Cat

The women as usual cleaning up the mess for the network... This is a shock to nobody and has been going on for decades. The guy is a lech and a a$$hole. You only have to ask what Ann Curry is doing these days as NBC News's former 'special national/international correspondent.' Her career was not just sidelined but outright extinguished by the old boys club at NBC News.

It's been over a year since I've been meaning to come to this thread. CBS Drama, a cable station where I am, started showing Knots Landing from beginning to end on weekday mornings, and so I recorded the episodes and started watching them. I had never watched KL before (I am a Dynasty girl). I cannot tell you how much I love this show. Right now I am coming to the end of Season 8. It really is an epic tapestry of these people moving on up as their suburban cul-de-sac gets caught up in the go-go 80s. My favourite movie is Chinatown and if you have ever seen that movie, you cannot fail to see the parallels between that and the growth of the Valley as part of Greater Los Angeles as chronicled by Knots Landing -- especially in seasons 5-6. It also takes on the theme of wealthy people raping the land in their obsession with profit -- and mowing down people in their wake. (Ciji's sad demise in S4 being an example of how rapacious people use someone's talent and then discard them when they need help the most). The thing that has surprised me is how KL seems to have a romantic soul. Even cynical, Kennedyesque Greg Sumner is a romantic deep, deep down. It surprises me because KL's sibling show Dallas was like a fast-moving train steered by the Hooded Claw (basically JR Ewing). Here, David Jacobs teases out all the drama of the setting via the relationships between people. That focus on feelings really appeals to me. Plus I enjoy the stories for the most part. Yes, ofc there are missteps (Ben turning into a cold, robotic paranoid being the most egregious -- what a horrendous rewrite of this character. He was a warm, sexy heroic figure with a sense of humor, kind of like Ryan on AW, which soapy shows just do not do anymore). But on the whole I feel like I am turning the pages of a really good book I don't want to put down. It makes me disappointed that Lynn Marie Latham was such a lacklustre writer on Y&R when she could have brought THIS delicious storytelling to the show. What went wrong? Should Bernie Lechowick have been her co-HW? Was it the oversight of David Jacobs and Lawrence Kasha which provided Knot's Landing's best SLs and steered the ship? So I am halfway through the S8 episode where Anne overdoses (while listening to Dedicated to the One I Love, a song Michelle Phillips sang with the Mamas and the Papas)and Evil Peter is about to come onto teenage Olivia. Anne is a really good addition to the show (as was Paige this season -- wow! Breath of fresh air) and she reinvigorated the characters of Karen and Mack. While I am glad Mack held back from falling into an affair with her, I am sorry that Anne will be going away for a couple of seasons before returning. I am also feeling a little nervous about going into S9. I am worried that after eight excellent seasons, the quality will start to drop. Please tell me it won't!

@Chris B Bless you for keeping up the love for OC! I'm glad you found things to love this season, and I have a feeling your Final Five of Shannon, Vicki, Kelly, Tamra and Lydia could well come true. I wonder if Lydia saved herself with her performance at Reunion. On the worrying side, Meghan is now pregnant with her second child, and Andy Cohen apparently spent some of Christmas with the Edmonds, so I worry that like Carole, Meghan may be back whether we like it or not. I hope not. Totally agree with you re: the contrived SLs on Atl. Kandi's is the only one that is real, like with the Essence photoshoot. Also agree re: Kim's return. Kroy's lack of income must be hitting hard because I have NEVER seen Kim Zolciak hustle like this! The woman is so lazy, she allows Bravo to put cameras all over the house so that she never has to leave her bedroom/kitchen. Now she's out and about?? Something is up and it definitely has to do with coin.

Co-sign on all this. I really really really need a break from the OC HWs. Even after curtailing my viewing, there has been a ton of coverage as Bravo's marketing dept desperately tries to drum up support. And the whole sorry spectacle makes my brain itch. I literally cannot handle Peggy. Meghan is the definition of 'pretty on the outside, mean on the inside.' She outstayed her welcome 3 seasons ago. But LBR those two are small fry compared with the Vicki-Tamra-Shannon vortex of suck. As long as Vicki will never acknowledge and talk about what happened with Brooks, she can never truly move on, and nor can anybody else. And she won't talk about because she knows that Shannon and Tamra will never stop attacking her for it. These three women are literally holding a gun to each other's head, and we, the audience, have been held hostage by them. I need to not see any of them for a long time. I'd be curious to know what the ratings were for this sh*tshow, though. I'm hoping BH is good too, NBA. As people pointed out with the trailer, maybe the lack of one crazy SL in the trailer but lots of glamorous trips is a good sign. I also agree with you about Atlanta. Something about the show and the cast is not quite gelling. There are more and more contrivances driving the show. It was a problem last season too, but the Kandi-Phaedra-Porsha blowout overshadowed it.

Nene's my fave too but that doesn't mean I'm going to support her when she does/says awful things. So far, though, she's been the voice of truth this season re: Porsha and Kim. I don't know if you know this but Tiny (also in XScape) was meant to be on RHoA but she deferred and recommended Kandi instead. If she comes across well on the XScape show, the producers might ask her to appear on the mothership. And a high-ranking executive in Bravo that she's blowing. Allegedly. Oh good! I look forward to it.

I *love* Queen Drita D'Avanzo and kind of wish she was on RHoNJ. As for Wig... I understand in some ways, what DaytimeFan is saying -- because this is exactly what Bravo is hoping Kim will bring to the table. Kim is Bravo's instrument in calling Kenya out about not featuring Marc on the show. I get why Kenya doesn't want to (for the sake of her marriage) -- but at the same time, I wish she would show him a little bit. I can't deal with her in her wedding dress calling up Brandon and fake-boohooing. Having said that, Wig is monstrous. Calling Kenya out for not featuring her husband -- what about the three years we never saw Big Poppa? He was so scared to be named and shamed because he was married with kids and paying her on the side -- at least Kenya got her man by legal means! I also can't stand Wig for going after Kenya but when Kenya comes back at her, she's not allowed to retaliate because somehow Kim is the 'better' person for having kids? I just don't understand people like her who think motherhood whitewashes them of accountability. Trashpot, you lay on your back where you do all your best work and got knocked up! You don't deserve a medal for that! It also doesn't sit well with me the way Kim is getting the better edit and is in cahoots with Michael Beck to return to the show. Like it or not, this is Bravo's major black franchise, and lots of AA fans have wanted it to remain black. I'm not necessarily bothered one way or another, but I understand why they feel that way. We've had some great times with Wig and the others (like when Nene and Wig figured out that Phaedra got pregnant way before she should have), but those days are gone, and Kim is only here to gaslight the women. The fact that Brielle was filming bugs in the private parts of Nene's house while Wig was distracting her isn't funny or shady. It's trashy. I think he's the wrong fit for this show. Fine for Tardy but that's not saying much. Plus he is beholden to Kim and the Biermanns. That means everybody else is going to be made to look bad in comparison to them. That or like they are the hired help (hey Sweetie!). Yes, I'm looking at you Sheree. If he's been involved with S2 of RHoD, then kudos. He did a great job with the reboot! He made one mistake, though, and that was to make Brandi believe she is the star of the show. Brandi is a great addition to the show but as an antagonist. She's not likeable enough to be the show heroine -- she's too spikey and filled with jealousy.

Bravo promoting Trashbox's 'return' already! I didn't even recognise Marlo at first. She looks seriously flawless with that hair! Wig is a weasel. And WTF was Sheree moaning about this wasn't the time nor the place for Kenya to push back at Wig? Wig was poking and provoking her with nasty comments! Just think, while all this was going on, Brielle was in Nene's bathroom allegedly filming roaches.

Because she has no qualms about being a total beeyotch? "And Janet... we didn't have to give her a walking stick. Oops! Did I say that? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA." I'm watching Real Housewives of Sydney at the moment; it isn't a patch on Melbourne! I missed the Melbourne HWs. Meanwhile, just saw this headline about Phaedra. Must be a slow news day since Wig hasn't woken up yet. Phaedra Parks Lands Modeling Contract; Says Leaving Real Housewives of Atlanta Led to Revenge Body http://www.realitytea.com/2017/11/22/phaedra-parks-lands-modeling-contract-says-leaving-real-housewives-atlanta-led-revenge-body/

@Taoboi @Nothin'ButAttitude I can't believe they hitched M2M to that tired Tardy wagon! Right now this seems to be M2M's best season by miles, and Friday is the graveyard slot. Why do M2M dirty like that when WWHL just had Dr. Jackie on the show outshining Poorsha in every way? On Tardy, I see that Kim Z put up cameras all over her home -- not because of 'security' as she claims, but so that Kroy, Wig and their crotchfruit can be filmed 24/7 while the Bravo cameras are gone. Anything to keep Tardy alive! After the pregnancy hoax, I fully expect a security-camera sex tape involving Brielle and/or the other one to be leaked soon.

@Taoboi swear to God, if we find out that Wigs went to a fertility specialist to have this SEVENTH child... What hoax? You know this was just another day for the Biermann publicity machine! I KNEW there was no way that cig-puffing 57 yr old was preggers! (You need expensive fertility doctors to jumpstart those worn-out ovaries!). Kim's PR machine is in overdrive and she is doing way too much. Something must be up. I'm wondering if Bravo is thinking of cancelling Tardy.

I can't think of any two people less suited to each other than David Foster and Kelly Dodd!! Those two egos in the same car together? Lol no wonder David panicked. It also makes me laugh how much HWs from other shows look up to anything BH related. Lea Black would love to appear on that show. So would Smelly Cat Krupa. Heather McDonald already appeared on there (with Brandi) and boy does she ever want to be asked back. Lately though she's been sidling up to the NYC women, via Jill Zarin's cancer charity work. But hey maybe the sinking ship that is OC is her way in! +3 spots up for grabs! Too bad she has no charisma or personality -- but i guess that didnt stop OC this year. LORRRRRRD JESUS! Kroy's sperm must be industrial strength! Kim is a heavy smoker and 49 tho, so how on earth does she stay getting knocked up? Is she too lazy to use contraception? (Yes thats a rhetorical question). How many children under the age of 8 is that? 5? How is she going to support this passel of kids? Brielle cant even land a reality show/sugar daddy/dumb athlete. Kroy is clearly useless. The other girl hasnt had plastic surgery yet. What happens if/when Tardy gets cancelled? I think Wig looked at the pregnant Kardashians and figured this was a way to keep her show rolling. Nothing about this pregnancy screams unplanned to me. I still think she wants back on Atl for the bigger paycheck. Sigh. Dumb people getting paid $$$$ for literally doing nothing but saying dumb sh!t and lying on their back and getting pregnant. And no, I'm not talking about the Kardashians. I actually have respect for their work ethic/business acumen! Haha I have always rooted for Lydia, the dumbest villainess in the history of RH shows! Lydiot needs all the help she can get!

5 minute sneak peak of the new Real HW of Melbourne season!

I'm assuming you all are talking about Wig's upcoming appearance on the show. Meanwhile, on social media, Kim 'accidentally' made public a shot of Brielle exposing her boob. I'm sure you've all seen the pic so I won't post that mess. ALLEGEDLY Kim and Brielle were having a 'private' snapchat conversation with Khloe Kardashian (!). When I heard this, I asked myself "what is a classy lady like Khloe Kardashian doing talking to these trashy losers? Doesn't she have an assistant?" Anyway, Brielle flashed her boob at 'Khloe' and Kim Z hit send to all her followers. I know Kim Z has always been a ho, but she has hit new depths in her thirstiness this year. She is literally pimping out her daughter on social media. I have never seen her work this hard, ever! She wants something really badly. Is it a peach? A peach for her horrific daughter?

@Khan I believe when she was first asked about not having POC in her main cast, LD was like "I'm half Jewish and half WASP so I have two Jewish characters and two WASPy characters." She has a profound inability to conceive of anything outside her own experience. And no desire to do so.

She was the writer, creator and STAH! of Girls, which HBO was trying to make the anti-Sex & the City/new Sex & the City. She also has a 'feminist' newsletter and is constantly on Twitter as the self-proclaimed woke voice of womenfolk. Turns out she's not that woke. DRW50 and DramatistDreamer made reference some of the hinky things she has done. She's really just a narcissist who adores the sound of her own voice. @DRW50 I can only concur. She does so much damage to women's issues too -- even though she thinks of herself as the spokeswhore of all things female-related.

Agreed. She wouldn't have to apologise so often if she didn't have a coterie of sycophants applauding her every word fart, and if she actually sat down and asked herself questions about what she is actually putting out there as a so-called media personality feminist. The statement I posted is ridden with so much ridiculous, self-congratulatory nonsense. She should have slept on it and reread it in the cold light of day with a red pen in hand. Editing and considering the weight of your words is a true lost art! She is so problematic especially re: black men and people of color generally. How is she so supremely confident that the white, male writer she knew for 'half a decade' (that's 5 years) didn't rape this young black girl? Is it because he didn't come on to her irresistible self? Ergo, therefore, he CAN'T POSSIBLY be a rapist! It's like when that NFL player was minding his own business at the Met Gala. It must be because he doesn't find her attractive! hates feminists! I find her and her statements exhausting. There are many, many, MANY self-absorbed narcissists in Hollywood, of all genders, but she really takes the cake. She is never not promoting her own Deep Thoughts and posting them like "I know you guys have been asking about my take on..." Who? WHO is asking?

Lena Dunham is a special snowflake who has been told all her life that every word she burps up is revolutionary. And for that very reason, she does not see how privileged, insular, unfunny (thanks @Khan) and clubby she really is. This is her original statement in support of that male writer: "During the windfall of deeply necessary accusations over the last few months in Hollywood, we have been thrilled to see so many women’s voices heard and dark experiences in this industry justified. It’s a hugely important time of change and, like every feminist in Hollywood and beyond, we celebrate. But during every time of change there are also incidences of the culture, in its enthusiasm and zeal, taking down the wrong targets. We believe, having worked closely with him for more than half a decade, that this is the case with Murray Miller. While our first instinct is to listen to every woman’s story, our insider knowledge of Murray’s situation makes us confident that sadly this accusation is one of the 3 percent of assault cases that are misreported every year. It is a true shame to add to that number, as outside of Hollywood women still struggle to be believed. We stand by Murray and this is all we’ll be saying about this issue." The statement says it all. The grandiose self-importance. The exceptionalism (I'm a feminist, but...) as she focuses on the "3% of assault cases which are misreported." What about the other 97%?? And perhaps most telling of all, the clubbiness ("our insider knowledge") with her close friends in show business. Lena's statement reminds me of Taylor Swift, with her mediatised 'insider' squad of privileged gal pals (as if that is the pre-requisite for feminism), who calls other women (Aurora Perrineau in this case) a liar. And yes, I know she went back on her original statement... she apologized for the 'timing' of it.

This is making me actually like Shannon again. The non-apology to Vicki for blaming her for the weight gain could have been better.

Shannon thought she could shame Lydia into apologising and Lydia was like "Yeah, I meant it tho." And Meghan was so thirsty to make Lydia look bad that she got herself into a pickle. Meghan boohooing over the future job stability of charlatan psychics on these RH shows was the single most ridiculous fight she could pick. The worst is when she said "I just think you should use your brain and not let the Bible tell you what is right or wrong all the time." Oh gurrrrrl. What about the 10 Commandments? She is going to get a backlash from US religious peeps (not least in her own home state of Missouri), and the gasp from the other women testified to that realization. I must say, I have been wondering what TayShana's talk-to Pam has been up to recently!

As NYC is already filming, I cannot see Jill being involved in any way this season. Bobby is her priority. It is devastating seeing recent pics of him. He was always a lovely man, I pray for all the best for him, this illness I would never wish on my worst enemy, let alone a class act like him. As for Jill returning in the future when she's had time to grieve and process... Well, Ramona isn't the problem as they have reconciled in the wake of Bobby's illness. But it's The Bethenny Show, and we all know she's the one putting the kabosh on that possibility. I totally agree and I hate that. But all the franchises seem to follow that formula now, so I guess I'm kind of conditioned to expect it. And as @DaytimeFan has said many times, another blonde millennial one hit wonder? Meghan, Tinsley, Kameron, now Teddi... RH usually does better when it employs someone who has lived, lived well. know themselves, and aren't afraid to be a character (Dorinda, Shannon S1, Margaret, etc).

Bwah! Shannon: You said i was Mayor of Crazytown! Lydia: And I agree with all those things I said about you. Vicki:

New Jersey: I enjoyed yesterday's episode. The bitchiness is there but the toxicity has been dialled down a notch. God help me, I was really liking Dolores this episode. She was spilling the tea about Danielle, and about Juicy Joe squeezing his juice elsewhere -- and to Tre's FACE, no less. I also was liking the way she stood up for herself. Danielle's sh*t-stirring is what she does best, but Dolores is her match and can get scrappy, too. She grew up with Teresa in Paterson. I think the two Ds match each other well on the intelligence scale (intelligence being relative in NJ). Like, Siggy and Teresa are on a par. Dolores and Danielle are a few echelons higher than that. Siggy's nonsensical, passive-aggressive retreat with the Hallmark affirmations, mugs, t-shirts, divorce lawyer, and plastic surgeon. EMPOWAHMENT!

"Diamonds aren't a girl's best friend. FREEDOM IS." "... But it helps to have diamonds." That shot was straight out of Dynasty's opening credits. I hope they just want to keep a lid on the juiciness too... I'm especially hoping this Rinna-Erika blowout in Berlin is something substantial.

Ooooo @Nothin'ButAttitude you got your Camille glamour shot! This BH trailer... ok. It's not as epic as trailers of BH seasons past. However, a good trailer is not always indicative of a good season (see S4 trailer which ended with LVP dragging deeply on a cigarette amid dramatic music -- well, that was an awful season). The pros: -Everything looks GORGEOUS. -LVP is in full queen mode. It's like she has finally given herself permission to ENJOY being on top, naysayers be damned. -Not one, not two, but THREE awesome trips. They included Japan! A country I am *obsessed* by. -Dorit's shorter hair is fabulous, and I am really looking forward to an inside look at her swimwear line. -Kim nowhere in sight. -Dorit and Erika forming a friendship. Yes, I know it's wrong... but it makes for some good drama! Rinna in particular should be scared that Dorit edges her out of the Erika Jayne Fan Club. -Erika's VT look. It's Elvira, Queen of the Night. (This should be a con, but I enjoy the laugh). -LVP driving away in her chauffeured Bentley, tossing her hair, while Kyle and Dorit fight over her affections. The cons: -Camille and Adrienne nowhere to be seen. -Some of the jokes fell flat *cough*Boy George. -I'm not getting much of a read on the Mellencamp chick... and she looks identical to Dorit. -Rinna pimping her talent-free crotchfruit again. -I'm not sensing a through story or what the conflict is this season. Which usually means the conflict ain't all that.

Rinna no longer has Eileen to defend, excuse and support her bad behaviour.