S07.E07: Family Matters

[ZaldamoWilder]

M.C. Hammer.  His check bounced.

 

ROTFLMAO!!  Simultaneously love and hate ya'll.   Good times.

[WireWrap]

Well, it went back to a comment from someone confidently posting how Carole was worth 50 mil & she's the richest one on the show.  And that was clearly dead wrong, and rightly corrected by many here.  It doesn't matter if someone refuses to admit he/she is wrong.  When a statement is made that's so off kilter, it's great so many here are looking out & are so observant!

 

Anyhoo, in Sonja townhouse sighting news . . . 20 mph breezes today, but all her damn windows are still open!  I still say -- WTF?  I mean, sheesh, who the hell in NYC leaves all their windows open?. With the exception of a few days outta the year, the weather here sucks so badly, you mostly don't wanna leave your windows open.  Hmmmm, from the looks of that bathroom, maybe she needs to air the whole place out, eh?

All I can think, is that Sonja needs to hire  plumber, I bet sewage is backing up into her toilet/sinks/drains. YUCK! 

[Celia Rubenstein]

Maybe Sonja painted or something and wants to air the place out? Although she isn't much for maintainece. Yeah, it probably just stinks in there.

I wonder if she was exercising in the bathroom because of the mirrors in there.

[beaker73]

All this Goddamn chair talk is giving me 100% pain. 

 

j/k-- I'm not young, but I also wasn't alive during the JFK administration so it was fun to hear the history of it.  I learned something today!

 

I think I need to come here every day just to get my daily ScoobieDoobs update on the goings on at Lady Morgan's estate.

[jaync]

Next thing you know she is going to show up in the Berkshires with a skateboard.

That would be AMAZING. Please let it happen.

 

Whatever kooky shit Sonja practices for her physical being is working, because ol' girl looks good. As casual and clean-faced as she was at Ramona's party, she was still one of the best looking women in the room. If anything, she's great PR for Satoko.

 

They are the ones whittling down her whole story to her upbringing. 

This is her story, whittled down? Jeezus, they must've had a redwood's worth of footage then.

Anyway, given the slams against her ex and mother that were landed via her therapist, undercover friend, and stepfather, I imagine Beth was quite pleased with how her scenes were presented this week.

 

It was a little bittersweet watching the women going into the boxing match, with B.B. having just passed a couple of days before.

[SFoster21]

All this Goddamn chair talk is giving me 100% pain.

j/k-- I'm not young, but I also wasn't alive during the JFK administration so it was fun to hear the history of it. I learned something today!

I think I need to come here every day just to get my daily ScoobieDoobs update on the goings on at Lady Morgan's estate.

The cover story was his back; after his death, it was revealed that he was suffering from Addison's Disease, which would have killed him within ten years. He was never a healthy person and had been hospitalized and even read the last rites on one occasion. I mean, if you want to know the history.

Cortisone therapy and "vitamin" shots kept him going.

[izabella]

I wonder if she was exercising in the bathroom because of the mirrors in there.

 

That link someone posted upthread about Sonja supposedly renting her house (which she clearly didn't) described the townhouse as having a combination bath, gym, and spa.

 

I have no idea wtf kind of combination that is - how do you fit a gym into a townhouse bathroom?  The sauna-bath combo makes sense, but a gym, too?  Is that the space Sonja was working out in, in front of her closet on the bathmat?

[Lisin]

• If you're talking about any specific housewife in depth about stuff that isn't in this actual episode please take it to their respective topic.

 

• Additionally, just because someone disagrees with you doesn't mean they're attacking you.

 

• Also if you disagree with someone you're likely not going to change their mind so agree to disagree and move along.

[KnotsLanding]

Many have mentioned that they feel the show is being slanted to feature mostly Bethenny, but I dont agree. These shows have proven, if you perform you get screen time, end of

Story. Claudia Jordan was meant to be a Friend but performed so well they promoted her and clearly went back and filmed stuff to insert in early episodes so it didn't look like a sudden change. On the flip side in season three Jennifer Gilbert was supposed to join Sonja as a new housewife and filmed full time for three months only to be mostly edited out because she was considered to be boring. Last season OC edited out a housewife due to personal issues. My point being, if you perform they're going to feature you. There can never be too much drama, especially when revamping the show.

It's obviius what happened is that after the reboot they didn't want to shake things up again so they kept the non-Aviva cast and added two people. If Carole, Heather and Kristen had story lines we would see it. Especially on slow weeks like this. It's not always about group scenes or feuds, you need to be able to carry your own scenes as Dorinda, Ramona, Sonja, Bethenny and Luann have shown. I feel this is why Heather keeps trying to butt into other people's conflicts, because she has no story other than to be Carole's friend. Unless things change I'd say next year Heather and Kristen need to be worried. Carole will be okay because she's Andy's friend and has somewhat of a story plus relationships with Luann and Bethenny.

[WireWrap]

That link someone posted upthread about Sonja supposedly renting her house (which she clearly didn't) described the townhouse as having a combination bath, gym, and spa.

 

I have no idea wtf kind of combination that is - how do you fit a gym into a townhouse bathroom?  The sauna-bath combo makes sense, but a gym, too?  Is that the space Sonja was working out in, in front of her closet on the bathmat?

I think this is a Sonja speak/description LOL. I can see her standing in it right before she first tried selling it and deciding that because the BR was large, one could exercise in it as well and that it contained a steam shower that made it a bathroom/spa/gym all in one = more $$$$$! LOL

[LotusFlower]

Many have mentioned that they feel the show is being slanted to feature mostly Bethenny, but I dont agree. These shows have proven, if you perform you get screen time, end of Story. Claudia Jordan was meant to be a Friend but performed so well they promoted her and clearly went back and filmed stuff to insert in early episodes so it didn't look like a sudden change. On the flip side in season three Jennifer Gilbert was supposed to join Sonja as a new housewife and filmed full time for three months only to be mostly edited out because she was considered to be boring. Last season OC edited out a housewife due to personal issues. My point being, if you perform they're going to feature you. There can never be too much drama, especially when revamping the show.

That might be true normally, but it's not the case here, in my opinion. They're not featuring Bethenny so heavily because she's "bringing it," but because they made the decision to bring her back to save the show, so naturally they're going to showcase her. Was she bringing it in the scene of her in the car complaining about being homeless? Or in her same-old, same-old therapy session? Or walking through an art exhibit? No, but it's part of the deal they made with her in exchange for her return. Somebody called the show "Bethenny Starting Over," and that's what her scenes feel like.

That doesn't mean that she's not doing her thing. She's acerbic and quick-witted, so she's always going to be more interesting to watch than the new ATL Housewife who was so boring I forget her name! (And not surprisingly, she was cut). But I think it's false to say that Heather and Kristen aren't being featured because their scenes were likely boring. With eight HW's on the roster, there's only so much they can show, so Heather and Kristen are always going to get sidelined (at least in the beginning) in favor of Bethenny's re-entry.

[Alonzo Mosely FBI]

Was that the hair that caught on fire? During the Pepsi commercial taping? I can see why it's so valuable.

HAHAHAheee

but no actually that singed crispy hair is now on the ends of Bethennys new bob haircut ends.

[Trooper York]

I hereby promise to only bash Carole for the idiotic things she does in each and every episode. Any of the other ridiculous or ludicrous things she might do will not be subject to ridicule in the thread regarding a specific episode. Per se and ipso facto.

 

I look forward to mocking her for calling Uber to transport her husbands ashes to the Berkshires. 

 

That should be in tonights first look. 

 

Thank you to the moderators for their patience and forbearance. It is much appreciated.

Edited May 22, 2015 by Trooper York

[KnotsLanding]

Kristinvhas always been boring in my opinion and in the solo scenes she's had, she clearly has nothing going on. Bethenny's scenes aren't all top notch, but there is a narrative to go with so it only makes sense to include quieter scenes like the homeless rant or the scenes inFlorida. I find it telling we haven't seen even one Heather scene so far in the season. She can't have a storyline if that is the case. I don't believe they would intentionally sideline Her when they made her so central the past two years.

[charmed1]

Look at us in here policing ourselves! Looks like this thread ate a snickers. Couldn't be more proud.

So why did I read through this entire rocking chair exchange without one care until they started in on the Jacksons and then I got offended. I mean I felt my entire top lip curl. LOL!

[BlackMamba]

So the ratings for this episode were dismal. I assumed they would be the lowest of the season because I've never seen a more boring episode. I cannot help but wonder what kind of editing Bravo might be doing behind the scenes because of this - especially if there are anymore shows dedicated to Beth and her pile of problems.

http://www.tv-recaps-reviews.com/2015/05/tuesday-cable-ratings-may-19.html

[/url]

Bravo needs to stop being so greedy giving HWs, especially this franchise, over 15-16 episodes. It's no wonder these shows are losing ratings. Most viewers tune in for the guilty pleasure and conflict anyhow. Go back to the old way. 15-16 regular episodes and 2 reunion episodes and a lost footage. But Bravo wants the ad dollars so my suggestion wouldnt work. Edited May 22, 2015 by BlackMamba

[BlackMamba]

Well, nowhere near as bad as Miami's ratings were -- not yet at least. But Satan Andy must be shittin' bricks about now, I'd say. As long as the ratings stay above a mil, the show won't get cancelled. But with ratings this crappy, is it worth keeping Bethenny on for a million bucks per season? Me thinks not. If the ratings continue on this trend, my prediction is they'd do some major re-casting & send Bethenny, with her million dollar salary demands, packing. I just don't think Satan Andy is gonna let this show die. Altho he may not have a choice.

I couldn't be more happier. Thats what he get for thinking Bethenny wasgoing to save the show. Had he brought Jill back first then Bethenny or brought both back then it been probably could had worked. Yet I believe he gave Bethenny too much control. Hes still an executive but he probably gave her a one year thing where she could call her own shots and do her own thing and pitch her products etc so as long she brought the ratings. And she hasnt done so. Hilarious.

Edited May 22, 2015 by BlackMamba

[quaintirene]

You're right. If he'd brought back Bethenny AND Jill, maybe it would have helped. But Bethenny needs someone else to spark off. By herself she's just kind of flailing. I'd hoped Ramona could have picked up some of the slack but she's still hurting from the break-up.

[MissMel]

I just want to say I'm happy we didn't have to suffer through Dorinda's Groucho Marx daughter this episode. I'm always amazed at seeing her. Pick one, Child. Big black eyebrows, bright red dyed lips, slicked back ponytail of highlighted brown hair, gaped open mouth that looks like it doesn't shut, or a neck brace. I'm really worried when this girl gets older she might not be able to physically use her head. (I'm being snarky but sort of serious, too)

And if we did see her, I'm happy to say I missed it. I think I might like Dorinda but.....

[LotusFlower]

Kristinvhas always been boring in my opinion and in the solo scenes she's had, she clearly has nothing going on. Bethenny's scenes aren't all top notch, but there is a narrative to go with so it only makes sense to include quieter scenes like the homeless rant or the scenes inFlorida. I find it telling we haven't seen even one Heather scene so far in the season. She can't have a storyline if that is the case. I don't believe they would intentionally sideline Her when they made her so central the past two years.

We're only 6 or 7 episodes in. If you're the producers putting together the show, after paying Bethenny a reported $1 million to return, would you include scenes introducing the new Bethenny, or of Kristen or Heather in scenes not so riveting? Plus, there's the newbie, Dorinda, to introduce. Were her scenes with her daughter or bf that interesting? Not really, but they had to introduce her to viewers. Then there's post-Mario Ramona to introduce or explore. No way would that storyline get cut. So something's gotta give. Maybe they're more involved in the drama down the line. But right now, not surprisingly, it feels like the Bethenny show.

[JAYJAY1979]

Do you think this is partly why the upcoming season of OC only has five main housewives instead of more?

Dorinda is fascinating...and her daughters eyes brows alone r fascinating to watch. They need a twitter account like Yolanda's fridge :)

[sasha206]

I just want to say I'm happy we didn't have to suffer through Dorinda's Groucho Marx daughter this episode. I'm always amazed at seeing her. Pick one, Child. Big black eyebrows, bright red dyed lips, slicked back ponytail of highlighted brown hair, gaped open mouth that looks like it doesn't shut, or a neck brace. I'm really worried when this girl gets older she might not be able to physically use her head. (I'm being snarky but sort of serious, too)

And if we did see her, I'm happy to say I missed it. I think I might like Dorinda but.....

 

Groucho Marx.  How I love that!

 

I feel bad for being so irrirated by her daughter.  I'm sure she's a nice kid.  But I hate her.  

[sasha206]

Groucho...

 

http://heavy.com/entertainment/2015/04/hannah-lynch-dorinda-medleys-daughter-nyc-instagram-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/

Edited May 23, 2015 by sasha206

[Rhetorica]

Krusty the Clown's daughter? Actually, I don't think she looks that bad in this pic.

Edited May 23, 2015 by Rhetorica

[WireWrap]

Why? Please, WHY did you do this to us? LOL

[sasha206]

Why? Please, WHY did you do this to us? LOL

 

Ha! I went back to just link b/c the pic from the Heavy is HUGE!

[AnnA]

Do you think this is partly why the upcoming season of OC only has five main housewives instead of more?

Dorinda is fascinating...and her daughters eyes brows alone r fascinating to watch. They need a twitter account like Yolanda's fridge :)

 

You may be right about why there's only five HWs on the OC.

 

I disliked Dorinda after the scene with John in the restaurant but starting liking her more after she stepped up to tend to Sonja in Atlantic City.

 

I'll never like her daughter or her eyebrows and hope we don't have to endure them too often.

[Lola16]

I just want to say I'm happy we didn't have to suffer through Dorinda's Groucho Marx daughter this episode. I'm always amazed at seeing her. Pick one, Child. Big black eyebrows, bright red dyed lips, slicked back ponytail of highlighted brown hair, gaped open mouth that looks like it doesn't shut, or a neck brace. I'm really worried when this girl gets older she might not be able to physically use her head. (I'm being snarky but sort of serious, too)

And if we did see her, I'm happy to say I missed it. I think I might like Dorinda but.....

I think she should try out for the DVF show.  She'd fit right in...

[ScoobieDoobs]

I couldn't be more happier. Thats what he get for thinking Bethenny wasgoing to save the show. Had he brought Jill back first then Bethenny or brought both back then it been probably could had worked. Yet I believe he gave Bethenny too much control. Hes still an executive but he probably gave her a one year thing where she could call her own shots and do her own thing and pitch her products etc so as long she brought the ratings. And she hasnt done so. Hilarious.

 

I'm with you.  Jillzy mighta brought some good stuff.  But I think Satan Andy is skeered shitless Jill would be impossible to control.  Could she be any worse than B is now?  I'm just mildly curious if B's attitude is gonna change in coming eps.  I bet not.  It's probably only gonna get worse.  I predict ratings are gonna plummet further, especially if we're gonna get stuck with more eps filled up with Bethenny's non-stop whining & crying & therapy sessions with Dr. Fake-ass in various locales.  Oy, how lame.  Even more lame will be Satan Andy saying how awesome & hilarious Bethenny's boring routine is on WWHL.

[missy jo]

ScoobieDoobs, I *just* posted on the Bethenny thread that I wouldn't be surprised if she is edited to be more sympathetic in the later episodes, including this visit with her stepfather. This episode was very disjointed and didn't really gel together.

Edited May 23, 2015 by missy jo

[missy jo]

Ah, Carole and her new found love of boxing...another affection, I fear. Doesn't Joyce Carol Oates have a long time fascination with boxing?

 

 

I work in the sport, so I'd just like to vouch that there are many reasons to like boxing. I'm so happy it was shown on Bravo - talk about a crossover!

 

Posters here have commented on Art Basel and it's "weirdness". Exactly. That is the backbone of Art Basel, a forum for modern, progressive art in all it's glorious forms: painting, sculpture, mixed media, performance art, etc. if the show(s) make observers uncomfortable, so much the better.

 

 

I love Art Basel too, and wish they'd have made Miami/Basel a HoWives trip instead of just a few scenes.

 

Why am I so positive today, LOL.

[AnnA]

Krusty the Clown's daughter? Actually, I don't think she looks that bad in this pic.

Compared to what? LOL

[ScoobieDoobs]

I know you're all waiting to hear this -- so I passed Sonja's townhouse last night, coming home & yes, she finally shut her windows.  And there was that incredibly bright light, which always seems to be on, in the first floor.  All I could think was, Heather, why couldn't you have waited in that front room?  It's really not that small.  And it actually looks clean & well-kept.  It's very easy to see from the street cuz there are no curtains in the first floor windows.  

 

I thought maybe Sonja wasn't home cuz the rest of the floors looked pitch dark, with curtains drawn shut tightly.  I wondered, could she be away?  Maybe Moaner invited her to her Southampton place for Memorial Day weekend?  Was she at Beautique, trying to lure 21 year old hooker boys?  And then I noticed, the curtains on a window on an upper floor had a bit of light peeping thru.  Maybe she really is home & hiding out?  Who knows?  Made me think of Sonja turning into Miss Havisham.  Oy.

[Petunia13]

Groucho...

http://heavy.com/entertainment/2015/04/hannah-lynch-dorinda-medleys-daughter-nyc-instagram-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/

She looks like the guy from Dead or Alive or Marilyn Manson in this pic. The cartoon clown lips, garish makeup, pasty skin, bug eyes, huge drawn eyebrows pantomiming sadness.

She's not ugly without the carnival funhouse makeup, and freaked out facial expressions. But it's not cool what's going on now its like a wax figure of a mime that sat out in the sun.

[motorcitymom65]

I don't think that the lack of Heather or Kristen on the show necessarily has to do with them having no storyline, but of course it certainly could. If that were the case, I am just surprised that Andy didn't bump them back to "friend of". 

 

I think it is possible that they just don't fit into the story that Bravo wants to tell, which seems to be that of single ladies looking for love in all the wrong places. That, along with the camera time that Beth is going to get because they are paying her a million dollars and think she is going to be the savior, and that Dorinda will get as the new girl. They have to give her extra time so that we will get to know her. 

 

It looks like it has all gone badly if the ratings are the ultimate indicator, and I think they are. I wonder if Beth feels any pressure right now as she watches them decline, especially with regard to the last episode that was so Beth-centric? I agree with what others have said that it is not Beth's fault if Bravo agreed to any demands or requests she had in her contract with regard to her availability or what she was/was not willing to show. Their anger should be pointed directly at Bravo. If, however, the ratings decline and they are left out of scenes because Beth didn't invite them to something or didn't attend something they had going on which meant that the story was more about Beth on her own than Beth with the group, I can see them being irritated at her. Especially if this meant that many of their scenes were left on the cutting room floor. 

[trimthatfat]

Lu's daughter getting in at Art Basel is pretty huge. Luann should be proud.

 

I personally think the show has too many HWs. Inevitably, at least one person's storyline was going to get cut or edited to a few minutes an episode (if that) as I feel we're seeing with Heather and Kristen. It doesn't make sense to me that Bethenny and Dorinda were brought back, and then Luann was again promoted to HW.

[SFoster21]

I don't think that the lack of Heather or Kristen on the show necessarily has to do with them having no storyline, but of course it certainly could. If that were the case, I am just surprised that Andy didn't bump them back to "friend of".

I think it is possible that they just don't fit into the story that Bravo wants to tell, which seems to be that of single ladies looking for love in all the wrong places. That, along with the camera time that Beth is going to get because they are paying her a million dollars and think she is going to be the savior, and that Dorinda will get as the new girl. They have to give her extra time so that we will get to know her.

It looks like it has all gone badly if the ratings are the ultimate indicator, and I think they are. I wonder if Beth feels any pressure right now as she watches them decline, especially with regard to the last episode that was so Beth-centric? I agree with what others have said that it is not Beth's fault if Bravo agreed to any demands or requests she had in her contract with regard to her availability or what she was/was not willing to show. Their anger should be pointed directly at Bravo. If, however, the ratings decline and they are left out of scenes because Beth didn't invite them to something or didn't attend something they had going on which meant that the story was more about Beth on her own than Beth with the group, I can see them being irritated at her. Especially if this meant that many of their scenes were left on the cutting room floor.

On the show I watched, Bethenny extended an invitation and several ladies refused to attend. Their separate event was filmed. Bethenny missed the fight. The fight was aired. Bethenny went on the bus to AC, had lunch with Heather et al, and so forth. The narrative of "Bethenny shut out the others" is simply not on view to me.

Most television shows wear out their welcome after many years. All of these shows are past their sell-by date. The novelty has worn off, the participants are going through the motions, the audience is jaded and the concept is part of an earlier zeitgeist.

No one individual is going to change all that.

[WireWrap]

I don't think that the lack of Heather or Kristen on the show necessarily has to do with them having no storyline, but of course it certainly could. If that were the case, I am just surprised that Andy didn't bump them back to "friend of". 

 

I think it is possible that they just don't fit into the story that Bravo wants to tell, which seems to be that of single ladies looking for love in all the wrong places. That, along with the camera time that Beth is going to get because they are paying her a million dollars and think she is going to be the savior, and that Dorinda will get as the new girl. They have to give her extra time so that we will get to know her. 

 

It looks like it has all gone badly if the ratings are the ultimate indicator, and I think they are. I wonder if Beth feels any pressure right now as she watches them decline, especially with regard to the last episode that was so Beth-centric? I agree with what others have said that it is not Beth's fault if Bravo agreed to any demands or requests she had in her contract with regard to her availability or what she was/was not willing to show. Their anger should be pointed directly at Bravo. If, however, the ratings decline and they are left out of scenes because Beth didn't invite them to something or didn't attend something they had going on which meant that the story was more about Beth on her own than Beth with the group, I can see them being irritated at her. Especially if this meant that many of their scenes were left on the cutting room floor. 

Every season there are newbies, Bravo spends the first 4 - 6 episodes introducing us to them and tying up issues from the prior season. Even though Bethenny is not technically a "newbie", she has not been on this show or any other "Bravo" show in years so they are trying to remind us why we like/dislike her. Although I think the show has been too much Bethenny and Dorinda so far, I am not sure they will continue to dominate the show throughout the entire season. I still have hope that the producers will edit it in a more rounded way that showcases all the HW, both returning and new.  A person can hope.....RIGHT?!? LOL

[motorcitymom65]

On the show I watched, Bethenny extended an invitation and several ladies refused to attend. Their separate event was filmed. Bethenny missed the fight. The fight was aired. Bethenny went on the bus to AC, had lunch with Heather et al, and so forth. The narrative of "Bethenny shut out the others" is simply not on view to me.

Most television shows wear out their welcome after many years. All of these shows are past their sell-by date. The novelty has worn off, the participants are going through the motions, the audience is jaded and the concept is part of an earlier zeitgeist.

No one individual is going to change all that.

Maybe I missed an episode. What event did Beth have that several ladies she invited didn't attend? The Brunch?

I think the events that Beth hasn't attended weren't shown. Kristen said in her blog and in an interview that she had invited Beth to several things that she was too busy to attend. Since we've not seen any Kristen events, they must have ended up on the cutting room floor. Again, Beth seemed to know what Lu was talking about and she didn't argue.

[Cheetosandchoc]

Carole is actually the wealthiest housewife on the show, so I don't think she's doing it for the money any more or less than any of the other wealthy women on the show.

       The thing about wealth is, you get used to a certain lifestyle and it can be hard to maintain. Money goes fast. I say this because I grew up in a very affluent area. I am stunned by the amount of very wealthy people I know who pretty much lost their fortune. I can believe she needs the money, or feels she needs the money.

[Lastwaltz]

Carole is the wealthiest? Not Beth? Wowza. No wonder she wasn't that worried about missing her editor's deadline, lol. 

[LotusFlower]

 

I think it is possible that they just don't fit into the story that Bravo wants to tell, which seems to be that of single ladies looking for love in all the wrong places. That, along with the camera time that Beth is going to get because they are paying her a million dollars and think she is going to be the savior, and that Dorinda will get as the new girl. They have to give her extra time so that we will get to know her.

Yes, exactly! I said this almost verbatim in the Bethenny thread, but I didn't think of the single ladies/cougars on the prowl point, which is so obvious now that you point it out! Producers love their narratives, after all. And I think we know at this point that if they don't have one, they create one (although this storyline appears to be legit). Ironically, Heather and Kristen are the only "housewives" in the cast right now, and yet that appears to be hurting them, screen time-wise, as it doesn't fit the producer's narrative.

[sasha206]

I'm with you.  Jillzy mighta brought some good stuff.  But I think Satan Andy is skeered shitless Jill would be impossible to control.  Could she be any worse than B is now?  I'm just mildly curious if B's attitude is gonna change in coming eps.  I bet not.  It's probably only gonna get worse.  I predict ratings are gonna plummet further, especially if we're gonna get stuck with more eps filled up with Bethenny's non-stop whining & crying & therapy sessions with Dr. Fake-ass in various locales.  Oy, how lame.  Even more lame will be Satan Andy saying how awesome & hilarious Bethenny's boring routine is on WWHL.

 

I agree.

 

When Bethenny was first on the show, she was someone you could relate to.  Now she feels like she's playing a character -- This Bethenny Goes to 11 -- and she's become more dislikable.   And the times when she's being "real" with her therapy sessions and crying jags, she's depressing.  

[Almost 3000]

Carol's reported wealth is not true and even Carol laughed when asked about it.

[TheFinalRose]

I know you're all waiting to hear this -- so I passed Sonja's townhouse last night, coming home & yes, she finally shut her windows.  And there was that incredibly bright light, which always seems to be on, in the first floor.  All I could think was, Heather, why couldn't you have waited in that front room?  It's really not that small.  And it actually looks clean & well-kept.  It's very easy to see from the street cuz there are no curtains in the first floor windows. 

I thought maybe Sonja wasn't home cuz the rest of the floors looked pitch dark, with curtains drawn shut tightly.  I wondered, could she be away?  Maybe Moaner invited her to her Southampton place for Memorial Day weekend?  Was she at Beautique, trying to lure 21 year old hooker boys?  And then I noticed, the curtains on a window on an upper floor had a bit of light peeping thru.  Maybe she really is home & hiding out?  Who knows?  Made me think of Sonja turning into Miss Havisham.  Oy.

 

 

Well I for one AM waiting to hear about Sonja's townhouse and her open windows and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for reporting the details to us ScoobieDoobs.  If I lived near a housewife I would be walking my dogs past her home twice a day and taking photos too. Perhaps Sonja is in Gstaad or St Tropez with her smokey eye and updo for Memorial Day weekend?  

 

[Bronzedog]

Sonja has many, many businesses. I'm sure she's at the corporate headquarters of one of them and working thru the weekend. You don't amass her wealth and extraordinary business success by taking the weekend off.

[MatildaMoody]

I don't think that the lack of Heather or Kristen on the show necessarily has to do with them having no storyline, but of course it certainly could. If that were the case, I am just surprised that Andy didn't bump them back to "friend of". 

 

I think it is possible that they just don't fit into the story that Bravo wants to tell, which seems to be that of single ladies looking for love in all the wrong places. That, along with the camera time that Beth is going to get because they are paying her a million dollars and think she is going to be the savior, and that Dorinda will get as the new girl. They have to give her extra time so that we will get to know her. 

 

It looks like it has all gone badly if the ratings are the ultimate indicator, and I think they are. I wonder if Beth feels any pressure right now as she watches them decline, especially with regard to the last episode that was so Beth-centric? I agree with what others have said that it is not Beth's fault if Bravo agreed to any demands or requests she had in her contract with regard to her availability or what she was/was not willing to show. Their anger should be pointed directly at Bravo. If, however, the ratings decline and they are left out of scenes because Beth didn't invite them to something or didn't attend something they had going on which meant that the story was more about Beth on her own than Beth with the group, I can see them being irritated at her. Especially if this meant that many of their scenes were left on the cutting room floor. 

 

I wonder if it is simply too early to decide. One of the things I like about the newer seasons of New York is that they take their time setting up the season. As a "reality show" they tend to have a much better grasp of how to produce a television show. So, it takes longer to build to the climactic stuff. Of course, I also think that the producers tend to think their idea of climactic is completely different from what the audience actually wants. 

 

For example, I keep waiting for some huge feud between Bethenny and Heather. So far, I have only seen a couple of scenes that could either be major down the line or totally hyped up for the sake of drama due to editing. At most Bethenny and Heather seem coldly polite to each other. But, the show would have me believe that they hate each other with the passion of a thousand suns. I'm still waiting to find out why the show wants me to believe that. Even their blogs don't show that. I mean, Luann has shown more bile towards other cast mates than either Heather or Bethenny have to each other so far. 

 

It just makes me think there has to be more coming. I am assuming someone has a Kelly or Aviva sized breakdown on one of the cast trips.

Edited May 24, 2015 by MatildaMoody

[archer1267]

Had he brought Jill back first then Bethenny or brought both back then it been probably could had worked.

 

I don’t know. The Jill-Bethenny feud is so old at this point. I’ve seen a few gossipy items in the years since Season 3 about how the two crossed paths at a fundraiser or party. It’s the same sort of breathless reporting that hopes for a catfight when Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie attend the same function but alas, it’s been anti-climactic. I think both women have moved on from the animosity and have interacted cordially when they’ve seen each other. If they were on the show together, I think they’d neither be the big foes of Season 3, nor the close friends of Season 1 or 2.

 

Andy didn’t get his big fireworks display when Bethenny and Kelly were at Beautique, and I think a Bethenny-Jill season would similarly be…thud. Not the big brouhaha everyone’s itching for.

Edited May 24, 2015 by archer1267

[ButterQueen]

Sonja is killing this show for me. Fire her!!

[pbutler111]

Carole is the wealthiest? Not Beth? Wowza. No wonder she wasn't that worried about missing her editor's deadline, lol. 

 

Missing a deadline is not that big a deal.  A good editor knows the writer he or she is working with and will usually build in cushion time when they issue deadlines.  I'm a rank nobody and I missed the deadline on my second book.  My editor's reaction at the time was about the same as Carole's: he made stern and displeased noises, but gave an ultimate okay.  With someone of Carole's stature -- a moneymaker -- even more slack is given.

I don't care about Carole and Anthony's money.  I had never heard of either of them before this show.  But I do know about the famous rocking chair related to President Kennedy and I wasn't around back then!  President Kennedy had horrible back pain and used that rocking chair to help ease the pain.  There are tons of pictures of Kennedy sitting in that rocking chair. 

 

Say what you want, but please don't dismiss the historical significance of the rocking chair that was at the White House.  If it wasn't significant, I don't think some prince or king would bother buying it.  And I don't think it would have brought enough money for Carole and her late husband to have renovated their apartment. 

 

Kennedy had more than one rocking chair.  Three of them were sold in that auction.  One, Anthony's, sold for $442,500; one sold for $453,500; one sold for $23,000.  Before I embarked on my own home renovation, I would've said that $442,000 is more than enough to renovate a home.  But, while I've been sadly relieved of that happy delusion, I can still say it's plenty to be getting on with.

Edited May 25, 2015 by pbutler111