Cat

I haven't seen ANYepisodes of this Arizona/desert vacation. Should I? It sounds incredibly boring, and I can live without Richie's gross zingers, trust me.

I haven't see last night's epi of RHoNJ, not last week's nor the week before. Are they worth catching up on? RHoNJ has just about done lost me, everybody. All I can think about each week is MIAMI. ETA: Danielle was so BOSS on last night's WWHL. Andy needs to sign her back up to NJ, stat. Whatever it takes. I don't give a [!@#$%^&*] if Jokerface, Chucky (bwah) or MeMeMeWhatAboutME?I'mTheVictimHere! get pissed off about it.

You guys are prob right -- I am so biased because I am determined to love RHoBH even during its fallow periods. The sad thing is, all I can remember about last season BH were Kim & Kyle trying to turn Lisa against Yolanda... and "Twenny-Five ThouZIND" aka Dana aka PAM showing up at Taylor's, freshly divorced, super-bitter, trying to light her cigarette with that giant-ass lighter. As for RHoNY, it took a LONG time to gel last year (and they must still be struggling with it given that it has been off our screens for so long) but once it did, it packed a punch. As Chris says, all the ladies know when to deliver. I miss the old cast but I also love the new cast... I sort of wish we could combine the two casts to make one super RHoNY. Like, I would love to see Bethenny, Jill (yes, I said Jill), Ramona, LuAnn, Alex, Sonja, Heather, Carole, Aviva (obviously Cindy and crazy-ass Kelly can stay gone). I would give anything to see Aviva vs. Jill... Heather and Bethenny hitting it off... LuAnn vs Alex again.. Bethenny and Carole not getting each other (something tells me they wouldn't 'understand' each other)... Aviva and Bethenny HATING each other and Jill deciding to allign herself with Aviva just to piss Bethenny off... LuAnn and Jill turning on Carole... Ramona and Sonja turning on Aviva... OK, I'm going to stop now, lol.

I want to give RHoM love because it just started its new season and most of the shows take time to build steam. Hello, last season BH? NY? Every season is the same story. Also, this week we had Ana, Marysol turning WHITE when Lea patted her cheek, and next week we have Las Cubanas (I kind of count Adriana as one of Las Cubanas even though she is Brazilian) with the drag queens on a road trip! And Alexia and Adriana breaking up! Hurrah. Alexia is driving a lot of the drama in a very undercover way, I'm finding. I just wish Karent was around to entice out Alexia's claws! BTW, I love Romain and he is sexy as SIN, but telling Adriana she can't speak French? No. Adriana's French was clear and almost flawless, and she speaks it with the cutest little Adriana accent. Romain OTOH? Appears to have forgotten a couple of words in French -- he was speaking Franglais (well, Franglish).

When it comes to sex and her marriage, yes, Brandi says exactly what's on her mind. She has absolutely no filter, which I LOVE about her. But when it comes to friendships (and I'm talking about her long-time, loyal friendships), Brandi appears to be tight with people who have been friends with her for years, sometimes before her marriage and even before her modeling days in some cases. I figure that if she were a loudmouth all the time, those longtime friends would have deserted her by now. Nobody stays with disloyal friends who stab you in the back. ETA: But yes. Season 4 syndrome. I get that. *side-eyes RHoNJ*

I don't know why but this news devastates me. More than any other RH franchise, BH is my favourite. Empress Lisa is my favourite HW by a country mile, to the point where I totally buy what she is (metaphorically) selling me -- the great marriage with Ken, the sense of humor, the friendships. And Yolanda-Lisa-Brandi was my fave friendship of all. I love Yol and Brandi on their own, too. Now, that link ^^ posted above has an exclusive interview with Adrienne Maloof headlining the site and seems to be very pro-Adrienne, anti-Lisa in general. I have always believed Lisa when she said that she did not go to the press to brief against the other HWs (like Adrienne accused her of). I'm no fan of Kyle but I don't like to think that My Lisa would try and plant stories about Mauricio cheating and then get Brandi to bring the articles on vacation with the HWs -- just to hurt Kyle. That is just cruel. I don't want to believe it!

RHoM: Adriana vs Lea is definitely making the show, and while Adriana is completely sketchy and lying about her not-marriage to Sesame Street's Count Dracula, she is so diva and a drama queen and so blatantly stirring the pot that I just love it. I am Team Lea in terms of the argument, but can't help but feel that Adriana was saying the truth when she accused Lea of throwing her to one side now that she is "old merchandise." It's such a game of alliances, what with Adriana getting Las Cubanas on her side and Lea having to go to Alexia to "explain" her side of the story and try and win her over. Las Cubanas really run this town. No way in hell Romain and Joanna are not having sex. Alexia needs to face up to the fact that her beloved son is turning into a skeevier, psychotic version of human sweatstain Brandon Davis, and that the only person he shows any love for is his little brother. I love how Alexia alos gave us a quick history of her first marriage -- with a guy who "got involved" in a drug trafficking case "where 20 witnesses died." WTF?! And her mom wanted to introduce her to Prince Felipe of Spain as a future bride after all that?! Bwahahahahaha! Nice try. Like the Royal Family of Spain would ever allign themselves with the ex-wife of a Miami drug lord! Loving Marysol this season.

She is completely dickmatized. It is so sad to see this once-strong, self-made woman who used to be the HBIC of the OC bend over backwards to excuse this slimey grifter. I truly think that if the cameras were not there, she would actually pick him over her daughter. She is that wrapped up in him. Andy is clearly Team Briana and so am I. I think she put her relationship with her mom on the line by coming on and speaking so brutally honestly and confronting Brooks. But it paid off because Brooks played the victim and stepped back, as she knew he would. I totally buy that Brooks came onto her with the 'Girth' Brooks remark. And it is clear he told Ryan to beat his wife if she stepped out of line. The scary thing is, Ryan is just off his rocker enough to do that. The only thing that bothered me was her refusal to address what happened with Ryan and Lydia's mom. Lydia was absolutely within her rights to demand an explanation from Briana about that, but out of respect to Vicki, she backed off. Also, I assume that the physical abuse Brianna was talking about was with regards to her bio dad and not Don, right? She always seemed to love Don. I assume it isn't Vicki! What was most interesting was seeing Gretchen's reaction to Vicki crying, and it kind of made her appear sympathetic. Gretchen and Vicki really are alike in so many ways. OTOH, she could also be setting up an alliance with Vicki for next season when (I presume) Vicki turns against Tamra for speaking out of turn about Brooks. I thought it was interesting that Vicki sought comfort from Alexis and Heather and not her BFF... maybe this is Tamra's turn to get ganged up on.

Yeah, I was expecting to majorly hate on Lea this season but so far Adriana is looking the fool and Lea is looking like the injured party and the only sane person around. Having said that, Adriana is so enjoyable to watch in many ways. I can't take my eyes off her.

I wouldn't be surprised if the breakup of this friendship between Lea and Adriana was conceived by L and A in order to drive SL this season! Having said that, Lea must be a very good actress to exhibit the hurt in her eyes when Adriana turned on her and accused her of targeting her in the press. Not gonna lie, the Lea/Adriana dynamic is sucking me into RHoM this season. IA with you that Adriana's constant no-she-never-married/oh-yes-she-did don't add up. And Lea was very clear and rational in asking her to explain herself. Adriana is what I long suspected, a hustler and a bit of a grifter. I can't help but sit back and enjoy her hustle a little bit, though. Almost everybody on this show is fronting like there's no tomorrow and trying to keep certain secrets about their past hidden. Love seeing Marysol so often in the episode. I always have a soft spot for her. Joanna is boring. I love Lisa but I don't know if it's the nicest thing to go on TV and brag about how she and Lenny bought the house and had the previous owners (who were probably devastated about losing their home) forcibly turned out. Alexia redoing her walk in closet space "because now I need to focus on me." Maybe she needs to spend a little more time focusing on her doped-up, emotionless eldest son. As usual, this show looks absolutely glamorous and stunning, even in a rainstorm.

When Lydia turned Heather's Lisa Vanderpump argument ("She's a HW just like I am; how come she gets a cover and not me?!") right back onto her, that's when she showed up Heather. And while Heather's "pop a vein" comeback was hilarious, it was a last resort because she hadn't been able to win the argument. I think Lydia is hilarious, [!@#$%^&*]-stirrer and all. Still, diff'rent strokes and all that. I hated Lynne Curtin when she was a HW, and some people on her loved her stint. Same with Kathy on RHoNJ. I am of the view that Dina vs. Danielle was epic, and that the Gorgas and Wakiles ruined the show but what do I know? Ratings have gone up since those twits came on board.

Totally agree with you! I really like Lydia although i wasn't sure about her inclusion at the beginning. I love Heather but Lydia really read her at Reunion and exposed her entitled attitude. She doesn't back down from conflict and will usually tell Heather, Douche Lord, Gretchen and Vicki (re: the way Ryan treated her mom) any issues she has with them, to their face. Calling out Douche Lord and trying in vain to protect Tamra's long-gone modesty as she peed in the snow were particularly epic.

Would love to participate in the current RHoOC debate (LOL, I know it is good-natured) but am exhausted just reading all of it! Let's just leave it at: Gretchen and Vicki are cut from the same cloth, two sides of the same coin, etc. They both boast about themselves, they both (foolishly) think they can hide their "indiscrepancies" [© Gretchen for that Bushism], they both dig into each other's past in order to smear the other. Like Stephanie and Brooke on B&B, they are both obsessed with each other and, with that said, they just need to stop pretending, kick Slave and Brokes to the curb, and run off and marry each other. Then we can have the Gretch-Tamra-Vicki love triangle this franchise is clearly banking on. Oh, and Lydia's "Douche-lorrrrrd striiiiikes again!" comment will be the moment for me that she bought her ticket to Season 9.

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.