Cat

It was Candiace at her best. Smart and incisive -- but also understanding and empathetic. Ashley even nodded, acknowledging the overwhelming truth of Candiace's observation. It wasn't lost on me how Candiace's words also apply directly to Gizelle and Robyn. As Chris Samuels once said about Giz, "Hurt people hurt people."

It is actually kind of scary how that amorality hides behind her beauty and gentle speaking voice. She comes across as this happy soul who enjoys yoga and kumbaya moments -- and yet there is this steely ruthlessness and cynicism behind that cheery smile. This episode, when Candiace quietly told her that Ashley assumes everybody has bad motivations because of her experience with Michael Darby was astute (though perhaps not the whole story, as there was/is a lot more to the Darby marriage than Ashley is letting on. And I also think that like attracts like in the Darbys' case). However, it was Ashley's face which was the most startling to me. No cheery smile or glint in her eye. It was like a mask had been pulled back. Ashley's eyes looked blank and hollow as she absorbed what Candiace was saying.

Any pairing that involves Y&R's Victoria (Amelia Heinle). The soap press acts like 'fans' are all over Victoria's romantic entanglements (particularly if it involves her and Billy) and I'm like "which fans? Who says this?"

What I don't get about the Charrisse beef is what she wants from Karen. To 'acknowledge' the 'true' Queen of Potomac and kiss her feet? This is THEE moment Gizelle, Robyn and Charrisse have been building to since the top of the season? What a flop. What Charrisse is really saying is that she's mad that Karen and the others became more popular than her, and that as a result, production sidelined her after one season. So it boils down to jealousy of Karen and amger at production and the viewing audience for not picking her! And this is why the audience is like 'Why TF is this bore back?' Because no RH viewer likes to be told who they must like by TPTB. Weirdly, the entire cast except Karen dont get it. They REALLY want Charrisse back! Yes, I peeped that snake Ashley blowing smoke up Charrisse's ass about 'standing up' to Karen. If, in some alternate universe, Charrisse were to magically replace Karen as Grande Damn 2.0 of RHOP (!), do the other women honestly believe this whining, entitled bump-on-a-log wouldn't pull the same thing on them? Especially after the nastiness she tried to start against Monique? Which would make at least 5 cast members on RHOP who always go LOW (Giz, Robyn, Ashley, Mia, and Bump). The show would be a mess. We've already had to suspend our disbelief with all the chaotic accusations flying around this season. It all feels a little out of control and desperate.

RHOP -- It's been a season of lies upon lies, that's for sure:

What stands out to me is how PJ in head-to-toe baby Versace, while Brooklyn in a Frozen princess dress. LOL. Already you have two assured personalities with these babies, although I suspect the Versace was as much Porsha's choice as PJ's! Anyway, this makes me wish Porsha was back on RHOA interacting with the group.

Late Gen Xer here, so I feel you on the Sex and the City/Golden Girls reference (and that reminds me of a great SATC skit featuring THEE Bea Arthur playing Carrie Bradshaw -- definitelyworth a look on YT). I think OG RHONY definitely fills a gap in the RH market that is currently missing (and I say this as one of probably two viewers who enjoyed Real Girlfriends in Paris, aka Flop 20-something Influencers Abroad). Fun does not end at 45. Nor, clearly, at 55, according to Luann, Ramona and Sonja.

Agreed on both points, and the substance use issues were getting too obvious to ignore. Nevertheless, I can't help but wonder if after Covid and a break, these women would have regrouped mentally and emotionally, having been removed from the Bravo spin-cycle for a time? (Admittedly, this is something I hoped for Dorinda, but RHUGT may have proved me wrong). 2020-21 saw a bit of a New York exodus to Miami. Part of it was Covid policy, and the fact that de Blasio was a mediocre and incompetent mayor at the time. Miami has become almost like a new Hamptons outpost for certain Manhattan-dwellers. New York transplants are starting to return to the city, though, and it has roared back to life again in terms of night-life. So, in addition to the Hamptons and Bezerkshires, it might be interesting to see that NYC-FLA dynamic. Oh we had it so good. 3 against one. Melissa shrieking "ME! I'M the victim" as Caroline forgot about the Poor-Melissa-How-Could-You-Do-That-To-Your-SIL excuse so she could focus on hating Teresa on her own terms. I also remember the S4 reunion (where Teresa wore all green + sequins) was epically insane.

Eboni in her interview some months ago (with Carlos King) said that Bravo told her that none of the RHs wanted to film with her, except for Sonja who wanted to. IA that they had a nice vibe going and genuinely hit it off. Totally agree on the name. Like it or not, Ramona, Luann, Sonja, Dorinda (and Bethenny, if she ever came back) are all associated with RHONY. If the Real Girlfriends in... brand had worked out, this new crew could have been Real Girlfriends in New York.

I heard about this yesterday. I was sad to hear of her passing, even though she was grouchy and the site did became crazy and toxic. She used to break some exclusives about RHOA and even RHONY (when Jill was still on the show) back in the day, but that was a long time ago. 100% agree. I think Eboni would have mellowed out in her second season with the pressure of Covid and the election having been lifted. I also think the shifting dynamics between her, Ramona, Sonja and Leah would have gotten more interesting. Im open to new HWs and I am ready to give the nuRHONY reboot a fair chance for sure... I just wanted to also express my love for OG RHONY lol.

I've been missing OG RHONY recently, and IMO those women helped build the Bravo brand, so I cannot completely co-sign on your nuke strategy. I think they deserve some coins for over a decade supporting the network. Yes, they are ancient, but this diversifies the demo, IMO. How many shows does Bravo have which feature a bunch of 20 and 30-somethings on a boat? A slew of would-be influencers? All those Summer Houses featuring coked-up bros from Southern Charm? Too many. No show has the Park Avenue menopausal mamas! ITA with you, though, that the show lost its magic after S10. Part of the problem is that from S7 onwards, the show was structured into The Bethenny Show, featuring a supporting cast of (great) RHs. She got rid of any dynamic RH who had an actual life going on (Heather, Carole). I suspect she did this so she could look like better in comparison to whoever was left over, but by doing so she got rid of an important balance on the show: the worker-bee Mary Sues vs the kooky partiers. When Bethenny left, the impetus for all the night-time events and trips was gone. Ramona is the only one who has a life outside the show; the problem was, she no longer wanted to share that life on-camera. The others' lives were only about RH. Add to this a significant substance-use issue amongst at least half the cast, to the point where, with Sonja and Dorinda, it warped their original personalities. Leah, the Great White Hope, turned out to be more egregiously narcissistic than even Ramona. The Eboni era was a miscalculation by Eboni herself, even though I think she deserves a second season to set things right, because she had a lot going for her. And we can't blame her for Covid. Anyway, all this to say that this + Covid = a perfect storm which conspired to sink RHONY. Having said all that, this period of rest for the show would IMO allow for a return and re-start which I personally would embrace. OMG you are singing my tune! I finally twigged onto Heather sometime during season 1 (and especially at reunion), and it's like I could no longer unsee the fakery. I couldn't drink the Kool-Aid anymore. Everything she says feels contrived for maximum 'likes' on Twitter. And now I learn she's saying Coach Shah is the Joe Guidice to Jen's Teresa? C'mon now. Do I think Coach Shah may have sensed Jen was involved in something shady? Yes. But in Utah, MLMs are a grey area with plenty of legal loopholes to help them. But that CS was the brains behind the scheme and is making Jen go to jail and leave her young sons behind during their most formative years? No way.

Andy has a kink for a select few HWs who basically scratch up his back with their high heels. That would be Bethenny and Erika. And of course Teresa once shoved him on a reunion set. But I imagine this attitude only takes you so far. Andy had Bethenny on WWHL recently, and he was definitely trying to give her payback. Sigh. I hate that we can never get rid of certain ex-HWs. Rinna will definitely be in this category. Brandi is the most egregious example -- they shoehorned her into BH S6 reunion, and then again in S10 when she looked wrecked and worn out from wanting to be on the show so bad. The Coven basically picked her clean of information before dispensing with her services, and she didn't even win a guest spot at reunion. Brandi did well on RHUGT 2. I liked her chemistry with Phaedra, Dorinda, Tamra & Vicki. She'd be a great fit on RHOC. But with Brandi, the friendships always start intense and strong. And then they deteriorate into toxicity, booze and pills. Re Phaedra. Kandi should be told that she's coming back to RHOA whether Kandi likes it or not. Same thing if it were Nene or Porsha. No-one should have that kind of veto power. Kandi risks reducing RHOA to a borefest if she is in fact weighing on casting decisions. (Porsha is a missing link here. We don't hear about her, except selectively. She has pretty much moved on from Bravo). Is she even Married to Medicine, MY LOVE!! ? Did Apollo get some kind on medical degree in prison?

"Asher and me decide protect innocent family from EVIL GARCELLE, So, expensive lawyer advise me that I, humble refugee, not appear RHOBH no more. P.S.: Please to buy Asher & Erika album of festive singings, 'PRETTY ChristMESS,' on sale today!" This looks like the wishlist of someone with no imagination. Alex + Manzo + Camille + the cast of RHUGT 2?

When she told him to get the driver to heat up the car and could Russell put a bottle of water in there, I definitely did a because she was treating him like a PA. That tone of voice is going to wear thin. Also, what to make of him putting the lotion on her legs (with her pointing impatiently at her legs)? But he's into her, clearly, so maybe the legs do it for him. I love to see her work because Guerdy has an actual business, one she's been doing for some years and not some pretence for the sake of TV. You see less and less of these real working women on RH these days. But I do agree with you that there will be a point where she is forced to choose between prioritising the business and prioritising him + family -- especially if she's travelling around the world. (The scene in next week's preview between them was telling). You are 100% right -- look at what happened with Lisa & Lenny. Lenny's side-piece basically stalked Lisa on IG, became a 'friend' and made sure she was at all the BudgetPlayboyMansion parties. Not that Lenny didn't know what he was doing. He made a conscious choice to do it anyway.

Agree with pretty much all this, except for Martina being upset about Julia kissing a man. I felt like Martina was giving No Big Deal vibes. Having said that, I did think Julia covered with a story when Larsa asked her about it. Something about her response felt off. Julia is a bit of a mystery in that she has said she is a lesbian (not bi), and that she was closeted as a model in Paris in the 90s. Nevertheless, she did have two significant relationships with men (including one awful one) which produced offspring.... But this could have been during her closeted years. ITA that disinviting Kiki was weird and unnecessary. Kiki is a lot of fun, but she's not the loudest or most uncouth of the group whenever there is a gathering! That would be Alexia or Adriana. Kiki is more a reactor to events. Julia definitely did this for Adriana and her director. I loved seeing Guerdy at home, organising her events and interacting with her hot husband. The way he kissed the back of her neck! It was clear how busy Guerdy is because she has a legit business where she is scheduling expensive weddings and flying around the world. I do think that her husband and children may start to feel like after-thoughts, though. Fuego Fire or whatever is catchy, but nothing will top the amazingness of Feel The Rush -- the OG version! The last few minutes of the show were unexpectedly stunning and cinematic in a way I've never seen on the usual RH shows.

Carlos King and his podcast have been steadily hitting out of the park, with really great RH guests revealing more to him than they might normally on a podcast. His most recent podcast involves Kate Casey, and they discuss the Jen Shah sentencing, where Potomac might be going wrong, and why Rinna was likely fired, all with an inside perspective. It was such a good discussion and went far beyond the bare-bones headlines to where the RH is as a franchise.

Welp... we knew she was definitely going to the pokey for at least 5-10. Also... is Jen thinking she might get a Teresa Checks In special from Bravo? Yep. Remember when Garcelle said she'd hired a team to investigate the provenance of these bots? Then it went quiet for 3 months. Some Garcelle haters screamed that she led the fans on, but now I'm wondering if she got her evidence and went to Bravo instead. Just speculation on my part, of course. Or it may simply be that Rinna taunted the network about putting her on pause... and they did.

Oooo. Liking other people's tweets scolding LVP! How very passive-aggressive of her. Who are these fools getting their panties in a twist and acting like LVP wrote a 13-paragraph press release? She wrote "Ding dong." It's nowhere near as harsh as some of the things the Coven have said or posted about her. I'm not sure Dorit will dump Kyle. Especially if LVP were to return. Kyle, Dorit, PK and Terri Podencast executed the LVP takedown, so there is no love lost between LVP and the Kemsleys. The Ks are firmly in the pockets of the Umanskys. Even if LVP doesn't return next season, I think Kyle is more likely to ally with Sutton and Garcelle than Dorit is. She is already close with Sutton.

Flawless, indeed, and pitch-perfect. LVP won the internet last night. I did not think Bravo would let Rinna go! Rinna clearly went from mere villainy to a toxic mess like Jody from RHOV. I've always thought that she was also behind the Diana bots attacking Garcelle's son. So what next for BH? Firstly, it is telling that Kyle is staying silent. Rinna was her henchman. Who will wield the knife on Kyle's behalf now? The Coven is looking a little underweight with only spineless Dorit, drunken Erika and Kyle left. Erika will be without her protectoress. But she will keep fronting like it's NBD. Bravo will keep her because the show needs a villain and also Le Trial de Tom Girardi. This is probably a reprieve for Dorit in terms of keeping her diamond. Lucky Boris & Natasha keep landing on their feet. Does Rinna's departure mean that Kathy Hilton will consider returning? Or LVP? Bravo seems to have an unofficial age cut-off for its RHs, and that is 60. Perhaps LVP would get offered a brief FOH arc; Andy is dying to see an LVP/Kyle face-off. But if LVP ever got a tagline again, I imagine it would be: "They thought they had chased me away. But I always play the long game."

Sounds like a tawdry mess all around. Naturally, an affair won't hold weight in a court of law. However, Jen's actual crimes are pretty horrible and substantial (the victim statements will be pretty impactful). The first part of your summarization is another instance of her using threatening, intimidatory and/or violent behaviour, which I guess the prosecution wants to establish as a pattern.

I know a bunch of people who have gotten into k-pop recently via Shinee. Something about their songs pulls them in, even though the group has been on hiatus and of course sadly lost Jonghyun. Taemin will be out of the military shortly (where apparently his mental well-being really suffered). Hopefully he is on the road to recovery and Shinee can have another comeback soon. Thanks for posting Minho's solos. I will give them a listen. Minho did this brief interview/food taste with these Korean-speaking Englishmen 2 weeks ago and seemed to have a blast:

Jen cheated on Coach Shah?? And harassed the wife of the guy she was cheating with?

BH sub-Coven. God knows what Rinna's done to her face. 👀 Asher... ?

I feel like I've read this same interview with Bradley Bell for the past 30 years. He has the attention span of a fruit fly, so this is his way of saying he got bored with their story/ran out of ideas for these characters. It's a shame because I really liked Denise Richards as Shauna. Wyatt/Flo? Eh.