Real Housewives of New York City a/o April 8, 2010

I seem to be getting hung up on this show. But the truth is that I'm also watching Dancing with the Stars, Sober House, and for the first time in ages, American Idol. I will undoubtedly comment on these other shows. But for now, Real Housewives warrants some comment.

I'm honestly surprised that Jill and Bethenny haven't made up yet. But, according to reports, Jill did not attend Bethenny's wedding, which probably occurred after the filming of this season's show. I think that this relationship mirrors the friendships of many audience members; the breakup demonstrates how both insecurity and pride wear apart relationships.

I'm surprised that Jill cannot see what a judgmental person she has become. She has lain in wait for her friends to goof up. Not just Bethenny. She got angry at Ramona for getting the two of them together, when Jill did the exact same thing last season with Kelli and Bethenny. Jill gets offended when any of the cast members spend time with Bethenny.

I believe that Ramona was correct when she said that Jill befriends underdogs. I do believe that it was easier for Jill to help Bethenny before her big successes. Have you ever had a friend who held your hand when you cried but could not handle your successes?

I loved the scene with LuAnn spending the night in Jill's guest room. The guest room looked so inviting. No matter how old we are, it feels good to offer a comfortable room to a friend, and it is nice to be pampered by a friend as well. Both women wore their pretty nightgowns for each other, and they laughed when Jill's dog farted.

I like Kelli more each episode (if I don't think about the fur). She is not petty. Neither is Alex. Alex is the most consistent and trustworthy.

Ramona is not tactful at all. Why would she tell Bethenny that she'll probably lose Jason? She could have gotten her point across a hundred different ways. For instance, "Jason is the only loyal person in your life right now. I hope the relationship works out for the both of you. I'd hang onto him; he seems very special."

Real Housewives of New York City a/o April 1, 2010

People say that bad behavior makes for good television, but I have honestly been disappointed in the immaturity of most of the cast members of Real Housewives NYC. None of these housewives are bad people. Their good qualities far outweigh their nastiness. But I hope this show serves as a mirror for them, and any one of them seeking truth will see that they need to make changes.

The biggest trouble maker right now is Jill. This comment must be qualified because I believe she usually means well, but she has gotten lost. Because so many people like Jill, she's in the position to do much harm. Her friends who now hate Bethenny show little character or ability to think for themselves. They seem to care an awful lot about pleasing Jill.

Whenever Bethenny suggests that Jill has made far too much of their disagreement, Jill becomes too enraged to consider the wisdom of Bethenny's comment: "Jill needs to get a hobby." A hobby wouldn't change the fact that Bethenny shortchanged her friend Jill by virtually ignoring her all summer. But a hobby--or something else to focus on--could help Jill to quit ruminating about how disappointed she is in others. She has been criticizing others as if she were faultless.

When Bethenny called Jill, trying to put a stop to all the mud-slinging, Jill put Bethenny on the speaker phone without telling Bethenny that LuAnn was listening to the phone call. Jill is in so much pain over the loss of her friendship with Bethenny that she is excusing her own terrible behavior.

I loved the scene with Alex, Ramona, Bethenny and Kelly, as they planned fashion week in Brooklyn. Bethenny and Kelly got wrapped up in their old argument again. When each of them tried to get some closure, their discussion escalated into an argument that made both Alex and Ramona uncomfortable. Alex put her foot and told the ladies to leave, if they insisted on arguing. When Ramona supported Alex, both Kelly and Bethenny decided on the spot to let the past go. They made up--without the need for one last word.

This positive resolution demonstrates maturity, true friendship, and my idea of good television.

Real Housewives of New York City a/o March 25, 2010

Before I begin today's blog, I feel the need to explain something. Kelli, when you buy fur, you are creating a demand for it. This demand for fur causes greedy furriers to skin animals for their fur. Kelli, animals cannot live without their skin and their fur. This is why PETA and other animal lovers consider it cruel to animals to wear fur. If everyone were to boycott fur, nobody could sell it, and there'd be no reason to hurt these furry critters. Not only should you quit wearing fur, but you should boycott anyone who sells fur.

*****
Once and for all, I embrace the Real Housewives of New York City, and my further comments will be without any tone of apology. These ladies are not necessarily heroic. But they are characters that are dropped into a setting that I love: New York City. I will blog about each show I find interesting. Here are my observations about each woman since Thursday's show. These are in no particular order:

I admire Alex. Much goes on behind her quiet face. Unlike the others, she finds no need to verbalize everything. She is the truest friend, trying hard to stay in the middle of the current configuration of two sides that is in heated battle.

Did Alex see her son Francois jabbing Jason's gourmet hamburger in season one? My only criticism of Alex is that she let her children run wild without boundaries or manners that I could see. They impeded the freedom of the adults around them, and I found the situation with the kids at Jill's dinner intolerable.

The burger debacle occurred a long time ago; I'd rather focus on the decency that I observe in Alex. She is less likely to gossip than the other wives. She has a solid relationship with her husband Simon, and she has depth and sincerity about her in this background of wealth and opulence.

The other wife who hasn't picked a side in Jill v. Bethenny is Ramona. I have grown to like her. Ramona's new haircut took five years or so off her appearance. The jewelry that she sells on HSN is beautiful, and it was within good taste for her to show the jewelry to her friends when they were partying on the yacht. She wasn't hawking it; she was sharing her success with her gal pals.

Ramona is a bit of a nut, perhaps manic, certainly moody. She is admittedly uncensored, and she gets herself into trouble. I find Ramona to be self-centered,

Jill and Bethenny Behave Like Spoiled Children

I fantasize about living in Manhatten and vacationing on weekends in the Hamptons. Maybe that's why I'm a big fan of the Real Housewives of New York City. I want to visit NYC, but for now I live vicariously through some interesting women--or so I thought.

As of last season, my favorite two housewives were Bethenny and Jill. I enjoyed the humor and outspokenness of both of them. I loved Bethenny's humor. I thought that Jill was grounded; I wanted Jill's mother to adopt me.

What happened since last season to make me disappointed in "my housewives"? Bethenny fell in love, and just like a high school girl, she forgot who had her back. Nobody's too busy for a true friend, especially when that friend's husband is being treated for thyroid cancer. People take time for what's important, whether they're promoting a book or falling in love. That's it; no excuse.

However, why does Jill need to turn a whole posse against Bethenny? If you think this blog sounds like I'm a high school girl writing in my dear diary, this blog only represents the silliness and immaturity that I've seen, watching a show I used to love.

Maybe we girls never grow up. Maybe from a sociology point of view, certain dynamics call for predictable behavior. Why is it important that Jill's friends hate Bethenny when everyone knows that Jill and Bethenny will eventually make up?

Jill v. Bethenny and Other Nastiness

The Real Housewives of New York City returned from hiatus to begin its third season. I find myself talking as if I know these women personally. But since a reality show is supposed to accurately represent the true lives of its cast members, I only draw conclusions from what I see.

Surprise. The lives of these women changed drastically over vacation, and I fear that my favorite "housewives" no longer measure up. Here is a list of the cast members, from favorite to least favorite, as of last season:

1. Bethenny
2. Jill
3. LuAnn
4. Ramona
5. Alex
6. Kelly

Now....Here is my list, from favorite to least favorite, as of last Thursday's show:

1. Alex
2. Ramona
3. LuAnn
4. Kelly
5. Bethenny
6. Jill

Jill and Bethenny are both charming and vibrant; I used to enjoy the way they related to each other. Both stubborn, they'd back down when push comes to shove, in order to honor their relationship. They always seemed to have each other's back--and I adored Jill's mother.

I'm so disappointed in the turn of events.

Season three on the show begins after summer 2009; Jill's husband Bobby has gone through cancer treatments; I didn't see that coming.

Hurray for Bethenny who fell in love with a good guy. But where was her support of Jill through such a difficult summer? Were these two ladies just friends for the show last year? Is Bethenny like so many women who drop their girlfriends the minute a man enters the picture?