S07.E07: Family Matters

[WireWrap]

I view this whole Bethenny-centric episode with a lifted eyebrow.   I felt like that conversation with her step father was carefully crafted to support her stories of her childhood---I'll see your raised by wolves, and raise you a she never wanted a child.    Something felt off to me.    I find it odd that Bethenny has been on and off tv for a number of years and they never had contact until now.    I felt the same way when she let cameras come with her when her biological father was dying.    Too much, too much on tv.

 I feel confident John was paid, and I am expecting Bernadette to sell another story/statement to the Enquirer.     

I think I do believe the part about not 

Why would she want a man who beat her mother all the time and also beat her in Bryn's life? What was that comment she made about having negative influences in a child's life not being such a bad thing, how does that make sense? 

[atir]

It occurred to me that Bethenny's Miami friend might have been in Witness Protection. Her hair (wig?) & sunglasses made her look rather off in some way.

[bagger]

Bethenny's nonverbal reaction to Sonja mentioning her friend, the swami priest, cracked me the hell up. She just looked so confused.

And yet I still forget she's even on the show until she opens her mouth.

Well, there is that but it's not for lack of effort on Kristen's side.

[Deputy Deputy CoS]

Kristen said what she said because Bethany was using childcare as an excuse. Her whole mantra this episode was that she's closed off, don't/can't make new acquittances because of all the hurt and pain she's going through. It is a narrative carefully crafted by her publicist but Kristen went a little off course by sorta kinda calling BS on the childcare front. I wish she wasn't so apologetic about it but was a straight up bitch like she's being accused off.

 

That said, I am not here for the poor Bethany project. 

 

Give me back my show, Andy. 

Edited May 20, 2015 by Deputy Deputy CoS

[njbchlover]

What's wrong with Kristen?   She made a big deal of Bethenny missing the boxing match.   Seriously?   Personally, I hate boxing so I wouldn't need an excuse to miss a boxing match.  I'd simply say I didn't want to go.

 

Bethenny doesn't have Bryn all the time so missing a boxing match to be with her daughter was the right choice. 

 

I realize there's a lot of Bethenny criticism here but I like Bethenny.  After hearing more of her backstory, I understand her better.  She's tough because she had to be.

 

Here is what is wrong with Kristen (and Heather, who also complained about Bethenny not being there)....they are bitter and jealous that she is being paid more than they are, and she is not required to attend all the functions that they must be contractually required to attend.  Plain and simple....

 

ETA - My apologies - Heather did not complain about Bethenny...but, I still think that Kristen and Heather are both a little envious of Bethenny's contract as opposed to theirs. - just a vibe I get from them both!!  

Edited May 20, 2015 by njbchlover

[AttackTurtle]

Dumbot Kristin can go to hell with the criticism of Bethany not going to boxing night. That truly pissed me off, but then again Kristin is friends with Brandi so I shouldn't be surprised that she's a moron.

I honestly like nearly everyone on the show this season. Kristin doesn't bring much, but her clothes are cute.

Here is what is wrong with Kristen (and Heather, who also complained about Bethenny not being there)....they are bitter and jealous that she is being paid more than they are, and she is not required to attend all the functions that they must be contractually required to attend. Plain and simple....

Totally agree with this.

[AnnA]

I don't think Bethenny is a native New Yorker but she's lived in NYC for a long time.   She's not the only one who talks a mile a minute.  Ramona (and Sonja) do it too.  It's a New York thing.

 

While I'm at it.....    Please understand that I'm not trying to be Bethenny's champion but I'm a native New Yorker and it drives me crazy when I am out of state in a restaurant (especially in the South).  They're soooo slow.   I wouldn't want to have the waiter explain the "sections" of the menu to me either.   

[bagger]

I don't think Bethenny is a native New Yorker but she's lived in NYC for a long time.   She's not the only one who talks a mile a minute.  Ramona (and Sonja) do it too.  It's a New York thing.

 

While I'm at it.....    Please understand that I'm not trying to be Bethenny's champion but I'm a native New Yorker and it drives me crazy when I am out of state in a restaurant (especially in the South).  They're soooo slow.   I wouldn't want to have the waiter explain the "sections" of the menu to me either.   

I grew up in Miami and went to college in New York City then stayed in the city for another 8 years. Whenever I went home to Miami, I could hear myself yelling in my head wanting people to get to the point. I now live in Texas and it still makes me nuts to have menus explained to me and it does happen.

[chewycandy]

Jason called Bethenny "Mama" didn't he? Ha.

 

I really like Carole's apartment.

[eringogreen]

 

What's with Bethenny being kind-of a dick to the waiter?  "I'm familiar with how this process works."  He's just doing his job, geezus.  I think she was trying to be funny, but she has such an abrasive and cutting manner that she sounds like a bitch even when she isn't necessarily intending to.

I laughed. His description was sort of unnessecary. I was thinking the same thing that Bethanny said, I just wouldn't have said it.

[RococoChanel]

As per Wiki, Bethany is a native New Yorker but she did move around a lot. If her parents are New Yorkers too (which I bet they are...), she probably got her vocal affect from them. It is very common here in NY to talk fast. I'm a native New Yorker and I have to slow down for out of towners sometimes.

[atir]

I missed the waiter deal. Where was B and who was with her? What exactly did the waiter do?

[motorcitymom65]

Here is what is wrong with Kristen (and Heather, who also complained about Bethenny not being there)....they are bitter and jealous that she is being paid more than they are, and she is not required to attend all the functions that they must be contractually required to attend.  Plain and simple....

Heather didn't say boo about it. She wasn't there at the time either. Carole is the one who said Beth couldn't come because of her daughter, then said she can never come to anything. Kristen made her comment in her TH.

Since both Dorinda and Sonja were AWOL as well, I wonder why Beth was singled out? Carole's comment specifically about her never coming to anything stood out. She has come to most things, right? Maybe there were other group events that we weren't shown that caused some friction. Maybe they weren't shown since Beth wasn't there. For the most part I like Beth (or am trying to like her again) but this is turning into The B Show.

[Aunt Kiki]

As per Wiki, Bethany is a native New Yorker but she did move around a lot. If her parents are New Yorkers too (which I bet they are...), she probably got her vocal affect from them. It is very common here in NY to talk fast. I'm a native New Yorker and I have to slow down for out of towners sometimes.

Bethenny's dad was from Brooklyn, and she spent most of her childhood in the NY/NJ area.  Don't know if her mother was from NY

[bagger]

Bethenny's dad was from Brooklyn, and she spent most of her childhood in the NY/NJ area.  Don't know if her mother was from NY

I don't trust Wiki, I hear Carol stays up late at night changing people's profiles.

[mbaywife123]

As per Wiki, Bethany is a native New Yorker but she did move around a lot. If her parents are New Yorkers too (which I bet they are...), she probably got her vocal affect from them. It is very common here in NY to talk fast. I'm a native New Yorker and I have to slow down for out of towners sometimes.

Thank You for explaining this, I figured it was either a learned or locational affectation. I guess the saying "In a New York minute" does actually have a reason.

[car54]

 

Why would she want a man who beat her mother all the time and also beat her in Bryn's life? What was that comment she made about having negative influences in a child's life not being such a bad thing, how does that make sense?

This would have been filmed a while back--so it could be she was anticipating some kind of negative press regarding the divorce, or something business related, but to me this is Bethenny providing a witness to her being raised the way she has talked about.   I feel like because Jason was raised in such a traditional, close family he never really could understand what she came from, and her mother has given stories to the tabloids since the divorce started--saying Bethenny is a liar.  It could be she needed some sympathy for herself--for perhaps not being the warmest person --and where that came from.  Who knows.   The whole thing just smelled funny to me--but I spend a lot of time on the Grassy Knoll.

John is the only witness left--good or bad.   My thought is if he was loving and accepting and plausible, she wins because it gives her a sweet reunion for the show.  If he comes off as unlikeable, she is proven right and that she told the truth about her childhood.      As it is, she now at least has some validation of what she's been saying, and some reason not to have any kind of family on her side.    I do think some of the questions here from people saying "why would she want someone who beat her mother in Bryn's life?" may mean it could backfire on her--if Jason were to bring that up in custody negotiations, or something like that.

 

On another note--didn't LuAnn have some kind of art show for Victoria when she was younger--like in her garage or something?  I feel like I remember seeing at least one of those paintings before.

[LilaFowler]

I missed the waiter deal. Where was B and who was with her? What exactly did the waiter do?

I brought it up, so I'll answer.  Bethenny went to lunch (I think when she was meeting her friend).  The waiter obviously had some kind of script at the place ("this is our menu, at the front you'll find our specials, blah blah").  I doubt it's something that he wants to say to people but has to.  In any case, Bethenny made some snarky comments like, "oh you mean, I tell you what I want, you bring it to me, and I eat it?  I have a good grasp of this concept." (not verbatim)  It just came off as rude to me.  Yes, most of us know about a menu and would be thinking the same thing, but to actually say that is a bit rude IMO.  I would feel bad afterwards. Bethenny seems to say a lot of harsh things without realizing how others will take them, like what she said to Sonja at Ramona's birthday dinner.

[motorcitymom65]

On Twitter Dorinda said that she wished she had been invited to the Boxing Match. I wonder why she wasn't?

[archer1267]

I wonder how Dorinda feels about Ramona's comments about her boyfriend. This is now the second time that Ramona's done the "I don't know what she sees in him" thing. (I was amused that Ramona included 'he doesn't live in Manhattan!' among his shortcomings.)

[LilaFowler]

I wonder how Dorinda feels about Ramona's comments about her boyfriend. This is now the second time that Ramona's done the "I don't know what she sees in him" thing. (I was amused that Ramona included 'he doesn't live in Manhattan!' among his shortcomings.)

Oh, Dorinda was on WWHL and was asked about Ramona's comments.  Andy showed a clip of Ramona saying that John doesn't live in Manhattan and suggested that he's only using Dorinda.  When Andy asked Dorinda for a response, she replied, "where's Mario living?"  Egads.  She then went on and said that grown women need to mind their own business when it comes to romantic partners, they're too meddlesome, and she's happy and that's all that matters.  She also said that none of them know John (I guess that would include her daughter, who barely knows him).

[hottesthw]

Here is what is wrong with Kristen (and Heather, who also complained about Bethenny not being there)....they are bitter and jealous that she is being paid more than they are, and she is not required to attend all the functions that they must be contractually required to attend. Plain and simple....

As they should be (if it's true). Bethenny brings nothing any more interesting to this show than any of these other women IMO. If anything, her repeated story line is getting a bit old...wolves, bad mommy, poor me, tequila. Wash, rinse, repeat.

[motorcitymom65]

I wonder how Dorinda feels about Ramona's comments about her boyfriend. This is now the second time that Ramona's done the "I don't know what she sees in him" thing. (I was amused that Ramona included 'he doesn't live in Manhattan!' among his shortcomings.)

Judging by her response on WWHL I would say she is pissed. Andy asked her what she thought about Ramona having so much to say about their relationship and she responded: "and where is Mario living right now?"

ETA: Lila beat me to it.

Edited May 20, 2015 by motorcitymom65

[archer1267]

Ah, thanks for the update! I did not watch WWHL, so didn't know she's pissed. Speaking of outrage, LuAnn's moved on from Carole/Adam on Twitter.

[izabella]

Why would she want a man who beat her mother all the time and also beat her in Bryn's life? What was that comment she made about having negative influences in a child's life not being such a bad thing, how does that make sense? 

 

I got the impression that he had been that abusive guy back then when he was a drug addict, but has subsequently cleaned up his act. 

 

I also kinda understood why he told Bethenny that her mother never wanted to have a child.  Bethenny had started talking about how her mother was out there somewhere and maybe trying to contact her which even her therapist told her was a bad idea.  He gave her the unvarnished truth about her mother so she didn't need to waste time looking for her.  I don't know if he's right or not, but I think that's what he was trying to do for her, to help her put that behind her so she could move forward.

[WireWrap]

I got the impression that he had been that abusive guy back then when he was a drug addict, but has subsequently cleaned up his act. 

 

I also kinda understood why he told Bethenny that her mother never wanted to have a child.  Bethenny had started talking about how her mother was out there somewhere and maybe trying to contact her which even her therapist told her was a bad idea.  He gave her the unvarnished truth about her mother so she didn't need to waste time looking for her.  I don't know if he's right or not, but I think that's what he was trying to do for her, to help her put that behind her so she could move forward.

No, Sorry, just No. She has not seen or talked to this guy in 20 years, she has no idea if he cleaned up his act. She has claimed that watching him beat her mother scared her for life but wants him back in not only her life but also her daughters life just so Bryn can have some "family" on her side! OMG NO!!     JMO

[jaync]

It occurred to me that Bethenny's Miami friend might have been in Witness Protection.

Hah, I was like, "who is she hiding from?"

 

That said, I am not here for the poor Bethany project. 

Pass the plate.

[charming]

Screaming in Ramona's voice, "I Can't! I Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan't!"

 

Seriously, please Bravo, no more of Bethenny's whining about her childhood. I get it! I've gotten the message on every season of Real Housewives. Skinny Girl product ad! Every season of her spin off show. Skinny Girl product ad! Every interview. Every book. She's damaged, she's suffering, she was raised by wolves, she never had an ounce of happiness in her life and will never trust anyone. Skinny Girl product ad!

 

I'll also need Bravo to stop airing THs and therapy sessions of Bethenny whining about being homeless. Being a millionaire waiting for your expensive apartment to be renovated is not being homeless. Dating a man for months who was kicked out of college after being accused of rape is not being "alone" and "single". Put the tissues away,

 

Did Bethenny state, on camera, that she never tells her story to people? Hahahaha.

 

If I promise Bravo that I will order Skinny Girl products will they limit Bethenny? Please?

Edited May 20, 2015 by charming

[Celia Rubenstein]

Kristin is just stupid.  I can get child care and I have TWO kids!

 

Does she not realize Bethenny is going through a nasty divorce and having to share custody of Bryn? She only gets her half the time.  If the stupid boxing match occurred on one of the nights Bethenny has custody, it's not about getting child care you dunce.  It is about deciding it is more important to be with her daughter.

 

Kristin should really remember that  old proverb "There but for the grace of God go I."  If her marriage to that jerk husband of hers falls apart, she would be in the same situation.  Oh, who am I kidding.  Her husband wouldn't want the kids half the time. 

[breezy424]

Something screwed up with my DVR and didn't get the whole show so I'm recording it again (I did see Beth with her stepfather).  Anyhow I'm reading the blogs.  According to Bethenny:

 

It has been a long time coming, and as I wrote in A Place of Yes, I don’t wear my story. I, genuinely, am not angry. I think I have longed for a person to discuss the craziness of my past with. I'm an only child and essentially an orphan, so there is no one I can turn or talk to that can acknowledge what I remember to be true. I do think that people do their best; all I can do is pay it forward by being the best mother to my daughter that I can possibly be.

 

Yes, Beth you do wear your story.  You've been wearing it on every Bravo show you've been on.  You're an orphan?  No, you're not.  You have a daughter.  You're also middle aged.  You have no one to turn to or talk to that acknowledge what you remember to be true?  That's wearing your story. 

 

And now your divorce has been how many fold worse than your childhood?  My God, you were raised by wolves.  What has Jason done to you in the divorce?  Shared custody with the other parent of your child?  Money?  Yes, divorce is not fun.  But please, recognize you are playing the victim...from your childhood to your divorce.

 

I don't think Beth knows how to look around her and be happy for all she has.  She's thrives on negativity and putting down everyone around her.  That poor waiter who is only doing his job.... 

[sheetmoss]

This would have been filmed a while back--so it could be she was anticipating some kind of negative press regarding the divorce, or something business related, but to me this is Bethenny providing a witness to her being raised the way she has talked about.   I feel like because Jason was raised in such a traditional, close family he never really could understand what she came from, and her mother has given stories to the tabloids since the divorce started--saying Bethenny is a liar.  It could be she needed some sympathy for herself--for perhaps not being the warmest person --and where that came from.  Who knows.   The whole thing just smelled funny to me--but I spend a lot of time on the Grassy Knoll.

John is the only witness left--good or bad.   My thought is if he was loving and accepting and plausible, she wins because it gives her a sweet reunion for the show.  If he comes off as unlikeable, she is proven right and that she told the truth about her childhood.      As it is, she now at least has some validation of what she's been saying, and some reason not to have any kind of family on her side.    I do think some of the questions here from people saying "why would she want someone who beat her mother in Bryn's life?" may mean it could backfire on her--if Jason were to bring that up in custody negotiations, or something like that.

 

On another note--didn't LuAnn have some kind of art show for Victoria when she was younger--like in her garage or something?  I feel like I remember seeing at least one of those paintings before.

RE: Victoria's art

I think that was around the time Keyy was on and it was in the Hampton's

I remember her subject matter came off as very dark in nature,.

 

The one caveat about Betthany's stepdad, his abusive behavior was probably related to drinking and drugging and in a toxic relationship. Not making excuses,  just adding perspective.

Betthany's mom sounded like Monica from Shameless.

 

Edited May 20, 2015 by sheetmoss

[Lola16]

I view this whole Bethenny-centric episode with a lifted eyebrow.   I felt like that conversation with her step father was carefully crafted to support her stories of her childhood---I'll see your raised by wolves, and raise you a she never wanted a child.    Something felt off to me.    I find it odd that Bethenny has been on and off tv for a number of years and they never had contact until now.    I felt the same way when she let cameras come with her when her biological father was dying.    Too much, too much on tv.

 I feel confident John was paid, and I am expecting Bernadette to sell another story/statement to the Enquirer.     

I think I do believe the part about not 

It felt very scripted  I though her stepfather apologized well.  He flat out said he was sorry.  Not 'if you felt or 'but', a straight sorry.  Not sure I believe the no contact for 20 years.  We heard something similiar last time B was on RHoNY but then we saw her at the track talking her her father's friends.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Lola16

[phoenix780]

Can something be both real and fake at the same time?  Because I think that's how I feel about the Redemption of Bethenny storyline on tonight's episode.  I believe the stories and the emotions, I don't know why it was here and now, and it didn't seem to fit nicely. 

 

I did like the episode overall, though.  I like when the women aren't all forced to attend something together, and they go solo or split off in pairs.  It's a nice balance.  A lot of what I'll assume is set up for later, but still refreshing.

 

Has Carole said what her new book is about?  I wonder why she signed on for another book if she's out of stories, or has a hard time getting them out.

[Celia Rubenstein]

No, Sorry, just No. She has not seen or talked to this guy in 20 years, she has no idea if he cleaned up his act. She has claimed that watching him beat her mother scared her for life but wants him back in not only her life but also her daughters life just so Bryn can have some "family" on her side! OMG NO!!     JMO

 

Eh, now that the show has aired out here and I've seen it, I am thinking this is not such a big deal.  John is a toothless old man living in Florida now.  He's not a getting high on drugs and tearing up the apartment beating on Bernadette any more.  He doesn't seem like he is in a position to hurt her or Bryn.  He was not a child molester or beater.  The event with Bethenny seems to have been some kind one time of aberration (maybe?), brought on by Bernadette hooking up with someone else (still wrong, of course, but it was not a pattern for him).  He said some inappropriate things to Bethenny about her mother but it didn't seem like he was actually psychologically abusive to Bethenny.  That he was cruel or seriously neglectful.  He really is her only chance to have some kind of other family member ever, aside from Bryn, and I think she is adjusting her expectations and criteria because of that.  It's not like anyone rubbed the fact that she came from a messed up family in her face or anything and made her a touch desperate.

 

If I have a reservation about John, it is about the fact that after his fight with Bethenny when she was 19, he never reached out to her and they were estranged for years.  I don't like that he seems to think the onus was on Bethenny, a child, to get in touch with him. That shows some fairly inappropriate parent-child expectations.  I've hear of a lot worse though.  And obviously he still drinks. They were going to have drinks at the end of the scene.  I would be interested in knowing if alcohol was a problem for him then or now, because that would be a deal breaker for me.  Even though he seemed fairly innocuous in that scene, if he turns into an asshole when he drinks I would not want to see him in Bryn's life.  Even if he lives all the way in Florida and they would only see him occasionally.  I would not want Bryn to witness anything even approaching one scene like Bethenny described witnessing as a child.

 

And of course if the mob is still out to kill him, well. I'd have second thoughts about being around him then, too.

[Almost 3000]

I'm enjoying this season because there are no teams. Bethenny seems to be ok with everyone who isn't a new girl. Heather likes Carol and LuAnn. Carol likes Heather and Bethenny.  Dorinda likes Ramona and LuAnn. Sonja and Ramona are amusing or frustrating for all. And then there's the one who dresses cute. The friendships are all somewhat fluid in a good way. Its also interesting that several of the ladies that like one another have a friend that's getting along with someone that they aren't. That usually never happens in the Bravoverse.

[Maharincess]

No, Sorry, just No. She has not seen or talked to this guy in 20 years, she has no idea if he cleaned up his act. She has claimed that watching him beat her mother scared her for life but wants him back in not only her life but also her daughters life just so Bryn can have some "family" on her side! OMG NO!! JMO

She said she reached out to him 2 years ago so I imagine they've been in contact during that 2 years.

I understand giving somebody a second chance, especially when that person is the closest thing you have to family.

I doubt she's sending Bryn on a plane by herself to spend time with the guy so I think she'll be fine.

[maggiemae]

Just grow up Carole, with that stupid hat.....bunny ears and tee shirt last epi.

 

Bethenny was funny with "Is Sonja seeing Hari Krishanas now?"

 

I'll never believe, as "Dr" A said....that BF was deeply in love with Jason. They fought all the time on the spin offs. 

 

Regarding the stepdad....he was as harshly honest as Bethenny.......and he didn't necessarily need to reconnect with BF first after 20 years.....He did explain how it really was, and why.

 

Stupid, stupid, stupid, imo, Carole said coyly "boys are always a distraction." Hey, GIRL.....you're no longer one.....Good grief, now she is trying to show she is back to writing....except not really. 

[Maharincess]

I have to say, you people are making me dread turning 50 this summer. I'm a live and let live person. Wear whatever the hell you want to wear, as long as you're happy with what you wear, I don't care. Doesn't affect my life at all.

I never knew there were so many people who thought people should only dress a certain way after turning 50. I'm a jeans, t-shirt and sneakers kind of woman (oh shit, I almost said girl!) now I wonder if I need to go and buy some "old lady" clothes after my birthday.

It's enough to give somebody a complex.

I'm liking this season so far. I'm over the fake drama and screaming matches.

I keep wondering why Kristen is still on the show though.

[maggiemae]

I wouldn't really be introducing let alone claim any step father that was a molester, mobster, drunk and druggie to my daughter to claim I actually had family - therefore Brynn does as well on BF's side.

 

Unfortunately BF doesn't even have friends that can be an auntie or uncle to Brynn in a great family friend sort of way......her daughter is young enough to appreciate that for decades to come. 

 

It is very sad that Bethenny can't appreciate the family stability the Hoppy's bring to her daughter and compensate for it in some other way.

[Celia Rubenstein]

Okay - I don't usually post during the show, but WHAT THE FUCK is that thing on top of Carole's head??  Jesus - did she really think that looked good??  Or, is she trying to look like the hipster 20-somethings with those droopy wool hats?  

 

I hate the whole "hipster" look thing.  It bugs me when people put that much effort into looking like they don't care what they look like.  They are not fooling anyone but themselves.  

 

Carole looked especially silly in that stocking cap.  What's next, a little pork pie hat?  Swilling a PBR?  gah!

[maggiemae]

I think I made the comment about Carole's cap.....but I only meant she is trying way too hard to be young and portray being "a girl." I actually have friends of 25 and 45 years that are girly-girls....and adore them.....but they don't act or dress like they are in their 20's. 

 

I'm a sweats, jeans, tee shirt kind of senior retired woman at 68.  Usually not any makeup either. Except for going out now and then......

[ScoobieDoobs]

Did Bethenny state, on camera, that she never tells her story to people? Hahahaha.

 

OK, so we got the Bethenny ep outta the way.  Awesome.  The question now is -- will this thing now turn into The Bethenny Show?  Hopefully not, rolling eyes hard.  Will she ever see the step-father ever again or was this done simply for the cameras & to earn that million bucks Satan Andy is throwing at her?  I suspect the step-father wasn't faking anything of what he was saying.  But I bet B & Satan Andy totally set him up for that scene.  But why?  It just seemed so disjointed from the rest of the show.

 

Was it to further explain poor widdle richie-rich B's plight now?  Who cares?  We already know all this shit about her cuz she's discussed it before a billion times.  And yeah, Bethenny, you are wearing this crap all over you like a bright blinking neon sign in Times Square.  Enough already.  It's NOT interesting.  It's only repetitive.  And it's becoming crystal clear B's priority is definitely NOT to interact with the rest of 'em.

 

So Carole, having trouble writing, are you?  Aviva might have a suggestion for you, hun.  Um, maybe Carole is just tapped out as a writer.  Anyhoo, more cutesy bullshit from Carole & laughing at whatever stupid crap she's saying.  Ugh.  Man, her conversation with Chef Shaggy was painful & not in the least bit romantic.  She coulda been talking to an acquaintance she barely knows.  Sheesh, I can't stand her anymore.  Have to say tho -- her hair looks really great.

[lunastartron]

Per what's been broadcast, Kristen's vendetta against Bethenny is really weird, even in the context of a cast desperate to situate themselves advantageously for screen time. Beth was perfectly friendly to her in Atlantic City, and the two of them appeared to get along while placing bets together at the Blackjack (or whatever game it was) table. Even if Bethenny didn't have to navigate the temporal limitations of joint custody, she has a job and Kristen doesn't; and if inclusiveness and participation in group events is such an imperative, why wasn't Dorinda invited? I'm also befuddled by certain points that have been communicated about Kristen's schedule by both herself and others. Upthread, it's mentioned that Kristen notes she often eats out with Josh after the kids are in bed. However, Brandi Glanville mentioned that Kristen has to bed in bed by 10:30 most nights (why?), so she and Josh often go out together when she visits. And last year I believe that Kirsten said that Josh usually corrals the kids in the morning and/or takes them to school . . . so, again, why does she require such early evenings if her husband is the one caring for Kingsley and Cash in the AMs? . . . It was John who paid Bethenny's boarding school and NYU tuition, right? I don't doubt that her childhood wasn't emotionally easy, but, at this point, I think it would perhaps be more productive for her to focus on the fact that John provided her with some degree of stability and certain advantages.

[sandwoman]

I really liked seeing Victoria and that she's doing well. I know Luann wasn't always the most hands-on mom, but it looks like both her kids turned out to be cool young people and she has nice relationships with both of them. And I thought it was cool to include Art Basel in the show. More Luann please!

[ScoobieDoobs]

Sheesh, you would think Moaner would learn by now NOT to bash someone else's man -- especially after what she did last season to Jonathan & now that everyone knows what a cheating a-hole Mario is.  She looked like such an idiot boasting about how Mario was so slick & Jon wasn't.  Well, it was actually quite nasty at the time, but she's certainly an even bigger fool looking back on that, since Mario revealed his true colors.  

 

But Moaner's comments on John were nasty as hell too.  And wow, she reminds us of just what a Manhattan snob she is.  That bullshit, I really can't stand.  And certainly not from her.  She's hardly a Manhattan blue blood herself, so she can fuck off with that bullshit attitude.

[Wendy]

I wouldn't really be introducing let alone claim any step father that was a molester, mobster, drunk and druggie to my daughter to claim I actually had family - therefore Brynn does as well on BF's side.

Unfortunately BF doesn't even have friends that can be an auntie or uncle to Brynn in a great family friend sort of way......her daughter is young enough to appreciate that for decades to come.

It is very sad that Bethenny can't appreciate the family stability the Hoppy's bring to her daughter and compensate for it in some other way.

Bethenny does have friends that can play auntie to Bryn but they are friends not family.

It is terribly sad to me that out of a group of three people there was not one who could think about a little girl and put her above anything as you would do with a child you love. I guess this is the reason why Bethenny wears this on her sleeve and is trying to cope with this as opposed as 20 years ago.

20 years ago she was single, she was only responsible for herself and it is very easy to push things to the back of your mind, it is a survivor mechanism, all that changed when Bethenny had her own daughter because now she has a point of comparison, now that she has a daughter and loves her so much and would do anything for her, now is when she feels the pain of her parents not being able to do the same for her. It must still hurt her very deeply and I do remember her saying that she wanted Bryn to be soft and pure and not a warrior like she is.

I see this as a no win situation for her though, if she never mentions her childhood again then some people say she made it all up and embellish it, if she talks to the guy who was a big part of her childhood and he not only agrees to her version of the story but adds even more detail to explain the dysfunction that she lived then she somehow sha has managed to convince him to do it to clean her image. Some people are not going to believe her no matter what and that is fine.

Bashing her mother? Should a person never talk badly about her parents? What about when that mother sells stories about her own child to the press? How about when a mother is a shitty mother like Bernadette was? Are you telling me that in any of kim Richard kids would ever talk about what a nightmare their lives was with kim as a mother that they would be awful for doing that? How about Rob Kardashian? Would Brandi's kids ever be able to speak about their childhood as less than normal? reality of life is that not all parents are wonderful people, some of them should never be parents, we all grapple with our own demons in very different ways, Bethenny is in a reality show and this is her reality, now that she is going through divorce she wants to connect with her own lost family and unfortunately for her that means to make amends with the only person who seemed to care for her even if the guy was a mess, Bethenny needed a sincere apology and she got it, does this mean that they will spend every Christmas together? I doubt it, it just means that they can at least have a civil relationship and when Bethenny goes to Florida she can introduce Bryn to Parisella and start a relationship with him. The guy was a mess but IMO he was the only out of the three who really cared about Bethenny and that is why she wants to mend fences with him.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Wendy

[Mozelle]

So I did see the scene where Carole was working then got a phone call from Adam. I have to say--it does not bother me in the slightest when she shares that she's not the kind of writer who cranks out stuff in a matter of weeks or months. I just submitted a short story that I started work on maybe in 2013. I worked on it off and on, setting it aside and coming back to it with fresh eyes, and didn't officially finish it until February of this year. Then I had a couple friends (one who's an avid and well-read reader and another who's a poet) read the story, and did another round of edits based on some of their feedback.

There are, quite simply, writers who do crank out work (doesn't Jodi Picoult have a new book, like, every six weeks or something?) and there are writers who don't (while Toni Morrison publishes a book every few years). Carole isn't an anomaly and it doesn't mean she lacks work ethic. But there are folks who believe that writers all operate The Same Way. She was a news producer for a number of years. The turnaround in that kind of work is very different from what she's doing now, so it seems to me that she likes the less-harried approach at this stage of her career.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Mozelle

[Lizzing]

Didn't Luann's daughter have some art to show at Aviva's house early last season, when Aviva moved into her new home?

[BettyPoz]

Here is what is wrong with Kristen (and Heather, who also complained about Bethenny not being there)....they are bitter and jealous that she is being paid more than they are, and she is not required to attend all the functions that they must be contractually required to attend.  Plain and simple....

And I'm just plain old BITTER that Bethenny is ruining this show for me!  Too much of her and I really don't give a shit and she's just re-hashing everything I remember of her from RHofNY in the beginning.  It's like she's never grown in any way since the last time she was on.  And she's such a BITCH!  But I'll soldier on...

[Petunia13]

I work in the service industry and my mom has her entire life (I am a dog groomer and she's a waitress) and people talk to us the way Bethanny did sometimes.

It's very rude when it happens like I am not seen as a person - also as a poster mentioned upthread many places require the employees to go over the menu or in my job go over everything they want done and I did to the dog at checkout. Every woman on this show lately is quick to get irritated or annoyed.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Petunia13