Cat

That was my first thought too --LLB was a kid when she joined. No way would Bill Bell have wanted her getting involved in that scene. I also think that if Eric Braeden had been there to answer the fan questions, he would have shut down that line of questioning with a quickness. As it was, EB speaks fluent French and was busy doing all the major French talk shows during the press tour.

I don't think Bill Bell was laying out tubs of coke like Gloria Monty was alleged to have done and encouraging drug-taking on-set. Especially with his daughter and other young actors on the show. There likely was a zero tolerance policy in place on the Y&R set. However, when Eric Braeden, Eileen Davidson, Michelle Stafford and Josh Morrow went to Paris to do press and a location shoot (during the early MAB era), ED, MS and JM did an online segment with TF1, which broadcasts Y&R (or Les Feux de l'Amour, as it's called there). They were answering French fans' questions. One question asked if they were drugs on the set (!!! So random, I couldn't believe such a question passed the vetting process). All 3 actors gasped and JM started cracking up. ED said "Not anymore!" but implied that she and others on the Y&R cast partied in the 80s, but that it was a different time, etc. She didn't say what drugs were done, but I assumed that because it was 80s LA, it was coke. I wish I could find it on YouTube because I can't believe this question was even asked, and that Eileen answered it, lol.

Hunter sounds very Valley -- Nothing wrong with that (cuz I love Katherine Kelly Lang and she is from there, too), but her gummy vocal inflection from that corner of California stands out amongst much of the cast. It also stands out because I don't think HK invests much in the character of Summer. She just shows up and recites her script. No need to modify her voice somewhat, or to add to the character on the page. It's just a clock-in, clock-out. This is not the case, I believe, with her closest co-star MM, or Courtney Hope, or a host of other actors on Y&R who have fleshed out their characters and invest in them. Speaking of Valley and vocal inflections -- Stafford. When the spoiler said something about Phyllis decides to go to California to see what's up with Jack, all I could hear in my head was MS's voice droning "I'm cummin to CaLiFoRnIA, Jeck!" That's how bad it's gotten with her.

I have a lot of nostalgia for the old RHs. Some months ago, I watched Miami S1-3 again for the first time since it aired; I was hooked! I also watched RHONY S2-6 as part of Peacock's streaming service launch because it had been 100 years, and it really was That Show. It was addictively good. S3 Reunion practically broke me out in anxiety hives, it was so climactic. Yep, I noticed the Aviva mention, too. Is it only me who could do without Kelly? She was awful. She, Luann and Jill have been friends all this time, though, which I guess says something. Which is: Narcissists can be loyal friends, too! LOL, I kid, I kid! Luann still looks phenomenal, and I'm guessing that this latest incident at the bar practically guarantees her a place on the OG reboot. I think 35-45 is too narrow an age range for RH. You might as well call it Summer House.

And 90s! When you think of how much all that coke on a daily basis must have cost, then you get an idea of how big the soap budgets were -- and how lucrative the shows must have been to allow for this kind of expenditure.

The drug scene at GH was apparently unreal! I heard an unsubstantiated rumor that Gloria Monty had plates of coke in craft services so that the cast would keep motoring through the long hours. Even relatively sedate Y&R was apparently awash with snow blizzards in the 80s! omg snap

I feel like Summer vs Sally is trying to be the new Phyllis vs Diane. I said trying, lol. I'm underwhelmed by Hunter, even though I know she has played the character a long time. Hence a recast, but Y&R often aims to recast dull for dull, except for happy accidents like Mishael Morgan or character actor parts.

I just... sigh... felt so sad for Cynthia that this was her goodbye to the RH universe. Alone, isolated. On the outs and out of sorts. There have been a few times with my closest friend group where I have felt on the outs, and it is not great. You kind of interrogate yourself, like, am I the problem here? Most painful of all for Cynthia was that this marked the end of her friendship with Kenya. And that was a real friendship. It's heart-breaking to me! Melissa and Teresa did get along, and Melissa handled her SIL gently on this trip. But Melissa is only about surface image, and IMO she wanted to play the 'good guy' in the eyes of the rest of the group, the nice, reasonable sister-in-law. She knew the rest of the group did not know Teresa that well. Maybe she was banking on Teresa being grumpy or aggressive? Well, it didn't turn out that way as the rest of the RHs were pleasantly surprised by how sweet and kid-like Tre was. I also think it's lovely that Teresa sensed (recognised?) Cynthia's loneliness during the trip and now they have a friendship which has blossomed. Very sweet. It was a nice lil taster, and Housewives in Da Island Baby is permanently burned onto my brain. I'm looking forward to RHUGT 2. Housewives in Da Berkshires Baby !

From your mouth to God's ear, soapsuds! I see they shoe-horned Phyllis onto the cover, too. It's great Mealor is back. He's necessary and the role of Kyle is recognizably his. As for Summer, I'd be down for a recast if the recast had some personality.

Personally, I love a good throwback avatar! Carlivati can only dream of replicating this kind of unintentional camp.

Thank you for immortalizing Finola's muscle control in your avatar. And as far as the hair/makeup -- I can testify to early 90s brown makeup and locks hairsprayed (within an inch of their life) into a French twist updo. I was a teen and looked a hard 45. On the upside, Finola in 2022 looks like she hasn't aged a day!

LOL Tristan is daring Finola not to laugh. Faison DGAF. Also i almost lost it when Michael Lynch did that back bend/head toss dance move.

Brian Frons! Shudder. Interesting take. Do you think separating the OGs from newbies is a bad move ultimately? In order for the younger gen to work, do they need to be mixed with OGs in order to bring over a built-in viewership? I loved S5 when they mixed the crazy OGs (Ramona, Sonja, Luann) with the 'normal' newbies (Carole, Heather, Aviva), and later when they added Bethenny (to an extent), Dorinda and Tinsley to the mix. But the OGs are getting older, and it has become harder to incorporate a new generation into that group. Generally, in my daily life, it feels like the generations are further apart on a range of issues/attitudes than at any time since the late 1960s. While a situation like that could make for a dynamic, exciting show... S13 shows what happens when two sets of generations speak two different languages and just cannot communicate on even the most basic level. OTOH, I don't want to have the core OGs so immersed in their drinking bubble that it turns into a repetitious Boozehog Day (which Seasons 11 and 12 threatened to become). I read Andy's comment about Eboni as "Show us your friends, we may take them but dump you." Regarding Ramona, I find his words harder to interpret. Like @Taoboisaid, I think Andy wants to have the option of her staying. But he knows that is divisive among fans. If she had failed on RHUGT, that would be another story, but she did amp up drama at the beginning. Also, if they are bringing back Jill Zarin, and Jill & Ramona live in the same apartment building... I foresee a Luann-esque FOH role for Ramona. And no mention of Leah, which I'm taking to mean she's gone. Finally, are you thinking that RHONY: Legacy will be on Peacock, while NuRHONY will be on Bravo? I am. My speculation of the RHONY Legacy cast: Sonja, Luann, Jill, Dorinda, Kelly Bensimon, Ramona (FOH). I'd love it if Bethenny, Carole, Heather, Aviva showed up too (I'd prefer them over Kelly), but Bethenny has moved to Connecticut and is DONE. Carole and Heather are DONE-DONE with Bravo.

I just read the Variety article. I think this is a smashing idea! I love my RHONY OGs, and I love something new which represents NYC today. Andy emphasiszed casting an actual, existing friendship group, and I think that is wise. And hopefully RHONY: Legacy will retain their usual editing team, because those editors are shady and hilarious as hell.

OK, so principal photography of Housewives in Da Island Baby 💃 began in April 2021, according to Wiki. RHONJ seems to have been filmed over the summer, hence the Jersey Shore footage and the "cruel, cruel summer" song they had in the trailer. So it looks like UGT was filmed before NJ. And yes @alwaysAMC I thought Dolores and Tre were way closer. They grew up in Paterson together and knew each other's moms. In past seasons, we had Dolores's mom asking how Teresa was doing like she knew her. I just looked up their birthdays, and Dolores's is 28 December, 1970 and Teresa's 18 May 1972. So they may not have been in the same grade but maybe a grade or two apart. It is sad that they are no longer close. I feel like Teresa has withdrawn from the group (with good reason, perhaps) since the early days of the show, and especially now that she has Louie. She doesn't open up easily to others. Also, Teresa hates Caroline Manzo and loves Dina. By contrast, Dolores & Caroline are close, while she and Dina hate each other. So I imagine that impacted Dolores-Teresa's relationship. Dolores & Marge hitting it off prob didn't help. If Dina ever decided to return, I'd be down for it.

Initially I wasn't feeling the spinoff, as I feel Karen works best in a RH setting interacting with the other women. That was before I heard (A) that this was only a 2-parter -- and not, say, the usual longer length for a spin-off, and (B ) the budget-Succession music! It seems to be about family legacy and race. One of Potomac's best ever episodes is when they visited the former plantation and unravelled some of Gizelle's painful history. Karen's show is giving some of that vibe.

I commend Luann for quickly responding to that news story with an acknowledgement, an apology and a promise to do better. I don't know if the rehab is just until she can get back to drinking in a more manageable way, as Luann really enjoys a social, partying lifestyle. I always waver when it comes to Luann as to whether she is an alcoholic with a serious problem, or just someone who likes to booze it up from time to time. Maybe a bit of both? In the absence of RHONY, the drinking (and perhaps other things, so the rumors say) may have been building for some time. On the other hand, not everyone needs to be a teetotalling yoga hermit in life. Now I'm starting to question my initial guess! I'm sure we can find out online exactly when both series were filmed. Lol still thinking about the Tiktok the RHUGT did on the beach, where Ramona and Teresa attempted (and failed) to dance in formation, and Kenya elbowed Luann out of the way on the path to fabulousness. Yeah, I think the gloves will be off at reunion between Tre and Marge.

Oh, Tiki and the mistress are a bust. Not even their trashy 'love story' can disguise the fact that they are deeply, deeply dull. And OF COURSE Melissa would bring them onto the show. Wouldn't want anyone overshadowing her & Joe, would we? I am beyond over the Real Househusbands of New Jersey. With the exception of Frank, who actually viewed things in a reasonable, balanced way, I thought they treated Bill reprehensibly. Frank was the only one to hear Bill out and say he thinks they should leave the drama to the ladies. Joe Gorga is an instigator in much of this. Two seasons ago, Bill was getting lots of fan compliments at Reunion; I don't think Joe liked that one bit, and he started poking at Bill a lot more. He was happy as a clam when Bill walked out -- and then he invited Louie so he could poke at him. I hope Louie realises that Joe will turn on him in an instant and will be using him for SL fodder. As much as I am disliking some of the adult cast, I have a lot of time for the kids. I really felt for Antonia's struggle at a new school after an injury, struggling with depression. The Gorgas prioritised the younger boys' sports schedule over their daughter finishing her last two years of high school where she felt secure and nurtured. Also, Gia can join the RHONJ cast anytime she wants. I love huh and the other Giudice girls. Frankie is the sweetest with his grandmother. Dolores's mom is lovely, and I was feeling for D this week. While I'm not sure Louie isn't scamming Tre by Speaking her Love Language, he was right in saying Teresa was bashful. I hadn't realised after all these years until RHUGT how socially shy Teresa is. She is a different person around her dawters and Louie. Marge's VT statements about Teresa being guilliable are not 100% wrong, but the tone was mean and malicious. That VT will bite her in the ass at Reunion. She's also still trying to make her Mini-Me happen, which... no. I want to say RHUGT was filmed after NJ. For some reason, I feel like RHUGT was filmed after her engagement party when not even her long-time friend Dolores was invited. She also talked on RHUGT about feeling like she had no friends in the NJ cast.

Yeah, I thought it was going to come across as aggressive/belligerent, but so far it just seems like Luann drunkenly singing and the audience laughing at her. I feel like she was doing an impromptu audition for that Kinky Boots producer who was out with her? And she's obsessed with cabaret, and wants more than anything for this to be her career. And she's a big partier, for lack of a better word, and, I believe, surrounds herself with only yes men. In any case, this might be a good time for RHONY to start filming again. That Page Six article @DaytimeFan posted has a denial/rewrite of the incident straight out of Luann's Pirate Booty cover-up! Jeana in a sky top I would take! I'm actually OK with a more lowkey look for OC. I'm sick of OTT Halloween glam in lieu of actual story, Thoigh the most shocking to me is a seemingly bra-lless Heather! You are right about Shannon. She always looks uncomfortably crammed. Jen overcompensated in her wannabe-Jen-Shah outfit and just looks overdressed with no place to go. And Noella looks... somewhat unhealthy. Did any of you guys hear about Bella Hadid's Vogue interview, and how her childhood was so traumatic, she doesn't remember much of it? Very honest interview by Bella, talking about some of the anxiety issues she struggles with. But Yolanda, who is not oftlen mentioned directly by name, doesn't come out looking good at all.

Here is Luann at the bar singing show tunes and swearing. I think we can safely say that with those vocals, Luann isn't going to be dropping autotune any time soon.

@Taoboi ! RHOM will be airing on Bravo starting Tuesday April 5th ! And we have the RHONJ mid-season trailer:

God, I love Eric Braeden interviews. Not only his TikTok but also his Twitter has been solid gold for years, complete with exclamation marks and "YOU GOT THAT?" He is a pretty sane voice on that platform. As for this article, he has great energy and mental attitude. Those Tweets at the end of that article are . The black grandmas one went viral last summer for, like, a whole week.

Maybe it's also bad timing. Garita came to prominence on SuBe at a time when writing for females on soaps and network Primetime began to shift. You might call it the Les Moonvesification of TV during the late 90s/early 2000s! Less interest in fleshing out multi-dimensional roles for women. More interest in young pretty girls playing young and pretty as their defining character trait. Early on during Garita's run as Gabi, it seemed like the SuBe writers didn't really have an idea for the character, who she was, why she was -- unlike, say, Olivia, Annie and Meg. Garita played her character as quite ruthless and unlikeable at time, while also balancing it out with moments of devastating vulnerability (on the witness stand, for example, when she revealed she'd been abused by her father) and that is how Gabi evolved on the show. It worked. But later, maybe that played against what producers/casting directors were looking for in ingénues at the time. When she subbed for LH on Passions, I remember there was discussion on SON of how 'icey' and 'hard' Garita played the character of Theresa. Not criticism per se. Just that she was revealing some of the darker elements driving Theresa's obsession. I notice in her IMDB resume she has played a passing Hispanic on the odd crime show, and @John mentioned she previously played hooker Lupe on GH which that right there... that's it. That's all you need to know about the character! It's hard to make material work when you're not given a lot. On SuBe, Garita was given that breakdown on the witness stand and she ran with it. It totally changed the way the audience perceived the character and established her permanent place on the show.

When you are a foreigner/outsider, you are often on your best behavior so that you can be accepted by the community at large. Even when drunk, Bill seems to have manners -- I don't think I've ever heard him swear on the show. He isn't into public confrontation. When asked to comment about someone, he is always super diplomatic. He is maintaining a polite distance from the mud wrestling because he feels he has a lot to lose reputationally and professionally from all this. IA. It's been a decent run but time to change it up. If WWHL is the barometer of which way Bravo/Andy swings, Marge, Jackie and Joe & Melissa have been on a lot controlling the narrative. (Teresa was on recently, too, but I feel like Tre is an island apart, bigger than the show -- and boy do I enjoy how lowkey intimidated Andy is by Gia!). As a viewer, I don't like being subliminally pushed to 'pick' one group over another. Production tried to do that with NJ S3-5 too, and it didn't work then. Haven't watched part 2 of Miami reunion yet, but I can only echo your warm feelings. It's a return to old-school RH. One good thing Peacock did is to bring back some OG RHOM vibes so that the show is recognizably a continuation of the original series. It feels like we are watching something familiar but brand new at the same time. Larsa's denial of PS on her posterior is just the right amount of non-anxiety-inducing petty I need right now.

It was fine when they were shooting the sh!t and giggling about the petty drama, but they really have no business getting involved in teams. Joe Gorga is a pOrn addict, Frank was such a bad husband that Dolores divorced him, Weasel (ha!) cheated with Marge when they were married to other people, Tiki's rep precedes him, and Lord knows what Evan does at the gym. They can't gang up on Bill for infidelity because that's cool, apparently, so they go for him because he didn't diss his wife to them? Evan's 'Get lost' was not a great look. Bill's got a professional reputation so he can't start laying hands on people. I know they're trying to call Jen out on what she did last year, but Marge digging for dirt on Louie is the same thing. And Jackie pretending she is done with Jennifer and oh, the betrayal! She was kind to her for a hot second but we know it was only to get dirt on her. They think they're great actresses but they're really not. And Melissa pretending to be scared of the bees was cringe too.