Cat

Karen is the MVP this season. I know I'm biased, but it's true. Even if she's not 'close" to as many people as alliance-collector Gizelle, she is an anchor for the audience. She also keeps it from getting too toxic. Ashley seems tickled by her, and I notice Nneka, when she isn't busy bad-mouthing Wendy, sticks close to Karen. Even though I suspect Production told Gizelle and Karen to kiss and make up two years ago, I do think Gizelle is another one who is constantly amused by Karen and understands now that she is needed for the show. The way she was slapping her butt on her birthday as she came over with 'gifts' snaffled from room service. The divide in the group, however, is hurting the show. Gizelle, Robyn and Ashley want Candiace and Wendy GONE and it is so obvious they are icing them out. I notice on social media that everybody except Karen, Wen and Candygal went out for dinner yesterday. Even Mia and Nneka were invited! It must be reunion soon so Giz got them all together to compare notes and formulate a game plan? "I done nothing to y'all' sobbed Robyn in the car. This was Robyn's big moment to bring the audience on-side. I don't know how it went down with everyone else, but since I've watched the show, Robyn has been a typical bully's sidekick. She's gleefully gotten her kicks in on Ashley (S2), Monique, Karen, Wendy and Candiace once Gizelle decided they would be the target. She loves a gang-up. And now that she gor caught out with the Patreon and her exclusive deets of Juan's infidelity, some of the women are like 'It's your turn now.' Juan clearly resents her for putting it all on TV, but they also made the choice to play along with it for now. Nneka is so laser-focused on Wendy. You can tell she came on to bring her down, and that's why I can't warm to her at all. Even though I'm not a Wendy stan either. I just feel bad that she's targeted for another year. Gizelle... sigh. Is Production's Fave really so needed on this show anymore? Is it time for her to exit stage left? I go back and forth on this.

I agree with so much of this. It has been a surprisingly compact season thus far, in a good way. Though not perfect, I am enjoying it. I will give Kyle props for carrying the show. She's not hiding the fact that she and Mo are no longer connected and she is having an emotional affair with someoneelse. She's not hiding the fact that Kathy ostracised her. I thought it interesting that in every flashback showing Kyle's many fallings out with Kathy, each was due to something Kyle had instigated but nevertheless felt she deserved instant forgiveness for: the creation of The Agency at the expense of Hilton Hyland; the constant tacit support of Lisa Rinna over and above Kim and Kathy, etc. I appreciate that BH is painting a full picture of Kyle, and sometimes (!) she is selfish and unlikeable. As giddy as she is with Morgan, her treatment of Sutton can be mean. I really think she views Sutton as a Kim substitute in some ways, but the difference is that Sutton is actually tougher and more self-aware than Kyle gives her credit for. As you say, even under peer pressure from Kyle, Dorit and Flopmarie, Sutton stood her ground. I think Dorit may have one more season in her, and that's because since the Umansky separation, she and Kyle are not as close. Crystal FINALLY acted like a RH in this episode, effortlessly and humorously popping Dorit's inquisition bubble. Flopmarie is Kyle's henchman and sounded a complete fool throughout the episode but especially during the esophagus debacle. This chick's a medical professional? Really? Erika is just about likeable without the toxic influence of a certain somebody. She has a support group with Mikey, Clyde and her team. She seems to really despise her mother, though.

The Clarence Update gave me life! im glad hes coming back to CBS.

@Taoboi This morning, I woke up with the urge to watch SLC after your post. I watched the episode where Meredith talks about the car accident/Monica and her mom face off at the old people's community center, and then the next episode with Orthodox Easter at Angie's House. I am eating my words. What great episodes! What a refreshing season of SLC. First of all, if I were Heather and Little Girl, I'd be mighty worried because Angie and Monica are giving A LOT. They are putting everything out there, the good, the bad, the ugly, they are not obfuscating to the audience (think: Heather, black eye) or stirring the pot with the other women because they have nothing actually to offer themselves. I can't see Bravo giving up on Bad Mormon because Heather is pretty much the OG, so Little Girl.... is going to have to rustle something up beyond 'mawiage twoubles.' Secondly, I think I enjoy Angie almost as much as Monica. So far. Monica is a star, though. She's a chess player and manipulative, but also real and vulnerable, and I love that we see all the contours of her personality. The scenes getting her kids off to school while she had bed hair and wore pajamas rang so true! You know SLC is growing on me when I am entertained by the usually-overrated Lisa Barlow! Yeah, she can stay. For now. I am so pleased you are watching Miami in real time! It really is a joy to watch a cast which is made up of unique personalities but which works as a group, too. I think the secret ingredient is that each cast member has one BFF on which they can depend, even when they are fighting with someone else. So it is with Alexia and Marysol, Adriana and Julia, Lisa and Larsa, Nicole and Guerdy. And Kiki is the little sis everyone dotes on. Most of these are longtime real-life friendships that we have seen evolve. One of the nicest things, for me, as a fan of Julia's, is seeing her finally integrated in the group, forging friendships of her own with Alexia, Guerdy, Nicole, etc. I never thought I would see the day with Larsa and Julia kiki-ing in the car over her operatic performance for Martina! Martina is someone else who seems to have been embraced by the group, no matter where individuals may stand with Julia. The only thing I worry about is Alexia's attempt at befriending Julia. I'd like to think it's because she appreciates Julia for her kindness, and Alexia is of course on her apology tour after last season's missteps. But a part of me thinks that Alexia and Marysol want to pull Julia away from Adriana and leave Adriana isolated and off the show. Which would be a crying shame because IMO Adriana is as much an OG of this group as Alexia. Queen Adriana needs to stay! Another part of the Alexia apology tour: her and Todd kissing up to Nicole and Moneybags Anthony. Todd seems desperate for his attention! Nicole is a Queen. End of. I love her smarts, her common sense, her personal story, her JOB, and the luxury she navigates with ease. I also love the considered and expert support she gives Guerdy. Guerdy this season is on fire and passionate, and driven by a cause -- beating cancer. Just as Lisa's divorce was at the heart of last season, so Guerdy's health journey is the heart of this one. I think its kind of beautiful that this cast, for all its wealth and ostentation, pettiness and drama, rich husbands and good-time golddiggers, understands what is truly important in life. Watching Larsa trying to not fumble the bag with Marcus Jordan is lowkey mesmerising. I, of course, am rooting for Team Michael Jordan's Lawyers. Still so much to come! Like you, I wish this was on Peacock, and counting a worldwide audience leisurely streaming the show. I am bummed that it's on Bravo and the live ratings are not great. What with Miami, BH, SLC, Potomac and M2M to watch, we have an excess of top-tier reality soaps and I have zero time to absorb all the episodes in real time. Who programmed this?? What are they going to do in March when we have, like, only Jersey and nothing else to watch?!

Miami Not much talk about Miami here. It's been a slow burn but in a good way. I love the relationships between the women and the slow bring-down of Larsa. The women still pull their punches with her, and I don't know why. Guerdy was entirely in her right to be upset about Larsa telling everyone about Guerdy's cancer. As Guerdy put it, it wasn't about concern -- Larsa just wanted to 'win' the gossip game and put it out there. BH Kyle and Sutton are re-enacting Kyle's deep seated issues with Kathy, I've decided. Kyle continues to lean into her comfort zone which is unadulterated victimhood. It was great to see Kim pop up seemingly in a great place in her life.

These RHs are jumping into Ozempic for quick fix to an issue which can ve dealt with with nutrition and exercise. I see lazy-ass Kim Zolciak has whittled down to a shadow of her former self. Of course Miss Lay on Your Back With a Solo Cup is on the Ozempic too. She has zero impulse control, and I worry we will see serious health events from reality stars who are going to abuse this medication.

So I need to catch up on SLC. I'm trying, but I'm on the struggle bus with this show. About to jump on the Olive Branch With Thorns episode -- is it worth persevering? I do have thoughts on these looks, though: Angie -- "My stylist said this is what all the Real Housewives wear to reunion." Heather -- Grecian goddess. She looks stunning. Lisa -- Yawn. Still channelling the rich hippie chick look. And is that dress a wool knit? Mary -- Hello, Gizelle Bryant! LOL, to be fair, I love her style. Mary takes risks but rarely seems to get it wrong. Meredith -- The color, the fabric, the balance of covering up (arms) with exposure (cleavage) is perfectly judged. It's a win for Meredith who used to let the outfit wear her. Monica -- An unsurprising dress for a newbie at her first reunion, but the color choice is unusual and pops with her hair and skin. Monica is playing all her chess moves perfectly at the moment. Little Girl -- I can't. What is this, hunny? A place-mat for my kitchen table? Also she's had so many facial tweaks that she's become completely generic-looking.

Thanks for the tea! I personally would love to see Lu and Sonja interact with some of the nuRHONYs. They have much to teach those little baby chicks learning to fly. On another note, Luann has amazing legs and a movie-star figure. I am always amazed at how stunning she looks. Sonja's eyeroll was so perfectly, elegantly done, it was the highlight for me.

Difficult news to report -- thanks, Errol. 😪

@DaytimeFan @Gray Bunny @Taoboi @Faulkner Luann and Sonja keeping busy with a last-minute endorsement deal with Uber Easts. There's an Alex McCord diss in there, too. Or is it a nuRHONY diss?

I just realised that you called Sweet Tea 'Toya's country cousin' way before me. I don't know whether we just came to that conclusion independent of each other, or whether I absorbed your statement without realising where it came from. Apologies if it's the latter. She really does look like Toya in certain angles. Dr. G seems a lot happier with Sweet Tea, but he is mortally afraid that she will dump him like Quad did. Quad always let it be known that she was 'above' Dr. G and that she was entitled to better options. He was a mere stepping stone to those better options, and he knew it. Not surprisingly, it did a number on his self-esteem. He always wanted a traditional wife who would appreciate and fuss over him, and Lateasha seems to fit the bill. Every time Dr. Alicia pops up, it's a jumpscare. I'm like, Who is this? I actually think Lateasha's bridesmaid (Jasmine) who has been giving Heavenly the side-eye, might have been a better friend-of option. Heavenly is a turncoat who jumps from one person to another when it suits her. She turns on everybody except for Jackie, for some reason. I think the other women enjoy Heavenly, but I'm not sure they trust her. Quad needs Heavenly (and not just Special Guest Star Phaedra) to cement her position as a main cast member on the show. Sister Circle is not coming back.

"Just be open an' honest!" But the rare few times the tables are turned on her, Kyle doesn't like it and we get eating disorders and "You are a liar, sick, an alcoholic." Sutton and Garcelle mentioning Kyle's marriage did not happen in a vacuum. There is no way Kyle would bring her 'friend' on the show unless a careful, legal separation had already taken place. Mauricio can barely fake it anymore he's so checked out, and Kyle is completely over Mo in a big way. S&G bought it up because the separation was already out there. My concern is... who gets that gorgeous Encino house? --------- By the way.... Kathy Hilton had a Christmas event and invited everyone and their cat:

First of all, apologies-- I meant Phaedra, not Porsha! Secondly, even though she riles me up, Heavenly is a necessary ingredient to this mix, as the cast all are. And what i eould give to have Mariah or Lisa-Nicole back! The show would lose something without this core cast. I must say, when I saw Dr. Contessa at Sweet Tea's wedding, I thought 'She should come back.' Because she was so unguarded and funny with Simone and Jackie. I wasn't always a fan, but I respect that she put her marriage problems out there. I think she left because the speculation around her and Scott's marriage became very intense, and they probably wanted the spotlight off of themselves. They were pretty committed to their medical practice first and foremost, and not just the show, which i think is also the case with Jackie and Simone and makes M2M all the better for it. Medicine is a true vocation after all. I also have a lowkey crush on Dr. Damon (aka Daddy, lol). He seems so grounded and lovely.

P.S.: Sutton's ex hubby really is globally powerful -- he is managing director and now president of PIMCO, one of the bigger asset/fund managers in the world.

BH: GREAT episode, finally. I was hooked from start to finish. First of all, Morgan Wade. Even Stevie Wonder can see what's going on between her and Kyle -- it jumped off the screen. The entire sequence made me think about Kyle's relationships with women generally. Kyle has long defined herself by her close friendships with female friends. It reminds me of Taylor Swift's infamous Girl Squad. Kyle's most dynamic and foundational relationships have always been with women, from her mother down. These relationships are aspirational, they are super-tight and maternal, offering her a closeness she has always sought, they are also incredibly competitive (Kim, LVP, Kathy), and they are about coveting what the other woman has (a Villa Rosa lifestyle; tattoos). The coveting may reflect Kyle's ongoing search for who she actually is. I'm also reminded that none of Kyle's friends are actually close with each other, and are often pitted against the other (Faye vs LVP, Dorit vs Teddi). After a lowkey sensual tattoo session with Morgan, Kyle ran home to Mauricio to show him. It was almost like she was trying to provoke him. Now we are seeing an implosion in Kyle's friendship with Sutton, whom she had been trying to woo over to her side. (BTW Dorit seems almost thrilled by this turn of events). Sutton expected this shift from Kyle, which is why she had the 'Kyle's Marriage' card ready to play. Garcelle knew it was coming -- she silenced the yappy chihuahua newbie at the Dinner Party From Hell 3.0 with a sharp "HER MARRIAGE" and stirred the pot wonderfully. It made a lot of sense that in an episode devoted to Kyle's female relationships, the OG Dinner Party from Hell was evoked. "He will never emotionally fulfil you, ever. As soon as the kids are bigger, you'll have nothing in common. Know that." LOL I live for those words! The appearance of Faye, Camille, and even Justin also took me back. Denise did not show up tipsy. I think we all know Denise was on something else. 100%. Their chemistry leapt off the screen. I don't believe either of them have the acting capability to manufacture that. New Girl reminds me of Tonya from RHOA, but much thirstier.

Anyone watching the current season of M2M? I am hooked! Usually M2M is a slow burn in the early episodes, but they hit the ground running this season by jumping straight into the engagement of throwback Dr. Greg and his new fiancée. Sweet Tea is not at all what I expected from a M2M cast member. Facially, she looks like she could be Toya's country cousin (Toya BTW seems like she's had a little face work done, but good work). Lateasha is proudly country and I like that. She's a little different from reality newbies on these shows -- first of all, spilling that she went after Greg in his DMs because she has an older-dude fetish. That one is going to bite her in the ass come reunion. Heavenly has already sized her up like a shark, but props to Lateasha for leaving her off the wedding guest list as payback. Heavenly has been crowing about how she got into the wedding anyway, but since she probably had to bribe an attendant to get that cameratime, I'd say its a hollow victory. While I'm not sure Sweet Tea is a GREAT cast member, I do think she adds an interesting dynamic. She's a fish out of water, she's not pretending that she's loaded, and she's just trying to fit in. She's not quite a pushover either, but there is a power imbalance between her and other cast members. Quad was bragging some months ago about how Bravo reached out to come back and 'save' the show, but I'm not quite sure that's true. It's fun to see her trying to rile up the group, but she very much feels on the outside. I echo Toya's distrust of her and always have. I'm not sure slippery Porsha fits. A lot of her shtick is so staged and contrived. I hope M2M doesn't tip too far in that direction. The other women seem to be clocking that and her shady background in a good-humoured way. Curtis only showed up for the bachelor party? Sometimes I think he and Jackie are fully living separate lives. M2M really is one of the best shows on Bravo IMO.

I thought Kathy (in what looks like a gorgeous YSL throwback pantsuit) kept it classy. It sounds like she and Kyle are talking again. She wasn't jubilant, but the cool, focused way she responded told me that no tears are being shed in the Hilton household about Mauricio's likely departure from Kyle's life.

I'm sure Garcelle will be accused (as Sutton has been) of getting her talking points from social media. That may be the case here, although there is not a Housewives-related post on Twitter which hasn't rolled its eyes at Boris & Natasha's blatant insurance grifting. This week's episode was a good one for Garcelle. She was shady, but also showed off time with her kids and her Lifetime movie. Sutton was also clocking in. Kyle and Sutton are officially engaged in an angry-whisper campaign against the other. Sutton is leaning heavily into "Kyle seems so different this year! No wedding ring, hmmmmmmm", and Kyle is anxious to paint Sutton as boozily unstable. Kyle's henchman Terry has already been claiming on WWHL and that podcast that Sutton carries vodka in her purse. Kyle and Terry, as usual, are desperate to get Terry's spot back. Erika is coming off better without the toxic ghoul presence of Lisa Rinna to incite Erika at her meanest (and that was a nice scene with Jax). Erika is also not hiding the fact that her circumstances and means are much reduced. Far from it, she seems to be making a point of showing it on camera. After a painfully slow start, RHOBH may finally be picking up some momentum. Next week looks really good. First of all, the new HW Annemarie (first impression: thirsty to be on camera) is introduced. This week allegations of sexual assault came out against her husband. I wonder how much Bravo will be forced to edit. IMO Bravo should keep it all in there. But what's really got me watching was Denise Richards at yet another Dinner Party From Hell crazily tweaking from whichever substance she had recently ingested.

RHOP Wendy remains the target for attacks, one season after Mia laid hands on her (and really should have been fired for it). Nneka was clearly hired with the intent to 'bring down Wendy.' And Ashley is turncoat as always, setting up the takedown because the only alliance she is loyal to is the GEBs. None of the women, except Karen and Candiace, can actually match Wendy for smarts. (K and C could teach her something about quick wit!). So the GEBs decide to lean into one of the uglier African stereotypes out there. And Nneka went along with this narrative! Her family must be so proud that for millions of viewers, the Nigerian diaspora in the US will now be reduced to 'Osu' and voodoo. Robyn going along with this and making herself the focal point of the shrine nonsense -- I can't with this bully. She is laser-focused on hating Wendy. Sometimes I feel sorry for Robyn's marital situation but, frankly, she brings misery and karma upon herself. I hope the Nigerian Miss Dorothy gets invited to reunion to dress these idiots down and speak her piece.

Right? Larsa already secured the bag with her first marriage. It feels karmically unjust that someone with breathtakingly little talent and personal attributes secure a second massive bag of $$$$ !

She stole Guerdy's ability to tell her story herself. And she did it on purpose. I'm sure at reunion she'll say she didn't realise Guerdy didn't want her to say anything, and it will be treated as oops, no big deal, because Andy labours under the delusion that she's one of the stara of this show. However, this is par for the course for Larsa, who doesn't have the talent or singularity to truly carry a story of her own. Unless that story is 'Get the Jordan child to marry me before Papa Jordan's lawyers force me to sign a prenup.' Never have I rooted so hard for Team Lawyers. I predict that come reunion time, Lisa will no longer be with Jody. She's still too tied up in Lenny and the psychodrama of her divorce. Guerdy asking advice of Martina was a great scene helping to demystify certain scary things about cancer treatment. RHOBH I liked this episode. I can't believe I'm going to say it but individual members of the Coven (Kyle, Dorit, even Erika) carried the episode. Kyle admitting that alcohol was kind of a front may be a metaphor for her entire life on the show. It's interesting (to me) that Kyle, who has appropriated other people's personality ticks and style over the years (LVP, Teddi, Kathy) has arrived at a point in her life where she doesn't know who she is anymore and is desperate for change. And so what does she do? She collects a new lady friend and starts appropriating her tattoos, likes and interests. Normally I'd be rooting for Sutton saying that Kyle will never have her back, which is true, but I feel like Sutton read it on Housewives Twitter and that's why she's saying it. Like @Soaplovers I think Garcelle might be ready to distance herself from Sutton.

Gizelle had to laugh when Karen said "I don't know international, I only know domestic." Karen is so quick! And as for Mia, Karen knows she's going to flip on her, the only question is when. She's ready and anticipating it. I felt bad for Wendy too. Ashley went below and beyond to drive a wedge between her and Nneka and it bummed me out because we now know that the two never got back from that initial lie. So even when Ashley gets called out on it, the damage to thtmat potential friendship has been done.

The article and the 'union' has been a massive flop. Don't get me wrong, there is definitely room for Bravo to improve its treatment of reality stars. That message is probably best delivered by the audience, to demand the change it thinks Bravo needs. Not by a personally aggrieved Bethenny, who fell out with Andy when he let her know she wasn't considered for the 'younger' nuRHONY. That's what really stuck in her craw -- that she may have aged out in the eyes of network execs. This woman's ego is OOC if she honestly believed that she was single-handedly going to burn that house down. Nevermind that, while ratings are down on some shows, RH still pulls in advertisers and eyeballs, and loyal eyeballs at that. The whole exercise also finally destroyed the myth that Bethenny is bigger than the RH franchise, that she doesn't need the RHs to succeed. This couldn't be further from the truth. Those drugstore-makeup TikToks aside, Bethenny cannot stay away from RHs. She needs it to stay relevant.

RHOP This was a great season opener. Last season I was disappointed by the laziness of production, so was surprised at the attempt to listen to fans. What's especially noticeable is the rehabilitation job on Gizelle -- and not Robyn. After years of not showing her life and distracting the audience by throwing dirt on others, Gizelle is showing her best self. Dating, her daughters, and tough love for Robyn, whom I really do believe she considers a friend. This is a Gizelle I've long wanted to see. (Throw Monique back into the mix, of course, and this show would be perfect). Robyn, on the other hand, was left to dangle in the wind. That scene between her and Juan was so effing painful and fake. It made Mo & Kyle's scenes on BH look slick. At one point I thought Juan was straight up trolling her. It made me feel almost bad for Robyn, to be in such denial and have to go on WWHL to whitewash his philandering. Still, after the Patreon scandal, she kind of brought this on herself. I will say that with adversity comes Robyn's pretty good glow-up. Juan, by contrast, is letting himself go a bit. This episode was the first time I warmed to Charrisse. I felt she was genuinely concerned for Robyn, having gone through similar herself. RHOBH I was expecting a break-out episode involving the Magic Mike show. I didn't get it. After a great build-up, none of the ladies delivered on the fall out. I was actually on Erika's side. Sutton was a damp squid on the fun, jealous that she didn't get picked, and she had to ruin it for everyone else. Unclassy and narcissistic. Dorit is the only one really working so far this season, and personally I think she looks better without her glam team (which she can no longer afford, allegedly). RHOMiami Fantastic episode which sadly is only drawing in viewership a fraction of its lead-in, BH. Lots of little and big drama. Marysol trying to have a SL with a Gay Brunch she refused to invite the one gay cast member to. Alexia and Todd playing nice for the cameras but Adriana is right, there is definitely trouble in paradise. Guerdy revealing to Adriana, Nicole and Julia that she has breast cancer was a gut punch of a scene, and one of the most emotionally involving moments I have ever seen on RH. Nicole's face said to me that she already knew, or guessed, the news. Julia was in quiet shock, already having gone through this with Martina. Everyone's reactions felt real and unexpected. This show is Bravo's crown jewel, IMO. RHOSLC I'm way behind on the show and slowly catching up, but already it feels lighter and more fun without the toxic felon. Monica, despite her lack of cash and clout, is sort of shaping up to be a find.

I have seen some of the confessionals. It's another world of wealth. If BH, Miami and Dubai all end up airing around the same time, I think I will be on luxury overload. RHODubai cannot come back soon enough for me. The BravoCon panel suggests alliances have completely shifted and that Lesa is on the outs. She seemed a little bit sad about not having her BFF Chanel anymore. I have no idea what went down but enquiring minds want to know. Also, I was listening to the Two Tits on an Ant podcast against my will and Chanel indicated that Sara was actually a lot of fun and quite fearless off screen. However, as the sole Emirati on the cast, she is under pressure to behave and present herself a certain way on the show, because she is representing her culture on the show. Chanel also took up for RHONY's Ubah who is, legitimately, her first cousin, and not "a Heather Gay cousin," said Chanel.