I think one of the strengths of the OC is that there is always some sort of cast rotation from season to season so the show always feels fresh.  Even during shaky times like season 15, people knew that a cast change or two would happen after the season was over so people could hang on.

Jersey, Potomac, etc have always had trouble with cast changes.. they always come too late and when the happen.. they aren't done well.

BH would have a new lease on life if the show cut Kyle loose.. she drags the show down.

Yeah, I'd love to know how the streaming numbers look. I do wonder if some of the viewership has simply shifted to Peacock. We finally cancelled our (horrific) Spectrum service and now just watch the RH shows on Peacock. 

I also wonder if the positive buzz around OC this season might inspire them to try and revive some of the HW shows through returns and careful rebuilding, as opposed to reboots. It's a crime they aren't filming the OG RHONY girls right now!

On 7/29/2024 at 4:01 PM, Cheap21 said:

Creonta is officially back on RHOA

 

Another one who shouldn't be celebrated is back. SMFH.

RHOM

 

OH? 

 

 

RHOBH

Jennifer Tilly posted this photo on Twitter of her, Garcelle, and Kyle on a beach. 

 

Edited August 2, 20241 yr by Forever8

On 7/30/2024 at 5:05 PM, Soaplovers said:

I think one of the strengths of the OC is that there is always some sort of cast rotation from season to season so the show always feels fresh.  Even during shaky times like season 15, people knew that a cast change or two would happen after the season was over so people could hang on.

Jersey, Potomac, etc have always had trouble with cast changes.. they always come too late and when the happen.. they aren't done well.

BH would have a new lease on life if the show cut Kyle loose.. she drags the show down.

I think Kyle is kept there bc she's the anchor love it or hate it. With her gone, I dont think any of the other women can really fill that role.  On paper, Id want to say Sutton but she's not a central figure and they havent been building her up as such. I feel BH would feel disjointed without Kyle. The only way I can see Kyle gone and it working is if htey brouhght back LVP

Edited August 2, 20241 yr by Cheap21

On 7/25/2024 at 12:44 AM, Taoboi said:

RHoDubai

 

Not as good as last week's. I still enjoyed it very much, though. And I wonder if it is going to be a thing for the last few episodes of things going left in the last 10 minutes. Cuz I was irked that they left it on a cliffhanger (though it has already been leaked online  ).

 

So the Bali trip begins. And for once, Sergio WILL NOT be there. Though I loved the prank Stanbury pulled on the girls with him. See...Househusband got growth. lol. But it was nice, clean fun. Even Brook's eventual arrival did not take away from it for me. She actually gave good moments...an overdue discussion with Stanbury and more of her friendship with Ayan which I mentioned that is missed by me this season. The Brooks/Taleen drama was forced put to the backburner. 

 

And then...that ending.

 

Grrr...that cliffhanger. Sticking to the episode itself...and not the spoilers all online that I actually broke down and watched hehe...It was VERY well done. And like the saying goes...be careful what you wish for.

 

As I've been discussing...the real battle going on on this show is the rivalry between Caroline Stanbury and Lesa Milan. And if the show was going to go there, I said constantly that I would be down for it if the Caroline Stanbury from Ladies of London came out to play. And so far, Stanbury has been bringing her A game, playing a game of chess that Lesa has been keeping up with move for move. I just mentioned the other day that I didn't think we would get a scene like the Ladies of London scene where Stanbury won in her battle over Caprice, banishing her from her house.

 

I...STAND...CORRECTED.

 

And that brings us to the moment that I've been waiting for all season...the start of the fallout between Ayan and Lesa. I still have questions and perhaps they will be answered in full next episode. Even outside of the spoiled next week clips. That said...MY thoughts? Yes, it was a very complicated chess move. No one's hands are clean...except for debatably Caroline Stanbury. lol. She just pulled an LVP move, and I don't hate on her for it. She was simply given the information and waited until the perfect moment to use it.  That the move was built off of all the plot threads of this season (even some from last season) was chef's kiss for me.

 

Poor, poor Sara. We have all picked up on her and her image she chose to show the show. It's a running joke this season and gave us our first fight this season from Ayan. We know from this season that Lesa always have some recordings...whether she records it herself or it's sent to her. And so far this season...the main drama has been Brooks vs Taleen. And of course, the foreshadowing and spotlight on the Ayan/Lesa friendship. And as a subplot...the friction between Stanbury and Sara. So perfection that the break between the two friends come from a voicemail of Sara that may or may not be shady toward Brooks that was sent to Lesa who sent it to Ayan (in her defense, she wanted her BFF's opinion which tracks) who played it for Stanbury and Taleen. And that's me keeping it simple because it has layers due to all I say above. The recording does seem out of context...since it's really about Taleen and not really Brooks at all...but that does not make it any less damaging. Stanbury did that. She did not know it was from Lesa so it's safe to say she did it because she was definitely not feeling the Brooks/Sara duo and was trying to find a way to break that up. 

 

But...that was not the friendship damaged. And Ayan knew she damaged it when the first words out of her mouth was to Lesa. 'I'm sorry.' Sorry? Why? Because a BFF wouldn't have shared a video that was given in confidence...a shady one at that...and not given her BFF a heads-up she played it. And Ayan not only played it, but she played it for the main rival of her BFF...something Ayan knew. For that reason alone...and I suspect there's more to it due to the clips...I'm firmly Team Lesa.

 

But...well-done. Stanbury 1, Milan 0. 

 

STANBURY. And still having a great season. She might have struggled last season on how it is to be a Housewife, but she continues to go from strength to strength. And showing off two new HW strength this episode. One was being able to have a sense of humor about yourself. She had it with Sergio. And LOVED the prank they pulled on the girls because it's TRUE. The other was the art of the HW takedown. lol. Sad to say, but Stanbury has found her new Juliets in Ayan and Taleen which means she can be the Queen Bee and manage to be able to keep her hands somewhat clean. After all, Ayan gave her the info to use; she did not go looking for it. Which brings me to the fact she's not afraid to use said info and she looked cat that ate the canary when she dropped the voicemail. Meanwhile, I loved her and Brooks finally had that conversation (in a beautiful backdrop of netting and water sailing by--GOOD WORK, CAMERAS!!), and she looked fabulous all the way through. If there was any doubt who the HBIC is...Stanbury let everyone know...coming back leading the pack. 

 

TALEEN. So mixed feelings about her this episode. I felt the scene pre-Bali with her husband was phony...though I felt her husband was sincere. She tried to start with Ayan like she did with Lesa in Episode 2 when Ayan was simply asking questions since Ayan was smart enough to leave the dinner party early. Perhaps you don't remember anything because you were drunk. RME. And her little sly remarks made me feel annoyed. At least Saba Wannabe was trying for a moment. Why are you even here taking up space? 

 

SARA. I can't help watching Sara this episode without thinking about her interview. I had no idea that her and Stanbury appear to fall out at some point. And it's because of her closeness to Brooks? I was not sure yet. The audience had been enjoying the running joke of Sara and her 'Holier Than Thou' gimmick. And Ayan getting a video on her tracks due to their early conflict as well as her friendship with Lesa. I feel the video might be much ado about nothing since all these ladies gossip about each other. And Sara did argue about her image. She did not bug me. All I saw was Sara having Brooks's back and getting along with all the ladies. Of course, I like the Brooks/Sara duo (and Lesa makes 3).

 

BROOKS. DIVA. lol. And proud of it. She was so messy playing the 'is she going to show up?' game. Of course, she is. We all have seen the promos. lol. And I liked Lesa picking on her to not be messy. So ironic that she did nothing to kill the vibe, and it was all the OTHER ladies. She had a good episode. We got to see her very-little-seen-this-season friendship with Ayan. I really liked that her and Stanbury actually talked. And then like I said...her with Sara is always a ki-ki. 

 

AYAN. I felt she showed that video for two reasons. One was that she wanted to curry favor with Stanbury...something easy to do since they both have had an issue with Sara. And she wanted to stick it to Sara over her image. Neither were good looks. And she sacrificed her friendship with Lesa to do it. Just a bad look for her. Baaaad. 

 

LESA. Well I'm going to call a spade a spade. It has occurred to me that while Lesa did say on camera (and later on on WWHL) that she sent the voicemail because she did not seem to understand what Sara was saying, it also appeared that she was pot-stirring. And it's easy to believe that because she's done that a few times this season. It's not the first time she has taken up Ayan's battles. Look at Season 1 with Stanbury. So it's plausible that she wanted to use the voicemail in Ayan's issues with Sara. That said...STILL...she was the BFF and surely said it in confidence. So Ayan shouldn't have used it. Moreso because Ayan knew she was in the wrong with that 'I'm sorry.' Ayan cannot be surprised that Lesa's hurt. And she shouldn't be surprised that Lesa's really hurt because there was NO heads-up, and Ayan did it for STANBURY. It was messy. 

 

Good episode. And given the already released clips for next week...I can't wait for next episode. 

I can't believe Bravo threw in a To Be Continued at the end -- and then proceeded to skip a week! Just when a few more people started tuning in (on the basis of that clip of the voice-note reveal, I'd wager). Way to kill momentum for a show deserving of better numbers. 

Couldn't agree more about Stanbury, who is firing on all cylinders. Whether it is pranking the women with 'Sergio's coming,' to talking face to face with Brooks, to the voice note reveal -- Caroline is Queen Bee and rules this show effortlessly. She is in control, and I thought Lesa's "First of all -- messy" with its tone of near-admiration was to Stanbury, not Brooks. Lesa knows she got outplayed. Check. Mate.

Totally agree about Taleen and Ayan vying to be the Juliets in Caroline's life. Juliet must be watching the season from London and absolutely FUMING.  As far as who is to blame, Lesa shared the voice note with Ayan, who shared it with Caroline, who used it to embarrass Sara and break up the Brooks-Sara friendship. Neither of these three women are coming out of this smelling like roses! I don't believe Lesa shared it with Ayan because she didn't understand who Sara was talking about (Taleen). She shared it with her BFF so they'd have leverage over Sara.

As for Sara -- dumb move recording that voice note in the first place and sending it to Lesa, of all people. Are they even close? Also dumb: believing that Brooks, aka Maleficent, is a true friend. Brooks is going to throw Sara under the bus to get close to Stanbury again. My girl Sara is naive, and I feel bad for her. She has no other close friends on the cast. She was once close to Stanbury and Sergio,  but threw that away to prove to Brooks what a loyal ally she is. Sara is going to get burned.

I'm starting to find Taleen annoying.

Brooks thinks she's that girl, but the reason she came to Bali is that she didn't want the other women bonding and getting close without her there to drive a wedge. Stanbury let drop that a gentleman who appreciates Brooks', ahem, talents lent her the private plane. I'm intrigued, because that is the second or third time this season that someone has implied that Brooks relies on the kindness of well-connected men. Hmmmm.

I'm so invested in this show and cannot wait for the next episode. 🙌

51 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

I think Kyle is kept there bc she's the anchor love it or hate it. With her gone, I dont think any of the other women can really fill that role.  On paper, Id want to say Sutton but she's not a central figure and they havent been building her up as such. I feel BH would feel disjointed without Kyle. The only way I can see Kyle gone and it working is if htey brouhght back LVP

I'm no fan of Kyle, but I totally agree with you. Kyle and the psychodrama with her sisters has been the cornerstone of this show since Day One. None of the other women can match that. They are all reactors to events and don't really bring much of their lives to the screen. Kyle actually drives story and bases most of it on her familial relationships. Without her, I fear the show is going nowhere fast. It is literally built around her.

11 minutes ago, Cat said:

I can't believe Bravo threw in a To Be Continued at the end -- and then proceeded to skip a week! Just when a few more people started tuning in (on the basis of that clip of the voice-note reveal, I'd wager). Way to kill momentum for a show deserving of better numbers. 

Couldn't agree more about Stanbury, who is firing on all cylinders. Whether it is pranking the women with 'Sergio's coming,' to talking face to face with Brooks, to the voice note reveal -- Caroline is Queen Bee and rules this show effortlessly. She is in control, and I thought Lesa's "First of all -- messy" with its tone of near-admiration was to Stanbury, not Brooks. Lesa knows she got outplayed. Check. Mate.

Totally agree about Taleen and Ayan vying to be the Juliets in Caroline's life. Juliet must be watching the season from London and absolutely FUMING.  As far as who is to blame, Lesa shared the voice note with Ayan, who shared it with Caroline, who used it to embarrass Sara and break up the Brooks-Sara friendship. Neither of these three women are coming out of this smelling like roses! I don't believe Lesa shared it with Ayan because she didn't understand who Sara was talking about (Taleen). She shared it with her BFF so they'd have leverage over Sara.

As for Sara -- dumb move recording that voice note in the first place and sending it to Lesa, of all people. Are they even close? Also dumb: believing that Brooks, aka Maleficent, is a true friend. Brooks is going to throw Sara under the bus to get close to Stanbury again. My girl Sara is naive, and I feel bad for her. She has no other close friends on the cast. She was once close to Stanbury and Sergio,  but threw that away to prove to Brooks what a loyal ally she is. Sara is going to get burned.

I'm starting to find Taleen annoying.

Brooks thinks she's that girl, but the reason she came to Bali is that she didn't want the other women bonding and getting close without her there to drive a wedge. Stanbury let drop that a gentleman who appreciates Brooks', ahem, talents lent her the private plane. I'm intrigued, because that is the second or third time this season that someone has implied that Brooks relies on the kindness of well-connected men. Hmmmm.

I'm so invested in this show and cannot wait for the next episode. 🙌

OMG yes. The fight between Brooks and Taleen appeared to get audience's interest and the ratings reflected it a little bit. And now that they are getting to the meat aka Ayan vs Lesa...A week off? WHY? Way to kill the momentum indeed.

 

She really is firing. Sorry, Lesa.

 

And while I am firmly Team Lesa until further notice...even I side-eyed her when she said she did not understand the message. Moreso given the clip of Sara from next episode. As far as their friendship, Lesa said on WWHL that she regreted doing that because her and Sara were just coming to a place where they were having a good friendship when they were not close beforehand. She also owned what she did in the first place on WWHL so another reason still on her messy side. 

 

I'm honestly worried that we are not going to see what happened that would cause a rift between Stanbury and Sara given Sara's interview online a few weeks ago since she said those scenes were cut. And it explains more why her and Brooks are closer if I am remembering the interview currently. Which is just making me go grrrr cuz all of what I'm talking about is OFF-SCREEN and really needs to be ON screen. lol. 

 

Yaaaay for you on Taleen. lol. 

 

To be fair...Brooks herself has been saying that about herself since Season 1. 

 

Same. And I know I'm going to the movies next Tuesday, but will be making time to watch that night. 

 

23 hours ago, Taoboi said:

OMG yes. The fight between Brooks and Taleen appeared to get audience's interest and the ratings reflected it a little bit. And now that they are getting to the meat aka Ayan vs Lesa...A week off? WHY? Way to kill the momentum indeed.

 

She really is firing. Sorry, Lesa.

 

And while I am firmly Team Lesa until further notice...even I side-eyed her when she said she did not understand the message. Moreso given the clip of Sara from next episode. As far as their friendship, Lesa said on WWHL that she regreted doing that because her and Sara were just coming to a place where they were having a good friendship when they were not close beforehand. She also owned what she did in the first place on WWHL so another reason still on her messy side. 

 

I'm honestly worried that we are not going to see what happened that would cause a rift between Stanbury and Sara given Sara's interview online a few weeks ago since she said those scenes were cut. And it explains more why her and Brooks are closer if I am remembering the interview currently. Which is just making me go grrrr cuz all of what I'm talking about is OFF-SCREEN and really needs to be ON screen. lol. 

 

Yaaaay for you on Taleen. lol. 

 

To be fair...Brooks herself has been saying that about herself since Season 1. 

 

Same. And I know I'm going to the movies next Tuesday, but will be making time to watch that night. 

 

Brooks has been saying what about herself? That she's Maleficent? Lololol. Actually, I loved Brooks' honesty about herself and her past at S1 reunion. I think this is why I love Stanbury this season -- she never shies away from saying how she feels. She isn't fake. For someone who was scarred by a loveless childhood and boarding school, Stanbury is refreshingly upfront about herself and open to having sit-down conversations with others. Like her convo with Brooks which went a long way to repairing their friendship. I wish we knew what went down with Sara because both women would be up for confronting it and trying to fix it. After all, as Sara said, she was very close to Caroline, Sergio and her family.

On 8/3/2024 at 2:17 PM, Cat said:

Brooks has been saying what about herself? That she's Maleficent? Lololol. Actually, I loved Brooks' honesty about herself and her past at S1 reunion. I think this is why I love Stanbury this season -- she never shies away from saying how she feels. She isn't fake. For someone who was scarred by a loveless childhood and boarding school, Stanbury is refreshingly upfront about herself and open to having sit-down conversations with others. Like her convo with Brooks which went a long way to repairing their friendship. I wish we knew what went down with Sara because both women would be up for confronting it and trying to fix it. After all, as Sara said, she was very close to Caroline, Sergio and her family.

And seriously...have you seen ANY promos or tv spots for Dubai lately? Because all I see is for the show I'm not watching NJ and everyone is over it and looking forward to their yearly pause from what I can tell. Even Andy is POed that no one likes Joey/Melissa and snapped on some fan. 

 

I agree with you about Stanbury. It's part of the reason I LOVED her on LADIES OF LONDON. Yeah she was a bitca, but she was upfront about that and VERY open. No wonder everyone was drawn to her. I have no doubt that come the forthcoming reunion filming or a WWHL appearance she will be upfront about that Michael tea that Brooks and Ayan dropped. Cuz if she doesn't...it will be her first dent in her armor. 

 

The ladies on this show have always been the best kind of Housewives...authentic friendships OUTSIDE of the show. Because of that I do feel that at some point that Sara and Stanbury will talk about it on camera. If they have not already. But...will we see it?

 

Speaking of authentic friendships and Housewives...you and @kalbir have any thoughts on Larsa's now ex's new woman? 

@Taoboi I've been out of the Miami Housewives loop so I didn't know Marcus Jordan had a new girl. 

Marcus Jordan parties with blond bombshell in Cannes after Larsa Pippen split (pagesix.com)

Some comments I've seen online are "he downgraded" and "he has a type".

 

41 minutes ago, kalbir said:

@Taoboi I've been out of the Miami Housewives loop so I didn't know Marcus Jordan had a new girl. 

Marcus Jordan parties with blond bombshell in Cannes after Larsa Pippen split (pagesix.com)

Some comments I've seen online are "he downgraded" and "he has a type".

 

It has not been too long. A day or two. 

 

But I hollered when I saw people online saying he has a type.

#RHONY returns soon on @BravoTV! 🍎🔥 pic.twitter.com/0C9f8yaWfo

— jay (@JaysRealityBlog) August 5, 2024

NJ is officially dead. No use in reviving it. All the women are toxic at this point. Give us a new city and new women. Let this show fall to the wayside like Dallas and DC. 

This also needs to scare all the other cities into getting their sh*t together. 

3 hours ago, Taoboi said:

But I hollered when I saw people online saying he has a type.

Yeah, build-a-body.