Yeah, yeah, yeah, the finale was on last night. Kidooze!, as Ramona would say, to the ladies for raising $120,000 for the Creaky Joints charity. (All except you Alex, who, despite your supposed email blast, only roped two lousy guests into attending the event.) But the evening was but a bland amuse bouche in preparation for what looks like a humdinger of a reunion show. LuAnn, I do believe I’ve landed permanently in your camp after that preview glimpse of you steely calling Kelly out as a liar. Two hours of drama, woot!
But first, the finale:
Prior to the big charity event Ramona and Jill worked themselves up into a tizzy about the ethics of sponsorship and branding. (Zarin Fabrics-Skinny Girls-TruRenewal-Suez Canal-Naturally Thin-Class with the Countess-Owls.) Jill accused Ramona of trying to bail on her $5,000 commitment. Ramona, rocking her ’80s Cosmopolitan top knot, strangely didn’t bark back. They both decided that Bethenny took advantage of them by plastering her new Skinny Girls logo above the bar. Scuze? Nobody talks about B behind her back. So Bethenny, dressed rather unfortunately in a Breakfast with Tiffany ensemble, pounced on Jill, who was already freaking out playing the hostess and preparing for her big speech.
It was a grim scene. Bethenny, who I’m thinking woke up the next morning with a nasty hangover, chewed into Jill, telling her to apologize. Jill told Bethenny to step off or leave. B looked like she was going to cry and kept fuming to anyone who would listen. It’s the first time all season that Bethenny has behaved poorly, and I’m sure she’s kicking herself for her poorly-timed outburst. It wasn’t good TV. It was awkward and unfortunate and kind of sad watching these friends argue. The two women made up quickly, and Bethenny gave Jill some deep-breathing exercises and danced with her gays later, but the fight cast a weird pall over the evening.
Simon’s lacquered red pants to the rescue! The man is ridiculous, no doubt. His dance moves consist of Karate Kid poses. He nearly wet his pants when Kelly expressed interest in the contents of his closet. (Ha!) But he is good-natured and forgiving. And when Ramona clip-clopped up to him and jibber-jabbered about his outfit ("tutu! fou fou! tutufoufou!"), he spun her around the dance floor and all was forgiven. It was sort of weird and sweet and why is it that I can’t stop looking for evidence of Ramona’s pit stains now that I know she has a sweating problem?
LuAnn, I like you. I don’t care what the haters say. I don’t really care that you are a snob, or that you have no sense of humor about yourself. I think you mean well and that you’re not mean. And I think you’re going to become infinitely more relaxed and likable now that you no longer have to pretend that you’re in a stable, enviable marriage. Shame on you Bravo editing room for all those awkward moments with the Count and his purple-tinted sunglasses. Shame on you for that implied smirk when LuAnn, in her closing remarks, said that she has the gift of seduction ("from seducing the salesgirl to seducing your husband"). Good riddance, Count!
Kelly, you know how I feel about you. You know I groaned when you complimented Jill for not being one of those tiresome New Yorkers who are all talk and no substance, one of those I’m so rich and fabulous types. But my heart went out a little to you when Jill forgot all about you when she was handing out the awards and you stood there in the crowd looking abandoned. Sorry Kelly. I just don’t think The Real Housewives worked out for you like you hoped it might. Good luck. Be nice to your girls. Don’t come back for Season 3.
Let’s be real: The finale was ehh. Points for the scene of Jill and Ally’s sex and booze talk. "Do you know what it is?" snickered Jill. "Awright, awright. Any drinking going on? You know I have the drinking pee on stick test in the closet." Points for the revelation that Rosie has a boyfriend who she thinks she may be in love with. Though I have to say Bethenny peeved me off a little by her level of amusement for getting dating tips from the housekeeper. ("Rosie’s giving me dating tips. Next I’m going to start talking to Francois and Johannes about dating!") I know she was just trying to be cute and make a dig on herself, but come on Bethenny. Don’t be a jerk. Points deducted for the unnecessary vision of Mario ogling Ramona’s butt on the StairMaster all those years ago at the gym.
It is what it is. For the most part I love my girls. But it’s a fickle relationship. And if these women tumble any further into their branded identities ("I’m Martha Stewart meets Carrie Bradshaw!"), I’ll relocate. Jersey, I’m looking at you.
What did you all think? Did you cringe watching Bethenny go after Jill? Did you cringe when Simon grabbed Alex from the behind on the dance floor? Did you cringe when Bethenny tried to crack jokes at the Moroccan fashion show? Do you cringe when you admit to people that you watched every episode of The Real Housewives of New York City Season 2 and that you could see yourself spending a Saturday watching a marathon to boot?
I”ll miss this show. Even thought most of these women drive me crazy at times, I do like them- except for Kelly. Kelly was fun to watch for this season but she needs to go. Do we really need another “Fun doesn’t have a price…Life doesn’t have a price.” moments? No. I can’t wait for the reunion. Remember, it’s two hours long! First hour on Tuesday and the next hour on Thursday.
I love the show, and I thought Bethenny was fine at the Moroccan fashion show. Felt bad for both her and Jill as they exchanged words, but points to Bethenny for instantly realizing she had made a mistake and went to Jill to help calm her before giving her speech and starting the auction. That’s a real friendship – we all have little spats with our friends and get into arguments, but when a friend needs you, you put it aside and go to her side – exactly what Bethenny did. And Simon and Alex on the dance floor – YIKES! ‘Nuff said…
Why do I watch this thing? I’m riveted. I can’t quit. But why? I truly can’t figure it out. I’m not a big TV watcher, but something about this . . . it’s like crack.
Bethenny is my girl. Jill is my girl. The rest? Meh. Especially Ramona. STFU, Ramona. And I’m sorry, but your Countess? What. A. Snob. Ugh, Kelly. No Season 3, please.
I’m courious to see on the Reunion Show if Kelly, after she reviewed her two confrontational episodes with Bethany, realizes what an absolute IDIOT she is and how rude and conceated she is. Please ask her that million dollar question. Whew!!
Diane C
Port Orange, Florida
I AGREE…KELLY NEEDS TO GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK….PLEASE JUST DISAPPEAR. I LOVE BETHENNY AND JILL. I HOPE THEY CAN CONTINUE BEING FRIENDS. THE COUNTESS NEEDS TO READ, NOT WRITE, A COUPLE OF ETIQUETTE BOOKS. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REUNION SHOW.
I thought Bethenny and Jill’s argument was realistic. Sometimes friends have spats but real friends put it aside. The finale was enjoyable to me. For some reason I am really fond of Alex and Simon-they are weird but real.
I really didn’t understand what the fuss was about having the Frangelico signs up behind the bar. They contributed all the alcohol for the evening. It’s pretty standard that they get all the bar credit for doing that. It was shocking to see that Jill had taken down ALL of their signs! If I were Frangelico, I’d be pretty angry about it. And I’d think twice about participating in this kind of charity event in future. Not cool.
I like Bethenny, but she was awful last night. Doing (as someone on the show noted) her “Kathy Griffin” impression at the fashion show was cringe-inducing — as was her runway walk. Also, why did she need to have it out with Jill just when Jill was about to start hosting the big charity event — something she (Jill) was clearly nervous about? It couldn’t have waited?
Loved Jill asking Ramona to take her to the Social Register!
Jill’s problem wasn’t that the Skinny Girl logo was behind the bar, but all those other alcohol brand signs. But COME ON…when people donate liquor to your cause for free, OF COURSE they get to put their own signs up. If only they could have hired some professional to tell them things like that, or that a live auction is a terrible idea. Anyone else think Jill has lost some serious weight this season?
About last night….Hee hee. Simon and Alex. They are so absurd in the Alice in Wonderland kind of way. What I love about them is NO APOLOGIES, this is who we are. BTW, I have a burlap sack from a 3-legged race last year if you’re interested Simon. Ramona (Ra-MOAN-a), pleasse get your thyroid checked. Those eyes are gonna pop honey. Avery has the brains in that family. Run Avery runnnnn…. The best thing about the countess…ROSIE. She came back from vacation and she’s WOW. Good for you girl. Bethenny, overall I LOVE YOU. But you do have your whiny moments. Giving away your goods at the grocery store seemed beneath you. Don’t be that way. I know you’re better than that. Kelly, argh. See you on Judge Mathis, or Judge Judy…or Judge whoever. Jill, you’re a hoot, but yes, a bit of a snob. Saying you only invited Bethenny to that party because she was your designer friend’s dress on a magazine..ouch. Not cool! You all made me laugh at how absurd we all are. Thank you for that.
No Kelly fan but last nite ws proof of how Bethenny can work your nerves. Her speech is sometimes overwhelming to listen to and she won’t stop. Even Jill got irked with her. BTW Kelly is a man. Love Ramona! She is hilarous- her and Simon dancing literally had me LOL!
i fell in love with this show . i wasnt sure about bethany at the beginning but wen her and kelly had that talk on allies bed . i was disgusted with kelly she actually convinces herself that the previous conversation never happened seriously has a screw loose . i really like jill dont know wot it is about her just a very engaging person . someone please tell alex to lose the fake laugh shes a bore . roll on season 3 without kelly please
Yes, Kelly stahhhp, pleeeaz go awaaaay! Hope they show her derogatory remarks to Bethanny. To remind her what an ass and hypocrite she is! I just love Jill. She is funny and real, well, more real than the rest of them. I am an addict for this show, and agree with most of your comments. Alex and Simon and Ramoana annoy me. But I still watch. And this kept me awake last night: does the countess still get to keep her title after the divorce? If not, what title will she go by? What will she occupy her time with? Oh yes, belittling more public school students! Oy! Looking forward to the wrap-up show and the NJ ladies!
Don’t blame Bethenny for being mad. Ramona got Jill worked up I think and she pounced….however, once Jill asked me to leave I would have left and let the chips fall where they may. Jill’s daughter is turning into a lovely young woman, Alex and Simon are a kick and the very ending was sweet.
The finale episode was ok. I really hoped for more. In the beginning I thought Alex and Simon were off the wall. I still do, but they’ve grown on me and I really kinda like them now. Jill also is one of my favorites, even though she has sometimes had a snobbish attitude, she doesn’t seem to be two-faced, but real. As for the rest, I feel that they are all snobs – including Ramona, Luann, and Bethenny. Bethenny seems rather whiny and does she ever laugh?