Cat

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

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. 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!”

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

I WISH this idiot had some shame in her game. Creeping into that photo shoot, pretending like she's been hanging with these women for months talking women's issues. She's about to pounce on an unsuspecting Emma Stone and make a beeline for Reese Witherspoon. It's so obvious she doesn't give a F*** about anything involving sexual harrassment/abuse. She just wants an 'in' with the cool Hollywood squad again. I assume it's because it used to be so easy to make the black person look like the angry ranting unhinged one, and the white girl like the poor widdle victim. Nobody asked why someone might be angry in the first place. I remember the drip-drip-drip of media attacks against Kanye West after TayGate, speculating that he was unhinged, bipolar etc. Wendy Williams still calls him the Mad Man. In actual fact, Kanye wasn't even angry at Taylor, he was probably somewhat drunk. And he picked the wrong moment. He interrupted Taylor Swift's victory lap and her fake modesty and her thanks to all her famous friends. How dare he?? Thanks to Yeezus, he saved us from yet another excruciating acceptance speech from Perky McFakePerson. He should be applauded. And I do applaud his wife for showing the receipts and exposing TayTay in 2016. Back to Becky Lena, I'm especially mad that Lena's quickly-timed passive-aggressive boo-hoo poor-me press statement she issued was designed to force some kind of... if not apology from Tessa, then at least force her to backtrack on her statement. What Tessa said initially about Lena's presence being a surprise was totally appropriate and the truth. She shouldn't have to re-explain her words. Also I assumed the "highly personal reasons" Lena cited for not initially participating in #TimesUp was the fact that everybody was shunning her ass. It turns out she also released a statement yesterday that she and her BF broke up. Boo hoo! Look at me! I'm the victim!

With ATL I appreciate that the tripledoublecrosses have been on screen and that everybody acknowledges them. That's what people do in real life. On BH or NJ, a lot of stuff happens bts and that's what drives me nuts. The HWs start talking obliquely and around stuff. I like that people like Nene, Kenya and even Kim bring it to the table and lay it all out there. That social media roachfest Brielle pulled a few months ago? I'm willing to bet Nene is going to bring that mess up on the show, and I am here for it. I do think there are some true-blue friendships on ATL, and that would be Nene-Cynthia and Kenya-Cynthia. They hang out off-season. Too bad Cynthia's story is such a bore this year! With BH, I question whether LVP & Kyle are actually friends. Their interactions seem a bit scripted for camera. Both of them need backup after Kyle lost Cujo Kim and LVP alienated most of the cast. Old-time fans apparently loved their friendship so they feel the have to keep delivering it. As for Dorit/Erika, talk about strategic. But yes, I miss the old friendships. I think LVP-Brandi was a real friendship until Brandi became Yolanda's flying monkey. Personally, I'm not that thrilled with the casting on this show which has been showing diminishing returns in recent seasons. If Camille and Adrienne are coming back, they need to COME BACK for real. I am sad that Kathy Hilton never said yes to join the show as her palpable hatred of Kyle was glorious and that sisterly relationship is as real as it gets. I am even sadder that the late Jackie Collins is no longer on this earth. She lived in Beverly Hills. She would have been great on BH, with the audience following her on her book tour or looking in on her gossip sessions with friends and acquaintances. Plus Joan popping in on regular visits. Jackie would have been great at reality, because she was always comfortable with being herself and larger than life -- her sister Joan Collins is actually much shyer IRL. Jackie's tagline could have been "If you intrigue me enough, I *MAY* put you in my next blockbuster!" with a toss of her hair. She would have also intimidated the great LVP and that snob Erika. Anyway, I am getting OT. Long story short: BH needs a boost, and the Kemsleys ain't it. You... you... have not watched the early seasons of NYC?? Please PLEASE do yourself the biggest favor of your life and watch Seasons 1-5 if you can! They are glorious! I love them and when repeats come on where I am, I DVR them because they are that watchable. People talk about Ramonja but as far as I'm concerned, Luann & Sonja was the friendship that transcended the fact they were in different cliques. BTW, Dorinda appeared on S4 in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment -- one of Jill's charity functions, and she was seated next to Ramona. She's been friends with both for some years, and I think she's known Lu for a while too. What I love about Dorinda is her incredible compassion for all the women, even the ones she has beef with. This is her strength. Last season Bethenny & Dorinda had a fight in Mexico, but you could tell that while that was going on, Dorinda understood Bethenny's anger and where she was coming from. Dorinda also understands that sometimes you can leave fights and resentments behind after a big blow-up.

Agreed. I mean, I do think she has let the 'fame' go to her head and is completely delusional for real. But as far as all the onscreen stuff? She is playing a role. Looking for a fight. Trying to be the centre of the drama. Yes, I think a shorter season packed with less filler is the way to go. The only exception I would make to a longer season would be NY seasons 2 and 3. It was long but it was PACKED with greatness. Production couldn't afford to leave anything out. NJ: I am absolutely on the Caroline train and I know why you are suggesting Jacqueline... because her relationship with Danielle was particularly intense. However, Jacq burned that bridge with S8. She's another special-snowflake delulu who thinks she's the star of the show and every tantrum is TV gold. And when it comes to the big showdowns, she has no balls. She always walks out in a huff to go sit in her car or is a no-show.

Lena Dunham is back, unfortunately. This weekend amid all the Golden Globes stuff, she showed up at a #TimesUp event and shoehorned herself into the photo of the activists and actresses. Then she posted the pic on her IG with this caption: "Humbled to stand alongside these amazing women and say #TIMESUPon systemic oppression, underrepresentation, discrimination, abuse and violence in all industries. 🖤" This chick is shameless! Piggybacking on other people's work and then swooping in at the end to take credit for it. She called Aurore Perrineau a liar when she went to the police about her rape! Has she apologized to her since? And yes, I know that Meryl Streep and Susan Sarandon are there too, and they are problematic also. Anyway, Tessa Thompson, who has been involved with #TimesUp since it started, responded to questions on her social media about Lena's inclusion in the picture with this: “Lena was not anywhere present in our group during the countless hours of work for the last two months. We hosted an open house for the actresses for red carpet messaging and Lena presence was a surprise to us all. This is a time of reckoning. And for many, a re-education. So many women also have real work to do. I’m afraid it’s too nuanced a conversation to have on this platform. But I hear you, and know that your thoughts and words are not lost on me. It’s been discussed.” Ever one to jump on an opportunity to have the media talking about her, Lena issued this statement 0.03 seconds afterwards: “I was honored to be invited to the meeting by a close friend and to observe the work that these amazing women have been doing the past few months. For highly personal reasons, I’ve been unable to join previous efforts but being asked to be a part of this celebratory moment was truly beautiful. I’ve worked with Tessa and respect her artistry and admire her consistent candor.” So then Tessa was put in the position of posting this: https://twitter.com/TessaThompson_x/status/950671186735742976 Will Lena ever stop promoting herself and acting like the world revolves around her ass? This snowflake outstayed her welcome ages ago!

Totally. The PSA apart, the show feels contrived, disconnected and with no heart. No one's heart seems in it this year. For me, i would say Dallas was the revelation last year. NY -- the true-blue relationships between the ladies make this show my fave (and yes Luann and Dorinda are love!) OC -- horrendous. Cancellation worthy. NJ -- better than the last 2 seasons but... does anyone here miss Caroline Manzo? The show lost something when she left which it has never recovered. ATL -- missing its old magic. It feels a little lost and scripted and by numbers. BH -- looks like a carbon copy of last season. And that was not a vintage year. Btw Yolanda Hadid's new show Making the Model starts on Thursday. Just an fyi.

Teresa open to a more expansive role?? For sure they are closing!

It may be too early in the season to call it but I think Dorit may be getting the bitch edit, not Rinna. Or MAYBE there is no bitch edit and these idiots just do it to themselves? Certainly Dorit has been set up to be the main character this season. She was in almost every scene this episode. How much money must the Kemsleys be spending. On the ridiculously expensive Hermes china, the 24-hour nannies, the assistants, Dorit's hair and makeup posse, launching her swimwear line, renting that appalling McMansion and Bentley? I feel like any minute now PK and Dorit are going to steal out of the backdoor in the middle of the night while their creditors (+ Boy George) try to break down the front gate, hiding out in the UK or Israel and reinventing themselves again. Dorit & PK = the new TayShanna & Russell.