S08.E05: Birthday Bashing

[eXiled]

51 minutes ago, ZaldamoWilder said:

I was in a meeting and fucked up and looked at my phone to find:  Singer Stinger (which distracted me to possible alternates: Singer Zinger?) and: Sonja's a messy old ho.   Now my boss knows something's up because ain't shit about audited financials that are guffaw-worthy.  So thanks for that eXiled.  I owe you one.

Girl, I am honored. I'm always happy to be of service to you, ZaldamoWilder. Your posts are LIFE-BRINGING in all the sub-forums you frequent and I'm always waiting to read your thoughts. I still read forums of shows I no longer watch just to keekee with you and a few others that make me laugh out loud.

Your screenname told me you were good people. :-)

[ZaldamoWilder]

{{blusheyfacey}} awwww, that was sweet, thank you! 

[Bossa Nova]

Re: Luann's voice and shifting appearance....

I don't know about testosterone therapy and I kind of doubt that's whats up with her. I just think she it's the smoking, partying, drinking, late night hours that are beginning to catch up with her. You just cant do that so much when you're approaching 50 as you could when you were younger. She hasn't realized that yet. It definitely starts to take a toll on your physical appearance. Even Romona (or was it Beth?) when remarking about Sonja's drinking and partying ways, aaid that LuAnn can drink and drink and really hold her liquor. Point being, she may not get overly sloppy drunk, but the woman partys. And it is showing.

When LuAnn showed up at Ro's birthday lunch, before she started to tear up talking to Bethenny, I thought she looked really beat, tired. By the way so did Sonja. Sure Sonja admitted she had been to a party the night before. Looked like she just piled her hair on top of her head, not showered and showed up late the the lunch. Wonder if Lu and Sonja were at the same thing the night before.

Edited May 5, 2016 by Bossa Nova
adding more thoughts

[neatoburrito]

Can I just go ahead and do a complete 180 on my opinion of Jules? I think I underestimated her, I really liked her in this episode. And I can easily laugh at her jibes about the size of Bethenny's teeny house for ants, because if you go around making snarky comments about everyone and everything, you deserve to get something in return. I feel like Jules wouldn't have even gone there about Bethenny's money and her house if B hadn't gone there first. And as for Carole defending B by saying "she was just being too honest", isn't that what every rude person says to excuse their rudeness? They're not rude, they're just too real... give me a break. 

Having said that, I didn't mind Bethenny this week. I don't think I'll ever like her as much as I did in seasons 1-3 because she's just been on my nerves too much and it's kind of a case of what's been seen cannot be unseen. I just think she comes off very badly without anyone to go up against her or question her. I only wish Jules could be more articulate sometimes, it'd be nice if there was someone who could stand up to Bethenny, and it doesn't look like anyone else is about to. 

Carole looked rough as hell in her THs. "This lighting's awful"... it's not the lighting Carole, it's your face. Her storyline continues to bore the hell out of me, I don't know what she's even still doing there. Was she only invited back onto the show because Bethenny's proctologist couldn't extract her in time for filming? I did find it funny that it seems like Adam's about as into her as I am. Also if she wanted to stay clear of Luann, why did she need to come and eyeball her while she was giving Bethenny the gift? She's so transparent, she just loves carrying this feud on for as long as she possibly can. 

[neatoburrito]

14 hours ago, ScoobieDoobs said:

Bethenny's geisha & matzoh ball "joke" fell very flat with me.  True, Jules does always mention being Asian & Jewish.  But sheesh, what is so fuckin' horrible about that?

Exactly! I'd take Jules' Jewish/Asian talk over Ramona constantly going on about how single she is, or Bethenny talking about her never-ending divorce. 

[KFC]

11 minutes ago, neatoburrito said:

Exactly! I'd take Jules' Jewish/Asian talk over Ramona constantly going on about how single she is, or Bethenny talking about her never-ending divorce. 

Brian Moylan's recap at Vulture was pretty insightful about Jules.

 She is trying to decide which aspects of her personality will impress the world. The problem with this, of course, is that none of us are really impressed... Jules is vastly misreading her audience; all we really want is authenticity. (Ramona is a mess, but she is Ramona, through and through.)

We kinda got a little bit of those same problems with Kathryn Edwards on RHOBH. You could tell she was a little green to the reality show world and was stumbling a bit at first to figure out how to interact in this surreal landscape. Granted, I think she might easily not be asked back to BH, but by the end I think she figured out how to ease up and just sort of be herself on the show.

Most of these new HWs aren't tailor-made for reality like Shannon Beador or even Dorinda (to a lesser extent), so it'll probably take a few more episodes before we start to get a clearer picture of Jules. And even this episode already gave me a lot more insight into her personality than any of the previous ones.

[athousandclowns]

2 hours ago, ElDosEquis said:

Everyone is pretty much the same when the lights are out in the room?

You know that now when I see lulu I am going to laugh and say, "Countess SMASH!!!!!"

I had an English friend that said who looks at the mantle when poking the fire.  

[ElDosEquis]

15 minutes ago, athousandclowns said:

I had an English friend that said who looks at the mantle when poking the fire.  

I'll have to give that response 5 stars.

[ButterQueen]

Was Ramona wearing extensions or a wig to her party?  

I've never liked Ramona, and her insisting on telling Sonja she wasn't invited to B's birthday, lying about the reason, and announcing she was too good to be seen with her......what a hateful person.  

Sonja looked bad to me, but I did love how she takes things in stride.

Jules, what an unintelligent, redundant Asian/Jewish (lol) woman.  I do not like her at all.  

I think Carole and Beth are good friends.  I like their interactions.

Dorinda, please stop eating on camera.

Oh Lu, how far you have fallen.

Man, Dorinda and Jules have big feet.

More food was eaten in this episode than during the entire season of Beverly Hills.

i did not enjoy this episode.

[shoegal]

1 hour ago, Bossa Nova said:

Re: Luann's voice and shifting appearance....

I don't know about testosterone therapy and I kind of doubt that's whats up with her. I just think she it's the smoking, partying, drinking, late night hours that are beginning to catch up with her. You just cant do that so much when you're approaching 50 as you could when you were younger. She hasn't realized that yet. It definitely starts to take a toll on your physical appearance. Even Romona (or was it Beth?) when remarking about Sonja's drinking and partying ways, aaid that LuAnn can drink and drink and really hold her liquor. Point being, she may not get overly sloppy drunk, but the woman partys. And it is showing.

When LuAnn showed up at Ro's birthday lunch, before she started to tear up talking to Bethenny, I thought she looked really beat, tired. By the way so did Sonja. Sure Sonja admitted she had been to a party the night before. Looked like she just piled her hair on top of her head, not showered and showed up late the the lunch. Wonder if Lu and Sonja were at the same thing the night before.

For real.  I don't think that LuAnn's raspy voice is anything more than a smoker's rasp.  It seems that several of them smoke, including LuAnn, but won't do it on camera.  I think John is a smoker, when Bethenny approached him to bury the hatchet, he quickly grabbed what looked like a pack of smokes and put them in pocket.  I think Dorinda smokes and possibly Jules? 

Anyway, I think the only testosterone LuAnn is taking is when she brings her "dates" home....

[nexxie]

16 hours ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

Bethenny: "Bryn is like a mini-me. She's just the greatest thing ever."

A narcissist and her mirror.

[shoegal]

4 minutes ago, nexxie said:

A narcissist and her mirror.

I dunno, sounds kinda like a mom who loves her kid to me....don't parents enjoy the ways that their children take after themselves?  I don't think Bethenny is any more narcissistic in this regard than any other mother. 

[nexxie]

11 hours ago, swankie said:

I think Ramona is just afraid that Sonja will get more guys hitting on her than Ramona if they go out together.  She doesn't want to have to compete with her.  Ramona is cute, but Sonja has an air about her that attracts men.  She's flirty and coquettish and men are attracted to that.  That's why Sonja gets a lot of young men.  Ramona is too talkative and doesn't let anyone get a word in.  Most guys tire of that pretty early in the evening and are ready to move on to someone like Sonja.

"Flirty and coquettish" - if that means "easy and desperate" I agree.

[ScoobieDoobs]

Moaner & her billions (OK, 50) of frozen-faced, Martian-looking friends of hers -- um, haven't we seen these Upper East Side Martian gals before?  Some of these gals, with their faces melting before our eyes, looked familiar.  Idk, Bethenny's reaction to them was kinda fun.  It was about the only time I could tolerate her non-stop onslaught of nastiness.

Hey, anyone recognize any of the joints they met in, in this ep?  Never heard of any of these places.

I still think Bethenny discussing Jules' ED behind her back, making comments about it in EVERY ep this season in her TH's, has been exceptionally cruel -- and thoughtless.

Idk, Bethenny's behavior (on the season so far) is not of someone I could say I like.  She's been consistently mean, nasty & pretty much shitting over anyone who doesn't kiss up to her.  Call me nuts, but those are characteristics I don't exactly care for, thanks.

Edited May 5, 2016 by ScoobieDoobs

[ottergirl]

2 hours ago, neatoburrito said:

(Re Carole) Her storyline continues to bore the hell out of me, I don't know what she's even still doing there. Was she only invited back onto the show because Bethenny's proctologist couldn't extract her in time for filming? 

HAHAHAHAHAHA this is excellent.

I can't figure Carole out this season.  Except to say it's interesting how some friendships bring out the best in people and some the worst.  Carole and Heather's friendship made me like them both more; Bethenny and Carole makes me like them less.

It might be as simple as the exclusionary nature of their relationship.  I will say that is absolutely Bethenny's modus operandi and has been since Season One.  The first two seasons it was her and Jill Zarin as the cool/mean girls (depending on your perspective) running the show, and it was Kelly they eviscerated.  Last season Bethenny worked overtime to build a tribe that excluded Heather and Kristen very specifically - Heather presumably because she was a threat as a smart businesswoman; Kristen because she was pretty and reasonably sane.  

Bethenny only wants to be surrounded by yes people or crazy people. Ramona is perfect because she's both; she's too crazy to be a threat as fan favorite, AND she's a yes person who agrees with everything Bethenny says.  And Carole's a full on acolyte. It doesn't surprise me that Carole is a yes person to Bethenny, because Carole's pretty laid back (I don't know if she IS stoned 24/7, but she gives that impression). It does surprise me that Carole is an attack dog on Bethenny's behalf.  That bit seems out of character. 

I also agree with the astute commenters who noted that Luann's weird and desperate behavior at Ramona's birthday party was all about her panic at being ostracized by Bethenny, and evicted from the show. The unspoken "power of Bethenny" is the defining dynamic of the season, especially after they all bore witness to what happened to Heather last year, and it's both fascinating and disgusting.  More so because we will NEVER get to the bottom of it, because Andy will never in a million years allow any of the wives to state the truth.

Edit: I feel the need to clarify that I was not on Kelly's side - I really liked Bethenny her first few seasons, for all the reasons many of you have stated, and Kelly was ridiculous.  But Bethenny's whole dynamic of creating cliques and ostracizing outsiders, that's been Bethenny from the beginning. The difference is, it was more acceptable when she was doing it from a position of vulnerability, as the young woman trying to make it, versus what she's doing now, from a position of absolute power.  Ramon's party showed nothing so clearly as every single woman in the room - even the ones not on the show - orienting themselves around Bethenny.  She's not just powerful, she's vicious, and everyone is terrified to end up in her gun sights.  Jules, quite literally, was almost shaking in their first solo scene. It's an incredibly bizarre dynamic, and it's driving everything that happens on the show, even if Andy and Bethenny would prefer that we didn't notice it.

Edited May 5, 2016 by ottergirl

[jaync]

How many first impressions does Jules need? Her brunch was the third or fourth time she had been around Beth.

Brynn is exactly like Beth, even though she's also being raised by her father? Yeah, okay. Anyway, if Brynn isn't going to be on the show, then I don't care to hear about how she does this and that, while her mother is filmed doing the said this and that in the child's personal space.

Quote

They're not rude, they're just too real... give me a break. 

Give me one, too. I'm tired of Beth's bitchassness being excused as her just being honest. Her personal opinion is just that, and not The Truth.

Carole, please get off Beth's jock...it's cringy. As was the way you were fishing for a compliment from Adam.

Thank goodness for Sonja.

Love Dorinda landing that blow about hound-dogging Mario in the preview; it serves Ramona right for the way she's put down the other ladies' men. I don't think she ever apologized to Heather for the way she insulted Jonathan.

[sasha206]

I'm really struck by how bad Ramona, Sonja, and LuAnn look this season compared to last.  Of course, they still look incredible for their ages (and not an ageism comment since I'm 48).  Ramona would still look incredible to me if she cut that hair off.  Her hair looked great last season.  Sonja and LuAnn look so different to me.  Their skin looks very bad -- as if both of them are using something.  Just awful.

Great job Beth!  You bullied a woman into admitting she had an eating disorder!  Great job Carole!  You acted like an asshole along with your asshole friend and then you defended your asshole friend even though she was acting like a complete asshole!

Edited May 5, 2016 by sasha206

[neatoburrito]

57 minutes ago, ButterQueen said:

I've never liked Ramona, and her insisting on telling Sonja she wasn't invited to B's birthday, lying about the reason, and announcing she was too good to be seen with her......what a hateful person.  

ITA. I've no doubt that Sonja's sloppy drunk behaviour can be embarrassing at times, but I loved Sonja pointing out that Ramona's behaviour period is something she's had to apologise for for years. Ramona doesn't have to be half cut to act like an ass, it just comes naturally to her. As for Ramona jumping on the bandwagon of the "Sonja has a drinking problem" storyline... isn't Ramona the one who's always ready to pull bottles of pinot and glassware from her purse? Pot, kettle. Besides, I don't remember Ramona liking it when Jill and co. tried to pull the same shit on her back in season 4. 

[crgirl412]

I didn't think the 4th wall the crashing as I thought Lu was staying with Sonja for 1 night in her daughter's room then a few weeks later, (IRL too) they decided since it went ok that she would give it a trial run and we saw Sonja telling Ramona about it.  

What did I miss??? 

[crgirl412]

27 minutes ago, neatoburrito said:

ITA. I've no doubt that Sonja's sloppy drunk behaviour can be embarrassing at times, but I loved Sonja pointing out that Ramona's behaviour period is something she's had to apologise for for years. Ramona doesn't have to be half cut to act like an ass, it just comes naturally to her. As for Ramona jumping on the bandwagon of the "Sonja has a drinking problem" storyline... isn't Ramona the one who's always ready to pull bottles of pinot and glassware from her purse? Pot, kettle. Besides, I don't remember Ramona liking it when Jill and co. tried to pull the same shit on her back in season 4. 

Yes, people have said Ramona has a drinking problem over the years and made comments about her Pinot Grigio obsession.  I loved Sonja's  comment about having to apologize for Ramona's non-alcohol-influenced-behavior for years!!!  That was great!  Her ass-like behavior comes so naturally to her it's scary!  She is so socially unaware it's unbelievable!  I would love to have her take a test on Emotional Intelligence/Emotional Quotient* to see just how low it is.  I can't believe she was married (and it was stable) for as long as she was, has long-term friendships, has a successful business and Avery turned out so well!

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_intelligence  

Edited May 5, 2016 by crgirl412

[JenFromCincy]

30 minutes ago, crgirl412 said:

I didn't think the 4th wall the crashing as I thought Lu was staying with Sonja for 1 night in her daughter's room then a few weeks later, (IRL too) they decided since it went ok that she would give it a trial run and we saw Sonja telling Ramona about it.  

What did I miss??? 

I thought that prior to them apartment hunting together that Luann had stated that while staying with Sonja was fun, she needed to find her own place.  Could be mistaken.  Wouldn't be the first time.

[abbottrabbit]

44 minutes ago, ScoobieDoobs said:

 

Hey, anyone recognize any of the joints they met in, in this ep?  Never heard of any of these places.

Was this Bistro Chat Noir the one where they had Ramona's birthday (this year and last, I think)? I only half registered the cat on the sign. If it is, I've been there once -- oddly with someone who is an acquaintance of a friend of Ramona's (and possibly Sonja's -- I've never had the balls to ask about any of them, but it wouldn't surprise me). 

[mothmonsterman]

Look, I really like Bethenny and she pretty much doesn't bother me.  I don't know why, even if I feel like she is being an ass, it doesn't seem sinister to me.  But, we can't have the NY be the Bethenny show.  It is so obvious how everyone is in fear of their jobs if they cross Bethenny.  It makes for a very inauthentic show.  

Even Yolanda on BH doesn't get the kind of authority and ring kissing that Bethenny does.  

[ScoobieDoobs]

So can we assume Lu isn't crashing anymore at Sonja's joint?  Damn.  Because if she is, I'd be trying to spot all the empty kegs and/or mountains of empty wine bottles/jugs (oh wait, these gals prefer the hard stuff) as I pass by Sonja's townhouse.  I'd also be looking for random dudes climbing out the windows.  Oh, but then I do that anyway -- every time I pass by Sonja's place.

[Avaleigh]

18 hours ago, JenFromCincy said:

2 minutes in and Bethenny is comparing Brynn to Jean Benet Ramsey? Is a murdered child really not off limits? Yes, she was in pageants, but dang, is nothing sacred? Sorry, it just hit me wrong.

I'm still fucking stunned over here. Holy shit, that was one of the most sickening things I've ever heard come out of the mouth of a housewife. It's right up there with Brandi Glanville's sick comments about rape. 

I am far from a pearl clutcher and I've laughed at a zillion inappropriate things on these tacky shows but that was beyond the pale to me. Bethenny can be so thoughtless and she doesn't even realize it. I thought it was a very mean thing to say and I hope that she apologizes for being so tasteless. JFC, I have to quote that crazy girl from the OC--is this really the world we live in? Can somebody please tell me if anyone at least lit Bethenny up on Twitter or anywhere else over the comment? 

Quote

When Bethenney was on WWHL this year and Andy asked about an All Star Housewives, Bethenney named no other NYer beside herself. She's a hating ass hater because she knows that back in the day, Ramona Singer brought the stinger. The thought of Ramona being inappropriate and too forthcoming with the calculating Lisa Vanderpump makes me gasp for air. Those two would be television gold.

Is an All Star Housewives seriously being considered? I've always been fond of this idea. Basically taking one or two housewives from each franchise and sending them on a trip where they can be drunk and stupid. 

For me I'd like a lineup of something like Kyle, LVP, Cynthia, Kenya (I think Kenya is just about the nastiest housewife ever but she certainly knows how to bring the drama), Lea Black, Ramona, Sonja, Tamra, Vicki, and Cat Ommaney (from DC). I'd be very curious to see what alliances and friendships would form and who all would end up working each other's nerves. I wonder what LVP would make of Cat? 

[DelicateDee]

16 hours ago, lasandi said:

I am all alone on my little island so I am just gonna say it.....I don't feel that Carole is up Beth's angus, (lol, anus).  I feel Carole and Beth are really friends and as her friend she shows loyalty to her as I would my friend.  If I feel my friend is wrong about something, I will discuss with my friend privately and not throw her under the bus in front of everyone else or behind her back with everyone else, or in her TH.  Which btw, had Ramona treated her friend Dorinda exactly that way with the John viagra story, Dorinda would not have blown her stack.

I have not seen the whole episode yet, but I'm now hearing Bethenny apologizing to Jules which was the right thing to do.  Anyhou, Bethenny is still one of my favorites ::::::::ducking:::::::: :D

No, lasandi, you are not alone.  I agree with your whole post and consider Bethenny my favorite of ALL the HW franchises.  I just never posted a lot because of my inability to use these boards efficiently.  I  could never get a handle on quoting other posters to respond so if I tried to respond to a comment, it always went to the end of the sequence.  Therefore, I became more of a lurker than a participant.  This new format works better in that regard, so I can participate in the forum more! Yeeah!

[SnarkKitty]

4 hours ago, eXiled said:

Girl, I am honored. I'm always happy to be of service to you, ZaldamoWilder. Your posts are LIFE-BRINGING in all the sub-forums you frequent and I'm always waiting to read your thoughts. I still read forums of shows I no longer watch just to keekee with you and a few others that make me laugh out loud.

Your screenname told me you were good people. :-)

I have nothing to add to this. In the spirit of RaBethLu, I'm just here to lord my good fortune over others, having experienced said kees in person. Hilarity always ensues.

[lasandi]

4 minutes ago, DelicateDee said:

No, lasandi, you are not alone.  I agree with your whole post and consider Bethenny my favorite of ALL the HW franchises.  I just never posted a lot because of my inability to use these boards efficiently.  I  could never get a handle on quoting other posters to respond so if I tried to respond to a comment, it always went to the end of the sequence.  Therefore, I became more of a lurker than a participant.  This new format works better in that regard, so I can participate in the forum more! Yeeah!

Yaaaaasss DelicateDee!   Welcome to the conversations.....the more the merrier.  Glad to see I am not alone in liking you know who LOL.  What I like about this forum is we can have different opinions and not be attacked for it.  It's a wonderful place full of smart, snarky people that make me laugh out loud all the time whether I agree with their statements or not.  It's a nice family to be a part of.

[ScoobieDoobs]

37 minutes ago, mothmonsterman said:

Look, I really like Bethenny and she pretty much doesn't bother me.  I don't know why, even if I feel like she is being an ass, it doesn't seem sinister to me.  But, we can't have the NY be the Bethenny show.  It is so obvious how everyone is in fear of their jobs if they cross Bethenny.  It makes for a very inauthentic show.  

Even Yolanda on BH doesn't get the kind of authority and ring kissing that Bethenny does.  

Yeah, I think you hit on what's really bothering me.  The unbalance of power now.  Bethenny is queen.  She can zing anyone & nobody can comment on her -- that is, without Bethenny ruthlessly (and casually) annihilating them to dust.  No likey.

As far as liking Bethenny?  Look, I get it.  Some are charmed & entertained by her nasty/hateful routine.  Mostly, I think it's been too much of an overload of her nastiness this season (and too much of her) for me.  But I have to admit, I was enjoying her reaction to Moaner's Upper East Side Martian-women friends.  Seriously, that was a hoot!

[jinjer]

7 hours ago, Baltimore Betty said:

I thought it was funny that Sonja came arrived at Ramona's party swinging, letting Ramona and everyone else she had a rough night after the mini intervention Ramona tried to have with her. 

The re-gifting thing was confusing, Luanne gave Ramona a necklace from her collection previously and it needed to be fixed so Luanne had it fixed and gave it to her again?

Bethenny's daughter did a look book for her outfits, too funny.  That kid will be a very high maintenance teenager.

Adam is a film maker now? I thought he was a chef.  It might have been a great story line for Carole to go to Ethiopia with Adam, get back to her roots as a journalist and have something to write about.

Did I see Gloria Allread at Ramona's party? I swear that woman with the short dark hair and red coat looked just like her.  I wonder how many of those 60 women knew Mario was dicking around on Ro? I wonder how many of them dared to say anything about it.

Was the necklace given as a birthday gift and fixed? Or just previously given and fixed? 

The woman in the red jacket reminded me of Jill Z's awful mother.

 

6 hours ago, zoeysmom said:

What was Luann thinking when she said Bethenny was like family?  Has Luann forgotten what Bethenny thinks of family?  All she has to do is listen to Bethenny on adopted family Jill Zarin and her mother, Bethenny's father, her mother, her step father, the father of her child, Bob and Carol Hoppy.  Be part of Bethenny's family is kind of a nail on the coffin in a Bethenny relationship.  Luann committed a cardinal sin, do not try and get close to Bethenny, it turns her off.  I thought it nice that bethenny stopped when she realized she was making Luann cry.  No one wants to feel excluded.  Not even Sonja or Luann.

This tickles me the battle over real estate.  Bethenny can not let it go.  McMansion, money pit, location, age of the house, décor and most of all size.  She is still tweeting and blogging away about it.  It is like her divorce, I am quite certain Sonja Morgan might argue she had a longer more protracted and devastating divorce.  Carole piled on with Jules' unfortunate old money comment.  Carole needs to have that façade popped as marrying old money, Radiwill died long before Anthony and Carole married and was $30 million in debt.    The Kennedy Onassis connection left her husband $500,000.00.

I feel for Luann because I do think she has a lovely figure but she is in a sea of very petite women.  Bethenny, Jules, Ramona, Carole I think are all probably size 0 or 2, Dorinda is tiny and that leaves Luann the size 8, looking like the Incredible Hulk.  Arms are hard to overcome once you reach a certain age.  I am hoping, out of respect for Jules' eating disorder, none of the principals take issue with Luann or Sonja's changing bodies.  Sometimes it is not just diet but nature. 

Really good point about Bethenny and family. You don't want to be part of her family.  

Kind of hated the look book for Bryn.  I think the assistant took photos of outfits and sent them to Bryn for approval for packing bc Bryn was with Jason. At least that's what I hope. But what is she 5? 4? Couldn't they just pack her clothes and take them for her?  Nice to be a rich kid.

When Luann was filmed alone in that burgundy dress - she looked great.  The red talking head lace dress? Not so much. 

4 hours ago, ghoulina said:

LOL! Do either of their parents come from "old money"? Maybe that's what she meant? Did they possible inherit something that helped fund his business or whatever? I'm a housewife, married to a construction worker, on a budget, in Iowa. Money talk confuses me. 

I think they both grew up upper middle class if not wealthy.  I don't know why but that was the sense I got from her initial introduction. 

Okay I have to admit Bethenny was better playing off of Jules this show. She was a little self-deprecating about having to give Jules the words for being a steam-rolling rude asshole to her.  And she decided not to create a whole todo about Jules ED (after having made it one for the past few episodes.). 

Carole - well you're just a big asshole now with the all the self-awareness of a 7th grader.  Hello? Rent the movie He's Just Not That Into You. I think Carole's stock has probably fallen the most out of all these HWs.

[StevieRocks]

10 hours ago, Gaily said:

I may be in the minority here but I think Jules is gorgeous -- beautiful facial features, hair out of a Pantene commercial, good skin.  Yes, she is too skinny but she is still very pretty. I am afraid she is going to get eaten alive at the Reunion -- she seems too nice and nervous to handle this bunch and doesn't seem like the type to respond with snappy comebacks or throw shade on-the-fly when someone attacks her.

Agree with everyone about Dorinda chewing with her mouth open. I thought she was so pretty last year -- like a Princess Diana lookalike.  But this season, she looks like your semi-wealthy great Aunt from Palm Beach with a drinking problem -- the puffy face, smudged eye makeup, try-hard-to-be-classy-and-au-courant vibe does not suit her.  She also looks like she smells like the bottom of a purse that has not been cleaned out for two years -- you know that musty smell of old perfume, dirty breath mints, used Kleenex and sad regret coupled with stale martinis.

Bwah! Gold.

[ElDosEquis]

34 minutes ago, Avaleigh said:

For me I'd like a lineup of something like Kyle, LVP, Cynthia, Kenya (I think Kenya is just about the nastiest housewife ever but she certainly knows how to bring the drama), Lea Black, Ramona, Sonja, Tamra, Vicki, and Cat Ommaney (from DC). I'd be very curious to see what alliances and friendships would form and who all would end up working each other's nerves. I wonder what LVP would make of Cat? 

LVP loves animals, hates bitches?

[AbsoluteShower]

Two more random observations:

1) Sonja's measured response to Ramona's concern over her hard-living lifestyle? "No, YOU are!"

2) Wait - so Carole's manbun chef boyfriend is now a documentary maker?

[archer1267]

"[Jules'] secret is not mine to tell." Oh please, Bethenny...you just speculated about her ED ad nauseam before she told you straight up that she had one. And to anyone who would listen. I do like Jules more with each episode but don't like when coupled women mock a single woman's dating status, i.e. "why don't you tell your boyfriend? oh, that's right, you don't have one" and the "maybe she hasn't gotten laid in six months." 

Sonja's "I didn't get invited?" was kind of sad, although maybe she was trying to save face. Or maybe she doesn't check her own correspondence (interns, remember) and assumed that she got an invite and one of the interns RSVPed a gracious decline. 

[Umbelina]

http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/blogs

Some of the blogs are really good this week, especially Carol's.  I'm glad her publisher is letting her write them again this year.

I think Bethenny treats everyone the same, and always has.  She talks fast, which intimidates some people, she calls bullshit on bullshit, which is the reason most people liked her to begin with.  She doesn't need zingers in talking heads, she can deliver them on the spot. 

Ramona is shocking me the most this season.  She outs John's disgusting behavior for the cameras, and Dorinda is actually a real life friend.  She tells Sonja she can't socialize much with her anymore, because her slutty and drunken behavior could reflect badly on her, and she isn't going to spend her golden years pretending she's Samantha Jones.  She nails The Countess as also a drunk and also an adulterer, something that probably hits Ramona pretty hard, given her past two years, and insults Luann for the obvious suck up of the expensive purse for Bethenny and the cheap gift for her at her own birthday party.  She breezes in, causes mini tornadoes, then quickly exits because she has better thing to do with her time.  She's impressive!  There is a reason this woman will always have a job if she wants one.

I love these bitches, I really do.  I love the rich history we have of them. 

The Countess telling Bethenny how to date, and implying Ramona was stupid and unlady-like with her advice.  The mighty have fallen, and wowsa, Luann really NEEDS this job money now, I guess her last little money maker just hit 18 and the child support is gone.  I like Luann once the count was gone and she started dating that younger guy, she had instagram photos of the two of them horsing around in the pool, not one bit of make-up on, wet hair plastered to her head, smiling like the sun had just come out after decades of grey skies.  I always thought that if she dropped her act, she would probably be fun.  We read the reports of her drunkenly groping band members' dicks at parties, of Ramona's husband carrying her out of others. 

I think Luann actually married for love, well, and to get out of her life in Bumfuck, Nowhere.  She got her nursing degree and escaped the Dairy Queen.  She looked good enough to model a bit in Europe, and was witty enough to get the Italian TV job, and nab herself a pretty handsome, and reasonably rich Count (even though it was an empty title, it was real.)  So she's happy!  She's Mary Tyler More tossing the designer beret into the sky.  At some point though, the European nature of her marriage became real, probably while pregnant.  She accepted the "affairs" because she so wanted her new life, and she probably also wanted to be "cool" and "sophisticated" and not that small town girl inside that was hurt.  So they had a European style marriage, mistresses and boyfriends, and hey!  She adapted to that as well.  Then the aging fool fell in love with a damn princess!  While she was on a  RH TV show!  Oh, the humiliation of that, and all she had pretended to be before.  The other wives always knew, and kept secret, her "open marriage" but now what?

So we got a good year for Luann, she emerged from her Countess role, became more of herself.  She knew her boyfriend wanted kids, and sooner or later this love would end.  Is that why she fucked the married Pirate, or was she simply blotto again?  Or both?

This season is sad though.  She's desperate and it shows.  She's aging and it shows.  Bethenny has very good reasons for not liking her, many of them, lists of them, but there is a part of me that wants her to back off Luann, at least a big.  Because this?

IS REALITY. 

It's not that canned crap they try to cram down our throats.  It's actually reality, and it's tough, if fascinating, to watch. 

Oh, and John, please exit stage anywhere, Dorinda, quit dragging him everywhere the cameras are filming.  Ugh.

[escape]

Luann came off looking so desperate sucking up to Bethenny.  Come on, when was she and BF ever family???  I bet the Countess is sorry now she aligned with Jill Zarin.  And there was the ridiculous much ado about nothing drama with Carole.  It's obvious Luann (who had already been demoted once) is on the outs and trying desperately to hang on to her RHONY apple.

[ninjago]

This is the first season I've followed since Bethenny's been back and while I don't hate watching her, I do hate the long, dominant shadow she casts over everything and the way everyone else defers to her.  Why doesn't she have her own show anymore?  She and Carole could be on it together and they could salvage this franchise with an updated cast.  They could air back-to-back.  It's not like Bravo has a full schedule of Must See TV winners.  I mean, Jet Set?  Recipe for Deception?  They've got lots of space to fill.

[Feline Queen]

If she wanted to do a mini beauty pageant contestant reference, Bethenny could've merely said that Brynn isn't in the Toddlers & Tiaras territory yet.  As for the selection of clothes part - I have a six year-old granddaughter and she likes to chose her own outfit, so I pull out a couple of things and let her decide what she wants to wear. I don't see anything wrong with teaching children to dress themselves nicely. If the assistant created a photo look book it was probably (as someone else suggested) because Brynn was at her dad's when the packing needed to be done. 

Is Adam on location as a filmmaker or the production crew's cook? He looked awful in the video chat. Who finds him sexy or worth fighting over? Was that a cold sore on his bottom lip? Carole did look pretty on the computer screen during the chat. But why is she always fishing for compliments from him?  

If the viewers participated in a drinking game every time Jules mentioned that she was Jewish/Asian, we'd all be sloshed by the second commercial break. 

Speaking of sloshed. Ramona was unnecessarily mean to Sonja - even if she didn't appear to give a damn.  Sonja's observation that the piece of hair on her face could be an eyelash or a pube was hilarious. 

Edited May 5, 2016 by Feline Goddess

[mothmonsterman]

1 hour ago, ScoobieDoobs said:

Yeah, I think you hit on what's really bothering me.  The unbalance of power now.  Bethenny is queen.  She can zing anyone & nobody can comment on her -- that is, without Bethenny ruthlessly (and casually) annihilating them to dust.  No likey.

As far as liking Bethenny?  Look, I get it.  Some are charmed & entertained by her nasty/hateful routine.  Mostly, I think it's been too much of an overload of her nastiness this season (and too much of her) for me.  But I have to admit, I was enjoying her reaction to Moaner's Upper East Side Martian-women friends.  Seriously, that was a hoot!

Believe me, I don't fault anyone for hating a particular housewife (or many).  I hated Brandi from BH so much I almost had a stroke every time she came on screen.  

I can totally see why people hate Bethenny.  

[archer1267]

Quote

I don't feel that Carole is up Beth's angus, (lol, anus)

I don't either. I think Carole tries to be a peacemaker (I'm thinking of St. John's when she tried to talk Aviva down from the ledge by saying Ramonja were just doing their necessary "bluster" over their routine being changed and would be fine). I've always liked Carole but am not really digging her this season, though.  

As for Adam, I figured that Ethiopia was related to the food insecurity work he's been doing in Nicaragua.

[anonymiss]

Jules disarmed Bethenny with the real realness B prides herself on. Then when B told Ramona & Carole about it you could see the adjustments going on in Carole's head. Her eyes widened in surprise and she held back her sycophantic echoing against Jules just in time, as Queen B concluded by approving of her.

I laughed when Carole referred to Adam as "super sexy" again right before his scarecrow mug popped up in her needy call. He is so not into her the way she's into him. 

[Trooper York]

Thank God that Jason is part of his daughters life and refuses to allow her to be filmed. Otherwise we would be treated to mother daughter eating disorder theater with Beth's trying to fit in her daughters bikini.

[JenFromCincy]

3 hours ago, ScoobieDoobs said:

So can we assume Lu isn't crashing anymore at Sonja's joint?  Damn.  Because if she is, I'd be trying to spot all the empty kegs and/or mountains of empty wine bottles/jugs (oh wait, these gals prefer the hard stuff) as I pass by Sonja's townhouse.  I'd also be looking for random dudes climbing out the windows.  Oh, but then I do that anyway -- every time I pass by Sonja's place.

I think they'll show it, because of how much they built it up, but they just went about it in a messy way.

[Muffyn]

3 hours ago, ninjago said:

This is the first season I've followed since Bethenny's been back and while I don't hate watching her, I do hate the long, dominant shadow she casts over everything and the way everyone else defers to her.  Why doesn't she have her own show anymore?  She and Carole could be on it together and they could salvage this franchise with an updated cast.  They could air back-to-back.  It's not like Bravo has a full schedule of Must See TV winners.  I mean, Jet Set?  Recipe for Deception?  They've got lots of space to fill.

I misread this as Recipe for Decapitation.  I could suggest a few people for that show.

[biakbiak]

5 hours ago, archer1267 said:

 

Sonja's "I didn't get invited?" was kind of sad, although maybe she was trying to save face. Or maybe she doesn't check her own correspondence (interns, remember) and assumed that she got an invite and one of the interns RSVPed a gracious decline. 

I think it's fourth wall sort if thing, remember at the bra party she mentioned that she hadn't invited LuAnne when she someone told her that she was coming, they probably had just signed and production sent out the filming email to all of them.

[msblossom]

Wasn't the blonde lady with the  birthday cake at Ramona's Bday lunch the same woman that got married around season 4? Silex came with Ramona and Mario and there was some big argument at the reception between Alex and Jill.

[archer1267]

Oh, that would make sense, biakbiak, but ick! This is just what I was talking about last week, about not liking the drama over the behind-the-scenes stuff that viewers aren't privy to. When Ramona said to Sonja, "You know why you weren't invited...." of course it opened the door for viewers to think the worst (my assumption had been that Bethenny was pissed off over Sonja's TipsyGirl drink idea, but it could just as easily be that Bethenny didn't want to be embarrassed by Sonja's drunken behavior).

And I'm sure the producers are fine with viewers thinking that troubles are brewing between the two cast members, when really, it had to do with contracts and timing of events. Bleh.

[msblossom]

Someone upthread mentioned Lu's large arms maybe in relation to speculation about possible testosterone supplementation. If Lu has large arms then mine are ginormous! Her arms and the rest of her body looks fantastic, but I agree she looks rough in the face, and has the voice of a heavy smoker.

[pbutler111]

I was a little amused to see that, on the end table behind Sonja, when she was sitting on the couch at her house talking with Ramona, she had a framed head shot of herself.

[breezy424]

7 hours ago, ScoobieDoobs said:

Yeah, I think you hit on what's really bothering me.  The unbalance of power now.  Bethenny is queen.  She can zing anyone & nobody can comment on her -- that is, without Bethenny ruthlessly (and casually) annihilating them to dust.  No likey.

As far as liking Bethenny?  Look, I get it.  Some are charmed & entertained by her nasty/hateful routine.  Mostly, I think it's been too much of an overload of her nastiness this season (and too much of her) for me.  But I have to admit, I was enjoying her reaction to Moaner's Upper East Side Martian-women friends.  Seriously, that was a hoot!

The funny (ironic, whatever) part of this is that in her blog she does a 180 on Ro's friends at Ro's birthday party in her blog.  She made some pretty catty statements about the same women last year.   But in her blog this year the woman are ok.

The reality is that the RHNY has become Bethenny Starting Over.  Everyone else are just bit players.  Background noise for Beth to 'comment' about.  For instance, 'Beth' is the only one who comes to the realization  that Jules has/had an eating disorder.  Wow Beth, you have so much more insight than the rest of the cast and viewers.  Like no one else noticed that Jules is stupid skinny and there may well be something else going on.  Yeah, thanks Beth.  Cause the rest of the  world doesn't see this.  Give me a break. 

I give Beth a lot of credit for the sucess of the Skinnygirl alcohol line.  The truth is she hasn't done much of anything since that and that sales of her alcohol are are on a downward trend .  Licensing the name hasn't proven to be anything in comparison.  She pretty much shows this with her meeting of her crew about coming up with ideas.  

Is it me or the decorating of her Hampton home different from last year?  Oh, wait, she made a deal with TJ Max for the decorations.  Geez, you made a deal on how to decorate your home?  Are you that desperate for a buck? Especially since you supposedly made tens of millions on Skinnygirl?  Sorry but I just don't get it.  I wonder if we'll have more sessions with Dr. Amador this season.

Edited May 6, 2016 by breezy424