I am so into the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  I think it is currently the best franchise of the RH series. I used to like New York, but that last reunion show was a huge turn-off. And most of the women on NY are leaving. What is that all about? I’m glad Jill, Kelly, and Cindy are leaving. But I am sad that Alex is going. She was one of my favorites. I wish the Countess was leaving. She just cannot see herself and acknowledge her own shortcomings. Beyotch! Surprised she is still on. I like Orange County too. But that is for another post.

Well, back to BH. Some random thoughts about this season. Camille is so much nicer this year! I really couldn’t stand her last year. But she has mellowed out and seems genuinely caring this year. Hope that is the real Camille. I also like Kyle, Adrienne, and Tyler. I like Lisa too, but I think she has a little bit of the Countess in her. She can’t see her own flaws. I like her husband Ken as well, but I suggest they both get a filter for their mouths. Bottom line though is I like them both very much. Even though Lisa plainly said on camera that she and Tyler weren’t friends, and I thought that was odd. She said it a couple of times, but says she didn’t. What????? And some others don’t remember it either. Hit replay on the DVR and you will see it. That takes me back to what I said about Lisa needing a filter…..But then sometimes, she can be so sweet, and she is very pretty.

Poor Tyler. I really like her. She kind of has that Charlie’s Angels look about her. And depite what I have read elsewhere, I believe her story. I don’t get the thing about Russell. It is so sad, but I am curious as to why he did commit suicide. I think Tyler does seem like she was abused in the marriage. And she was abused earlier in her life, and it is not at all unusual that someone who was abused before will end up in an abusive relationship again. I understood why she went off at Lisa at the tea party.  I can’t believe people were criticizing her about that. They choose to focus on the fact that she shouldn’t have attacked Lisa in Lisa’s own house, when the more appropriate question is why had Lisa said that to begin with and why not just give Tyler a break?

But I have been glued to the series. I know Bravo wasn’t sure how to handle Russell’s death, but I think they are handling it appropriately. At least so far.  Or maybe I am just a voyeur (I admit I am) and I can’t resist watching, even though they should have written him out. But anyway, it is a shame that Russell died. Surely he didn’t do it because of the show. Doesn’t seem like anything could be important enough to take your own life.

Seems like the Real Housewives franchises are having a tough time these days. The latest news is that Jacqueline of the Real Housewives of New Jersy is leaving. I haven’t heard why, but I am sure it may be because of the fracas she has been having with her daughter onscreen. I never could figure out what the problem was. Jacqueline was always reprimanding her for being disrespectful, but that she was disrespectful was never that evident onscreen. It’s all a shame, because I think the New Jersey show is the worst of the bunch. (I don’t watch Atlanta, so I can’t comment on that.) But of the other I think NJ is a real snooze. But Jacqueline made it interesting. I’ll probably quit watching it now. A good thing as I have so much else to do.

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/09/30/jacqueline-laurita-quits-the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl3%7Csec3_lnk3%7C100455

I watched the latest installment of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills last night, and Taylor Armstrong’s pain was palpable. It was raw and evident. Your heart can’t help but go out to her, knowing that since the show has aired, her husband committed suicide. She and her husband had been having trouble for some time, and it was obvious in last year’s season. They had severe money troubles, and who knows what else. There have been rumors about his being bisexual and that it was going to come out.  He acted like he didn’t really want to be with her, in my opinion. He had mentioned to his family that the show had pushed him to the brink. What really happened? Will we ever know?

I know that reality TV is everywhere today, and I have to admit, it is addicting. I love the Real Housewives shows. Most of them. My least favorite is New Jersey. But aside from that, I am hooked. I do have to say I was a little appalled at how the Real Housewives of New York ended their season. To be honest, they all looked crazy and mean. And that is too bad.

I know that Bravo was considering what to do with this season of Beverly Hills, since the episodes had already been shot when the suicide occurred.  Cancel the whole season? Edit out Taylor and Russell? I can’t remember what they exactly decided to do with the Russell shots, but the season is airing as scheduled.

Does this signify that reality TV has gone too far? That it might have pushed someone to commit suicide and then the network airs the shows that might have had a hand in it? Have we become that voyeuristic?

I don’t consider the show to have caused his suicide. Obviously, he did not have the temperament to put up with it. And possibly had secrets to hide. But to be honest, even though I enjoy watching reality TV, I have never understood why people put their lives out there like that. But since I watch it, I guess I am part of the problem.

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/09/13/taylor-troubled-marriage-real-housewives-beverly-hills-video/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk2%7C95169

I have to admit it–I love all of the Real Housewives franchises. I think it is because I don’t get enough drama in my real life, ha ha. I am sorry that Camille has been left by Kelsey Grammer, but can you blame him? She seems so rude and yes, insecure. She doesn’t like to be told that, but hey! She milks that comment she thinks Kyle made to death. She wrings it and wrings it and calculatingly brings it up again and again and can’t let go. Why haven’t others pointed this out as such? And that Allison DuBois? She had creepy looks on her face all night long. I don’t want to know what is going on in her mind. I thought who in the heck is she? And then I read somewhere that she is the basis for the show Medium, and I am sorry about that, because I like that show. I think she will have hurt her reputation by appearing on Housewives and acting the way she did.  Big red Xs for both Camille and Allison.

But I really like the rest of the BH housewives.

 http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/12/17/the-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-the-ladies-have-a-psyc/?icid=maing%7Cmain5%7Cdl8%7Csec1_lnk3%7C31908

I can’t help it–I watch both versions of the hoaders shows, those on A&E and TLC. I was watching some of the episodes last night on A&E, and there was one house that was so bad that a homeless woman was living down in the basement, and the people who owned the house never even knew it. That is bad.

I know it is an illness. I am not the neatest person, but I am a far cry from that. Things did get a little piled up when I was in law school though, and it took me a while to declutter. So I can understand. I am not a packrat–I just didn’t alway have time to put things back in their place. You know with finals and studying for the bar and all that. But I can see how if you never pull out of a bad period and just let it go on, that that is how you might end up. OMG.

I saw the first show in this episoded, and I have to say I was underwhelmed. Not enough drama. At least, not enough drama, as compared to the other Real Housewives series. Maybe it takes a while for it to rachet up? I don’t remember how long it took the others. I never watched the Atlanta one, and I didn’t see the first seasons of Orange County. I think NYC heated up pretty quickly. I think the English woman on the D.C. series is going to be a real bitch. The state dinner party crasher actually seemed kind of nice. But thin, as everyone seemed to point out.

The drama surrounding Danielle on this show keeps mounting. Sometimes I like her, but she does always up the ante. On tonight’s show, she gets shrieky with Kim G. I can relate to Kim G. Just trying to be everyone’s friend and to get along and not be stuck in the middle. That may not be the case anymore. Kim G. got pretty hot tonight. Good girl. You have to say you don’t want to be in the middle. And then you can breathe.

I actually can’t wait until the Real Housewives of D.C. Fun!