Cat

Yes, I watched RHOD S4 again. ☺️ You'd be surprised -- it's breezy and fast-paced. I think S4 exposed Leeanne as a not-so-nice person (even before the 'chirpy Mexican' remarks). The Made for TV wedding that was really a cash-in. The 'fat cow' remark whispered about D'Andra. The competitiveness about who had a worse childhood. TBF, Leeanne went through deep horror as a child, and if she's not over that trauma, absolutely nobody (including her mother) should tell her to get over it. But I do think she should seek additional therapy to work through it, because Leeanne in S4 seemed very shut down emotionally. All that was left was this cold, hard anger. Having said all that... S4 was a set-up to trigger Leeanne continually and take her down, esp. when D'Andra wore the Linfinity dress and she and Kary spent the entire meal detailing its faults. Kary was extra mendacious that night. That is Leeanne's business and it was cruel and done on purpose. You know you've gone too far when even Stephanie and Brandi are uncomfortable and telling you to stop. It was right after that dinner that Leeanne lost it to Stephanie and 'Mexican' was thrown around. She had been pushed to breaking point. You think Leeanne is living her best life? She is watching RHOD very closely and has long predicted that it would flop without her. Hate to admit it, but she is probably right. Leeanne is the Maleficent of RHOD, IMO, and I think in S6, say at the end of episode 1, she should reappear as one of the newbies' friends in order to strike shock & fear in D'Andra's (and the audience's) heart. And then we need a Caroline Manzo-Danielle Staub sit-down to really hash that sh!t out. Yes, they are mutually obsessed. They envy what the other has, I think. Tiffany was indeed with Team Pretty (minus Kenya) last week!

The Aydins have been iced out. They are trying hard to make Louie happen and have him take his place. 😪

I agree. I'm not ready yet to bid adieu. RHONY has most of the right ingredients, but some key ones are missing, and the seasoning is off. (And I was also watching the Olympics last night --had to see the gymnastics team event!). It was good seeing Billy Strich again, Broadway legend, and boy does he adore Sonja. Sonja was a delight this episode and love her friendship with Eboni and Boxer Dude. But yeah, didn't understand Eboni not inviting Bershan to her party. Its a *Black* Shabbat, right? Eboni giving me Alexis Bellino with Peggy vibes. She does not want to share space with another black woman. Luann doing her Christmas oeuvre and her mv next week was giving me S4 vibes, when Ramona did not want to participate because doing so would give Lil Avery a bad example. Good tiimes. Leah continues to be the human personification of Womp Womp.

@Gray Bunny My post was a bit mean perhaps. I tripped over my sneakers once and fell down a staircase (it was like slo mo, like a scene out of 80s Dynasty) and smacked my face at the bottom of the stairs. Not fun! And I wouldn't want a hive of killer bees chasing me and getting into my hair either. So I feel a bit guilty about posting! But the devil on my shoulder was like 'Hmmm. I wonder who wrote that in their Burn Book?' And yes, Rinna is currently saging the house with organic sage Harry Hamlin grew in the backyard.

A series of unexpected accidents have befallen Kyle and Teddi in recent days. Hmmmm 🤔

OMG this gymnastics is a nail-biter! No clue who is going to win here!

I am loving the Olympics thus far. I know the time difference is tough (but that didn't stop me from enjoying the Winter Olympics in South Korea either). Did you see those 13 year old girls doing the Olympic skateboarding? Crazy. Right now its the women's team event in gymnastics. Simone Biles is the GOAT, but the US team as a whole is looking nervous and shaky. Biles looks like her right foot is wrapped, too. ETA: OK. There is a big shock with this gymnastics event but I don't want to spoil it here to anyone who will be watching later -- I know its early in the US.

Starting with full seasons of Real Housewives of Melbourne, Vancouver and that one Auckland season which was pure entertainment. Should I mention Sydney? That was beyond insane. Apparently a Sydney reboot is reported to be in the works. Never been able to get into Cheshire after Magali left, but hey, more power to it and its longevity! They must be on their 12th season by now. I notice from the opening that they have packed that cast with 8 HWs -- I'm assuming to offset the fact that Dawn was fired.

Just saw this. Honestly I am stunned that Kameron is back. She imploded at reunion and on Twitter! I for sure thought it would be Kary who had a much better reunion and is messy. But Andy loves him his Nicole Kidman doll, and has never really vibed with Latinas on these shows. Also, the way Kary treated that man in Oklahoma last season was egregious, so maybe what goes around comes around. I saw photos of Tiffany having dinner with Claudia Jordan and Cynthia Bailey in Dallas last week -- I really hope/wish that Claudia is asked to be a RH! Perhaps my biggest change of heart concerns Leeanne. I've never been her biggest fan -- I find her fake and she sucks the oxygen out of the room. But after rewatching S4, I think in many ways she was set up and mistreated (even though her words about Kary were xenophobic and very objectionable). I think she needs to make amends (instead of doubling down) on that front, and maybe return as the Maleficent of the show. D'Andra-Leeanne is a real rivalry because both are jealous of each other. I'm surprised Tiffany is coming back. Firstly -- second season curse. Secondly, her job/rep as an anaesthesiologist. Thirdly, the lawsuit facing her husband's family which is going to be the talk of the season.

Regarding Karen, I was getting a little nervous when I read your post, because she is feeling herself at the moment, lol. And that is always the moment with an OG when 'pride comes before a fall.' I thought what she said to Robyn the first episode was harsh, but it's clear that the dream is over between Karen and the GEBs. She is very much on the defensive with them, and if this spa event was anything to go by, they can barely stand to be in the same room with her. I did love Karen this episode, though. Especially liked her one-on-one scenes with Wendy and Candiace. That was some great questions and advice she gave Wendy. Speaking of, I am totally befuddled as to how Dr. Wendy did such a 180 into Vapid Wendy. It's not about the new bubbles, the butt, or the styling upgrade (the clothes are especially on point). Professors, too, must dress to impress! It's about, as you point out, the baby voice and the obvious dumbing down. I miss Wendy's smarts, honestly, even if she was obnoxious with Karen last season. I miss her Nigerian pride! Here, her insecurity is on stark display. That rehearsed AF read she gave Mia was some true amateur dramatics. Mia was practically laughing at her. Wendy is working too hard to make Zen Wen and You're Dismissed happen, and it's... not really working. Karen & Candiace. I want to be nice about Candiace, but I can't when she pops that triangle tissue sh!t again! What next -- more Post-It notes? How long is she going to keep throwing herself this pity party? It's already been 2 years. Karen isn't a good friend, I can't trust her, waah waah -- and yet Karen was the only one last season NOT to use Candiace's trauma for her own ends in order to make strategic moves against another housewife. As @DaytimeFan said, it is a matter of WHEN, not IF, Gizelle turns against Candy. And yet she's acting like Karen did her more wrong than Monique! Dorothy must be thrilled -- bet she was jealous as hell when Candiace and Karen were close. I like this Askale chick. She is a real East African beauty.

Agreed. Peacock isn't just doing this for sh!ts and giggles. They want to test the waters, see if Days has pulling power (although I hear NBCu is already pleased with the demos streaming the daily Days episodes).

Love that you popped back in, even for a few minutes! Take care of yourself, and hopefully we will read more of your thoughts on here very soon. 🙌

What Chris said! She may be shy, socially awkward, stuck in her bubble sometimes, and emotional, but these are all flaws i can empathize with, and I like her a lot. She can't help but show who she is, which is a blessed relief on BH where everyone else is so on-guard with their image and what they say. People talk about Kathy saving the show, but it is Sutton who has brought drama, lightness, and comedy thus far. It may be too soon to call, but Sutton could well be carrying the show on her back this season.

Not ruling out that there isn't pure narcissism going on here -- she has surrounded herself with sycophants, and anyone on BH who didn't worship at that altar either had to change their tune (Dorit, Teddi) or get out (LVP, Denise). But I'm starting to wonder now if there is something else more calculated going on. Did you know that this La Quinta episode in real time was when Erika put Tom's cheating with Justice Tricia Bigelow on blast on her IG? People were like, oh she must have been so wasted to have done something so sloppy. She's going to get her ass sued! But judging by her demeanour this episode, I believe she was cool, calm, collected, and knew what she was doing. Which was using 20-year old text messages to drive the narrative of Tom cheating on the marriage. To keep the focus on the marriage. This whole season of BH thus far has been talking about the marriage and Erika leaving him, like that's the real crime here. Not one mention of the V word -- victims. Now it could be that her lawyers told her not to make any statements about the victims so as not to implicate herself. That is not stopping her from talking about other sh!t on BH or Twitter. And honestly, does Erika strike you as a careless, reckless woman? Not to me she doesn't. I feel like the way she stirs up BH Twitter every week like clockwork, the story she is pushing on the show about Starting Over -- all of that looks carefully laid out and calculated. She's stirring up social media to detract from the detail of the lawsuits. Publishing Tom's texts serves as a timestamp (i.e. coinciding with when she told the other women about what her marriage was like). But zero mention of $20mn wired to Erika Jayne Global (supposedly weeks before she filed for divorce?). Nor an explanation as to how she affords a sizeable rent on that bungalow in Hancock Park. And certainly nothing about the burn victims or orphans and widows of the Lion Air crash. The problem for Erika is that the BH audience just does not believe her. The basic facts of the case are far more embedded in viewers' minds (like the $20mn) than what she's saying on TV. Plus, this new Erika does not match the Erika we have been watching for years. Detached, cold, playing different characters in her VTs, boasting Its Expensive To Be Me, careful, contrived, smart. Suddenly she's emotional and hurt about Tom treating her like she's nothing? It's whiplash. And because there are big stakes here (Federal charges, massive restitution, possible prison), the sudden shift in personality and 'truth-telling' feels staged in order to duck some of these charges.

I can't remember which writer said this, but it was along the lines of: "I may not write the story you want, but I always write the story you need." If we extrapolate this to RHs, well, my mind immediately goes to Kenya. I may not like her, but I recognise that I need her on the show. With RHONY, I think the 6 current HWs (im counting Bershan) offer something different and are needed. As you say, those who bring nothing need not apply. Agree with you on both counts! Tom is wicked as can be. Regarding Luann, I think you really described perfectly this HW and why I, also, feel fascination and empathy towards her, even when she's at her most deluded. She is an enigma, as you say. You also spilled some tea that I wasn't aware of, namely the depth of her struggle with alcohol, and that Victoria might also struggle with it (making me wonder if the addiction is inherited), and that she's on the outs with Noel.

My view is that Luann was never quite an alcoholic, but she was self-medicating with alcohol (that and the fact that RHONY between S5-S12 is always well-lubricated as a matter of course). Because she committed a misdemeanor (or whatever it was) on the back of alcohol, she had to show the courts that she was taking steps to deal with her drinking. In this last episode, she also mentioned that her father was an alcoholic. I wonder if she is worried that she might have a genetic propensity for alcohol and maybe that is why she has these 'dry' periods. I do think she struggles in those dry times, though. Re: the great Who Should Stay, Who Should Go RHONY debate, I think all the current cast should stay as they all have something to offer (yes, even Leah). The cast is too small, though, and needs organic additions like Dorinda and others. Another reason I wish Heather would have stayed on the show this season!

BH When Erika was detailing her woes this episode, it took me back to the reunion where LVP didn't show, and Erika sneered "Get off the cross, they need the wood." The way the Coven was hugging and crying over Erika made me wonder if they just love her more and consider her their BFF... or if they just want to be seen to be caring friends after everything that went down last year.

@DaytimeFan Can't wait to watch the Sonja interview. On a superficial note, I love Josh's houndstooth armchairs. Just leaving this here

OK so I listened to this podcast + interview, and it was great! A fun walk down memory lane when Daytime soaps were part of wider pop culture, and Melrose Place/90210 ruled the ratings. Both interviewers were good, and one was a true-blue Days fan, so it was nice hearing someone celebrate soaps without sneering "omg are they still on?" Also Lisa Rinna sleeping with Patrick Muldoon (while he was dating Denise Richards!) and then dating Harry Hamlin after Nicollette Sheridan left him for Michael Bolton was gold-star gossip. Lisa was keen to stress that her sleeping with PM was not while she was dating HH but, given that she started dating HH three weeks after she landed the Days role, I have to imagine there was a smidgen of overlap. Lisa Rinna came across very well here.

omg this is my jam and I am all over it! The 90s were awesome.

Erika: “If he stole the money, I’d like to know where it is.” Me: B!tch, you're wearing it. Me: Check your October 2020 bank statement. 💰💰💰 Haven't caught up on the epi yet but WHAT in the name of Hart to Hart is this about Tom getting thrown out of a car going over a cliff?? Sounds like some mob s***. She was better off keeping quiet and keeping it simple.

Agreed. This was by some distance the best episode of the season, and it was because (altercation aside) a lot of the women opened their hearts up to each other. I am unfairly biased towards Sonja. I adore her, through the highs and lowest lows, so feel free to call me out on my bias. Nevertheless, I am mad that production chopped the altercation into smithereens and aired it as flashback to frickin LEAH narrating the story?? Potomac did the viewers the honour of showing the Candiace-Monique fight in full, so that there would be no question of favoritism and speculation. With this fight, I'm not even sure what the inflection point was! And what made Sonja smash the fire extinguisher cabinet? Bershan being on the outs with the group made my heart hurt for her. Her emotional apology at the lunch was moving because it showed another side to her, and it broke down Sonja's walls, too. Personally, I am happy these two reconciled warmly, but perhaps this will play differently to some black viewers than it did to a white viewer like me. The séance was very good indeed, especially regarding Eboni, Sonja and Ramona. I thought I knew everything there was to know about Sonja and Ramona, but the revelations were a real surprise. I think the reason this episode worked was because it was grounded in these real events and shed new light on their vulnerabilities. Sonja remains in denial about her drinking, but maybe if she can work through her issues with a therapist, there will be some light at the end of the tunnel. I think it was @carolineg who speculated that Sonja drinks to cover anxiety, and that is very likely. Sonja also feels she is a seasonal drinker, i.e. she only drinks heavily during filming, and dries out during the off season, and therefore she is 'in control' of her drinking.

The Robyn scene was a 'recreation,' shall we say! I'm wondering whether it was also production which dubbed in the epically loud snoring! I hope I don't burst anyone's bubble but... I think production on BH has kept an iron grip on many storylines this year in order to purposely keep it light and breezy. Kathy Hilton, for example. Those Ugly Leather Pants. But the Fall of the House of Girardi is out of their control. And you can see how uncomfortable the other women look in the trailer when that mess starts impinging on them (and their 'personal brand') -- the eyes start darting towards producers like 'How are we supposed to play this?' What's interesting about the trailer was that I was SURE that Dorit and Kyle would be a united Coven front -- "Nothing to see here." The fact that they are bringing up their doubts could be producer-driven, but it could also show that Erika and Rinna don't scare them into toeing the line anymore.

Garcelle putting Dorit in her place! Kyle questioning Erika once she realized which side the audience was going ! Dorit and Sutton unable to look Erika in the face! Erika threatening Sutton! Crystal totally disappeared from this trailer after the first 3 seconds, huh. This is BH's best season in a long time. I have a fondness for seasons 6 and 7, truth be told, but I see your point!