RealityGal

damn it! Another amazing idea, that would have been perfect!

Hmm, its an interesting question. I thought the pleas for co sponsorship was a fairly recent thing? After the show taped. I wonder if TLC could maybe somehow be her co-sponsor for the initial 90 day window while they are taping, but I'm not sure what the government is looking for. I would have thought that the government would mostly want to make sure that you could financially support the visaholder for a 90 day window, because they can't get a job, and the US wouldn't want to pay to ultimately have someone show up here and need to get government assistance. And that you could afford to fly the person back to their country of origin in the event that the marriage didn't happen. if the reasons are primarily financial, it seems like TLC could maybe co-sponsor for the 90 days? But once taping (and the 90 day window) is over with TLC wouldn't be in the picture and it would just be Danielle's unfortunate income. But I don't really know! I should know in case I meet a dreamy Tunisian beznessman online!

exactly. There are a variety of messages in play. First, the emasculation of men. He is nothing more than a naughty child who should happily accept that his wife is taunting him and running over his shit. She doesn't need to talk to him, she can just run over his stuff and its okay because he is a child and she is the real adult. And he just has to sit there with a confused look on his face, no response beyond that. Second, as someone else mentioned, because she is the adult in the relationship, she is expected to competently do all the woman's work, because you can't expect his sloppy ass to get it together. This is why you can't even talk to him first, you just have to punish him like a child. And this is the gag, commercials teach you to expect nothing from men, because they are always fucking up when it comes to domestic chores. Relationships aren't presented as equal partnerships, but rather as an overgrown man child and a naggy, harpy bitch of a mom. Men are nothing more than sloppy haphazard simpleton children and women are in charge of the house, which is why they get the power to punish, taunt and be humorless bitches, nags and harpies. As for the point about the tables being turned, I think its still valid, because I don't think anyone should be subjected to that sort of thing. If you have an expectation of your significant other, and they fail to meet that expectation, they are still an adult, not some child where you take their shit out to the middle of the street and run it over. But we are okay with this because she is a woman. So then are we saying that women should be treated with more respect than men, because if a man had an expectation of his wife (oh, lets say, to have dinner ready) and he got home and found that she had been messing around on facebook instead of making dinner, and decided to run over her laptop there would have been a massive outcry. But if men and women are equal, then the disrespect in that commercial should be unacceptable for both men, and women.

I can't subscribe to the theory that just because men aren't marginalized that they should have their stuff destroyed and it should be okay. Just because men overall make more at work doesn't mean that they should be blatantly disrespected in their personal relationships and that it should be funny or a source of humor. No one should be treated that way in a relationship. Gender inequality doesn't excuse disrespecting your SO. Especially when that SO isn't the cause of your gender inequality.

What if TLC somehow steps in to sponsor or financially secure the obligations of the couple? At least for the 90 days.

I wonder how many $10 vintage Playboy's that set him back?

If Gabriel only managed one band he was never a very good businessman to begin with. He likely has multiple irons in the fire and doesn't want to waste time on one that is problematic. I think someone upthread said he a Lou Perelman type, and I can see that. He invests his own money in getting the band together, releasing albums and now when they are getting popular and he can see a return on his investment, Yamir makes a break for the US. After the just released an album and would normally be touring to support it. I could see Chelsea Ono pushing him to come to the US with the idea that the US market is so big and there would be so many more opportunities for him and his music. But then he gets there and there is redneck open mic night. I am comforted to see that Yamir seems to hook up with some record producers, so maybe there is a plan and has been one all along. Yamir is 28, that's old enough to consider business first. If he really wanted to come to the US he could have waited until he stopped touring with Myla Vox in support of their new album. He pretty much screwed over the other two band members. If Chelsea couldn't wait through a tour, maybe their love isn't that strong. How he actually imagined he wouldn't be replaced is a mystery to me, even if he said he was going to try to travel back and forth, that doesn't make any kind of sense when you have to tour to support an album pretty quickly after you drop it. And if this storyline is real, he made an enemy of his manager, when, if he had gone about this better, he could have had a friend and supporter. Yamir probably could have explained to Gabriel that he wanted to visit the US to see if there were any opportunities for Myla Vox after the tour was over. He could have gone for a visit, stayed with Chelsea but traveled to Chicago, knowing that he still had Myla Vox to fall back on. He could not only test the waters with Chelsea to see if their relationship could work in the US, but he could also test the US to see if there was a chance to break into the industry from this side. While I can't feel totally bad for Gabriel because most of the times, the "Lou Perelman" types have these kids sign contracts that are remarkably one sided (I've seen that behind the music!) and so if Myla Vox had really become popular the only one that would really profit would be Gabriel. But at the same time, Yamir did screw Gabriel, and mostly screwed the other two members of Myla Vox. She really is so pretty. I can't remember who called Danny's friends "zesty" but its all I can think about when I see Danny now.

I think if Louise could actually get pregnant by Daniel, he and Victoria would be forced to deal with her. Since she is nuts it would be interesting to me, but I could see where it might feel a little too much.

I think the assumptions came, not from what Kenya said, but from what Apollo said afterwards. That didn't come from the tone of her voice, IMO, that all came from what Apollo said afterwards.

So her crime is touching a man with his wife sitting 10 feet away when they were playing around a pool? Do we brand her with the scarlet A now, or later? She asked if Phaedra would consider a threesome as a joke. Kenya asks stir the pot questions all the time, she did not ask to have a threesome with Phaedra and Apollo, and she did it at a time when all three were friendly, as a joke. Kenya clearly has 0 interest in Apollo, because she could have had him if she wanted him, and she has given no indication that she enjoys women. So she had no real interest in a threesome, which points to a joke. Kenya said the "stop texting me" comment in response to Apollo saying that he didn't like her. If you don't like me, don't text me in any capacity. And that was all she said, people attach more meaning to it because of what Apollo said afterwards. There was no subtext, there was just "if you don't like me don't text me" and there was nothing stank about her tone. The only reason any other context has been given to it was because of Apollo's lies directly after she said that. First off Phaedra had zero business making a workout tape, she looks better now, but at the time, just no. I get that it was a workout video aimed at people who don't want to sweat or get dirty or whatever, but still...no. Second, the deal she was offering Kenya was almost offensive in that it assumed Kenya was an idiot. Trying to offer someone proceeds of the net rather than the gross is pretty much a way to take advantage of them. And third, she didn't steal Phaedra's idea since people have been making booty videos since Buns of Steel in the 90's. So, unless Phaedra stole the idea from people before her, Kenya didn't steal the idea from her either. Nene has openly flirted with Peter, and no one has called her out. She has even purposefully touched Peter and no one was ready to tar and feather her the way they are with Kenya. So, it looks as though Kenya's biggest crime was that Apollo was interested in her. Kenya probably got to know Apollo better than the other husbands because she was supposed to do a video with him. She wouldn't have a reason to hang out with Todd, Peter or Gregg because she wasn't in business with them.

Ha ha! Now that you say that, its so true! The badly ombre'd hair, the eternal cat eye, the same damn dress in ever color/pattern. She really could be the Spring Hill town hooker. Jason could advertise her services on CL and EBay....she could make some money and then go to a place where she doesn't have to wrap up muffins to eat later. I would have kicked him in the teeth. The Surgeon General showed us all how to cough and sneeze. He is almost 40, its either reckless stupidity, wanton disregard or malicious intent. Oh, another reason for him to say he can't have sex with her even after they "marry"

Nope, I rewatched that portion of the reunion. Apollo says that he doesn't care for Kenya and doesn't like her, and she says "well stop texting me then" and she uses the same tone and the same words I would use for any friend or even business associate who was texting me after saying that they don't like me. Neither her tone nor her words were inappropriate. She doesn't even get another word in after that because immediately after she says it Apollo starts saying that she was trying to "get with him." He is the one who took it there, not Kenya. Not in her tone, not with her words.

You could probably get a good price on a ticket, that place looked like crickets. Kenya was nice to Apollo in Mexico to put him off guard so she could get him to basically admit the truth on camera. And the plan worked, she put him at ease, found him when he was drunk and away from Phaedra and got him to basically admit that he was lying about her on national TV. I thought it was brilliant. Phaedra was going around Atlanta talking shit about how Kenya was offering Apollo sex, and she wouldn't stop. Kenya tried to talk to her in Savannah and she refused. Kenya had no other options and I think its unreasonable to expect that she should allow herself to be slandered because Phaedra wants to protect her image. So, Kenya did her one better and got Apollo to basically admit to lying on national TV. I guess Phaedra shouldn't have been talking shit when she very likely had an idea it wasn't the truth, especially since she didn't see any damn text from Kenya offering Apollo head. Apollo isn't smart like that, his lies are all very simple and could be exposed with no, or minimal digging.

No, what happened was Apollo says "I don't like Kenya, and I don't care for her" and then Kenya said "well then stop texting me." If you don't care for me, you don't need to be texting me about business or anything else. There was no insinuation that Apollo was flirting with her, only that if he doesn't like her, if he thinks she stinks, then he doesn't need to be texting her. After Kenya said "well stop texting me" then Apollo says that Kenya has been trying to "get with him" so the person who took it there was Apollo, not Kenya. It was Apollo who said the texts were about "I'll do to you what your wife won't." which was a straight up lie. Kenya's words didn't insinuate or say, or even suggest that Apollo was trying to get with her, only that Apollo clearly didn't think she was an awful person because he kept texting her.

What Danny said was right, but the only wrinkle is...did he even tell his dad that she was black? Because I would be hella pissed if some crazy Yosemite Sam racist showed up to my wedding and started making a scene because he didn't even know I was black. The brother seemed to think Amy was tan, and he seems pretty okay, so I'm wondering what story has been cooked up for racist dad? The only way I understand Justin is that he didn't want to have to deal with his bitch of a sister in law. Sometimes if you give those types time to prepare they have their assholery all prepared and ready to go. His mom and brother seem allright, so I think it has to be Jennifer that was the wrench. I can already tell she suffers from adult queen bee syndrome, and a young, pretty woman is going to likely become a target for her no matter what. As for Danielle - its that vacant smile that is like her sword and shield. I can totally envision her poisoning Mohammed to keep him there, and doing it with a vacant smile on her face. I just want to tell him to cut his losses, head back home and look for a better mark. There are older desperate women in the US and around the world. I mean, he will need to workout a bit to really get into prime gigalo shape. How much you want to bet that whatever he was cooking was one of the few homecooked meals they have had? As for her financial woes, not just the price of plane tickets, but you go overseas you're gone for 10 days, 20 days and that not only means that you're missing income from work, it means that work is starting to realize that they can live without you.

Jason's garage looked like an episode of Hoarders. I was waiting for the bags of poop and the dead cat bodies. I kept thinking to myself "if she actually looks through that entire place to find a Playboy, she really is committed, because I would get exhausted just looking at that mess" Thus far, local amusements include, a claim shack, a buffet and a swimsuit shop. Good times. Whats the over/under on Cassia being online putting herself on dating sites while Jason was away?

3 minutes and 37 seconds in. A curse upon the cameraman who decided it was a good idea to zoom in on Jason's junk and pasty white legs in his speedo thing.

ladies! ladies! No need to fight, there are enough Tunisian beznessmen to go around!

I don't know, Louise is so loopy and nuts that I can't fully hate her. Maybe its because there is a part of me that finds Margeaux annoying. The pictures on her IPAD were so awful and pathetic they were just sad. Seriously, was anyone going to ever see the cover picture on her IPAD and think that was okay? And all the heads are super big in comparison to the bodies. I didn't notice the LaMarchalle stationary, but if she was really wanting to fool him, why the xo's and not Margeaux's name? Not even a scrawled M. And how did he think Margeaux was going to forgive him like 5 hours after she found out he lied? Forgive him enough to want to have sex? So she seemed truly surprised and saddened that Daniel rejected her (even though she only wants to get a baby Grayson). I do think Louise getting a baby Grayson would be interesting. And Louise seems so natural and kind to Nolan. I know, I know, she is crazy and she is giving me all sorts of Jennifer Jason Leigh in Single White Female realness. I just can't hate her yet.

This is what makes it especially hard to handle Cynthia's "new and improved" badass self. Because if she had a fundamental change and was refusing to be taken advantage of, that would extend to her relationship with Peter. But it doesn't, because its all an act designed to keep her on TV. Yeah, some people don't need their grown children to support them. It shouldn't be a point of pride that you can't support yourself at your age MJ. Its like she doesn't even have enough pride to be ashamed of herself. Goodness, yes....I totally agree with your post.

Thank you, its getting to be a bit much. I'm going to need for Nene to reconsider her definition of a full house. When I can see empty seats from my laptop screen, that is not a full house. And isn't there some sort of social security situation at his age? Yeah, I'm gonna need for Kandi to stop with the eyerolling and face making, if you have a point to make, use your damn words, if you don't have good words, find better ones that give impact. Whether or not to file a criminal charge is not up to Kenya, its up to the police. She keeps talking about how she hates drama, and then does her best to stir it up. Kandi is really lucky she is talented at music, because some of the stuff she says makes me think that she could easily end up in jail. But then again, I take one look at Mama Joyce talking about biting off someone's finger like a crazy old bat and I realize Kandi is a triumph. See, I think if anything Apollo is doing all of this to try to make it look like Phaedra didn't know anything so she can play her absolute innocent card. I don't think he minds taking the blame since he is going to be away for a matter of years and no one is really going to care when he gets out. But I think Phaedra's actions seem to support her knowing that Kenya never offered Apollo sex, oral or otherwise.

I think Phaedra knew, in her heart, she knew that Kenya never offered Apollo a damn thing, but she was embarrassed and so she went around telling lies to save her image that she so desperately wanted to have. I remember how concerned she was last season when she found out Kenya was talking to Apollo in a crowded room, being watched by an entire bar and the men of the cast. It never made sense that she would be upset because she thought Kenya was going to talk to Apollo about having sex or whatever, because she wouldn't do that on camera in a crowded room in front of all the men of the cast. It made perfect sense that she was worried her dumb ass husband was going to admit on national TV that he made up everything about Kenya. Cynthia, from what I've seen, did more than Branden. Nene would be actively mean to Cynthia, and Cynthia would meekly sit by and take it. If you can't even stand up to your own friend when they are being mean spirited and nasty, and talking shit about your pre-teen daughter that seems to be so far up someone's ass its pretty ridiculous.

But he did text her correct? So yeah, tell your husband to stop texting me. The representation she seemed to make was that Apollo liked her, that was the impression I was left with from the reunion was that "hey Phaedra, your man likes me, so you better tell him to stop texting me" And I'm not entirely sure thats a misrepresentation, but thats also not her fault if those were what Apollo's text messages were getting at. The only person saying that she misrepresented the texts seems to be Apollo, and he doesn't seem entirely trustworthy. It sounds to me, like he was texting her, liked her, got called out and suddenly decided the best thing to do was to simply one up her with a complete lie. The only misrepresentation Apollo seems to be talking about is how he got caught texting her.

I can't help but feel that Mo wanted someone who would love him enough to believe anything he said and go with whatever he wants to do (for example, I think he could absolutely convince Danielle that he shouldn't be living in that house with the teenage girls, or can convince her that his religion really prevents him from having sex with her even after marriage because of some obscure Islamic law that mandates he can't have sex in a house with chicken patties even though he really, really wants to). Unfortunately, the flip side to that kind of desperate obsession is going to be that he will never be able to shake her, he may end up in witness protection after he gets his citizenship. I think Jason was in the service, so I thought he would have picked up some social skills, even if they were from fellow officers. ITA about just cleaning your place, I don't think I've heard too many "this place is too small!" but I've heard quite a few "this place is a mess!" And unless there is a body in there, I can't understand that pool. I know it would cost money to drain, but that just looks like a health hazard, like a West Nile virus thing. I agree to some degree about foreigners probably assuming that every American is living in NYC, California or some other bustling city. I mean, even our "reality shows" are filmed in more metro areas. But, I just can't imagine agreeing to go someplace for 90 days and not doing a basic google search.

That makes sense because Aaron was never shown as being very tidy and often as being frenetic when cooking. So I could see him setting the dashi down quickly so he could grab something else and then it ends up that he set it on top of something else thus making it imbalanced.