Cat

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.

Lol I just realised I wrote Carole as 'Catole' in the post you quoted. Typo, and it stays! I read that theory! TT is on the ball about a lot of RH, but in this case I think Dorinda and Carole were doing their own tweeting. After reading that blog, the urge to attack Luann would be too great not to do it themselves (rather than leaving it to a social media intern). I think Doris and Catty were tweeting together in Dubai. Carole has said she loves slurry Dorinda, and 'advise' looks like a slurry typo. Carole either copied it on purpose (a witty, intellectual in-joke ), or Writer Girl can't spell either. Adding credence to Aviva's ghostwriter accusations from S6. Dorinda doesn't seem ready to admit her drinking is a problem. It makes me sad that to this day, 8 months after this all happened, one of my fave Bravo HWs refuses to own it. She is blaming a lot of other people, including Bethenny/production, for what we saw in the episode. But she is in denial about her drinking and her actions thereafter.

Totally! Carole has despised Luann since she first came on the show, and this has only grown ever since she realised Luann is liked by a large portion of the audience. Even when she messes up! In an interesting turn of events overnight, Dorinda tweeted angrily at Luann over a comment in her blog about Dorinda's drinking this episode. Catole was also on Twitter encouraging Dorinda along. Dorinda and Luann have never had beef before. But guess where Dorinda is at the moment? In Dubai, hanging with Carole and Tinsley. The puppetmaster strikes again.

Loved seeing Victoria again, she seems very grounded and insightful. I remember in the early seasons (when Noel took break-dancing lessons lol) her sweet relationship with housekeeper Rosie. It's nice to see her grown up and full of sensible advice. Lu and Victoria have a bond which is evident. Lu does seem to be more self-aware but she's still dealing with having foolishly pursued that rake-on-the-make. Obvs this will play out in forthcoming episodes. So you're saying that Tinsley and Carole are like the Avants? That's so harsh on a great but grossly-underused fictional family! Tinsley was very poorly treated by Sonja last season; however, I wish she had more compassion for Sonja now that she's landed on her feet. Sonja has fallen on even harder times. That housekeeper's 'day off' is stretching into years. As for the drinking, RHONY is a hard-drinking franchise which Bethenny tends to encourage for promotional purposes. But Bethenny is careful about pacing her own drinking, Ramona clearly has the tolerance of a 50-year old merchant marine, Lu has now realized she cannot use drinking as a crutch, and Carole prefers hallucinogens. IMO Dorinda and Sonja both self-medicate with alcohol, and they have low tolerance for it. They seem to get drunk remarkably quickly. Carole vs. Bethenny kicks off next week. Carole has never been more relevant lol. Interesting that Bethenny says Carole was Heather's, her's and now Tinsley's puppet. First of all, Tinsley is no puppetmaster, let's be real! Secondly, Carole the friendship-jumper used Heather and Bethenny to fight her battles for her (Aviva, Luann). And now she has empty-headed Tinsley. Carole is subtle about pulling the reins in her friendships, despite her meek-little-fawn appearance.

Dorinda should be embarrassed after yesterday's episode. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy slurry Dorinda doing CLIIIIP and I made it nice! However, if you can't forego booze ahead of a serious dinner with Bethenny's associates who have organized this frankly amazing Puerto Rico rescue, then you have a problem. Dorinda is in denial about her dependency issues. In the VT she lambasted Bethenny for 'putting a label' on her after 'one night.' Right now she's in Dubai with Carole and Tinsley and their Plus Ones partying, so she's not watched the episode back and felt the shame that might incentivize her to deal with her unhappiness. In her talk with Bethenny, she was emotionally astute about herself (as usual), but talking is one thing Dorinda does really well. Doing is another thing altogether. I'm not sure she wants to leave the comfort blanket of her past with Richard and alcohol.

Think it's just friends on vacation -- NY is no longer filming, and Caroline Stanbury resides in Dubai now. I wish the cameras HAD been there because it looked like a great vacation! I would love it of it meant Queen Bitch Caroline Stanbury was joining RHONY though.

Barbara was a good sport, had strong friendships with the Carry On and EE casts, and was open with fans about what was going on in her life (marriage to a Kray's associate, affairs). She owned who she was, flaws and all, and was a cheerful person with an excellent work ethic typical of someone who grew up during WW2/rationing/austerity. She did her best work on Eastenders, as you say -- she loved playing the character, she imbued Peggy with layers and flaws and heart. She became a star again at an age you would not expect and fully deserved all her accolades and awards. I cannot emphasize enough how popular she is with the British public. She is utterly beloved. Her husband seems like he is looking out for her best interests and I am sure the pay from this Sun exclusive will go towards making her comfortable and taken care of... her salary from EE will have gone a long way towards that end, too. It's so sad to hear about this because she really seems like a lovely, kind person IRL who deserves to live out her retirement years without this awful diagnosis hanging over her.

This is sad and devastating news. I think the fear of Alzheimer's affects anybody who has aging parents or is aging themselves. Dame Barbara's husband sounds like a wonderful guy. I hope that by talking openly about the diagnosis, it will raise awareness and research into finding a cure or at least coming up with better medication to manage the disease.

You should post more often. I enjoy reading your thoughts. Yes, it is likely to do with PK, and with alliances. With Kyle threatening to turn on LVP on an intermittent basis, LVP needs another ally to back her. They all do, and are all playing that game (except possibly Erika who has started burning alliances with a quickness). The 'SLs' are now a series of scripted tests the HWs must get through with alliances intact -- the 'strings' you talk about. I can see how much of a job this is for the participants involved. No real affection or relationships. Atlanta is the same way, although there are 1-2 solid friendships and someone like Cynthia there. Both BH and ATL need a rest/drastic overhaul. You like most of the women (or rather you do not dislike them). I, OTOH, dislike most of them right now. When I start posting about warming to Kyle, you know something is off! Potomac has the enjoyment factor. The women I find irritating, I love to hate, rather than just plain dislike. With someone like Gizelle, I like that Karen, Candiace and Monique constantly keep her in check. Karen and Gizelle were friends for a number of years prior to the show; Candiace and Ashley apparently knew each other before RHOP, so the energy you mention derives from relationships and events which are real. Like the loss of a baby, or issues with husbands, with mothers, with money. And the HWs themselves have a freshness and dynamism which has curdled on BH and ATL.

I have disliked Kyle for many seasons, mostly because she is shady and plays victim. However, I warmed to her recently because of what she's going through with her sisters. Their mom really fucked them up, and Kathy and Kim seem to be continuing the cycle. K/K may not like American Woman, but judging from what we saw on BH, that show looks tame and puts Big Kathy in a completely rosy, sanitised light. So I suspect this fallout may be more about jealousy and throwing their weight around. Kathy was initially the famous sister (because of Paris), but once BH became a hit, Kyle took the spotlight. And when Mauricio left Hilton-Hyland, the Hiltons were no longer in a position to control the Umanskys. Kim and Kathy's 'love' for Kyle seems entirely conditional upon her doing what they tell her to do. As for the Glass Houses project, maybe Kyle shouldn't be fictionalizing (and monetizing) her fight with Kathy and Rick. Perhaps Kathy will join RHOBH to get back at her, lol. She might as well, she is mentioned so often. I didn't understand why LVP was ducking and diving about the magazine shoot. It was unnecessary: nobody likes Dorit, nobody cares about this SL, and LVP as editor can do what she wants with her photos. Is LVP scared of Dorit?

I can see both sides re: the real estate beef. Word On The Street [(c) Gizelle] is that Mauricio was the worker-bee at Hyland-Hilton, but they wouldn't make him partner. When he left, H-H took a hit, and the Hiltons are pissed that Rick now has to hustle. I personally feel that Mauricio cutting ties with the Hiltons was for the best; Kyle is already tied to her toxic family, but she and Maurice should have their independence. OTOH, I can also see why the Hiltons would feel betrayed. They probably feel Mo should have stayed at H-H because he 'owed' them. Kathy/Kim may have seen it as Big Kathy shielding Kyle from the worst of the industry, but Kyle saw it as Big Kathy giving up on her and focusing on her sisters' careers. Big Kathy used all her daughters for fame and $$$ and if they weren't making $$$, she ignored them. I worry that we will get the same cast next season. Andy has said that Dorit and Teddi are "not going anywhere." However, the show needs a drastic overhaul. It is like Survivor: HWs making strategic alliances with one another to bring down their enemy. Fearful of getting voted off the island, they refuse to engage directly (Rinna, LVP). And that makes for an icy, contrived borefest. Back in Season 2, when Kyle turned on LVP and called her Bobby Fischer ("Every move is so calculated"), you could see that it was like a knife to LVP's heart. Maybe that's why she distanced herself emotionally from the women. Nowadays, LVP, Erika, Kyle, Rinna, Dorit are all Bobby Fischers, but with zero emotional investment in any kind of real relationship -- the very thing which made Season 2 so compelling.

Thank you for your recap because I couldn't face watching. I did hear about one thing, which was Kyle doing her unintelligible squeaky-cry about not having spoken to Kathy in months. LVP pipes up: "oh I saw her last night." Also heard that LVP pleads to the audience to love Dorit. Honestly, Dorit and Erika are so vile. As is Rinna, who phoned it in all season. The three mentioned should be fired asap. LVP is better off concentrating on VPR. Everybody pretty much despises each other. Who does that leave? They could have had one reunion episode and done. Secrets Revealed? What more could they show? Erika dressing up as Little Bo Peep for the 8 millionth time? Dorit pretending to work? LVP petting one of her 253 dogs?

YASSS Karen, put that shark-eyed Gizelle in her place! This is everything I love about Dame Karen right here. Monique vs Charrisse may happen, but not before Monique vs Candiace (see below). I can't believe Monique threw Candice under the bus in front of the other women! Her not having Candiace's back plays right into Gizelle/Charrisse/Robyn's hands.

I also enjoy the Young Bucks vs Geriatrics set-up. Ashley is Potomac's MVP. She brings her own RL story to the show (and yes @DaytimeFan her mother is one of those 'martyrs' who uses her victimhood to get something for nothing). She also spills tea on everybody in a really clear, perfect way (unlike, say, professional bone-collector Sheree). Karen is my fave, even when she is trying to pretend she isn't in financial and personal difficulty. Those scenes with Ray feel staged, but in a way I don't mind because I enjoy her so much and she is so obvious about it. Karen keeps it moving. Charrisse is a FOH this season? She is on every episode! Stirring nastiness up as usual! She should be fulltime because this FOH status allows her to go after others (Candiace, Karen) but not have to discuss her own shady situations. Thank heavens for Candiace who earned her spot this episode and scalped her good! Gizelle making those mean comments about Ashley's 'trailer park' grandparents who made sacrifices to take Ashley on vacation to the country. Will this now mean lots of Gizelle guest-spots on WWHL to justify her shitty personality? Andy is under the delusion that she's the beloved OG of this franchise. I hope she gets dragged at Reunion. @Nothin'ButAttitude IA Monique's over-working and drinking is her attempt to fill an empty space in her life. She hasn't got over the miscarriage, and neither has her husband, and they prob haven't had a chance to heal properly together. She should NEVER have gotten behind the wheel of a car after 4 Martinis, though. She must have called her hubby to come get her, and not the police, because the police would have breathalysed her and charged her with DUI.