Cat

Watching some of the other RH shows (NY, Potomac), you realise that the problem with RHOBH is that none of these women are friends and therefore no authentic bonds are formed. Consequently, BH devolves into an episode of Survivor, where strategic alliances form to bring down a target. Popularity is king and measured by social media clicks. This works when the show actually IS called Survivor and the rules of the game are clear. However, BH is still fronting like this is an actual friendship group and blah blah friends tell each other da troof. The fact is, even a 20-year so-called friendship (probably more an acquaintanceship) between Rinna and Denise is merely fuel for these popularity games where Rinna wants to dent Denise's popularity with the audience. None of these women like or trust each other and I doubt they are in contact during the off-season (except for Kyle and BAT bc Kyle needs a sycophant).

This reunion was depressing because The Coven brought their A game. I don't blame Garcelle and Denise -- they were unprepared for what was about to hit them. The Coven are PISSED about those two. Kyle f*cking sat on that donation tidbit for HOW MANY MONTHS?? To make it look like Garcelle stiffs charities? I am stunned by Kyle's egregious abuse of her fundraiser position at LA Children's Hospital. She used their confidential information in a public forum. Did Kyle tell Children's Hospital not to contact Garcelle so that she could drop this bomb at the reunion? What on earth will other donors think about this public outing? Just so embarrassing -- for Kyle. I don't mind Erika coming in hot, but doubling down on that nauseating comment about Denise's kids participating in threesomes? Why does this 47-year old insist she knows the secret life of teenagers and assume they are all hyper-sexualised objects? Honestly, T'Challa did more for the Real Housewives franchise in 1 episode than Erika has done in 3 seasons -- #FACT. BAT laughing like a brain-dead idiot at everything Erika, Kyle and Rinna burped up. She is a complete irrelevance to the point where Andy asked Sutton, instead of My Little Pony, how she felt about BAT being called boring. Dorit has understood for months what Bravo and The Coven have failed to comprehend -- people are watching for The Coven's downfall. They want to see karmic justice. Dorit has positioned herself alongside Garcelle and Denise in the hopes of seeing off The Coven. It's smart, but it's also cynical. Garcelle is on a whole other level compared with the others in terms of her intelligence, her deep well of experience and understanding, and even her empathy regarding the other women engaging with her. And it'll be the only job she has, if QVC decide to clean house. She has become a superficial, soulless monster. Just horrific.

Oh man. This could be a good season... or this could be a mess. The new HW seems like a good fit for RHOC. And I guess we finally see Matt.

Yeah, I liked D'Andra's gothic look too. But Leeanne was the Queen of Gothic. S3 she was going full Elvira! And now you have added another dimension to D'Andra's physical transformation: not only is Mama Dee trying to create a replicant of her younger self (via D'Andra's recent surgeries), but D'Andra also wants to become Leeanne. TWISTED! In anticipation of tonight's BH reunion:

Thanks for the info! I can already anticipate Brandi's non-apology from here ("I'm sorry if I offended anyone, I didn't realize it was offensive, I'm working on understanding better, blah blah"). But since there is an Asian HW in the mix (yay!), I wonder if she will address the video. I enjoy RHOD's focus on Dallas society with these 'important' families, bucolic suburban houses and themed events. Last season was so toxic and ended badly for Leeanne, but I am now looking forward to this season. RHOD does provide some humor (Kameron) and outright soap opera. I am also hoping for a little karma coming Brandi, Kary and D'Andra's way, BH-styles --though I guess D'Andra's karmic punishment is pretty much Mama Dee's entire existence..

Honest to God, I barely recognized Stephanie (who needs to stop with the botox -- she's already pretty as is). Speaking of unrecognizable, I thought D'Andra was the new girl! BTW I really hated that Bravo chose D'Andra as the face of RHOD in that Salt Lake promo. It should have been Stephanie. All I will say about Brandi is that this isn't her best angle. Taoboi, you know Bravo won't spend money on their poorest-performing franchise! They are going to keep the existing shots of Stephanie, Kameron, as well as Hypocrite, Shrieky and Mama Dee's Replicant. And by the power of Photoshop, stick in Cary's S3 shot, and shots of the new girls. Voila! I have heard zero gossip about RHOD this season. I don't think Leeanne has been asked back to help out.

Potomac gave us so much content this episode. I had to watch T'Challa attack Wendy's hair 3 times because it was so good! The editors rightly gave us no warning and it was so superb. I think Robyn hit the floor at one point! Also loved how Ashley stood up for herself to Wendy's questions without breaking a sweat. And the Q&A session at dinner! They covered EVERYTHING! Potomac gives us everything! Monique telling T'Challa off in the bathroom was one of those moments I live for, and the name T'Challa and its significance wasnt lost on me given Chadwick Boseman's passing. I love that this is the name Monique gave him. This show rocks.

Your latter paragraph: I wonder about that too. Taylor did not want the info that Russell was hitting her out there (although in S1 it was hinted at, especially in the episode where she spoke on behalf of a domestic abuse charity). I felt like another part of her actually hoped it would get out, maybe as a way of protecting her from his abuse if the cameras were always scrutinising their married life. Taylor's life was on display throughout S2, but instead of supporting her, production barred her from the cast trip to Hawaii, barred her from Pandora's wedding, and in S3 basically made her a FOH, barring her from the Paris cast trip. Because she wasn't rolling in wealth (especially after Russell killed himself), Bravo kind of looked down on her. And IMO what made BH work in the early days wasn't just the fancy houses and private jets, it was the mix of the Wealthy and the Wannabes (the latter group included Taylor, Dana, Brandi, Cedric and Kim in a way, who had clearly lost much of her money and clout). One might argue that, at the time, Kyle was a Wannabe masquerading as a Wealthy, although she had the Hilton connection. Fake it til you make it! I loved that whole dynamic which, yes, created a lot of tension, but also the Wealthies needed the Wannabes, for excitement, laughs, drama and to stir the pot. It was very true to life in a place like Hollywood where people are always social climbing and kissing ass and there is a friendship eco-system built around power players. BH lost something by getting rid of Taylor. The social climber scrambling to regain her old life. Those people are always more interesting than the Adrienne Maloofs I never liked the way Yolanda turned up her nose at Taylor either. The standout scene of S3 was Taylor hanging out with a drunken Dana whose fiancé had just left her, and Dana telling her "These women can't love you because they love themselves too much." Agreed about Porsha. Yeah, I'm not crazy about the current BH cast but I'm not about to Tweet Kyle, Rinna and Teddi hateful things. Their reply threads are nuts. Brandi's is also insane. I could never face a torrent of personal opinions like that on a daily basis.

I am shocked they cut those bits out of 2 scenes. These cuts were like 1 min each? They could have cut Kyle and Dorit on the scooters (which went on for 10 mins) or Teddi showing off her baby room to leave this relevant stuff in. That other filler could have gone into the lost scenes episode. Social media has become such a breeding ground for hatefulness. It's just a RH show and yet the violence of the language is out of control. And i know I have expressed some opinions on here but... It's a Pandora's box the world has opened without realising that we can never put the hateful stuff back in.

'Twerk for justice' ?

I thought I was the only one who loved smoky-voiced, manipulative, mysterious, Traci-Lords lookalike, Kari! I assumed she was not hired back because she went up against Mariah (a rivalry for the ages) and because they wanted the show strictly African-American. Next thing we know, Quad, who barely registered all S1, couldn't stop yapping and taking herself super-seriously during S1 reunion, and going into S2, suddenly Quad was this wounded bird/femme fatale playing victim to something Mariah supposedly did to her but which was never fully specified. A part of me wondered whether Quad had snatched a SL originally intended for Kari. Anyway, as it turned out, Kari and Mariah eventually made up IRL and Kari and Toya remain pretty close. I would love her back! Also happy about Lisa Nicole being back. I'm not sure i love Lisa Nicole, but she is a deluded drama queen and great for the show. I think M2M kind of lost something when she left. I also hated that Heavenly ran her off the show, with the full support of Jackie and Simone. I guess she is no longer with that cheating scoundrel Dr. Darren, huh.

Absolutely shocked and evastated. What an exceptional actor (with more roles left in him) -- but more than that, what an exceptional human. These Tweets are beautiful and moving because he meant SO much to people and they testify to his kindness, intelligence, hard work and huge heart.

LOL I love Camille keeping her foot on BAT's neck

They are literally screaming at each other across the huuuge studio in their La-Z-Boy armchairs, LOL. Nevertheless, if this set-up works, I would prefer it to the Zoom-reunions. The Zoomunions feel highly over-rehearsed. IA, they look great and very sophisticated.

Oh [!@#$%^&*]. If Jill is back, that might explain why Ramona was not fired from RHONY. Ramona v Jill and all that.

@DaytimeFan , your post is literally *chef's kiss* 👌 Thank you for posting that epic TripAdvisor review ("awkwardly shaking their boobs at each other for an excruciatingly long time" LMAO). Thanks also for highlighting Vyle's IG stories. Her promotion of mask-wearing etiquette kind of undermined by that non-socially-distanced post-Reunion party she threw for the Coven! BH: Early on this episode, the following monologue between Rinna and the Boring One transpired: Rinna: "Clearly Denise has not been honest. [...] I'm torn because I would like to be a good friend for her and I don't think I've been a great friend, but now I go 'You know what? Maybe I have been a great friend and you're being a shitty friend.' And she's going to have to take responsibility for it. You make your bed, you have to sleep in it..." BAT: "Yeah.... uh huh... yeahhhh." Rinna: "And sometimes that bed is f*cking filled with nails and snakes." BAT: ....... This sh*t is something out of a Donald Trump fever dream. The concept that, if you don't like reality as is, you can distort the narrative to make it into the reality you do want. And suddenly it's no longer your fault, you are the victim, and it is the other person's fault. And because it is their fault, they must be punished! Rinna's ending sentence is so nuts that even BAT was like "wut". When did Rinna's soul up and quit her body? This empty vessel keeps cosplaying LVP with her reunion look. Cosplaying Kris Jenner at Kyle's auction. Cosplaying Yolanda the Momager. Cosplaying Big Kathy Richards with the daughter dating So-and-So's son. Cosplaying a crying human. As @chrisml said, she is beyond. As for Dorit.... I get the Dorit love now. Dorit can see that the Coven is going down in flames. She is reserving judgement on this mess and that is very, very smart. We are also witnessing the dying days of her marriage with PK. They sit miles apart, and he seems antsy and uncomfortable in his own skin. Mentally, they seem on two different continents. @Taoboi does a pretty convincing analysis of how production has been setting up Denise all along. IMO merely getting rid of the Coven is only a partial solution to BH's problems -- the production team was problematic last year, too. It needs to go. I still think Aaron is angry and controlling and a stored up problem-in-waiting for seasons to come, should Denise return to the show. One last thing. Seeing Kyle's slow realisation that hobgoblin Brandi showed up but Denise didn't (thereby robbing Kyle of springing that ugly trap and then smirking that Denise was 'running away from the truth again" when Denise inevitably walked out) was

Welp... I will kind of miss her. And the Berkshires, and Blue Stone Manor. And of course this: Carole weighed in on her friend leaving: Look at you, Carole, going all Tennessee Williams/Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with the big words! Carole turned her Tweets of support for Dorinda into attacking the other HWs for lack of realness (obvs she never cared for Sonja, hated Luann and fell out big-time with Bethenny -- not to mention Andy). I'm guessing Bravo may not be asking her back. And in BH news, I enjoyed this Jezebel article asking why on earth did Bravo drop the Aaron-cures-cancer-and-Big-Pharma-want-him-dead SL. That brief story was wild and kind of X Files/Trust Nobody-esque. https://themuse.jezebel.com/what-happened-to-the-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-m-1844842544

It doesn't bear thinking about! As the clip with Tiffany Pollard illustrates, and her scene with Leah last week when she called her her muse, Sonja can interact really well with different people. She can take them at fave value, treat them like her peers and accept them as they are. I've heard that she extends that attitude to fans. That's an important quality on this franchise.

The London trip with Carole was one of the most moving episodes, and the Puerto Rico trip with Bethenny was one of the most intense and honest. Dorinda is incredibly polarising as a HW (as the responses on this thread today illustrates) but she was 100% real and showed us the good, the bad and the ugly. Many times I felt moved by her and related to her. There wee moments when she verbalised her and other people's emotions with a lot of insight and empathy, but that empathy which made her a fan fave has been missing in recent times. Interesting that people here believe she chose to leave, rather than Bravo firing her. @DynamiteKiddo thank you for the insight about CLIP and Sonja’s past as a hostess/coat check. I hope Sonja won't be let go. I think she is a keeper.

OMG now I'm getting nostalgic. Dorinda in her earlier seasons was MY FAVE. Sonja was interviewed on a podcast this spring (while stuck on a yoga retreat in the middle of lockdown) and she was giggling about CLIP and what an iconic shutdown that was. Even though she was the target of that shutdown! RHONY is taking the brunt of this sudden urge to reboot but ITA with you, BH is the one that needs the overhaul. I hope RHONY's transitional year is helped out by a few familiar faces. Phaedra's wit is what I miss the most from her time on ATL. With Kandi around, though, I don't think she is ever coming back. Sad that it seems like she's on the desperation train these days.

Frons era -- DaytimeFan, you just sent a chill down my spine. 😬 IMO Bravo has been invested in younger demos for over a year now. LVP, Vicky, Tamra gone last year. The last few seasons of ATL have felt like an experiment in a new RH 'style' to attract a younger demo. (Though personally, I haven't felt as connected to ATL since Carlos King left after S9). RHONY always skewed older, but I loved that 'crazy broads' dynamic. I felt invested in this cast. I know there needs to be change because its been Groundhog Daying the last few seasons, and I think change has been beneficial on BH with Sutton, Denise and Garcelle. Nevertheless, this still feels like a loss. Totally agree about Sonja -- the last episode proved it with her Century 21 speech at the end how funny and light and off-the-cuff she can be. Dorinda had a bad few seasons. I hope she finds peace too, because I think her issues and unwillingness to tackle them are a real problem.

omg! I expected it but at the same time -- I am shocked! I hope Sonja is safe and, yes, Ramona, too, if I'm being honest. Though I suspect Ramona is out. Feels like end of an era. 😥

Lisa Rinna: "I could have been Regis's co-anchor in 2001 if it wasn't for that bitch Kelly Ripa!" This is great news for Garcelle but, like @Taoboi said, i really hope this doesn't mean she is leaving BH. She is a shining light on that show and they need her, badly. She is the only one standing up to the Coven and their BS. Potomac: Whoever said they love Kal, I love him too! Kal is more family to Gizelle's girls than Jamal is. That's the honest truth. He is also the one who tries to teach Gizelle how to be a human being. It's a lifelong work! Gizelle pissed at being called the Gizelle Monster is like Teddi pretending to be upset about Denise purportedly saying she lives in her dad's shadow. It's the truth, the viewers know it, and nobody cares that you are miffed. I liked Candiace this week. I think she is trying to make amends. Baby steps. I enjoyed Wendy with Robyn but has she never watched the show? OF COURSE Robyn will run to Giz to tattle. And Wendy keeps trying it with Karen. Given that they are pretty much acquaintances only, it does not reflect well on Wendy seeing her make personal comments on Karen and Ray's sex life (a subject she and Gizelle seem weirdly obsessed with). Next week looks like 🔥

Why on earth would they cut this part out? It was emotional and most of the women seemed genuinely moved, including Rinna herself. This is the kind of true confession that enriches RH shows. And why I am SO GLAD Garcelle is on BH. But yeah, I think I can guess why this was edited out. 🤔

Thanks for informing me. I thought Joyce and Kyle were still acquaintances. I know LVP and Joyce stayed close friends after J left the show.