Cat

It's total bait-casting, of course, but Mason/Julia on SB meant an awful lot to this nerdy kid back in the day. And with Patrick Mulcahey writing? I'm already intrigued.

@Taoboi @DaytimeFan Eric Fullner is the Notorious JFP after she killed AW and before she elbowed her way onto GH.... i can see that now!

Granny Fuda referring to "Nose-job Jennifuh" when Rachel Fuda's Plasticine nose-work is sitting right there. 👀 Remind me why this uninteresting couple has beef with Tre & Louie again?

My personal litmus test is, are the seasons watchable on repeat? With BH, S6 and S7 are watchable, though difficult if you are an LVP fan. But S11-13 are almost completely interchangeable to me and a bore. And very self-produced. BH gets by on the frisson of LA's dark secrets threatening to emerge. However, viewers' patience are wearing thin. Totally agree that RHOA barely gets a fraction of the budget and promotion that BH gets, and that a root-and-branch overhaul behind the scenes is sorely needed.

Your thoughts on Julia echo mine. It is rare to have a pot-stirrer who isn't an out-and-out b!tch trying to gaslight somebody. I hope that isn't the case with Guerdy and that she's in a love bubble with Russell and her boys.

Why is Bravo is letting RHOA tank? Is it because Bravo cannot forgive Nene for the lawsuit and cannot get past the RHOA/Nene association? The show feels like a giant after-thought, and last season was dry and unwatchable. Everything about the production team is mediocre, and their lack of caring oozes from the screen. It's a RH show done by sleepy box-ticking. They f***ed RHOP up, too, but unlike RHOA, I feel like Truly Original somewhat cared about that show in a weird, toxic way. As for Miami, the Guerdy/Julia rumor makes me sad. As you know, I have a real fondness for Julia and her backstory. Guerdy is a force of nature who built her own, highly watchable events business from scratch, and who is the only one to call out that sloth Larsa. Both are necessary to the show IMO. I will say, though, that the RHOM cast don't seem to care that much about rumored cast cuts, because Julia, Alexia, Lisa and Marysol were partying it up in NYC yesterday. Larsa who?? And in RHOBH (aka the one franchise Bravo cares about) news:

First of all, they should be filming all this ASAP. Secondly, while I don't think the marriage was shaping up to be rainbows and unicorns, I do think Alexia was blindsided by Todd filing. Carlos King recently speculated on his podcast that Todd, a financial planner, probably had a pre-nup in place where the two-year mark represented an uplift in any payout going to Alexia in the event of a divorce. Todd was likely aware that the two-year anniversary was bearing down on them. He reviewed the marriage coolly, like it was an investment, decided it wasn't going to last in the medium-term, and then moved to divest himself quickly in order to avoid a bigger payout. It's a shame because his first season on the show, I thought Todd was an interesting RH husband, and spoke a lot of sense to Alexia and Peter about Frankie and his care. I'm sure Alexia will land on her feet, but she's been used to expensive lifestyles under Herman and Todd (and probably when she was married to the cocaine cowboy). As Adriana pointed out in S5, Alexia is used to living off the money of her husbands. Having to fend for herself will be hard, unless she is already independently wealthy (from her mom and Herman) and has money in trust. In other news... How long until we get a RH franchise back on the air?! I've been watching The Valley and it's fine, but I'm just not a VPR uberfan so it's not hitting the spot for me like the RHs do. Totally agree, each of the residences you cite had a unique personality, just like New York City itself which was literally another character on RHONY. It denoted status within the group, too, and that status was finely calibrated. Like Bethenny obviously bought and sold apartments with big pricetags, but they all looked like suites at a business hotel, and in a way her status wasn't truly Top Dog as a result (much as she hustled to be Top Dog in front of camera and behind the scenes). Personally, I thought Dorinda's second (rented) apartment in the city had a great living room and view of the city. Luann's homes in the Hamptons were both incredible, especially her first one, but Ramona's Hamptons abode is definitive RHONY for me. More definitive than Bethenny's or Jill's Hamptons homes. I can pick out her kitchen or the green-and-white bedroom from memory.

It has long been an albatross around her neck, especially in terms of maintenance. So for that reason, I hope a burden will be lifted for Sonja. I also hope that she is not in such terrible financial straits that she absolutely must sell the place for a song. It is in an amazing location, and with the right renovations, it will become an absolutely stunning, Gilded Age-esque residence. And truthfully, I will miss it a little bit. That townhouse was RH folklore. It defined almost an entire franchise. Hope Sonja's already got a place lined up somewhere in Manhattan.

No doubt a financial decision -- and another reason why Sonja needs a job on the nuRHONY!

Co-sign on this, too. Honestly, Keiarna was a small puff of freah air and for that reason alone should have been asked back this season. It's not often you get a FOH that naturally clicks with the cast. Honestly, I would have given Nneka a second season, too. Wendy has run her course, and so has Ashley, I'm afraid. But I can understand why Bravo is hesitant about an aggressive cast overhaul.

The look on Heavenly's face! I saw on Twitter a week ago Heavenly referred to as 'Jackie's security detail.'

Angela Lansbury's wardrobe was an inspiration for ladies of a certain age -- and even in the repeats 3 decades later, her style has translated well because she stuck with the classics. Aquascutum tweed/houdstooth blazers (which Talbots would copy for her fanbase at the time), pencil skirts, a sensible heel, silk patterned scarves, beautiful gold broaches and earrings. She knew what would look good but wouldn't detract from the story. My mom noticed something years ago on MSW which was, in addition to her conservative, judicious face-lift, Lansbury also utilized a 'veil' or special filter in her close-ups in the early seasons of the show. It is not so apparent in the later New York seasons, but the fuzzier filter was noticeable in many episodes when the show would cut from her close-up to another person's close-up. I think some of the special guest stars who had been female movie stars in the 1950s (like Celeste Holm, for example) also utilized the 'veil' when they appeared on the show.

Voice of the people.

Bethenny's mother has passed away. I post about it here because during her RHONY seasons, that relationship with her mother seemed to indelibly shape Bethenny and the way she interacted with other women, including her intense, all-consuming friendships with Jill and later Carole which later went scorched earth. The way her mother looked in middle age also resembles Ramona -- which may also explain their love-hate relationship. https://www.instagram.com/p/C5_4_qbSxcI/?igsh=MTFwNWl1b3FiZHpuaw==

It was PERFECTION. Karen: "Is Jamal coming?" Giz: (pauses) "No, he--" Karen: (quickly) "Of course not." Monique: *cackling * ----- As for Larsa & Larsus, sounds like their break-up/make-up was in order to secure a mojito for S7. He's as thirsty as she is. Also where did her feet go in that picture?

The baby shower meeting was a betrayal and set in motion why Monique was on the outs with Candiace. The way Candiace tried to brush it under the carpet and gaslight Monique that she was making a big deal over nothing was infuriating. I think Candiace did that to justify to herself that her participation 'wasn't that bad.' When in actual fact, if Candiace had been in Monique's position, she would NEVER have forgiven her friend for doing what she did. And don't get me started on that female producer. What she said about Monique in that book was shockingly aggressive, manipulative and completely biased. I'm not a naive little lamb about these HWs and their agendas, but there is no way that Monique is more manipulative and evil than other HWs in the pantheon of RHs. More manipulative than Gizelle? Bethenny? Kyle? Rinna? Bad Mormon? Get out of here. Unfortunately, I suspect that particular producer is still around, unlike Eric Fellner. This is why production needs to be changed root and branch; I'd start by offering RHOP to the M2M team at Purveyors of Pop. As for Ashley and Mia, unfortunately, I do see them as vulnerable to Gizelle's leveraging and manipulations. Ashley is desperate for this job and will do whatever to stay on the show (bear in mind that even her evil old buzzard of a husband won't f*ck with Bravo anymore!). So Gizelle can easily manoeuvre her. As for Mia, she's ascended the echelons overnight, but her penchant for lying stupidly opens her up to Gizelle's blackmailing. If she abandons the MiaBeLying stuff and continues owning her sh!t, she grants herself agency on this show. If she doesn't, she will be forced to become Gizelle's pawn.

She wouldn't and she doesn't, and knowing what we all know about how production operates, I would never want that for Monique. However, a part of me wants her back, wishful thinking I know. A kind of karmic righting of wrongs given how she was treated. Candiace had a good friendship with Monique. But she wanted to kiss up to the GEBs, and sat at that table at Andy's baby shower and kiki-ed with them and Charrisse over ways to bring down Monique. It took me a long time to forgive her for that. She got payback and then some, in the worst possible way, and for that I feel bad for Candiace. She learned the hard way who she was dicing with, and Gizelle's pet pomeranian Ashley was the least of her problems.

Monique!! 🥰 I will never stop wanting her back on RHOP! She is so badly needed for the show -- SO needed. I wish she and Candiace would make up, too. Never forget:

He's thirstier than any HW. What a pity we won't be seeing any of that on our televisions

The reunion (for me) was painful but much-needed. It gave me a clearer picture of who should stay and go. Gizelle and Ashley's gaslighting re: the Deborah situation was nauseating, and I'm so glad that Kiearna (who should at all costs be given a flute next season) held both of them to account. The fact that Andy gave Gizelle (who didn't even witness the altercation!) the floor was even more nauseating. As if Gizelle has any moral high-ground upon which to pontificate! Gizelle has become the S4-Jill-Zarin of RHOP -- she is completely toxic for the show. Nothing will change for the better if she remains. She will stop at nothing to destroy people's lives. She dominates the show in an unhealthy way which saps all meaningful opposition and momentum. And she is completely protected by production (such as it was) and Andy. She is not the way forward for RHOP, she only holds it back. Ashley is another toxic presence with a moral emptiness belied by her pretty face and charming delivery. She sicced Deborah onto Candiace with the intent to do physical harm. The less said about osu, the better. As for Andy, his weird facial expressions and superficial pronouncements during Mia & Gordon's excellent segment further exemplified why he has no business running this reunion. I give Andy a lot of leeway as I find him entertaining, but he is hopelessly compromised by his faves and inability to comprehend the issues facing this cast. I, too, will miss Candiace's quick wit and wordsmithery, but I admire her for prioritising her family. Only Karen is left with the quick-wittedness to out-smart the GEBs. But she will be entering next season on the back foot, which her enemies will be keen to exploit. I agree. Crystal was finally coming into her own. Kyle's hands are all over this firing. Which is foolish, because Crystal was actually Teddi's last chance (along with Crystal's 13 other ex-BFFs) to return to the show. A bone-headed move by Bravo which chose the reheated leftovers of Dorit vs Kyle (already played out in S8, S10, S12 and S13 when we last watched that SL).

OMG..... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pleased for the Bassetts. Did not have the Nepola-Echevarria divorce on my bingo card! Hopefully this has secured Adriana 'Psychic' de Moura's spot for next season.

Wait a minute... RHOA hasn't started filming YET? Even if they are still deciding on the other women, they do have one certainty -- Porsha. Who they need to already be filming! They need to be swarming Simon's mansion and prepping Ms. Diane and Lauren for their VTs. This is going to be the second Porsha scandals that hasn't made it to air! She's signed, her marriage has imploded, and we need this in real-time. Otherwise, RHOA is set to become totally irrelevant -- an afterthought to shenanigans taking place on social media. On SLC, Monica Garcia is now knocked up. Why the show isn't filming her is anybody's guess. It's like Truly Original (which also films RHOA and RHOP) literally wants their franchises to flop. The scheduling mess I put entirely at the feet of Bravo. I could barely hit BH, Miami, Potomac, SLC and M2M all at once, and it was ridiculous that the network was screening most of its best shows at the same time. Now we are sitting on our asses waiting for (checks notes) Dubai to do the heavy lifting in June? Don't get me wrong, I love the cast but this is not a heavy-hitter ratings-wise. And yes, I know RHONJ is coming soon but I'm of two minds about that one, too. Fuda and Staten Island are not doing it for me as newbies. It's also too bad about Dallas. I would love to see Leeanne, Cary, Dr. Tiffany and D'Andra reboot the show a la Miami. And this is why Karent needs to be added to the cast! Las Cubanas could not abide her. Especially Marysol, who in season 2 excoriated her with: "Karent, the carrier pigeon, comes swooping in. And I unrolled the message from her leg that said 'You're in trouble for wearing fur.'" Will be watching RHOP later but I can see from @DaytimeFan post that this is going to be a hate-watch. I totally agree that Candiace was the wrong dismissal -- it should have been Gizelle who is poisoning the show from within.

Thank you for posting this! Two long months to go until this finally airs. 🫠 i wish they'd air it sooner. This definitely looks tighter narratively than season one. The only thing I was surprised by was the relative lack of Brooks. But Sara is really giving us a SL, and of course the 'break up' of Lesa and Ayan is set to be the linchpin of the season.

RHOP part 2 reunion: Maybe it's because I gave the second half of this season a pass, but I did not see the Ascendancy of Mia coming! It is clear at reunion that Mia Has Been Promoted. She will be carrying RHOP going forward. I don't know how I feel about that as I wanted Mia fired after last season. But this reunion has shown that Mia has learned lessons from her sophomore flop. While she still lies as easily as she breathes, she now knows that she will never outsmart the Jessica Fletchers of RH Twitter. So instead she has embraced her scandal and is now dictating its narrative. The way she talked about knowing Jeremiah was G's made me wonder if this paternity story was made up, as a hook to reel in viewers. That's the problem with Mia's word -- you can never trust it at face value and she will always put a crazy spin on everything. At the same time, I appreciate that this is a RH without true hate in her soul. She beefs with Karen and Wendy but she's not out for their blood. She learned from Candiace and Gizelle: if you keep targeting the object of your hatred, you get punished. Gizelle gets second seat, and Candiace gets the door. I'm starting to think more and more that Candiace's exit was a mutual parting of ways. So, who is next for the chopping block? Judging by the package put together to humanize Gizelle (and I wish we had seen a LOT more clips of the amazing Curtis Graves), production's pet is here to stay. When it came to a choice between Candi gal and Giz, Bravo blinked. If Gizelle is never truly punished, though, I don't think she will ever change her methods. And her methods are what are currently sinking the show. I don't think Robyn is gone --I think she will be demoted to FOH when all is said and done. That will be her punishment for leaving Juan at home. Did you all see Andy dogging her publicly by asking al the husbands why they came to sit behind their wives and Juan didn't? Wendy is gone. I can't shake the feeling that she's had a clutch of seasons to prove herself and it hasn't worked out. Nneka OTOH looks like a sane voice on the reunion couch and, as a result, she may get a second season. Her husband also looks like a drama queen so there's that. Ashley -- on the bubble, but she hasn't done anything in +4 seasons. Watching Karen after news of her DUI broke is an interesting experience. Karen is my fave HW across all the franchises, and I love that she loves most of this cast. She's definitely back next season, but if she doesn't own her DUI right off the bat, that may have repercussions on how the audience responds to her going forward.

I finally watched the final episode of RHOM during Easter weekend. It was so good! Julia breaking into an operatic dance classic and letting her dork flag fly. All the other HWs joining her on the dance floor. It was beautiful chaos. I remember the S11 reunion of RHONY and Luann breaking into one of her dance classics, and Bethenny and Dorinda spitting nails, they were so mad she got a song spot on the show. This group -- even Larsa -- embraced it. This is why I don't want this cast to change. They are interact perfectly together. If I were making bets. I'd say Kiki was heading for full-time promotion and Adriana was going to get cut. But I don't want Adriana or any of them to go. They ARE Miami. S1 is a small jewel (with Simon and Alex providing most of the laughs), while S2 and S3 are epic. (Watch for Ramona "Making a mountain out of a wholemill"). I also have a fondness for Morocco season, aka S4. Enjoy! RHONY was truly great from S1 to S10 IMO.