Cat

Hi! Re: Ramona's assertiveness, that's an interesting take. The show makes it a real THING each year about 'pushy' Ramona sussing out the best room, but as you point out, she always shares with Sonja, therefore justifying the larger space. I think the other women are just jealous because Ramona is faster than they are. Ramona needs her creature comforts; she wants to feel in control when she is parachuted into an unknown country and sleeping environment, and since I have similar anxieties nowadays when I travel, I understand her demands. (I do wish she'd treat the wait staff at these places better, though). Bethenny is tone-deaf, and her blog this week purposely ignores any concerns raised by Carole or Dorinda. Like I said before, though, it's been a long time coming. For +3 years, Bethenny had hiring/firing power behind-the-scenes (Heather, Jules, and very nearly Ramona last year), and she treats the other women onscreen like they work for her, too. She is incredibly self-centred. A lot of this is linked to the way her mother treated her growing up, of course. This season, the other women are forcing her to take a hard look at her attitude, but judging by this see-no-evil, hear-no-evil blog she coughed up, doesn't seem like she is willing to confront these issues any time soon. Luann did indeed conflate her friends' concerns about Tom with jealousy, but I can't blame her for it. IMO, those 'concerns' barely covered the smugness and rejoicing at the fact that Tom was cheating on Luann. The other women were all about publicly humiliating her in order to force the cancellation of her wedding. Luann didn't want to lose to them so she pushed through with the wedding blindly in a misguided attempt to not 'lose face.' And for that reason, I don't think she should apologize to most of these women who actively wished her ill at the time and were focused on bringing her down.

This epic episode gave me everything I could have ever hoped from this season of NYC. I waited for months for this season to start, nervous that I would be let down, but it has not failed me yet! I can see both sides of Bethenny vs Carole as well as the flaws. I appreciate Bravo not trying to shape my perception of this in an overly biased or simplistic way. What's clear is that all these ladies are tired of being kicked around and lorded over by Bethenny. Even amid the bitchfest, these women hold true affection for each other. This was evident in the Berkshires, at Bethenny's Christmas party and Luann's American Red Cross drive. The ARC drive took me straight back to S1 NY -- Luann has been a supporter of the charity since her Countess de Lesseps days. I loved that this wasn't some empty gala, and that the HWs participated even though they couldn't give blood themselves because they have Tequila pumping through their veins (Luann, Sonja) or are *cough* 'naturally thin' (Carole). I rediscovered my love for Sonja. Not only did she look gorgeous, but she held that lady's hand who was giving blood, instructed Ramona on how much iron she has in her stool, and lived her every sapphic fantasy dry-humping DrunkLuann, lol. Also loved that 'record scratch' moment when she mentioned Tom. Luann calling Tom 'DICK' was FIRE!!! And so was the footage from the police car and her arraignment. I loved the ripped-from-the-headlines nature of it. I feel for Luann in having gotten to this humiliating place (and loathe Carole's obvious joy at Luann's downfall), but this seems like the rock-bottom Lu needed to hit in order to move forward properly.

Once a scam artist, always a scam artist! Lisa Nicole exposed her ass in S2-3 but the others did not really acknowledge it. This time, I hope she gets EXPOSED. And I hope Judge Judy presides over the case with Quad bringing in the movers. It is tailor-made for her show.

It's been a long time coming. I say this with a lot of love for Ramona... but S8 (aka Luann Bashing season) she cheered Bethenny on from the bleachers while B corralled everybody against Luann. However, 'minion' is not Ramona's natural role in life. She is a megastar in her own mind. She did not like S9's The Bethenny Show and being reduced to guest-supporting... but she f***ed up when she went after Bethenny's Cinemax past and dragged Brynn into it. Of course Bethenny leapt on that mistake and played victim. Ramona very nearly got fired from RHONY as a result. This season, somebody more competent and less mistake-prone is cutting Bethenny down to size. Ramona feels vindicated, and I'm sure that scene was +2 years of repressed resentment surging forth. I have not watched yet (hello, time difference), but cannot wait for this gift-that-keeps-on-giving episode! I very nearly stopped watching RHONY S8-9 because of Bethenny. Her power BTS was too much and ruining the balance on the show. I don't need to see her torn to shreds, but this is a very organic reckoning. lol during S8, i remember Bethenny boohooing over her life-threatening Ebola fibroids diagnosis -- all the while pulling out a Skinnygirl Tea for Carole to sip on. I rolled my eyes so hard, they are still spinning in the back of my head.

Thus far, Gizelle is careful not to direct that shade at Robyn directly. They have an alliance and back each other up. Plus, the women that Gizelle hates, Robyn hates too, so it is a mutually beneficial relationship. I 100% hold Robyn accountable for coming after Monique when she was already trying to leave. Robyn badly wanted a fight, probably for relevancy reasons. Even Charrisse, whom I normally hate, told Robyn off. I really hope, like @Cheap21 said, that a Gizelle-Robyn fallout is coming soon. Couldn't happen to two more deserving people! In other RH news, Ramona suffered a minor car accident in Montauk this weekend. She's ok and apparently drink was not involved, lol. Just in case it crossed your minds! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5783039/Ramona-Singer-suffered-minor-injuries-causing-chain-reaction-collision-Hamptons.html

I'm glad Simone and Cecil are working things out. I think they are a very good fit for each other as a couple.

Thanks for posting this! I too am glad the song isn't a dance track or a sad ballad. It also sounds quite 'Shinee'. However, it is bittersweet seeing them as a four. I hope this song and album gets lots of sales and downloads because I want Shinee to continue in its success! However, I did take a deep breath before playing the mv, because the loss of Jonghyun is still very much felt. You can sense it among the members too. Key and Onew's hair are sf tragic. I hate that Onew got the Ronald McDonald Orange -- how is this a good look on anybody?? Onew's dark, floppy, longish hair before this aberration made him look beautiful and they should have kept to that. Poor Key always gets the extra-extra look. /sigh

They recently repeated S7 NY where I am (now we are on S8 aka Luann Bashing Season) and it was fascinating watching it in hindsight of the Bethenny we have seen since then. At the time I thought Heather was being way too preachy and intrusive, but looking back we see the seeds of the Bethenny we have today. She didn't like the only other Alpha female in the group with a legit business. In the Berkshires, the passive aggressive behavior was on max and Heather was left chasing her tail. They did make up in Turks & Caicos, but at reunion Bethenny shafted Heather again. It's too bad they didnt keep Heather because, whether as a team with Bethenny or as her rival, the dynamic would have been very interesting. I love going back and rewatching old episodes/seasons. There is always stuff I miss, and sometimes my take on the women ends up completely different from when I first watched.

Potomac This hairdressing scene was meant to be Gizelle's Big Moment showing the audience that she's an actual human being and not a soulless mean girl. It was a FAIL. Gizelle was crying because she was counting on Sherman to pay for a big house for her mother. Now that Sherman is ghosting her, it's going to have to be a smaller house for ma! Gizelle looking after her mother is a relatable issue for me. However, what I cannot relate to is her assumption that her beauty is all that's needed to hook an old rich dude and finance everything. The fact that he is now ghosting her is something she, in her arrogance, never considered -- because she cannot comprehend why her looks might not be enough. Robyn is a bully, goading Monique and trying to get her into a physical altercation. It's the only kind of a fight Robyn knows she can win, because if it were a battle of the wits... lol... Ashley is messy AF. We all know Monique was drinking and driving. Ashley keeps bringing it up to tear Monique down, though. I also side-eye Ashley for boozing it up with Monique and then walking her to her car and letting her drive off without a word. Nobody I know would let a friend/acquaintance drink & drive. Why didn't she say anything? Was she being calculating for the sake of the show? That's a dangerous game to play.

Well, damn. That trailer...I am SHOOK. I am especially shook as to how on earth Sherman is getting these gorgeous escorts women!

I'm guessing a plea deal would mean she agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge precisely in order to waive a jail sentence and instead pay a fine?

LOL Luann rocks

I can't believe I am going with Carole on this. Carole is such a judgemental, mean-spirited person. I don't buy her being upset that Bethenny e-mailed Adam 'behind her back.' I think Carole had probably started disliking Bethenny for a while before then, and Bethenny felt it. Having said that, when Carole asserted that Bethenny isn't used to people saying 'No' to her, I was like 'Where is the lie?' @Soaplovers , you hit the nail on the head with Bethenny. The power she has on this show has gone to her head. She went way too far with Luann at the Berkshires, but even after that backlash, she continued calling the shots at Bravo -- nixing Luann's potential wedding special, getting Jules fired, and playing Poor Little Victim last year. Bethenny thinks she is invulnerable. But judging by this episode, the tide is turning. Carole managed to come across clear and to-the-point, asking what they could do to get the friendship back on track. Bethenny talked in passive-aggressive circles to avoid answering the question. It made her look guilty. I see from the previews next week that she starts screaming like a cornered animal and playing naked wasted (Drunk Bethenny always feels v fake to me). I guess this is the 'breakdown' Bethenny has been talking about? This is the excuse meant to absolve her for whispering against her BFF. Similar to the 'I blacked out' excuse with Luann two years ago. Bethenny has met her match with Carole. That's not a bad thing for this show. lol your posted killed me especially the bit about Robyn and Charisse.

I agree. When OC just let's things progress organically, it outshines the other franchises. We have a long connection with these women. Lol I didn't understand either. By all means, she's allowed to miffed. But she's looking for someone to blame, and it shouldn't be Vicki. It should be the husband who refused to divorce her for years. He's moving on, and she should be relieved that now she won't be tied to him against her will.

I did hear that news, and to that I say... Kelly is very extra. Kelly wanted the divorce, is over her husband, and is just annoyed her hubby landed a new f*ck buddy before she did.

Actually... I think this might be the shake-up that OC needs. To reduce it to four HWs. Why try and pad out the rest with filler if the newbies aren't working? As we saw last season, The Other Peggy, Megan (excluding JIMMY, of course!) and anything involving Nobleman magazine/Doug's vasectomy were almighty borefests. Perhaps this will mean a shorter season, too. After the disaster of neverending seasons for ATL and BH this year, maybe that's for the best. I sure hope we get to see Gretchen and Jeana showing up at parties/events and being messy, lol. Heck, I'd even take Slade at this point. I also like the idea of a smaller friendship clique. I hope Vicki, Tamra and Shannon have put things behind them. I can't with that passive-aggressive hatred anymore. Tamra is also still tight with Heather, so there's always a chance we might see Skeletor's Homegirl and Dr. Botched in the background at some event.

Definitely. Bravo had big plans for Kim returning triumphant to RHOA, elbowing out Kenya, putting the other ladies 'in their place' and marketing it as Kim Saves RHOA ! I dont think Andy is sentimental about Kim personally, though. Right off the bat, he went at her about the lip situation. And then he sat back and enjoyed the hell out of her getting called out. It single-handedly saved a shitty season of declining ratings. Then he happily told Kim to her face that she brought nothing to the show. Andy wasn't shedding any tears over Kim getting dragged. I think he's trotting out his usual not-so-internalized misogyny/racism here. Or he could be playing to a section of the TV audience Bravo believes it can capture from Faux News (NBC seems obsessed with this demographic the past two years). And all the while pretending he has empathy for another person. Vile. Hi @Soaplovers yes I did say that, others here have said it as well. Carole is one of those entitled sorts who isn't too used to doing the dirty work herself. So she gets the alpha females she befriends all worked up about someone and then sits back with some popcorn. She is a real mean girl, and it took me +2 years to realise how she employs friends to fight her battles. IA Tinsley is a big step down from Heather and Bethenny. Then again, I don't think Tinsley is Carole's bulldog this season -- I think Dorinda is! Ramona is on Carole's side but she could never be a good bulldog: too unpredictable, too slippery. Ramona is all about self-preservation and would throw Carole under a bus in a second if she felt Carole was trying to pull on her strings.

Ugh, these two. Every time I see their smug faces, I get enraged lol. Monique called them 'Pinky and Brain,' after the cartoon, and that's when Robyn got enraged, because she knew Monique thought of her as Pinky, and not the Brain. FYI Brain is the little one, Pinky is the big goofy one.

I wondered if Ashley's mom might be on something given her dopiness in some episodes and now being super-extra this episode. However, ultimately, I think she is just a lazy woman who puts herself first and has been allowed to live off of other's generosity most of her life. She dumped Ashley on the struggling grandparents, then sidled back into her life as an adult, fully expecting to be 'taken care of' for the rest of her days. I'm surprised she hasn't dumped her other daughter on Ashley and Michael so that she can 'spend time thinking about ME.' This woman is wholly selfish and cannot comprehend a life without somebody else subsiding it -- a theme that runs through this show BTW. I'm not defending Monique getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking (whether it be a glass of wine or 4 martinis -- call a cab!). But Ashley, Gizelle, Robyn raised this issue in order to attack Monique, belittle her and lord it over her forever. When Ashley first got that text about Monique's accident, that wasn't shock in her voice. That was glee. And that is why I cannot stand any of the 3 witches. Robyn is a stupid punk with her snide, under-the-breath remarks. She is LIVING for Monique getting humiliated because it makes her feel better about her own sad life. I hope she gets a punch in the nose for getting in Monique's face. There is no excuse for physically intimidating anybody in a situation she had zero to do with! Ashley and Gizelle looking on excitedly was . I wish the puppet would turn against the master but unfortunately Robyn needs the master's patronage too much at the moment. Nobody else is going to back her grumpy ass.

So are they going to rename the show Divorced From Medicine? Quad referring to herself in the third person as 'Ms Quad' is now technically accurate, I guess. No more Mrs! Who will fund her doggie clothing line now?

lol @ Jethenny. Not blaming Carole for what Adam does, and FTR I've side-eyed Mouth-Breather ever since he used Luann and her niece to score a chef spot on the show. Then he dumped the niece, shacked up with Carole and did nothing but live off her RHONY salary. Now he's trying to score new ventures which Carole breathlessly publicizes. Bethenny said he always struck her as an opportunist and ITA. As for Bethenny vs Carole: I have no dog in this fight. I liked Carole her first season, but both Carole & Bethenny's attacks on Luann turned me way off. I know nobody cares about one-hit-wonder Jules, but seeing them taunt/food-shame a struggling anorexic was cruel, too. Especially since they seemed lowkey jealous of her skinniness. I don't think Carole is a puppet, far from it. IMO Bethenny is mistaking 'soft-spoken' and 'underhanded' for weakness. Carole has no trouble going after Aviva and Luann, especially in her VTs. But she also makes sure to have back-up like Heather, Bethenny and now Tinsley. She thrives on cliques and excluding people from them. Bethenny does too. IA with you, @Antoyne and @Soaplovers that Bethenny is passive-aggressive. Both Carole and Bethenny consistently target an odd-man-out in the group to make themselves look like the victim. This season, they are each other's target. I am suspicious of Bethenny's sudden affection for Luann (clearly due to audience backlash). Carole, meanwhile, is letting her bitch flag fly and TBH that is preferable to seeing her pretend to be nice while siccing Cujo on her enemies. In some ways they are perfect BFFs for each other. I am enjoying seeing where this friendship fall-out leads. It's the best SL on NY right now. Heather was a successful businesswoman with balls, and since Bethenny's cannot handle anybody but her being successful, Heather had to go.

Lol he's gross. And like Carole he obvs thinks highly of himself.

Have not seen this week's NY yet, but re: Adam --- Did I hear right? This whey-faced mouth-breather was asking for cash in return for going to Puerto Rico? And then refused when it was pointed out that everybody was donating their time? I didn't realize Mouth-Breather was a world-famous photographer who commands $$$ for pics of the world's trouble zones! Oh wait, that's because he isn't. Unless 'photographer' means posting pics of 'sexy salads' on Instagram. Most fledgling photographers do not have a show like RHONY as a launch pad. They do not have connected girlfriends coasting on last names who once worked at ABC News. Most photographers would JUMP at the chance to do this for free. Being the first people to arrive in PR before FEMA and selling the pics to Time or the AP, or even donating them to B Strong's website... This is how you build your portfolio/reputation as a photographer. However, Mouth-Breather and his bitter EX girlfriend are dumb as a box of rocks. Zero foresight into how this could have helped his career. And deeply work-shy. If this is what broke Bethenny and Carole up, then Carole is an ASS for holding this grudge.

LOL Ashley tried to be messy on Twitter and the Grande Dame slapped her down effortlessly! Echoing what everybody has said here about Karen -- she is the most entertaining HW on Bravo. I'm still giggling thinking of her on that granny obstacle course. I also loved her "I think I was in excellent form last night" to Gizelle. YOU WERE, QUEEN, YOU WERE! And all with a wink & smile to the viewers. Ashley to Monique on Twitter: "I never intended to bring shame to your name" -- yes you did, Chicken! Because suddenly you are doing Gizelle/Robyn/Charrisse's dirty work and going after Karen and Monique! I'm assuming this is in return for the 3 witches not bringing up Ashley's gay bi grandpa hubby. Charrisse is an evil ole crocodile. And Gizelle epitomizes what Andy said about Kim Zolciak: "There was nothing positive about your story the whole season." There is nothing positive about the budget-Vanessa-Williams. And Prof. Klump seems like he is tiring of her fast. @Nothin'ButAttitude TY for the Dallas tea! Those beeyotches better not come for D'Andra Abbott and her momma Tammy Faye Bakker's business! The only thing I'm disappointed about is Dallas's July/August start date. I thought it would be starting next week now that ATL and BH are thankfully over.

Wow. That's so sad for Lisa. Her brother must have been going through some things if this was drugs. Or maybe he was just addicted to the party lifestyle. Either way, devastating for her and her family. Interesting that we see and hear very little about her family in the UK, apart from Nanny Kay. Maybe they're just more private, but I wonder if Lisa didn't particularly have a happy childhood growing up, apart from the love of her grandmother. Anyhoo, I am speculating and likely reaching. May he RIP. It's a shame about Luann and Dorinda falling out. I don't think Luann should have shaded Dorinda in her blog, though. Given her own legal troubles and the video of her, three sheets to the wind in a police car, she probably should have stayed silent about Dorinda's boozing. Or at least worded her blog with a little more understanding.