Cat

Totally the bolded. Some say that the UK never really got over losing a colonial empire on which the sun never set. Brexit and work-shy Boris have further sealed the country's waning influence. (I thought it was interesting that Duchess Kate in her Tweet mentioned Leylah, maybe because she is a Canadian and there are very strong cultural, historic and Commonwealth ties between Britain and Canada. A small part of me wonders whether this was a way of claiming some small 'imperial' stake in a second potential future champion!). Brits love their sports and lately they have had triumphs at the World Cup, Olympics and US Open. I can't blame them from getting uplift from this -- the pandemic has been tough on everybody and I, too, have loved watching this summer's sport events! However, many talented sportspeople may have greater ambivalence towards British (or English) nationalism and the remnants of empire. The braying press pack (which endlessly pushes the Brexit narrative on the basis of 'national pride') has struggled with that ambivalence, to say the least.

They need to cool it with the hype, because just as quickly as the British press pack can build Emma up, so it can tear her down and try to destroy her on a dime. The tabloid press's butt-monkey Piers Morgan tore into her mere months ago when she withdrew from Wimbledon because of panic attacks (he did the same too Naomi Osaka at the French Open). He and his ilk will be ready to attack her again as soon as they can. Not least because she's young (the press hate i-gens with a passion -- they smear them for being 'too woke' and 'spoiled'), she's female, she's beautiful, she has anxiety, she keeps them at arm's length, and most of all, she has a 'foreign'-sounding surname. Heresy! Burn her! I hope they don't give Emma an MBE or OBE just yet. This win is a stunning achievement, and she, Fernandez and Osaka are making women's tennis very exciting to watch. She's a major star in waiting. But these titles and constant attention and Wills & Kate salivating over her and all that -- it is just almost as much pressure as the hatred and press attacks. I just want Emma's support group around her right now to keep her grounded, focused and happy to play tennis. The hype will soon dissipate.

Never forgotten. Remember it like it was yesterday. Thinking of all those brave souls and their loved ones. And to all those who worked for weeks and months afterwards at the sites. Thank you for starting this thread @dragonflies

Yep. I think Erika et al. misinterpreted Sutton's emotionality as weakness. Yes, it caused her to stumble with Crystal who pounced on it for leverage. But Sutton being in tune with her own vulnerabilities is actually a silent strength. The Coven (especially Erika) just cannot comprehend that. Erika should have known from last season when Dorit tried to sabotage her, Sutton pushed back and won. Sutton does not like to be intimidated and she responds by standing up to it. Crystal awoke from her slumber to kick Sutton because that's become her only reason for being on this show.

Now that Kim, LVP, Terri etc., are no longer around to deflect attention, Kyle and her BEEE HONESTTTT bullsh!t are truly exposed. Sutton may entertain Kyle from a safe distance, but she (and Garcelle) absolutely do not trust her. FYI, Sutton's ex-husband is a major player at PIMCO, one of the biggest asset management firms in the world. That is legit powerful -- another level from Hollywood, another level from the RHs, and Sutton still rolls in those circles. If I were Kyle, I would think about making amends with my very gracious tenant. Erika looked like a fool auditioning for The Godfather Part 4. Oh, she is going to sue Sutton for asking questions? B!tch take a seat. You are contractually obligated to never sue another cast member. When does she plan on suing her -- after she and Tom win their massive fraud case?? Erika and the Coven assumed lil awkward Sutton could be squeezed into submission and carry the blame. Neither of these is happening. Sutton has steel and braincells. She is transparent in her motives and questioning, and the Coven cannot match that transparency in any way. Erika's M.O. has always been to go after the weakest link -- Kathryn, Dorit, Eileen (remember that horror show? No reason for attacking Eileen except that she was sitting duck that day), Terri, Denise. Now she's getting the same treatment she dished out. The other women, even her buddies, were quick to push back at her threats. How does Rinna have a friend in the world? She is insincere, untrustworthy and flim-flammy. PK is sharp as a tack on these grifting matters (cough) and nailed it with simple clarity. He's gotten on the wrong side of the Thug Queen's personality disorder, too, and he knows who she is -- inherently cold, ruthless, and completely deluded. Deluded about her own hype, her own smarts, and her actual power in dis verld [(c) Yolanda].

I had to share this here. Rinna, Eileen and BH references aplenty.

Nobody knows what happens behind closed doors in a marriage, of course, and people are more complex than merely angel or devil archetypes. But my overall impression was that Gregg was VERY supportive of Nene's dreams of show business, even before RHOA came along. He financed a modeling career and acting lessons. It's easy to forget now, but ATL was one of the earliest RH franchises after OC. Nene was a big hit on the show and her rise to fame was very rapid. She didn't really have anybody she could look to on the other franchises as to how to handle fame. My read on the Gregg/Nene marriage is that she changed and the fame went to her head some. Gregg felt resentful and left behind, and there were rumors that he had someone on the side. The marriage clearly went through rocky times, but it looked like Nene pulled it back from the brink. She didn't want to be alone and without her support system; he wanted her to stay in the marriage. Gregg may not have been perfect, but he seemed to really care for Nene and 'get' her. He also treated the rest of the cast with kindness and respect, even when they were at odds with Nene. The affection they had for him as a result of that is evident in those pics. ITA @Chris B I hope this makes for a clean slate, or maybe even closer personal ties between Nene and the cast. I hope she has good friends around her right now.

Julianne Morris as Greta had this sweetness and light that emitted from her face. She may not have been Meryl Streep in the acting stakes, but she had chemistry with her screen partners and committed to the part and the script. I mean, the Garden of Eden nonsense was hairy (on many levels), but by God, she did what was asked of her. Even though I could feel her embarrassment burn from my screen. As for Beyond Salem, I am behind (just finished Ep 1). But I am loving how breezy and fun it is. Everybody looks like they are having a ball, and everybody believes in this project. I also like what I'm hearing about the upcoming episodes pushing the envelope a little in terms of what they can show versus Daytime's restrictions. This is the place to showcase what streaming can allow Days to do beyond a Daytime setting. I'm not a fan of Lisa Rinna on RHOBH but watching her as Billie on Days, all my old fondness for her is rushing back, lol.

RHOSLC Sneak peek of Jennie. She's originally from Vietnam. I'm really liking her so far! RHOA Nene snapped a pic with some exes -- Apollo (!!!) and Kenya's ex Walter is in the back:

Nene invited RHOAers to commemorate and celebrate Gregg. I see pretty much everybody except for Cynthia, which makes me sad. 😪 But Peter and Mallorie (I think she's in the final set of pics) showed up so I have hope that Cynthia is either around or simply couldn't make it and Mallorie is representing her. Giving RHONY editors an A for effort with this opening. So... That Happened. We know it, they know it.

Oh def was a high fashion look, practically eveningwear. The arms are very... Carmen Miranda. But I see what you mean about her entire vibe being stronger. The hair cut is razor sharp, and Meredith finally seems awake. Last season I wondered if stress over her marriage sapped her energy and made her lowkey depressed (which could happen to anybody). At reunion she seemed almost tranquilized and frozen by the fighting. She also got a lot of pressure to make up with Jen Shah and 'make it nice' but to her credit, she wasn't ready and resisted being pushed into insta-making-up. Here she is assertive and clear in what she is saying and how she feels. It doesn't feel forced, it feels like Meredith has had time to reflect and is maintaining her decision to keep Jen Shah at arms length. We'll see if she gets messy and 'production's water-carrier.'

A new government of the Taliban has been officially formed in Afghanistan. What this means for women in particular (not to mention everybody's basic rights) is devastating: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/07/taliban-name-afghanistans-new-government https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/08/afghan-women-to-be-banned-from-playing-sport-taliban-say https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/sep/08/they-came-for-my-daughter-afghan-single-mothers-face-losing-children-under-taliban

Meredith is beautiful, but she doesn't seem 100% confident with her style. Like she dresses this way because she thinks this is how RHs are supposed to dress. A stylist (aka Brooks) prob told her that the blousey-arms-sewed-onto-a-cardigan would be a great "statement look," and she went with it. Still laughing at Heather's "You guys, what if she's on the run?" Jen Shah was heading out in that Ford truck at about 10 MPH! She wasn't running that fast! Nevertheless, that teaser was one of the most thrilling that Bravo has ever produced. Even BH/Erika Girardi's LA Times exposé has nothing on the Feds stopping the van with police helicopters! I have hopes that RHONY can still return fighting next season when the women's lives move from Pause to Play. I think Bravo can pick up a general vibe from the fans of: 'We forgive RHONY for this past season -- let's just move on and make it nice for 2022." Bethenny looks unlikely to be back. On a recent Q&A on her social media, a fan asked her to come back and save the show, and Bethenny responded with "no thanks!" She is a little more diplomatic here but her response is largely the same: I'm not against LVP & Garcelle touching base per se, but I don't see this as a good move for Garcelle. The Coven has producer pull and they outnumber Garcelle, not to mention LVP's name is mud on BH (and possibly at Bravo, although the network makes nice with her for the sake of VPR). This is going to be like when OC Lizzie reached out to Gretchen on social media and Tamra, Heather, Shannon clubbed together to prevent her from getting back on the show. Also I feel like LVP wouldn't integrate well with the 'new' BH anymore. Her, Taylor and Camille's days are sadly over. Erika, Rinna, Dorit, Kyle have changed the feel & focus of the show (glam squads, what bling are you wearing, etc). I am not nuts about this by any stretch -- for one thing, it was ERIKA who established this new template, and her bullying, fraudulent influence on the show has been toxic/destructive IMO. However, it seems to be a done deal across all Bravo franchises now. Even RHONY's Leah and Eboni brought fricking glam to Ramona's house in the middle of lockdown! RHONY! Home of Sonja's 1992 wardrobe and Ramona's macramé! Seeing LVP/Camille/Taylor struggle with increasingly clownish glam and get slammed by the others for their perceived lack of fashionista know-how is not something I relish. I'd rather they just behave and dress like themselves (even if that means pink fitted dresses or running errands in Malibu in sweats and flip-flops). Also LVP left on such contentious terms that just for her own pride, I don't think she should return. The cast did her dirty. Now let them take responsibility for the bad stuff that happens on the show.

So I thought it was him, then I second-guessed myself, but no, on third look I really do think it's Monique's James! (See 0.06 seconds into part 1). When Jen took the call and was all "Hey honey..." and then her eyes darted right to camera as somebody on the other end told her what was going down! CHILLS! "You guys what if she's on the run??" Heather so dramatic. Whitney reading out the charges from some blog on her phone and Lisa Barlow being like "No -BEEP!- no no!" (And yes, Lisa's tagline is still the absolute best!) LOL this comment I wouldn't put it past Bravo:

OMG. omgomgomgomg! First of all, those taglines. Lisa Barlow's tag RULES!!!! "You don't have to like me, I love myself enough for the both of us." YASSSS I think I am going to enjoy LB a ton more this season. Jen Shah's tag is making me go 😬 The other taglines are exactly as I expected. And then we have the FOOTAGE OF THE DAMN ARREST. This is going to be the first thing we see right at the top of the first episode, I guarantee it. Shades of Potomac last season with the first minute flashing forward to The Fight. BTW the blonde producer in RHOP who tried to hold Monique back from going after Candiace also seems to be an EP on SLC -- he appears right at the start. Jen Shah got tipped off by Coach Shah, I think. And I am still laughing at all the women in the van hearing the police cars and chopper! The look on their faces! Lisa Barlow looks like she may have given Jen Shahscammer some money???

How does Adrienne Frantz keep getting on soaps? She played a mediocre Valley girl on Sunset Beach (amid a sea of superior ones). She played a mediocre Valley girl on B&B and was HW's pet for about 8 loooong years. And now she might land Days where -- wild guess -- she's gonna play a mediocre Valley girl and have some soap hunk (possibly Paul Telfer) be inexplicably enamoured of her? Stop this madness. I don't know -- neither women look their actual ages, but teeny blonde Frantz skews younger, while brunette Kristian Alfonso has the poise of one of those still-stunning ex-supermodels of a whole other generation. Such a recast would be brutal because both women are so different physically, generationally, vocally, in terms of mannerisms and the temperament they project.

From your mouth to God Shaughnessy's ears! Thanks @Errol -- another great exclusive! Looking forward to the second part of the interview in a few days!

It's been brewing since Siggy left IMO. Teresa did NOT like Marge's popularity, and that is one reason she got Danielle Staub to stick around -- because Danielle and Marge had fallen out.# Question: do you think Teresa vs Marge is also a proxy war for Teresa vs Melissa?

It is fantastic. I am totally addicted, thanks to its long-story format which allows you to invest in the characters. Obvs they have Benson showing up with her big sad eyes every episode but its usually FF-able.

Girls Aloud were such a great girl group, and she had a lovely pop voice. What I liked about Sara Harding was what you saw is what you get. She came across as herself and authentic. Coming out with her breast cancer fight also inspired a lot of people.

I needed a throwback laugh this morning! The All-Stars 'dancing' for Melissa's tiktok: And here was Vanessa Bayer nailing both Whitney and Lisa Barlow from SLC:

I'm feeling it. Nice tie-in with the peacock. I hope Days fans stream this to success!

The Gross & the Gullible ? Bradley Bell is trolling John McCook with this story. OTOH, this feels like typical B&B soap, you know? This isn't Fallon walking into a spaceship at the end of The Colbys. I feel like they've been waiting to give Eric this SL for a while.

Nevermind a moral compass -- Rinna seems to believe in nothing, value nothing. She just says whatever-the-f*ck because her sole purpose in life is to troll. She reminds me of those trial lawyers or the new breed of Congresspeople (you know who they are) who say any old crazy sh*t to deflect and detract from the real issue. (As I'm sure you know, this is called the 'Dead cat' strategy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_cat_strategy ). There doesn't seem to be a genuine bone in her body. She has become a hologram of a human. How can I invest in that? Like, I can't stand Kelly Dodd, but I'm pretty sure what I've been watching on OC is the real person, warts and all. Exactly this. Garcelle knows the real Rinna now, and Rinna doesn't like it because she's trying to cover the ugliness. Consequently, Garcelle (just like Denise, LVP, Eden and Kim) is dangerous to her.

Another observation: Rinna hates Garcelle. That much is clear from this scene, especially in her VT.