle because she uses family pain to launch her own fame. Like when Kyle outed Kim's alcoholism (which was bound to be outed anyway), and now these TV shows 'based' on their childhood.

Is 'British humor' and inconsiderate time-keeping going to be the new Pantygate of this season? Please tell me no.

I was going to say that Rinna had been playing this season perfectly, letting Dorit show out like an idiot. I've been enjoying her a bit... Until she came after Ken and the lawsuits. Look, Ken does not come out of the many lawsuits against the VP-Todds smelling like roses. It definitely made me side-eye the family. But this is solely to stick it to LVP. She really hates her. As if the S1 BH Instagram stories weren't bad enough. Oh Rinna. You in danger girl! Pride goes before a fall! Did you learn nothing from last season?

I am over the LVP + dogs PR stuff. I like her, and like cute puppies, but every week she is working overtime to convince me what a humanitarian she is. I feel like it is in order to repair her image after the last few seasons and mitigate the bad press from these lawsuits.

6 hours ago, Cheap21 said:

NJ

 

LMAO! Jacqueline got shaded within 15 seconds of the reunion starting

 

Andy: "We said goodbye to Jacqueline this season...."

Teresa: "THANK GOD!"

 

Why was Melissa sitting next to Andy when she had nothing going on this season? Soggy earned that spot

That comment just opened the door to Jaq (ugh) and Caroline returning next season. If there is a next season. 

FFed all of Soggy's parts in this Reunion episode but IA that her delusional ass earned that spot next to Andy. Melissa has never done anything remotely noteworthy to be considered a major player of this franchise. Unless you count selling out your in-laws for a TV cheque. She's a follower, not a leader, and latches onto the HWs (like Teresa) that actually make things happen.

Speaking of Teresa, I was lukewarm over her this season, but she had a new feistiness and energy to her at Reunion (especially with Kim D coming out). And some kind of self-awareness that wasn't there before.

Having said that, I keep thinking back to Caroline Manzo's prophecy a few years back:

“Teresa wants it all, and I think that the demands she put on [Joe] led him to make decisions that weren’t the best. And I think he resents her for it, and he’s going to pay the ultimate price for it.

Prediction: Something may happen where someone has to go somewhere. Teresa’s going to have to pull herself up on her bootstraps and take over. She’ll say, ‘You know what, I tried. I stood by him, but I have to divorce him now. And I’m gonna show my daughters what it’s like to be strong and independent on your own and survive.’ There’s a book in there!”

6 hours ago, DaytimeFan said:

 

For all we know she is still in rehab. Luann is due in court on January 25 in Palm Beach - I'm sure her lawyer told her to make zero public appearances. She will present as a far more contrite defendant if she can say to the judge that she didn't attend a close friend's funeral because she was seeking treatment.

 

What is evident about NYC, unlike all other franchises, is that it's a sisterhood. When the chips are down, all these women are there for each other. 

 

Bethenny posted a quote in tribute that Bobby would say when toasting his friends:

 

"Here's to those who wish us well, all the rest can go to hell!"

Thanks. I figured it might be rehab. It's a shame Lu couldn't make it. She was particularly close to Jill and Bobby all these years and she must have wanted to. Maybe she was afraid her presence would be a draw for the paps and risk overshadowing the funeral.

IA, most of the NY women are there for each other when it comes to the crunch. It's one of the reasons I am really looking forward to the upcoming season of NY. I've felt let down by OC and the other franchises! I am sure the show will do a great tribute to Bobby, and I welcome it, personally.

And maybe I'm jumping ahead of myself, but I think this opens the door to Jill's return. At least as a FOH.

1 hour ago, Antoyne said:

I felt weird when i heard Bethenny went as well. Because of her past behavior, I have a hard time accepting when she does anything nice or decent. It always comes off as image spinning, but truly I hope she genuinely wanted to honor a man she was once friends with.

I think so. I think she was genuinely moved and sad to hear the news, and it is obviously bringing back a lot of memories. I do think Bethenny has a heart beneath the abrasiveness.

lol I can't believe I just wrote that, but I do believe it 

1 hour ago, alwaysAMC said:

As long as it's tasteful and it's not all about Bethenny, then I'm ok with it being on the show.  Bethenny was very sweet on instagram though and said she gives credit to Bobby for being on the housewives and making her the person she is today.  Apparently he invited a producer to the Hamptons during Season 1 casting and convinced the producers to cast Bethenny. 

 

Here are some pictures of the ladies at the funeral:

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/real-housewives-stars-attend-funeral-jill-zarin-husband-article-1.3758078

Bethenny looks devastated, and so does Kelly.

Even given the tension between her and Jill, Bethenny always credited respect to Bobby. As it should be. He was a class act.

15 hours ago, ChitHappens said:

RHOA:

 

Not that I could ever defend Kandi, but I don't believe Kim.  Kandi has not been shy about her sexual exploits with women, so I don't see her hiding this after the reveal.  I think Kim has jumped on the bandwagon for SL purposes.  She has to get a permanent peach somehow.  

As Kenya seems to be over this show, its time she leaves and takes Kim and Sheree with her.  

This show needs an overhaul badly.  VERY BADLY!  There is no legitimate reason to bring these women together as is.  Bring on Eva and see if Porsha can survive the season.  Yesterday was horrendous!

IA. Much of ATL feels off and inauthentic to me right now. It's kind of like when I watch Y&R sometimes, or GH. They are shells of the soaps they once where (give or take the odd decent episode). Like the people penning the show don't understand its DNA and don't care, they are merely churning out generic soap episodes on a production line. That's how I feel with ATL this season. Michael Beck is like a Mal Young or Frank Valentini, and he doesn't really get the DNA. Nobody's hearts are in it. And most of the ladies have no real connection with each other any longer, so everything has to be scripted. All the RH shows are scripted ofc, but this show here is very obviously scripted.

16 hours ago, Taoboi said:

lol well she is! The original Becky with the Bad Hair.

To this day I will never understand how Kandi lost the lawsuit over the rights to that Tardy to the Party song she produced and which Kim uses for the opening credits of her show. Bet that old guy from S1 who coined the original lyric didn't get one penny, either.

3 hours ago, Chris B said:

Cameras were with the ladies (well with Bethenny) outside the funeral as they arrived and were there when Bethenny and Jill reunited. How do y’all feel about this potentially being included? On one hand I do find it a bit tasteless, but I can support it if that’s what the family wants. Bobby is one of the only universally loved husbands to appear on Real Housewives so I do what a tribute of some sort. 

 

Now theres a chance this wont and the cameras were from elsewhere, but how will y’all feel if it DOES end up being featured on the show?

I don't know how I feel about this. The way it's presented, it's like Bethenny is doing this to burnish her image. However, we don't know the context for these cameras, or even that they came with Bethenny. I'm willing to give B that benefit of the doubt.

Also Jill... I'm not saying she would use Bobby's death as an opportunity because I truly believe she loved Bobby and he loved her. He was the love of her life and she is going to grieve him a long time. But I also cannot imagine that Bravo would have sent cameras without asking Jill permission first. I'm guessing she was ok with it, and I'm guessing she's been longing for years for her and Bethenny to, if not reconcile, at least have Bethenny acknowledge her. And I think being part of RHONY again is a dream close to her heart. I don't know how to put it without sounding judgemental, but I don't mean it in a judgemental way. Jill is the way she is.

My question is, where is Luann? I know Dorinda and Jill have known each other for some years and that's why she is there. Sonja, of course (I think Jill always had a soft spot for Sonja) and Ramona has to be there, since they recently reconciled. Luann is a very close friend of Jill's, though. 

Is anybody truly surprised at Kim Z's behaviour? She's been like this since day one, using people for her own gain, then throwing them under the bus. And she lies constantly, both to discredit others and to big herself up. She is an awful person.

I would say she is doing the most.... except that it's not the same way that, say, Dorit does the most on BH, desperate to cling onto her diamond. Kim Z is acting like this is an episode of Tardy, which I guess it is since Michael Beck keeps ATL in a holding pattern until she deigns to show up and film. She really oozes the worst kind of entitlement. She is the epitome of a Becky... with the Bad Hair.

This MBele  is for sure a fraud. I kind of bought Alison Dubois's talents as a medium. Not this lady.

I'm waiting for Eva to show up, and I'm wondering what the hold-up is. Is the EP afraid she'd upstage his  pet?

Sorry to hear about Bobby Zarin. Out of all the RH husbands, he was the most level-headed and a gentleman to the last, never losing his temper or respect for the others, no matter how toxic things got. He obviously thought that Jill hung the sun, moon and stars, and she thought the world of him. I hope she is surrounded by family and friends right now. His loss will be huge for her. 

5 hours ago, Khan said:

I want his dick, too...on a platter...and then I want it fed to a piranha.

 

And that's just to punish him for his bad acting.

Not to mention inflicting the scourge of Frahhhnco on an unsuspecting GH audience.

Art project, my ass. 

Wow. That's incredible for Vanessa! Hope it all goes great! I thought she was planning to have a child by surrogate.

12 hours ago, Nothin'ButAttitude said:

 

- Siggy is a mess. We're arguing about foyers? Wendy Williams tried warning her ass that she shouldn't've done this show as it'd kill her brand. I bet she is wishing she would've listened and quit after last year when she was on a high. 

 

- Delores interfering is expected as she is Siggy's lap dog, but why is MeHo commenting with the usual, "Oh my God!" Ugh! She annoys me to no end. She can't go a millisecond without jumping into something that doesn't involve her. I would've been like Tre and sat there confused (but listening) to the whole exchange. My name would be "Bennett" b/c I ain't in it. MeHo doesn't understand that concept b/c she's such a camera hungry, famewhore. And why is her ass first chair? MeHo brought nothing this season to be first chair. 

Siggy has out-delusioned Kelly Bensimon Killoren. Bully is too rational a word to describe this lunatic, although she has been harassing and bullying Marge all season. And Delores -- who looks like she's been doing the cookie-jar mambo since filming ended -- is her enabler.

I heard that Vicki and Teresa are two HWs who always demand to be seated next to Andy at Reunion. Given that MeHo feels she is ENTITLED to have whatever Teresa has, I'm sure she's now throwing down similar kind of demands. And Andy probably acquiesced because he doesn't want Siggy the cray-cray sitting next to him waving her arms around.

To the shock of absolutely nobody, 5 women are accusing James Franco

http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-james-franco-allegations-20180111-htmlstory.html

10 hours ago, Khan said:

Have we discussed already the French actors who have denounced the #metoo/#timesup movement?

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/movies/catherine-deneuve-and-others-denounce-the-metoo-movement.html

 

On the one hand, I understand their concerns about all the swirling accusations of sexual harassment in turn fostering an atmosphere of fear and repression both online and in the workplaces.  But, OTOH, I think we're talking about (and I think the victims who have made the allegations are talking about) more than just stolen kisses and clumsy come-ons.  There's a fine line between flirtation and harassment, but in most cases, I trust those victims to know the difference.

My mom is French and I discussed this with her. She is a lady of a certain age and grew up in a different time... a time when French women were expected to be flirtatious and the 'object of men's affections,' to quote her words. I noticed that a lot of the French actors who published that denunciation are in that similar age group. That includes Catherine Deneuve, an actress who was celebrated for her looks for decades, who lived the swinging sixties lifestyle a la française... but who is now a bit older, losing some of the attendant male attention that comes with those looks. These people have a different mentality, and are a little brainwashed from decades being objectified, for lack of a better word. They also have no clue what it means to take the subway late at night as a woman on your own, etc... they live in a protected bubble where people defer to them automatically.

It's really hard talking to my mom about these things because she is all "I support #MeToo but sometimes these girls go too far and want to hate all men!" It's a myopic, simplistic view. But Frenchies my own age group and younger, both women and men, are pretty furious about this denunciation. They think it makes the French look like idiots, and that the actors who signed it have no clue what goes on in the real world. Lots of women in France have to fight back against harassment every day, whether its going to work on the metro in a skirt and getting felt up or receiving unwelcome comments, or some guy in the office being too friendly and never taking no for an answer. It's really frustrating that these so-called artistes/celebs have set the women's movement back, acting like they speak for the nation's women (many of whom were hoping #MeToo would take off over there and trigger some positive change).

BH:

Was looking forward to seeing this episode featuring Tokyo. It was a dream come true for me to go to Japan a few years back. I'm disappointed the episode did not really showcase anything really special. Instead as I feared, we got the glazed looks while a geisha sang, and jokes about raw fish. Tokyo has some of the most delicious (and varied) food in the world. Have these women really never eaten eel sashimi? I expected this from Rinna but I thought Anime Dominitrix Barbie, aka Erika, was better travelled than this.

Also: why bring your glam squad for a trip that is NOT about business? I think Erika's marriage with Tom Girardi is dead, and Mikey and the glam squad are the closest things to friends she has left.

Also x2: anybody believe those 3 paps and 5 'fans' swarming Rinna's progeny were real? Me neither. Rinna is really trying to push Amelia as a bargain Gigi Hadid, and Delilah (with her brand new nose and jaw) has been primped and tweeked to be a discount Bella. It's unoriginal and I feel bad for these girls who can never live up to the OGs they are trying to mirror. Yolanda must be laughing her ass off into a plate of almonds!

Kyle and LVP being passive-aggressive... I smell a betrayal coming! I'm sort of over LVP's animal menagerie.

Dorit showed her ass tonight. Even PK was shushing her to keep quiet. I'm glad we saw a little of Camille's bitchy sass come out. Judging by the previews though, she doesn't appear to be in next week's episode. Instead we have Rinna trying to besmirch LVP by bringing up a lawsuit that was presumably filed against her.

I thought Camille was bringing in David Foster as her new boyfriend for a second!  That would have been amazing frankly and VERY Camille Season 1.

I am transfixed by your sig @Gray Bunny ! Back when soaps had a real budget.

"feeding us a lot of appetizers with no main course" -- perfect summation of ATL currently.

S5 and 6 of NYC deserve to be revisited. I used to rate S6 as my worst NYC season but having rewatched it, I change my view. There is lots going on, lots of detail and relationships between people. I didn't even mind Kristen Taekman that season! 

Getting rid of Jill, Kelly, Cindy was a ballsy move of much-needed evolution that the NY franchise needed. It liberated the show, made it lighter, and restored a real feeling of Manhattan life to the show.

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

Another Ronan piece.

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/ronan-farrow-hollywood-prince-who-torched-castle-1073405?utm_source=twitter

 

Lena is very well-protected. For all the hype from the media early on about how she was so real and true, she's from a wealthy family and has very influential backers, like that overrated hack Judd Apatow (given the views his work has of women I'm not surprised a number of his flunkies have been involved in sexual harassment or assault controversies). It's saddening to think about how many talented writers and producers and actors fall through the cracks, while she gets chance after chance after chance. This year has reminded me more than ever how out of touch the industry is.

 

This is also the reason I skipped the Golden Globes and will be skipping all awards shows from now on. I'm just tired of the hypocrisy and the gamesmanship and the narcissism. And social media just makes it worse. Things like "Time's Up" are such generic buzzwords that are more about making a subset feel better than about fomenting change. I saw people using that to go after Sam Rockwell and that Sarksgard brother on Big Little Lies for not using speeches to condemn violence or sexism even though they played violent/racist/sexist characters. Surely anyone watching these shows know that racism and sexism are wrong. 

 

People who can't stop their Twitter fingers from flying need to go help actual people with actual problems who don't care about Sam Rockwell playing a racist in a movie 5 people have seen. 

Agreed. When Hollywood gets onto its high horse about something, it preaches condescendingly. A bit "I'm talking slowly so the people at home will be able to understand what I'm saying." It's also very much an easy advocacy of the  'I'll hastag something on my Twitter and raise awareness by my mere celebrity presence' kind which, as we all know, you can do while lying in bed. (One of the reasons why Lena Dunham's 'feminism' so irks me). It's like Hollywood is waiting for us peons to do the gruntwork. Obviously we have to if we want to see change across the board but... it feels very easy on their part. It's also hard to know who means it and who is just doing it to be seen.

Also I know this is sacrilege because Oprah's speech was so incredibly written and delivered (even though she failed to mention the men and boys who have been abused and spoken out! I found that omission noticeable)... but there was one point where I thought she was going to say "And YOU get a car! YOU get a car!" lol

2 hours ago, Khan said:

 

Tell me about it.  Whenever I was disciplined in school for my temper, it almost always involved a white girl.  There were exceptions, of course, but I would say 98 percent of the time, I would be punished for something another Becky had started.  (The other two percent, by the way, was with white boys.)  

 

And she wonders why her Black classmates in high school always called her "White girl."

 

Look, I'm not excusing Kanyeezus for his behavior that night, but most Black people knew better than vilify him in order to make Taylor look like the assault victim she CLEARLY wanted to play later in the press.  It's only skinfolk like Wendy who thought the white people had a point.

I can't speak to black experience, and can only speak as someone who hated school and the disciplinarians who didn't care about fairness but just wanted to keep kids in line. When you said the word 'temper,' it really struck me how that word projects on black kids sometimes. Instead of treating a perfectly normal temper tantrum, you get the knee-jerk reaction of containment. Contain the threat. Take a time-out. Avoid confrontation at all costs! Nevermind that sometimes you need to address conflict directly -- rather than sweep it under the carpet or make a false equivalency out of it ("She says she's sorry, so you have to say you're sorry").

With black kids that fear of 'containing the anger' is pretty high among white parents and teachers etc and pretty instutionalized. And it's been that way a long time. I think we all know why it's that way. It's about black kids being dehumanised.  

As for Beckys and white girl pettiness, sigh. Yes, I can speak to that experience. Some of us are taught to be passive-aggressive early on. It's sneaky, throw-the-rock-but-hide-the-hand behaviour. Some of us grow out of it, but in the case of Taylor Swift, the need to always PUBLICLY be the good girl, to always take the opportunity to play the victim and milk that sympathy, is strong. Because that's what gets you results.

It was so easy to milk this, I'm sure TayTay didn't consciously think twice about it. It was a no-brainer who America would support. It's only now that we are shaken out of our apathy a bit and getting a tiny bit more aware (and also thanks to the nation's pettiest Valley girl, Kim Kardashian West, who sat on her revenge for months until it could be served deliciously cold -- I've got to admit my admiration for her methods and motives) that we are reminded of how psychologically attitudes are deliberately constructed and entrenched in our society.

Anyhoo I sound as annoyingly precious as Lena Dunham so I'm going to stop. As for Wendy Williams, she's always been off. The lack of food got to her brain.