S05.E09: Live And Learn

[WireWrap]

I have never been able to find a true quote of Kyle saying they are a package deal but I agree it has been repeatedly reported.  I don't think they are -I think Kim has her own group of fans from when she was a child star and Kyle's fans are from her presence on the show.  I don't think Kyle would give up her spot on the show in the event Kim was not asked back or refused to return.  I think Kim is clinging to life this year.  By attaching herself to Brandi she will get some good camera time.  Brandi will use Kim to get back at Kyle and Lisa V. 

 

This clip shows sparks of Kim trying to be funny and a part of the wine tasting and then it is time to let the hostess speak.  Nobody goes to a wine tasting to hear about another's drinking problem or recovery process.  It appears they accommodated Kim with a special drink so she wouldn't feel left out.  Brandi is sitting there with such a sour puss look on her face.  If she thinks wine tasting is such a bad idea then perhaps she should offer to give up her camera time and go hang out with Kim.  She also seems to be put out that Kyle got off her stool and approached Kim.  Who knows with Brandi.

Someone posted a link to it years ago, she said it after season 1 or 2 ended, after that reunion that Kim was in rehab that failed. So many were saying that Kim need to go and she was clear...no Kim, no Kyle.

 

 No one glued Kim's butt to the chair/stool that kept her from leaving and if Brandi was that concerned about her BFF, then she should have taken Kim out of there and gone to some dry establishment but then there would be no cameras on Brandi! 

[LotusFlower]

 Kyle's oldest, Farrah, graduated from college with her mind set on entering the field of forensic psychology. I am guessing her grandmother (Mauricio's mother) was some sort of influence on her since she herself is a psychologist. Farrah probably thought following in her grandmother's footsteps was the ideal career. The last I read, Farrah is now working in her father's business. I am not sure if that is a new career for her, but if it is, I am sure Kyle and Maurcio are not at all bothered that she changed her mind about her career. Nor do I think either parent had a hand in Farrah changing her career plans.

FYI - In case you don't know, Farrah is Kyle's daughter from her first marriage; Mauricio is her step-father. And yes, she's working at Mauricio's real estate agency, so I think maybe he had a hand in arranging that!

[LotusFlower]

I've never heard Kyle say she and Kim were a package deal, either. I think it was just a rumor. I also agree with zoeysmom that it doesn't sound like Kyle. I think she loves being on the show, and I don't think she'd give up her spot. (And I don't blame her. She's not her sister's keeper).

[jinjer]

Yo tweeted several photos over a period of time showing her in a hospital bed in Korea.  I believe there were some of her daughters visiting her then Anwar visiting her.  Maybe he missed his mom.  Maybe even a photo of Her King, My Love David in the hospital! He is a wonderful husband to actually stand by her when she is sick after all! lol.  I really don't think Yolanda is exaggerating her illness.  Honestly, I don't think she would jeopardize her relationship with David.  She did post scans of her brain function last year and it showed significant reduction compared to a normally functioning brain. Maybe she has good days and bad days. She may be sucking it up a lot when she attends stuff with David.

[zoeysmom]

Someone posted a link to it years ago, she said it after season 1 or 2 ended, after that reunion that Kim was in rehab that failed. So many were saying that Kim need to go and she was clear...no Kim, no Kyle.

 

 No one glued Kim's butt to the chair/stool that kept her from leaving and if Brandi was that concerned about her BFF, then she should have taken Kim out of there and gone to some dry establishment but then there would be no cameras on Brandi! 

That is what makes it unbelievable to me-Kim and Kyle weren't even speaking at that time.    According to Kim, she and Kyle didn't really speak well until Season 3 (I know it is Kim) that is why I think that has become an urban legend in the world of RH.  One thing is for certain to me, if Kyle were not asked back, Kim would not say it is a package deal.

 

I will be interested to see who planned the trip-if it was Vanderpump, Lisar or Kyle. Of course the reality is production planned it and probably insisted on a wine tasting in hopes of another wine toss.  I agree no one forced Kim-plus there was a ton of food to keep her distracted.

[Chrissytd]

That is what makes it unbelievable to me-Kim and Kyle weren't even speaking at that time.    According to Kim, she and Kyle didn't really speak well until Season 3 (I know it is Kim) that is why I think that has become an urban legend in the world of RH.  One thing is for certain to me, if Kyle were not asked back, Kim would not say it is a package deal.

 

I will be interested to see who planned the trip-if it was Vanderpump, Lisar or Kyle. Of course the reality is production planned it and probably insisted on a wine tasting in hopes of another wine toss.  I agree no one forced Kim-plus there was a ton of food to keep her distracted.

I just caught the first look, and it was Kyle who planned the spa day as a way to get her mind off dropping Alexia off. I don't think the tasting was intentional since in her TH she said that it was to be a lunch not a tasting.

Edited January 17, 2015 by Chrissytd

[WireWrap]

That is what makes it unbelievable to me-Kim and Kyle weren't even speaking at that time.    According to Kim, she and Kyle didn't really speak well until Season 3 (I know it is Kim) that is why I think that has become an urban legend in the world of RH.  One thing is for certain to me, if Kyle were not asked back, Kim would not say it is a package deal.

 

I will be interested to see who planned the trip-if it was Vanderpump, Lisar or Kyle. Of course the reality is production planned it and probably insisted on a wine tasting in hopes of another wine toss.  I agree no one forced Kim-plus there was a ton of food to keep her distracted.

Kim was not speaking to Kyle, it wasn't Kyle not speaking to Kim and that is a very big difference. She said it during an interview that was then shown on a few HW  blog sites. I have no problem believing that Kyle does what she can to help Kim out in anyway possible, she has done just that since their mother died. Even though Kim is older, it is Kyle that looks after Kim. Kim does not feel the same responsibility/loyalty to Kyle, she never has, never will.

 

We know it was really production planned, they all are for the most part. I wonder if the producers are tired of covering for Kim, especially after the Kingsley/trainer fiasco last season. I have never bought into Kim's claim of being completely sober/clean because I never thought she was just a drunk/alcoholic, I always thought she was a pill popper/abuser first and fore most.

Edited January 18, 2015 by WireWrap

[The Mighty Peanut]

I completely agree with you, but there's another mode of thinking that says the alcoholic needs to be accountable for their own actions, and responsible for their own sobriety.  A good friend in high school had a father who was a recovering alcoholic.  Instead of keeping liquor out of the house, the wife refused to curtail her own (presumable responsible) drinking, and kept a fully stocked liquor cabinet.  Even at that age, I felt that would be an unnecessary temptation, and even unsupportive as a spouse.

That's why I kind of hate the recovery industry. In my experience it's unavoidable for individual moral codes to clash with the realities of physical addictions, even in specialized rehab facilities. I agree with you and the post you were referring to. Yes, Kim can (and did) leave the wine tasting, and Kyle did ask her if she was ok which maybe she felt would draw less attention than stopping the whole thing...but Kim's brain has been permanently rewired to tell her that wine is water in the desert and it will always be a battle to override that. I understand if Kim felt a little betrayed and felt her sister saw an opportunity to keep her safe and didn't take it.

[WireWrap]

That's why I kind of hate the recovery industry. In my experience it's unavoidable for individual moral codes to clash with the realities of physical addictions, even in specialized rehab facilities. I agree with you and the post you were referring to. Yes, Kim can (and did) leave the wine tasting, and Kyle did ask her if she was ok which maybe she felt would draw less attention than stopping the whole thing...but Kim's brain has been permanently rewired to tell her that wine is water in the desert and it will always be a battle to override that. I understand if Kim felt a little betrayed and felt her sister saw an opportunity to keep her safe and didn't take it.

Kim has been on this show long enough, even though she was drunk/high the majority of it, to realize that these gatherings are production driven/planned. To blame Kyle for asking her if she was ok, even though she did so on camera, is like blaming the oceans for the tsunami that came ashore instead of the earthquake that caused it. LOL

[zoeysmom]

Kim has been on this show long enough, even though she was drunk/high the majority of it, to realize that these gatherings are production driven/planned. To blame Kyle for asking her if she was ok, even though she did so on camera, is like blaming the oceans for the tsunami that came ashore instead of the earthquake that caused it. LOL

The worst that could happen is Kim could have taken her plate and retired to the party van while they filmed the wine tasting portion.  Kim did seem like she was handling it okay and if production thought it was cute to slip a wine tasting it to create a wedge between the sisters-shame on them.  It might of been nice for Brandi to offer to change seats with Kim-oh who am I kidding that puts her almost out of camera range.

[WireWrap]

The worst that could happen is Kim could have taken her plate and retired to the party van while they filmed the wine tasting portion.  Kim did seem like she was handling it okay and if production thought it was cute to slip a wine tasting it to create a wedge between the sisters-shame on them.  It might of been nice for Brandi to offer to change seats with Kim-oh who am I kidding that puts her almost out of camera range.

The fight scene does not happen at the wine tasting place. It happens at Eileen's house at a poker party so, IMO, you are right, that Brandi exchanging seats with Kim was so that she got the better camera angle, not to protect Kim from Kyle! LOL

[LotusFlower]

Yes, Kim can (and did) leave the wine tasting, and Kyle did ask her if she was ok which maybe she felt would draw less attention than stopping the whole thing...but Kim's brain has been permanently rewired to tell her that wine is water in the desert and it will always be a battle to override that. I understand if Kim felt a little betrayed and felt her sister saw an opportunity to keep her safe and didn't take it.

I don't mean to be so hard on Kyle, because like I said earlier in reference to something else, Kyle is not her sister's keeper. But asking Kim if she was ok felt like a cop-out, a sort of weak and ineffective way of handling the wine situation. Kind of like when you ask "how are you?" to someone you're greeting - you don't really mean it; it's just what you say to be polite. Of course she's not ok! How is it ok for an alcoholic to sit at a bar at an arranged wine tasting? Why not bring a recovering drug addict to a meth den and ask if they're ok? If the event was a surprise to everyone, why not speak to someone in charge and ask to change it up in some way...maybe a lunch at a table in the restaurant instead of at the bar? That's allowed! No one is forcing them to participate in the wine tasting, and that includes production. As WireWrap would say - SHM!

[WireWrap]

I don't mean to be so hard on Kyle, because like I said earlier in reference to something else, Kyle is not her sister's keeper. But asking Kim if she was ok felt like a cop-out, a sort of weak and ineffective way of handling the wine situation. Kind of like when you ask "how are you?" to someone you're greeting - you don't really mean it; it's just what you say to be polite. Of course she's not ok! How is it ok for an alcoholic to sit at a bar at an arranged wine tasting? Why not bring a recovering drug addict to a meth den and ask if they're ok? If the event was a surprise to everyone, why not speak to someone in charge and ask to change it up in some way...maybe a lunch at a table in the restaurant instead of at the bar? That's allowed! No one is forcing them to participate in the wine tasting, and that includes production. As WireWrap would say - SHM!

Ummmm, but not going along with production choices can cost a HW their job, something all of the HWs are aware of. Most likely that is why Kim chose to stay, sit at the bar and look uncomfortable instead of leaving. I think this "wine tasting" is a set up for the poker night dramatics, which makes me wonder which was filmed first, because I would not put it past the producers to go back and film the wine tasting after the fight but then show it first to help build drama and also to help explain the fight that happens at Eileen's house. Right now, this season, all is well between Kim/Kyle and even Brandi. The 3 of them fighting and even getting physical seems to come out of the blue as they have been getting along with each other. LOL

[LotusFlower]

Ummmm, but not going along with production choices can cost a HW their job, something all of the HWs are aware of. Most likely that is why Kim chose to stay, sit at the bar and look uncomfortable instead of leaving.

Sorry, but I disagree. If the producers changed the event from a lunch to a wine tasting, even though that's a really shitty thing to do, there's no way they would force an alcoholic in recovery to participate, or fire her for not participating. That's not just cruel, but firing her might even be an actionable offense (ie. lawsuit!).

[LilaFowler]

The way Kyle was carrying on, you'd think her kid was going to war or something.  Also? $2000 per month for food, etc?  These people are truly out of touch.

[renatae]

I’ve tried not to comment on this but I can no longer keep it in after those lip exercises. I most be the only one who just can’t with Lisa Rinna’s baboon ass lips. I feel like I am looking at a damn prolapse. It is just awful. Ten times worse than Taylor. The one saving grace is that LisaR at least doesn’t wear anything other than nude lipstick. I can’t imagine those two slabs of raw calf livers painted in Mac’s Russian Red. Death!!!

 

Oh, oh, oh!  Islandgal40! Prolapse!!! I've been trying to think what they reminded me of and you are dead on!  Poor girl. I know she had surgery a couple of years ago to get a reduction, but unfortunately, I can't tell any difference. I could swear that years ago she said they were her own natural lips, but more recently she's admitted to "enhancement."

[GreatKazu]

LotusFlower - yes, I am aware Farrah is Kyle's daughter with her first husband. That is why I posted "Kyle's daughter" not "Kyle and Mauricio's daughter".

Mauricio having a hand in her job at his business seems pretty darn obvious, that is why I didn't note it in my post. My point was, Farrah seems to have changed her game plan as far her career is concerned and I don't think Kyle had a hand in that, no more than if Alexia were to change her mind about college in Arizona.

[breezy424]

Yo was in S. Korea getting treatment.  Anwar flew to be with her during his break.  Then she flew from there to Singapore to be with David.  So not exactly across the world at one time.  But I think Yo's main complaint if foggy brain at this point.  

 

I think Lisa VP made a major miscalculation with the Max storyline.  Just the debate on here is enough to highlight that it isn't all rose and roses.

 

They always say not to label your children or they will live up to your labels.  I wonder if Max sitting down and "owning" up to his screw ups is his mocking way of just regurgitating the language he has heard from his parents so many times before.

 

Makes me wonder if Max signed on to Bravo on his own as a way to make money.  Easy peasy.  No more extra shifts at Sur and stick it to old Dad at the same time.

 

I think you may well be right about Lisa's miscalculation about Max and especially about labeling your children.  I had to go back and watch the two scenes with Max again to see if I misinterpreted something.  In the first scene with Lisa on the phone with Max, he says he wants to succeed or something of that sort, and then at the end he says he's 'lazy'.  The first time I heard that it came across as him saying it as something he's been told...many times.  I got the same impression the second time.  Maybe Max is lazy and not ambitious or maybe he hasn't found a passion.  It's amazing how people change when they find something they're passionate about.  What I find so disturbing is Lisa's comparing him to Pandy so much and that he's not like 'them'.  He's adopted.  What Lisa doesn't recognize is that he could just as well be their biological son and be different from them.  

 

The other thing that is interesting is Lisa's take on Max as compared to Yo's take on Bella.  I can't stand Yo but she had a very real reaction to Bella's DUI in so much that she questioned her parenting skills.  That's a real reaction (sure, the one drink thing is bs but she could have been the best parent in the world but kids screw up).  Lisa has never, to my knowledge, ever questioned her parenting skills with Max.  That says a lot about Lisa.  I'm sure some here will disagree.  Twice she found it necessary to say that Pandi worked her way through college and was valedictorian - once on the episode and then in her blog.  BTW, as someone else posted, I don't buy that for a second.  She probably did work part time on weekends and in the summer (like most college students), but I don't buy that she paid for tuition, board, food and everything else.  I could go on and on about the Max situation but so many of you have made points that I so agree with and I don't want to get too repetitive.  Bottom line is that if Lisa and Ken love their son, then they have to look and get real about their parenting when it comes to Max instead of just blaming Max.  They're a big part of the problem, IMO.  BTW, did Pandi ever wash dishes?  Just wondering because Lisa thought it so important.

 

Yo's Lyme Disease.  I think it was Zoeysmom who said that Yo has to stop all these 'treatments'.  I so agree.  I think she is doing herself more harm than good.  I've done a lot of research on Lyme.  Two in my family have had it.  One, very severe.  Both are fine.  There's a lot of debate over if Chronic Lyme Disease actually exists.  I question it myself.  I think, to a certain extent, that Yo is so focused on Lyme, she doesn't recognize that her body could be going through other changes.  She's obviously is peri or menopausal.  She's also at an age when many other things start to happen biologically.  She's also done things to herself, the cleanses, sheep injections, etc., that could start having negative effects.  If she was rational, she should stop all of it and give her body a chance to get healthy on its own.  She also has to let go of her infatuation of the finding the 'magic' pill syndrome.  I also think Yo greatly exaggerates her situation.  Obviously, she had way more than one good day in 2014.  Maybe, that's her method of holding on to the King and her children.  That's how she gets their 'attention'.

[LotusFlower]

LotusFlower - yes, I am aware Farrah is Kyle's daughter with her first husband. That is why I posted "Kyle's daughter" not "Kyle and Mauricio's daughter".

Mauricio having a hand in her job at his business seems pretty darn obvious, that is why I didn't note it in my post. My point was, Farrah seems to have changed her game plan as far her career is concerned and I don't think Kyle had a hand in that, no more than if Alexia were to change her mind about college in Arizona.

I wasn't sure you knew since you referred to Mauricio as Farrah's father (he is not) re: his business, and Mauricio's mother as her grandmother. If Farrah majored in psychology but graduated and got a job at her stepfather's company, I don't know if I'd call it changing careers (she didn't have a career in psych yet), but regardless, once again, we have no idea who or what was said to influence her decision.

[WireWrap]

 

Yo's Lyme Disease.  I think it was Zoeysmom who said that Yo has to stop all these 'treatments'.  I so agree.  I think she is doing herself more harm than good.  I've done a lot of research on Lyme.  Two in my family have had it.  One, very severe.  Both are fine.  There's a lot of debate over if Chronic Lyme Disease actually exists.  I question it myself.  I think, to a certain extent, that Yo is so focused on Lyme, she doesn't recognize that her body could be going through other changes.  She's obviously is peri or menopausal.  She's also at an age when many other things start to happen biologically.  She's also done things to herself, the cleanses, sheep injections, etc., that could start having negative effects.  If she was rational, she should stop all of it and give her body a chance to get healthy on its own.  She also has to let go of her infatuation of the finding the 'magic' pill syndrome.  I also think Yo greatly exaggerates her situation.  Obviously, she had way more than one good day in 2014.  Maybe, that's her method of holding on to the King and her children.  That's how she gets their 'attention'.

I think you bring up some very valid points, Yolanda is at an age where so many things start to change. That is very hard for some women to face and Yolanda might be 1 of those women. I also question why she does not stick with a long term treatment plan to combat Lyme's Disease, nothing works overnight and if her case is severe/chronic, it will take time, a lot of time. I get the impression she is looking for a quick fix everywhere without considering all the ramifications of some of these treatments. Mixing some "Herbal" meds with Prescription meds can kill you or do long term, even permanent, damage to your body/brain and bouncing from 1 treatment to another may not leave enough time for some meds/herbal treatments to completely leave your body/system. I highly doubt that she has 1 DR, Medical Dr., that has enough knowledge of traditional Western medicine and various Herbal/Holistic medicine to coordinate all these different treatments she has/is receiving throughout her travels.

I wasn't sure you knew since you referred to Mauricio as Farrah's father (he is not) re: his business, and Mauricio's mother as her grandmother. If Farrah majored in psychology but graduated and got a job at her stepfather's company, I don't know if I'd call it changing careers (she didn't have a career in psych yet), but regardless, once again, we have no idea who or what was said to influence her decision.

Having a Psych degree could give Farrah an advantage selling RE. If this is what she wants to do right now, more power to her IMO!

[EVS]

Maybe Max is lazy and not ambitious or maybe he hasn't found a passion. It's amazing how people change when they find something they're passionate about.

Breezy, I so agree with your entire post but can relate to the above quote. Several family members accused my oldest son of being lazy when he was in HS. He was a mediocre disinterested student and didn't have any activities he was really into. (No drug issues or whatever Max's issues are though). Then he managed to snag an amazing internship. (Boy Meets World fans-think of Eric Matthews and the tv internship). He loved it and worked his butt off. After graduation, he was the only intern promoted to a payed position. Now he is a full time (still mediocre and slightly less disinterested) college student and works incredibly hard 20-30 hours a week at a job he loves. If things continue to go well, they have hinted at a full time position after college. Several people have now commented that he has found his passion. I hope Max finds his as well.

[SoCal4Us]

I thought Lisa said that Max is not lazy, but maybe I'm misremembering.

Edited January 18, 2015 by SoCal4Us

[zoeysmom]

Kyle has said Mauricio dislikes Farrah being referred to as his step-daughter.  Go Mauricio!!  No offense to  Farrah, but without at least a master's if not a PhD, she is probably not going to be putting her psychology degree to work in the psychology field anytime soon. If she wants to follow in Estella footsteps she needs to get back to school.   I was not surprised Farrah went to Work at The Agency as a number of her friends work there.  They are featured on a E! program-something Farrah wisely decided not to participate in.

 

Maybe Max could go to work at The Agency like Paul's nephew, and make a killing selling real estate or better yet do to work for Mohamed's real estate agency.  

[Vanderfabulous]

I finally caught up to this episode yesterday afternoon.  My goodness, so much ado about (imho) nothing!  What I saw was nudging from Ken and Lisa, and pulling away from Max.  In other words, the natural relationship as kids grow up and begin to separate themselves so they can build their own lives.  With a little passive aggression thrown in for good measure.  :o)

 

No kid is perfect.  No parent is perfect.  There is certainly no manual that gives specific instructions on how to raise the perfect child.  Given that, I think it's pretty awesome that Ken and Lisa seem to be batting .500 with their kids.  Max is still a work in progress.  So what? 

 

I have read so much extrapolation and speculation here, based on...what?  Lisa and Ken have a parenting style that doesn't resonate.  Doesn't mean they don't care.  They are just different.  One thing that has always struck me about the British sense of humor is how very cutting it is.  They see it as humor; we see it as insulting and calculating.  I finally realized that, to a large extent, it's a cultural difference.  I hear it in how Lisa speaks to Ken, to Rocio, to/about Max.  Even to Pandora, the supposedly perfect child.

 

As far as who loves whom and how much, I have two indelible memories from Season 1:  Lisa's hands-on care of Giggy.  She was shown bathing him while Lisa explained his medical condition.  I also recall some of her first TH comments about Max and how very much she loves that boy.  She had to take a moment because she was overcome by tears.  That, as far as I'm concerned, was reality.

[copacabana]

Meh.  All these RHs shows beg us to  speculate, over-invest and over-react.  There is no reason, really, to watch this crap other than the pleasure of doing just that in the company of other folk!  And you can bet that Andy Cohen is all too well aware of it -- cue his show's various polls and all the shit-stirring he does to keep these debates alive. And the fact that the cast blogs tend to reanimate and reinforce the week's drama and sore spots.

 

Folks are going to takes sides when this kind of thing takes place.  I think Lisa acted like an ass with Max, pure and simple.  Don't mean I'm right -- just means I had a visceral reaction to what I saw as her foolishness and decided to explore it--with too much enthusiasm for sure.  These fevers break--English Rose style-- and life goes back to normal.  I enjoy reading what others think and am frequently ashamed of how hot and heavy I get about these scenarios. But, again, this and the brawling are kind of why I waste my time on this crap.

 

I do think Lisa is pandering to that segment of the population that enjoys blaming young people, rich or poor, for not being Thomas Edison on one of his better days most of the time. And that tends to excuse parents for being ineffectual and resentful.  I think that pandering for the most part is something Lisa does fairly well and pretty often.  I also think that she didn't want to hang out with Brandi, Kyle, Kim, Yolanda and anyone else who turned against her last season and that this so-called story line works for her and keeps her on the front page while demanding minimum contact with the other ladies.   We can all max out on her Max BS.  I think she's absolutely full of it and believe that if she told Ken to jump off the top of a tall building, he would likely do so.

 

I continue to find her entertaining but she lost a lot in my eyes as the result of all this kind of weird, let's measure the circumference of the kid's skull kind of  talk -- I'm sure she's crying herself to sleep and sobbing all the way to the bank at the very thought of my disaffection.  Screw it.

 

I also noticed that when she was talking about how she had never asked for anything from her parents, at the age of 18, when presumably she departed to begin to rule the world singlehanded and barebreasted, she never said they hadn't contributed.  Just that she has never asked.  You have to watch her -- she's very lawyerly in many of her little chats with us.  I don't care whether she did or did not. I just wish she could park her vanity every once in awhile in discussing her son.

 

I hope that both Ken and Lisa can find a way to deal with the kid more effectively.  And if they keep their trashing of him off the screen, I'd sure appreciate it.  As if they give a rat's ass, really, about anything other than their scene. And the cashish.

Edited January 18, 2015 by copacabana

[SoCal4Us]

It is interesting how we come away with varying perceptions...I guess I'm one of the panderees lol, as I must have overlooked Lisa trashing Max.

[Teddybear]

I thought it was funny when Mauricio said to his daughter at the airport "Why'd you bring so much luggage?" and she said, "What do you mean? I'm moving here."  Um, has he met his wife?  I'm sure Kyle brought just as much to travel to Mallorca for a week! 

[GreatKazu]

I wasn't sure you knew since you referred to Mauricio as Farrah's father (he is not)

This will give me a chance to merge another topic into my response.  Mauricio is not her bio father, but it has been made clear that Mauricio treats and loves Farrah like his own child and vice-versa. It has been made clear on the show, in THs, and in interviews.  Not speculation at all.  I referenced Farrah as Kyle's child because I just felt the need to point that out in that part of my post.  Mauricio's mother gave an interview (again, not speculation) where she mentioned she adores Farrah as her own grandchild and as far as she is concerned, Farrah is her grandchild. Billy Rose, President and co-founder of The Agency (Mauricio's business) even refers to Mauricio as Farrah's dad per this quote:

 

http://www.theagencyre.com/2013/10/farrah-aldjufrie-now-realtor-agency/

 

 

 

“She’s learned at the feet of her dad, one of today’s legends of real estate. Her instincts are spot on, and her network is extensive and impressive. I suspect it won’t take long before the protégé overtakes the mentor.”

 

Love is not about blood, I know. I was adopted. Lisa, Ken, Mauricio and Mauricio's mother, have shown blood does not make a child or a grandchild. That is as far as I am willing to go with that whole matter regarding Lisa, Ken and Max. As far as Lisa's behavior concerning other matters, I give her the stink-eye many times over. Farrah does have a bio father, but she is blessed to have two fathers in her life who love her unconditionally. 

 

  If Farrah majored in psychology but graduated and got a job at her stepfather's company, I don't know if I'd call it changing careers (she didn't have a career in psych yet), but regardless, once again, we have no idea who or what was said to influence her decision.

I referred to it as a game-change regarding her career. People do change their  minds about what career path they want to enter. For all we know, as I have not been able to substantiate, whether Farrah is choosing real estate as a career, a back-up career, or if she is just testing the waters of real estate before going into the field of forensic psychology as she had once stated. As for who influenced her, I am sure Farrah, being the adult that she is, has a mind of her own and I would venture to guess she is the one who decided on her own to work at The Agency. Plenty of children work at their parent's business.

Edited January 18, 2015 by GreatKazu

[WireWrap]

I thought Lisa said that Max is not lazy, but maybe I'm misremembering.

Max said he was lazy and Lisa corrected him. She said that he was not lazy as he gets up and goes to work 5-6 days a week, that he was not lazy but that he lacked ambition.

[copacabana]

It is interesting how we come away with varying perceptions...I guess I'm one of the panderees lol, as I must have overlooked Lisa trashing Max.

 

Yeah, you're right.  A tad over-heated and over-stated on my part.  But life is short and I like to seize my Housewives by the throat!  Gather ye rose buds while ye may, etc. 

 

The biggest irony in all this for me is that while she's gently or not so gently excoriating the boy for being a slacker, her other show -- shudder -- shows her seemingly incapable of doing what most any other competent and adult employer would have done ages ago and that is to fire at least 2/3s of the loser staff we see at SUR, etc.  The way she mollycoddles those 30-plus year olds with her little lectures and open-armed acceptance of all the unprofessional stunts they pull is meant to keep us tuning in and amused, I guess.  No way anyone in their right mind runs a real business like that UNLESS it's all about the TV show.  Not a whole lot of tough love going on in that sphere. Let's throw in another semi-naked PHOTO shoot with Lisa as the Queen of the Bordello. 

 

Pandering is a bit harsh, though --  I'll grant you that.  The other irony I see is that this last chapter's behavior and general attitude on her part have done more than any other display to reinforce the complaints that her castmates have against her.  Grudging, manipulative, strategizing, incapable of taking responsibility when things go south.

 

Anyway ... next week looks like it's going to be some kind of tacky ass fun.  And, please please please, no children -- adult or otherwise!  I can only hope Bravo has gotten this strain out of its system.  It's toxic.

[CatMomma]

 

As far as who loves whom and how much, I have two indelible memories from Season 1:  Lisa's hands-on care of Giggy.  She was shown bathing him while Lisa explained his medical condition.  I also recall some of her first TH comments about Max and how very much she loves that boy.  She had to take a moment because she was overcome by tears.  That, as far as I'm concerned, was reality.

 

You know, I'm glad you mentioned this.  Reading many of the comments, I thought maybe I had missed something, because I never saw Lisa trashing Max.  I do think she has a tendency to brag a bit too much about Pandora, which maybe gives the impression that, because she doesn't brag about Max, she is trashing him. After seeing her conversation with Max, he does seem to be a bit entitled.

 

I have to say that it rubbed me the wrong way when she mentioned that Max was not her biological son, but she followed it up by saying that all children are different, so I didn't get the feeling she was blaming genetics.  The more I think about it, the more I think she was responding to a question.  I base this solely on what she said after she asked the question. Nothing she said after posing the question implied that she believed it was because he was adopted.  In addition, if you watch Lisa in her talking heads, she tends to ask a question, then answer it.  It's her style.

 

If anything, I think her TH shows that she isn't this all knowing manipulative chess player that she is painted to be. No matter how you slice it, what she said was pretty dumb and in no way seemed calculated to improve her image. 

[RedheadZombie]

Kyle has said Mauricio dislikes Farrah being referred to as his step-daughter.  Go Mauricio!!  No offense to  Farrah, but without at least a master's if not a PhD, she is probably not going to be putting her psychology degree to work in the psychology field anytime soon. If she wants to follow in Estella footsteps she needs to get back to school.   I was not surprised Farrah went to Work at The Agency as a number of her friends work there.  They are featured on a E! program-something Farrah wisely decided not to participate in.

 

Mauricio isn't a perfect husband, but I'd take him in a flash.  I'm a sucker for a man who loves his children.  Has anyone noticed what Farrah calls him?  I know he's been in her life since she was around six.  I'm very nervous every time I hear that Farrah hangs around her Hilton cousins, but although she's younger than them, she's got a good head on her shoulders.  Plus, she lucked out with the better parents than the Hiltons.

 

I think she's absolutely full of it and believe that if she told Ken to jump off the top of a tall building, he would likely do so.

 

Oh you don't give Lisa enough credit.  I'm sure she'd rush over and snatch Giggy out of Ken's hands right before he jumped.

[LotusFlower]

I referred to it as a game-change regarding her career. People do change their  minds about what career path they want to enter. For all we know, as I have not been able to substantiate, whether Farrah is choosing real estate as a career, a back-up career, or if she is just testing the waters of real estate before going into the field of forensic psychology as she had once stated. As for who influenced her, I am sure Farrah, being the adult that she is, has a mind of her own and I would venture to guess she is the one who decided on her own to work at The Agency. Plenty of children work at their parent's business.

If Farrah wants to work in psychology, as Zoeysmom pointed out, she'd need a lot more schooling and experience. It was probably just her major in school, and if she likes the real estate business and is doing well, which seems to be the case, then she's probably staying put. But if she ever changes her mind, I'm guessing her parents, all of them, will have opinions about that, esp. Mauricio, her boss. Which is all fine and typical. I don't know her character or the dynamics of their relationships to know how much she's influenced by them, but I think most young people, including those in their 20's, still seek their parent's approval. Which is just part of my larger point that parents influence their kids, sometimes to a great extent, sometimes to a minimal one, or in subtle ways.

[jinjer]

Farah probably wanted to make money.  There is money to be made at the Agency.  Forensic psychology?  Not so much.

[copacabana]

What's so genius about Lisa and or Bravo-Lisa is that with a few deft strokes she creates a mini firestorm that she can keep brewing if she wants to and they let her. Everyone else is running around doing all this strenuous stuff to get their air time but there she is -- Coming home to plop on her luxury bed with a giant pink teacup (little yellow duckie on it!), chat with Max, let Rocio know she can look forward to some closet swag that Lisa doesn't like.  Next scene -- no need to even leave the Ancestral Manse, Max is coming over! -- more tea, more pink, more chatter and shade.  Cue the talking heads where she looks stunning in her revealing, off the shoulder chartreuse number -- very Lana Turner in Imitation of Life -- and the job is done!  This is why she rules over the other ladies and always will.  Her speech patterns are getting fruitier and fruitier too -- She's floating above the earth!

 

Next time I say something hurtful and thoughtless here at my love shack, I will have to remember whether it came out of my mouth spontaneously or as the result of a question. The folks who edit this stuff are little Heisenbergs as far as I'm concerned. 

[LotusFlower]

Next time I say something hurtful and thoughtless here at my love shack, I will have to remember whether it came out of my mouth spontaneously or as the result of a question. The folks who edit this stuff are little Heisenbergs as far as I'm concerned.

Bravo! (No pun intended)

[CatMomma]

What's so genius about Lisa and or Bravo-Lisa is that with a few deft strokes she creates a mini firestorm that she can keep brewing if she wants to and they let her. Everyone else is running around doing all this strenuous stuff to get their air time but there she is -- Coming home to plop on her luxury bed with a giant pink teacup (little yellow duckie on it!), chat with Max, let Rocio know she can look forward to some closet swag that Lisa doesn't like.  Next scene -- no need to even leave the Ancestral Manse, Max is coming over! -- more tea, more pink, more chatter and shade.  Cue the talking heads where she looks stunning in her revealing, off the shoulder chartreuse number -- very Lana Turner in Imitation of Life -- and the job is done!  This is why she rules over the other ladies and always will.  Her speech patterns are getting fruitier and fruitier too -- She's floating above the earth!

 

Next time I say something hurtful and thoughtless here at my love shack, I will have to remember whether it came out of my mouth spontaneously or as the result of a question. The folks who edit this stuff are little Heisenbergs as far as I'm concerned. 

I dunno. I feel like her detractors are giving her way more credit than she deserves. Or, maybe I'm just a big ole dummy, cuz ya know pink makes everything better?  I was blinded by her "chartreuse" cleavage.  A British accent and cleavage makes me kinda stupid.

[Deputy Deputy CoS]

If not Brandi then maybe Kim, or the 2 together, after what she said about Chad at the reunion last season. Could you imagine what Brandi would say about Max if given the chance to hurt/teach Lisa a lesson? YIKES!

 

 

The supposed outing about Chad is spoken of as fact but unless we know for a fact the child who had a mental breakdown was male and it was Chad, we can't put that on Lisa. Even if it was Chad, how do we know he didn't suffer a broken a leg and she meant exactly what she said. 

 

If she in fact did mean to do what is accused of, I doubt very much Kyle or Kim would want to remain friends with her. 

 

The Chad situation is, to me, a prime example of Lisa being painted as a villain by pure conjunction.

Edited January 19, 2015 by Deputy Deputy CoS

[WireWrap]

Yeah, you're right.  A tad over-heated and over-stated on my part.  But life is short and I like to seize my Housewives by the throat!  Gather ye rose buds while ye may, etc. 

 

The biggest irony in all this for me is that while she's gently or not so gently excoriating the boy for being a slacker, her other show -- shudder -- shows her seemingly incapable of doing what most any other competent and adult employer would have done ages ago and that is to fire at least 2/3s of the loser staff we see at SUR, etc.  The way she mollycoddles those 30-plus year olds with her little lectures and open-armed acceptance of all the unprofessional stunts they pull is meant to keep us tuning in and amused, I guess.  No way anyone in their right mind runs a real business like that UNLESS it's all about the TV show.  Not a whole lot of tough love going on in that sphere. Let's throw in another semi-naked PHOTO shoot with Lisa as the Queen of the Bordello. 

 

Pandering is a bit harsh, though --  I'll grant you that.  The other irony I see is that this last chapter's behavior and general attitude on her part have done more than any other display to reinforce the complaints that her castmates have against her.  Grudging, manipulative, strategizing, incapable of taking responsibility when things go south.

 

Anyway ... next week looks like it's going to be some kind of tacky ass fun.  And, please please please, no children -- adult or otherwise!  I can only hope Bravo has gotten this strain out of its system.  It's toxic.

 How interesting would it be to the target audience, or any audience, if they showed how a real restaurant was run every week with the same boring cast/crew? That type of show would never make it to production/filming let alone TV. And Lisa could not fire her cast/crew for the behavior they show otherwise they would have a new cast each week for the most part. VPR is nothing more than Bravo's version of an upscale BH Jersey Shore show, nothing more. They are targeting that very same audience, not the more mature, settled middle aged adult. LOL

[WireWrap]

The supposed putting about Chad is spoken of as fact but unless we know for a fact the child who had a mental breakdown was male and it was Chad, we can't put that on Lisa. Even if it was Chad, how do we know he didn't suffer a broken a leg and she meant exactly what she said. 

 

If she in fact did mean to do what is accused of, I doubt very much Kyle or Kim would want to remain friends with her. 

 

The Chad situation is, to me, a prime example of Lisa being painted as a villain by pure conjunction.

I agree it is just another way for some to go at Lisa but when you don't like a particular HW, it does not really matter what they say or do, they will always find something to blame them for.

 

ROL refused to name the adult child but it was easy to figure out it was Chad he was the only adult child still living with Kim at the time. Lisa did not reveal anything that most could not find out about easily.

 

You do bring up a very valid point, if Lisa did something so horrid, why are Kyle/Kim being so friendly with her, more so than what is required to film with anyone?

[RedheadZombie]

ROL refused to name the adult child but it was easy to figure out it was Chad he was the only adult child still living with Kim at the time. Lisa did not reveal anything that most could not find out about easily.

 

I don't know.  There was a lot of speculation on message boards at the time, and I never saw Chad mentioned.  People were speculating it was Brooke or Whitney.

[WireWrap]

I don't know.  There was a lot of speculation on message boards at the time, and I never saw Chad mentioned.  People were speculating it was Brooke or Whitney.

The ROL report said that whichever child it was lived with Kim. Both Brooke and Whitney have lived on their own or with a bf  for several years and Kimberly was not living with Kim at the time either. That left Chad.  

[Vanderfabulous]

 

Coming home to plop on her luxury bed with a giant pink teacup (little yellow duckie on it!), chat with Max, let Rocio know she can look forward to some closet swag that Lisa doesn't like.  Next scene -- no need to even leave the Ancestral Manse, Max is coming over! -- more tea, more pink, more chatter and shade.  Cue the talking heads where she looks stunning in her revealing, off the shoulder chartreuse number -- very Lana Turner in Imitation of Life -- and the job is done!

In other words, a look into the real lives of Beverly Hills housewives!  What a genius idea for a TV series!  :o)

[LotusFlower]

The ROL report said that whichever child it was lived with Kim. Both Brooke and Whitney have lived on their own or with a bf  for several years and Kimberly was not living with Kim at the time either. That left Chad.

Because of course ROL is known for their accurate reporting! (snark). I do, however, think it was Chad. But not because of the veracity of ROL, but because of the way Lisa referenced Chad's (pause) broken leg. And the context of the line, where Lisa was defending herself against Kim's charge of not being there for her in her time of need.

[copacabana]

Talking smack about her just because she rubbed me the wrong way with that stuff, but, really and truly, I consider Lisa VanderPump the supreme Housewife of all time.  Nobody else comes even close and I've experienced all the franchises.  She's the RH of Beverly Hills to me and, like I said, without her the show would collapse.  

 

Don't mean I can't have a bit of fun with her -- or gasp when she makes me go HUH?  I even kinda forgive her VPR and, like bosawks said, I'll (only really) know she hates Max if he shows up on VPR ... (And, NO, I don't think Lisa and Ken dislike or hate their son.) 

 

She's larger than life and twice as fun.  Imperfect divas are always much more interesting anyway. 

[HumblePi]

sigh... All these emotional over-reactive college goodbyes. Makes me laugh to watch the sobs when I know that the next day they'll be out getting pampered at the spa, having cocktails over an expensive lunch, or buying a new pair of Louboutins.

 

This was more like me when my son moved across the country to go to college. 

"bye bye, seeya, don't forget to write"

 

Edited January 19, 2015 by HumblePi

[copacabana]

HumblePi -- LOL!  Just made my son come see.  He adores Marilyn and has since the age of 6.

[breezy424]

Hey guys.  I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer or chastised anyone here.  I don't think anyone here has bad intentions but I think whatever happen with one of Kim's kids should just be left private.  These kids have been through a lot with their mother's alcoholism and none of them (from what I've seen) had any ambitions to be an intricate part of the show or be a celebrity.  

[ryebread]

 

 

Hilarious, humblepi. 

 

That's what my son is going to see when he leaves for college, but 30 seconds later imma gonna be like this:

 

 

I hope this week's episode is kid and college free although it was fun reading everybody's opinions of the Beverly Hills brats/not brats and what their parents are doing right/wrong.

[MatildaMoody]

 

Lisa is smart enough to answer adoption questions artfully, no matter how they are asked.  Like "genes have nothing to do with it. Max and Pandora are just two different people just as every child in every family is different."

But this is essentially what Lisa did say. Her exact words were, "Max is a different animal to Ken, and I, and Pandora. Is that because we don't share the same genes? I don't know, because I think that each child is different. But as long as he's happy...what do they say? A mother is as happy as her saddest child."

 

ETA: I was actually kind of surprised at how much Lisa was villified for saying this. When I finally watched the episode, I was really surprised to find that she wasn't in fact saying that Max was some how less than, or that Pandora was awesome and Max was awful. I expected to hear her say something about how much of a crapshoot adoption is and how they just didn't hit the jackpot. I truly was expecting to hear her say something uncaring or horrible about Max and the fact that he was adopted. So, imagine how surprised I was to find that it was much ado about nothing. 

Edited January 19, 2015 by MatildaMoody