Cat

We still have two more Reunion episodes of the OC, right (which reminds me -- I need to watch last night's epi)? And I assume RHoNY returns right after the OC is done? Can't wait for BH btw! I always get RH withdrawal syndrome earlier in the year because I don't watch ATL, so I feel ya. Have you thought of giving this RHoM Season 3 opener a go? Like, the first 20 minutes? Just to see if it grabs you? If it doesn't, no harm done.

RHoM is going to be the BOMB. It is already glitzier than the average PT soap -- the private jets, fast cars, stunning apartments, breathtaking villas, that Cuban music and glossy shots of Miami that follow the HWs everywhere... I just love it. This is an Aaron Spelling meets Univision soap! I love that Las Cubanas rule the roost, a true reflection of who built and controls Miami. I also love how often Marysol is featured and that they addressed what happened to Mama Elsa this episode. I like Alexia but she has got to stop making excuses for her deadbeat son who beat up a homeless man. He's not sorry in the least and she's only sorry he got caught. Frankie, OTOH, is a sweetheart and I love the interaction between him and Alexia and him and his grandmother. There are so many women who are going to stir the pot and make things happen this season, chief among them Alexia, Adriana and Lea. It took me a whole season 2 to warm up to Adriana but I am there now. I get it and I get her eccentric, diva ass. Viva Queen Adriana. And Lea vs Adriana feels like a more evenly-matched fight than Lea vs Marysol last year. Every HW show needs a villain/target, and it is Lea this year. Sort of tired already of Joanna, even though I loved her and Romain last year. She's such a spoiled brat. So glad to see LISA! I'd been missing her from all the pre-premiere interviews and stuff, so I'm glad to see she has a prominent role in the proceedings. Juniorz better get his ass in this thread! I want to hear what he and Cheap are going to say.

That gossip video is made of WIN. It is like something out of the late 80s, early 90s. The background music, the way Daisy Olivera talks, everything! I love it because it really took its time to deliver the interviews and the gossip from everybody. That two-bit male escort making fun of Mama Elsa, though? Needs to crawl back to whichever dark alley he regularly ho-strolls. And I hate to say it but that laugh sounds like Lea's. And Lea's non-denial denial when pressed about it wasn't exactly convincing. Ugh, I know. His dullard ass was still around? When Caroline started boohooing, Lauren was all Even Greg was like "Yeah, whatever. I've already lined up the next group of dumbasses I'm gonna leach off of." What was hilarious, though, was Caroline was in the middle of her "You're like a second... I mean, third... son to me-- oh hey, there's Jacqueline. Let's talk about Teresa!" Greg was totally ignored for the rest of the segment.

RHONJ: It's official. Just fire everybody and give this franchise to Gia and Milania. Milania shooting the chandeliers, "Melissa going up a pole," and Gia reading her uncle and speaking so truthfully about everything that's gone wrong with her family. Joey looked like a giant idiot next to her. Honestly, these two say everything that the adults are afraid to say to each others' faces. I still have a crush on Chris Laurita. I know that's wrong. Also I really liked Caroline this episode, especially when she was taking care of CJ. Don't know what the !@#$%^&*] Jacqueline has done to her face and nose but a neck tuck? This woman has serious body dysmorphia issues. It's clear when she refuses to participate in a charity Zumba class -- she's so afraid of what? Jiggling? Get a good bra, some Spanx and get over it! The best part was watching Joe Giudice doing zumba. SO excited for tonight's Bravo offerings!

I missed that! And I am shocked that Lea would laugh at that because she always said she was close with Mama Elsa. If she did do that, then she is [joeygorga]Scum[/joeygorga].

I did not know this either. Poor Mama Elsa! That explains why Marysol was downgraded to friend status this season. I am sure that Andy (like almost everybody else who loves this show) is hoping that Mama Elsa makes a full recovery and when that happens, both she and Marysol will be back on RHoM full-time. Fingers crossed for this fabulous lady's recovery.

After the experiment that was the revamped RHoNY last year, Bravo is shying away from too many new HWs and outright revamps. Andy Cohen was sending a message to its Bravolebrities about not getting too big for your britches like Jill Zarin. Unfortunately, last season's RHoNY shed a lot of viewers, most of whom did not return to see how the season played out (too bad, because after 5-6 v slow episodes, the stories really started coming together). The WWHL special interview with Jill Zarin some months ago was a test to see if viewers would want Jill back, and if Jill would behave. Unfortunately, Zarin failed the audition. I don't think Cohen is willing to deal with her monstrous ego in any way, shape or form. Consequently -- no more revamps. Better the devil you know, so keep the old HWs and, if possibly bring back popular ex-HWs. Which is why Bravo keeps reaching out to Jeana, Lauri, Peggy Tanous (!), Danielle Staub. I would love it if Danielle came back to RHoNJ and just exposed EVERYBODY. I especially loved the stuff with her and her daughters in S1 and S2. It could happen. Danielle's eldest girl (Christine?) defended Teresa and her kids on Twitter a few days ago when some nutty tweep started going on and on about CHHF. Teresa certainly seemed to appreciate the gesture because she singled out Danielle and her daughters for particular praise in her blog this week. Since Bravo are clearly ghost-writing most of these blogs, I am wondering if this is their way of making nice and getting Staub to come back.

I found Lea extremely hard to warm to at first (bear in mind, I never watched Season 1. I came into RHoM cold in S2). There's a teflon hardness to her masked by a charming smile and shmoozey attitude which is very common of people in her world of party-giving and fund-raising. I thought she was a bitch to Marysol, siccing that crazy drag queen on her and nasty Joe Francis on everybody else. But I guess this is what keeps her on the show -- she is a pot-stirrer who quietly makes things happen in the corner. I also thought she judged Lisa WAY too quickly, and it was only when Lisa showed her how much she admired her for all her strong qualities that Lea warmed up and, in turn, showed me that she had a giving side. Apart from the Lisa/Lea stuff (which was GOLD), Lea with her husband, son, maid and dog was very affecting. I also think Lea genuinely respects (and may even care for) Mama Elsa. Mama Elsa is my fave so I am biased. And on the trip when Alexia et al were ganging up on Karent, Lisa was trying to make them take the high road. Of course, Reunion underscored the fact that Lea may have some nasty little secrets of her own that she doesn't want coming out. I wonder if S3 will hint at some of them?! All this to say that I find her a fascinating but highly ambivalent HW. I'm still on the fence about her.

Darn! Wish I'd seen this before I posted. I think Lydia adds something kind of fun to the show and would happily see her return, although Lauri and Jeana of course need to be up on the pantheon. I think Lydia is hilarious actually ("douche lord" for Slade etc). Wretched & Douche Lord. For me, it is the sense of entitlement and blinding lack of accountability. Wretched wants Vicki to admit to her faults and crimes but she will never admit to some of the stuff she's done which makes her... just like Vicki! She and Slade have played victim for a long time now, but when someone wants them to apologize for their sketchiness, it's a lot of eye-rolling, denials and vicious VTs. Like Gretchen came out yet again with the "crime" that Vicki was once in bed with two people -- in one of her last VTs of the episode. But she won't say it to her face, preferring Lauri to do the attacking. That's embarassing that the most heavily financed army in the world has no pennies to spare for the physical and mental wellbeing of its soldiers. I hope Vicki and Brianna convince Ryan to seek some counselling. I got the feeling that while Brianna was defensive on camera, off-camera she was mortified at the way Ryan reacted -- she bundled him upstairs with the help of friends. I will always support Brianna's Brooks-hate, though. He really is a sleazy little cockroach. I love that guitar solo. It always makes the OC season finales seem poignant. These women do suffer everyday hurts, and the relatability of that always comes out with that music and their Final Words of what they think they learnt this year.

RHoNJ: I have nothing to say about this week's episode (which I just speed-watched) except that, once again with RHoNJ, I wonder why I even bother. The only good thing was Milania, "Congratulations, stupid" and that flashback to Teresa's classic Sizzle Tan ad. Back when she was actually a happy, funny human being. RHoOC: By contrast, the OC is the gift that keeps on giving. Wow @ Ryan (and Brianna). Just WOW. I hope they replay that recording of Ryan going full Rambo on Fairy Dust's ass because it was clear that she didn't start anything. I am always usually Team Brianna but she has to realize that, PTSD or not, Ryan has major control/anger mgmt issues. Just when I am siding with Gretchen (Heather needs to get over Malibu Country), then she has to make those faces when Vicki asks Slade to tone down his nasty remarks. Vicki's a hot hypocritical mess but her basic point is correct. And for Gretchen to make remarks about Vick's surgery is hilarious in the extreme. Vicki may always look like Miss Piggy but Gretchen is turning into Janice the saxophone player. Lydia kind of went overboard with the "Slade was mean to me, too!" but I'm willing to put it down to her being emotional about Ryan's treatment of Fairy Dust. Lydia is workin' it to stay on this show. Brianna got her own HW "what happened next" thing at the end! I wonder if that means Andy wants her to become a full HW eventually. And.... nobody wanted to stand by Gretchen in the final shot. Ouch.

Lisa's is the best -- but not as good as her intro last season "My husband's a top plastic surgeon in this town -- and I am his best creation." No clue what Joanna and Lea are yapping about. I love that they kept Adriana's song. But I am really going to miss Karent on the show. Hey, I read that her practice went belly-up so... maybe she will return? Here's hoping. BTW, Nothin'ButAttitude, I love that jpeg of Nene in your signature -- the one where she giggles and flirts with Andy. Nene fronts a lot of the time like she's the toughest chick around, but when she really likes somebody, she gets all adorable and giggly like that.

Basically everyone in the RH franchises should take the Tre situation as a warning shot and start making sure that their tax affairs are in order and that nobody they know has any iron-clad proof of fraud on their parts. I'm not just talking the Gorgas, Wakiles, Manzos and Lauritas. Bethenny, Wig, Nene, Lea Black, Alexis and Jim-Blob, Adrienne, Empress Lisa (you know Adrienne is already speed-dialling the IRS suggesting they audit her restaurants), Ramona, everybody. Heck, even Andy Cohen might want to touch base with his financial advisor today. The IRS does not play. As Michael K on D-Listed said, "The IRS does not [!@#$%^&*] around and if you owe them money, they will take the last piece of food out of your child's mouth and cackle while doing it." The IRS has become increasingly hardcore about investigating peoples' sources of income and capital and closing loopholes since 2011-2. Not that they were pushovers before.

I would rather see Heather turn against Tamra. It's about time Tamra was in the hot seat for a while. In all actuality, Heather is too wealthy and powerful an ally for Tamra to turn against.

Those RHONJ cancellation rumors are gaining ground: http://www.celebitchy.com/313558/teresa_joe_giudice_arent_getting_a_spinoff_rhonj_could_be_canceled_/

Oh, another thing. I thought everybody was kind of mean about Kent, Slade's brother. OK, obviously, the hair was awful and I wish we had seen the haircut they said they were going to give him. But at the same time, he's doing his own thing and seems pretty happy. He is entitled to style himself how he wants. Not sure how Slade felt when he saw those VTs of Gretchen talking about Kent as "backward Slade" or hillbilly and other wonderful terms evoking white-trashdom. Just because he's not living in a gated community, working in "home financing" and mortgaged up to his ears?

Damn. How much time did Gretchen and Slade's pre-engagement engagement party take up?! Was there really any need for such a big event, with everybody flown in from all over the place, Cirque du Soleil hair-and-makeup for Gretch, a Nordstrom tux and helicopter for Slade? The wedding date has yet to be set and this couple are fending off creditors and child support officers? The fact that such a big song-and-dance was made of this says to me that somebody was trying to out-scoop Tamra before her big day and is pinning her hopes on a Wedding Spin-Off. After all, the wedding and all that plastic surgery Wretched claims she never had (but may get "at some point") isn't going to pay itself. The whole episode was painfully transparent, especially Gretchen's oh-so-spontaneous conversations with her parents and MIL who recited their dialogue dutifully about Slade being such an a-MAY-zin guy and made for Gretch etc, etc. And then there's that limo conversation when Slade could barely keep from laughing when Gretch was talking about how natural and surgery-free she is. It was up there with Taylor and Russell's limo fakery on the way to Kyle's white party in S2 of RHOBH. HAVING SAID ALL THAT: let's call out Vicki on her fake-ass "Brooks and I are back together" announcement. Hon, you were never broken up to begin with. Got to hand it to Gretchen. She is making people talk about her and creating all the drama and conflict. She is working it. I love how she swept into that Winter Wonderland party as everybody was bitching about her, looking like the Snow Queen had thrown up all over her, all "Hey you guyzzzzzzzz!" and sort-of not-really clueless about what is being said behind her back. RHoOC really has not disappointed me this season. And I like Lydia who is equal parts an 8-year old kid, equal parts the show's most undercover [!@#$%^&*]-stirrer. A smart, sensible presence like Briana is needed on the show, especially since Jeanna is no longer a HW.

That is some Al Capone [!@#$%^&*] right there. OTOH I feel sorry for Tre and especially her girls but OTO... don't do the crime if you can't do the time! I wonder if this is the end of RHONJ as we know it. Rumor has it that Al Manzo (aka Mr. Caroline Manzo) is up to his neck in public commission chicanery, too. That RHoM promo is one of the best I have ever seen. I have never seen Adriana look as stunning as she does there. Marysol also looks good (if very "done" in the face). Honestly, after all these NJ news items the past few days, RHoM looks like a breath of fresh air right now.

Cheers for the advice!

Thanks for the suggestion, Miss Hamilton! I am not familiar with LSA and plan to do just that.

Have to give props to Gov Christie who has really tried to crack down on corruption in NJ (especially in construction and the public sector). Obviously it is a near impossible battle to wage because it gets so entrenched in all sectors of life. And for all l know, Christie ccould be on the take, too. But at least they're trying over there. And yes, l am Team Tre and Juicy but IRL l am Team Anti-Corruption more.

Lipstick Alley had THE most amazing tea-spilling thread about RHoNJ this weekend. Like, jaw-dropping. I have no idea if it is all true but, to keep a long story short, the (alleged) reason for the feud is because Joey got in serious debt to keep Melissa in the style to which she has become accustomed, moved them into a spec house built on materials/handiwork that he has yet to pay back because the house was initially built to be "flipped," i.e. the construction people would be paid after the house sold. Since he didn't sell the house, he still had to pay them and got into debt with loan sharks upon which he bilked his parents' home (without them even knowing). The loan sharks evicted the elders, and that's why Juicy was building a place for them on his property. And that's why Teresa and her parents can't stand Melissa because they think her need to be famous was behind Joey's need to move her into the spec house and get his hands on $$$. http://www.lipstickalley.com/f213/rhnj-tea-546287/ As for the latest episode, I saw NOTHING genuine in Melissa's conduct, least of all the fake drunkeness. She is such a poor actress! As well as being a manipulative little liar. But I did find Teresa and Caroline's interaction genuine and actually sort of sweet. Jacqueline's comment about Joey prob having had sex with his sister at 10 was disgusting (even her husband looked taken aback) and I hope she gets read at Reunion for saying that. Eric83, you are so right, if Juicy or Tre had said that about Jacqueline and her brother, or Caroline and Chris Laurita, they would be calls to get their asses thrown in jail. On a positive note, Jacq looked good in the previews at the sit-down dinner with Teresa, which is surprising as her surgery usually looked fucked up.

I did a little search of what Sonja said to Aviva after the St. Barts crazython: "You have said some things you cannot take back. You defamed my character ... I can’t have a friend like that. I have enough friends." "Whatever you tell me about your feelings now, I don’t care. I’m over you." "I don’t know who you think you are really. You put out an air that you think you’re better than others. You're a liability." Well-thought out, precise, clear, without being truly vicious and resorting to Aviva's cray-cray tactics. And I, too, thought LuAnn acquited herself very well in those scenes where she helped Sonja. She seemed very genuine.

LOL, he is fine, but Phaedra also has very beautiful eyes and mouth. Aiden has her round cheeks and mega pout and he can definitely pull off that stank-eye look she does when he wants to. I have to defend my Sonya who in recent years has been fragilized by her divorce. Her husband threw her on the scrap-heap when she hit a certain age and in huge debt. Their wealthy mutual friends probably shunned her. So she's taking what friendship and comfort she can get. LuAnn may be evil and scheming but she was also there for Sonya last season when she put away her husband's portrait and closed the door on that chapter in her life. It was telling that she asked LuAnn to help her with that and not Crazy Pinot. As for not being tough, she read Aviva the riot act a couple of times last season without losing her cool. I was pretty impressed with how she dealt with her.

Phaedra does make truly gorgeous babies.

It has been a pretty good season of the OC, better than most actually, and if they have enough material for a three-parter, then so be it. I'll be watching.