Last night, Lisa brought NeNe home to Inglewood to meet her family. NeNe didn’t expect to see so many Asian folks, and immediately removed her 10 inch heels. Her shock over Lisa’s Chinese side of the family got a little silly, as she kept tugging on her friend’s sleeve and asking her if she actually spoke their language and insisting that Lisa was black at heart. I’m going to give NeNe a pass though because she is actually quite sweet with old people and didn’t blink an eye when it turned out that Lisa’s parents are in fact adorable finger puppets.
And props to NeNe for realizing that she had no place at Lisa’s brother’s graveside. After much hand-wringing, Lisa accompanied her family to visit her brother’s resting place for the first time since his death three years ago. My stomach lurched when the scene began: There the family was, marching up the hill, with the little cut-out of mini Lisa swishing her black mini-dress in the left-hand corner of my screen. But then Lisa looked so covered up and nervous, her face puffy and free of makeup, that I restrained myself from being unkind. She lost her brother, and the family was still in pain. It sounds like the brother—a Patti LaBelle lover, a gay man with a girlfriend—loved his vices to death. I do wish her father had taken his son aside and bopped him on the head after he poured a bottle of liquor onto the grave.
Back in Atlanta, Sheree continued to alienate the event-planning population. She By Sheree might have a launch at a fashion show. Or at least someone might carry her sketch pads up and down a catwalk a few times. Either way, Sheree had a ridiculous man posing as her publicist who demanded that his client have special transportation to the event and be draped in Tiffany diamonds. The event planner in a silly hat looked confused. His sad partner looked like she wished she’d gone to law school instead of doing this party-planning crap. They paid Sheree back by showing her some possible models they picked up from the Hooters down the street.
I’ve realized that new Housewife Kandi has one go-to expression. She raises her eyebrows skeptically while trying to keep her pretty half-smile from sliding fully into shock or disapproval. I’m thinking Kandi does not want to be here, but figured a reality show was best way to reinvigorate her music career, so what the Atlanta? The poor woman does not want to record a remix to “Tardy to the Party,” which Kim apparently is now performing as spoken word. She does not want to talk astrological charts. (Heaven help me, I’m also a Taurus. Does this mean Kim and I will be best friends next season?) She does not want to sip on her Shirley Temple while Kim barks at the waiter to “just pour, Pour, POUR!” and systematically trashes the other women. Kandi doesn’t like drama, and she’s a healthier human being for it. Twenty bucks we’re watching Tanya next season instead of her.
The show ended with five minutes of maniacal laughter. NeNe and Lisa lolled on the poolside roof of their West Hollywood hotel. I’ve realized that Lisa has a hard time being quiet and calm, which is her natural personality. She spends a lot of time trying to keep up with the other women’s naturally broad personalities. Lisa says “That’s funny!” instead of actually laughing. And when she does laugh it doesn’t always sound sincere. And so after a heavy day of mourning with family it looked like she would rather just read a paperback mystery than talk gangsta pasts with NeNe. Michael to the rescue! A gay man with self-described ratty fingernails had picked up the women earlier in the lobby. He appeared, maniacal laughter ensued. A blind date with Dwight is surely on the horizon.
What did you PopWatchers think? Midway through the season, who are you liking, who are you hating, and who are you wishing would just go away?
Photo credit: Quantrell Colbert/Bravo
I’m 36, and for some reason I’m sucked into this show.
At first I really disliked Kim, but now I really just cannot stand Sheree. She needs reality to come beat her up one side and down the other.
I love Nene, and realized that she is the type of person that wants to be liked by everyone, so she will side with whoever she’s with at that particular moment.
Last night was funny, especially the last five minutes….’Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t!’
Drew…I’m with you all the way! I love NeNe and the new gay guy had me laughing 10 minutes after the show was over!!
i think the new gay guy was planted to make the l.a trip more interesting.
Can’t you just come out and say it’s racist for NeNe to think Lisa would rather be black than Chinese? NeNe obviously thinks being black is better because the Chinese are so strange to her. And that’s one of the hallmarks of racism–ignorance.
I don’t think its an issue of not like Chinese people, its just that Nene (an others) see Lisa as black and then to see the other side of her family its shocking. Also consider that fact that we dont see all convos. Clearly Lisa had a hard time growing up – not asian enough, not black enough, not light enough to be cool with white kids – so I think Nene was just assuring her, like you have a home with US (black ppl). But in the end it was a bit annoying of NENE. I found it funny that her mom was harder to understand than her dad – who was clearly Asian American. SIDE NOTE: Her grandmother looked AMAZING FOR 92!!!
I agree with your point. NeNe was just assuring her that you have a home with the black people.
I got the feeling that Lisa doesn’t really express the Asian side of her heritage much so it really was foreign to NeNe. It really was a whole new dimension to Lisa that NeNe clearly knew nothing about. NeNe handled herself in typical NeNe fashion. She’s got a firm sense of what she brings to the show.
It doesn’t matter how often Lisa expresses her Asian side. NeNe was still out of line with her comments and it bothers me that nobody called her out on it. If someone made similiar comments about African Americans or White People… there would be major drama.. but since she was talking about Asians.. its no big deal….
To me it sounded typically American–we want to see everything as black race or white race or Asian race, etc. It shows a lack of wanting to see that people are complex. “You are still black to me.” That is like what people said about Tiger Woods. I don’t see what it has to be either/or.
I agree, NeNe was not trying to be racist. Lisa grew up in Ingelwood, CA, a predominately black area, she is married to a black man, and lives in the black capital of America, ATL. NeNe was just trying to say that you may have not felt apart of the black world growing up, but you are definitely apart of us now. It was meant as a welcoming comment not a mean reference of Chinese people.
I can’t stand kandi. all she talks about is her fiance and her mother. and nene was right-she’s not that great of a singer. why is everyone dogging on kim? everyone has ganged up on her and she’s just looking for someone to be her friend. just because she’s not as transparently fake as lisa doesn’t mean she’s a bad person.
Honey, Kim is so fake. Fake like Sheree. She couldn’t wait to find a person to listen to her trash Lisa. Kim wishes she had the drive of Lisa to make her own money. Kim has someone else paying her bills, while Lisa can’t seem to not work.Lisa has a loving husband and beautiful children/family, everything Kim wants. Kim is the definition of a “hater”.
A big AMEN!!
I agree Kim is a hater, so is Sheree. Those party planners are doing her wack clothes line a favor and she asks to be draped in Tiffany, PLEASE… and a Maybach, i think not miss sheree, GET A GRIP
Kim is fake and we all know it. Don’t just feel sorry for her because she is the minority. She talks about whoever is not in front of her at the time. Why is she caught up in friendships with the women on the show none of them are caught up in her world.
One minute you are criticizing Kandi and saying you can’t stand her, then you defend Kim because “people are picking on her.” Can’t you extend that much to Kandi? And regarding her singing, I think she is okay. She is probably better than you at singing.
What can you say? The season just sucks. I want so much to revel in the drama and eagerly anticipate the next wig-pulling antics…but I’m just not feeling it. The show seems forced and contrived; the producers are obviously throwing all their eggs in the NeNe basket. I’m seriously concerned about Kim and her raging alcoholism. She appears miserable with or without a bottle of wine. Maybe it’s just time to retire RHoA. Perhaps no one is going to check them, but soon no one will be checking out the TV show either.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I think a lot of the drama is contrived. I think the producers are pushing NeNe to put it altogether. It seems very forced.
AMEN!!! I agree with you. This show is truly contrived…not interesting, not funny and frankly, I am so not buying that any of them have $$ other than Kim and Kandi. Nene may have it now but not so much the 1st season. She is full of herself –her reality celebrity is really getting to her and it’s making me sick. Kim says she doesn’t like the drama — yet she CREATES it by gossipping about the other three ladies to the new one. Tacky. Ugh. I think this is the last season for this show.
You all are trippin. This is the best reality show on tv. What do you have to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to be considered a Housewife. And you must not be watching the show because Kim is the poorest one of them all. Her house is the smallest, she doesn’t have a job, and she just broke up with her “big daddy.”
All I kept thinking was that if NeNe was white and made those comments and acted that way she would have been kicked off the show. It was completely racist. This show is doing a slow death spiral down the cancellation drain, and not a moment too soon.
NO SHE WOULDN’T THE OTHER HOUSEWIVES ARE JUST AS BAD, THOSE
NEW JERSEY WOMEN ARE REALLY SOMETHING. YOU NEED TO CHECK THEM OUT.
I love it when white people get on their high horse about reverse racism. Honey, you don;t know what racism feels like!
I stopped watching last week, but did read the recap. Odd that someone thinks that Kim has a drinking problem when it is NeNe who has the biggest problem with drinking. It has already affected her looks and certainly her demeanor. AA meetings are in order post haste.
Poor Nene. She is really getting off on her 15 minutes of fame. I truly believe she has a good heart but she is been prooving her ignorance with statments like “Kandi’s a bit hood – ghetto” and “I think Lisa is just black.”
We now see how much Nene has NOT been exposed to. I think she’s going to end up getting on everyone’s neves next week – and I’ll still take them ALL over Kim – even though I TOO am a Taurus! (I could NOT believe Kim was a Taurus – but she’s close to the Gemini cusp – hence the liar – her alter ego!
Nene’s beef with Kandi is just petty and I’m embarrased for Nene everytime she says something negative about Kandi. The girl has done nothing to her to warrant that. Kandi conducts herself in a really straight, no-drama manner. I do think that she latched on to the opportunity to be on the show to jump start or re-start her recording career and I’m happy she’ll have the chance.
I gotta say she’s more interesting than DeShawn – even though DeShawn is sweet and all – she just didn’t cut it after sitting at the reunion show and said NOTHING!
I cringed when I found out Kim was a Taurus! OMG!
NeNe is getting a big head. And one thing the that Kim said right was Nene always has a problem with her when she makes other “friends”. NeNe doesn’t want Kim to have any other friends besides her.
WHY BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE THE BOLDNESS OF NENE. ALMOST ALL OF YOU DISLIKE NENE AND SHE IS NO DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER HOUSEWIVES LIKE VICKI ON THE
ORANGE COUNTY.WHAT I FEEL IS THAT
YOU SEE SOMETHING IN HER THAT YOU ARE NOT.
Sheree has got to go. Who does she think she is anyway? The hottest new designer in ATL?? Says who? And what SUCCCESS has she had? She married a singer and ball player and tried to take all their money. If that’s success, I’ll take being poor anyday!
What singer did she marry? I thought it was Lisa who was married to someone in the music industry.
Sheree was married to Keith Sweat. Lisa’s hubby did play football ( he was signed by the Raiders last season but was dropped).
Lisa was married to Keith Sweat, not Sheree. Sheree’s ex was Bob Whitfield. He use to play for the Giants amoung some other teams. I’m not sure what success Sheree is talking about. Her marriage failed, her boutique failed. What success?
come on terri, get ur facts right , it was lisa married to keith sweat, and for u other haters out there, NENE is the best on the show, however i do like kim too. shree can go!!!! and lisa puts on a front, she has been starting a lot of trouble herself. lisa is so so sneaky.
Lisa married Keith Sweat and has two kids with him
thanks for clearing that up. I musta got my wires crossed in Season one. I couldn’t figure out what “children” Lisa had that they were refering to. I only saw a “child”.
On the post show last night, Lisa said that her ex doesn’t want their sons on the show, so Bravo doesn’t show them at all.
You’re absolutely right and he has custody of them!
Sheree has no job,all she did was marry and breed for money. Now that her ex is broke which means she is extra broke,she is extra screwed because her clothing line is awful, her personality sucks and from what we have seen she has NO people skills or job skills
I never do the “blog” thing,but I just have to say something about NeNe…She is basically ghetto with no class. NeNe constantly brags about spending money or about how much something costs, but people with class and money don’t have to brag….They just spend! If you noticed from the episode last night, Lisa never made a comment about spending, but Nene would not shut-up! I’m happy for her that she has money, but I hope that she can buy some class before she buys anything else…
OK, I’m Japanese, Black and Mexican and I found NeNe’s remarks outrageously racist and offensive. In fact, there’s nothing more offensive to a bi- (or, in my case, tri-) racial person that to hear that crap about “you act too [insert race here]” or “you don’t act [insert race here] enough.” We’re just who we are and we love everyone in our family regardless of their color. You’re not just insulting us when you say things like that, you’re insulting our beloved family members. Unfortunately, NeNe could not have been more ignorant on this matter if she tried. I realize that she may have not had much exposure to Asians and was used to thinking of Lisa as Black, but come on! A common sense should have kicked in at some point. That said, I still think NeNe is HILARIOUS (though she has no business calling anyone else “ghetto” . . . hello, look in the mirror, honey) and will continue to watch. I would never give up this guilty pleasure over some insensitive remarks! Can we change the name of the show to “Trashy Bitches with Money” though?! LOL.
Amen, honey. I’m just a plain old white lady, but I was really offended too. Trashy is NeNe’s middle name.
Thanks, but apparently my comment was too truthful and got deleted. I repeat: I’m Japanese, African-American and Mexican and I thought NeNe’s remarks were outrageously racist.
Oops . . . guess my original comment IS still there. *slinks away in shame*
Honey, get over it! What do you want reperations!
please Bella, come on you guys, let’s please get off of NENE being ghetto and trashy, there are a lot of white people out there that say really STUPID comments about black people, so cut it out please people.
I am a Real House Wife Fan! I just want to know why Ne Ne says Kandi is a little bit “Hood”-”Ghetto”? She seems to be a little bit more “hood” than Kandi. If none of the housewives are well off–why are they prentending? Why doesn’t Lisa have custody of her older children?
To me, NeNe can’t handle new people to the group. She wants all the attention. There is nothing ghetto about Kandi so far. NeNe is the loud one with no couth, high heels doesn’t give you class. Lisa lost custody to her sons to their father,Keith Sweat because during their divorce proceeding it was said that she couldn’t watch them correctly while she was presuing actoring. The judge believed it and lost custody.
It wasn’t pursuing acting, it was because of her myriad of business ventures she was too busy with. Can you imagine how much time she must have devoted to those ventures if the judge believed Keith could devote more time to them? He’s been a successful entertainer for well over 25 plus years!!
Great review of this episode. I completely agree about Kandi and Tanya. Sheree seems like a real witch to work with and really- who does she think she is??!
I am also a Taurus and was distraught when I found out the my birthday is the one day between Kandi and Kim’s- yikes!!! What does this say about me?? They both annoy the crap out of me. I hate the way Kandi talks and Kim- where do you even start with that one?
It is easy see the awkardness in Lisa. She doesnt seem 100% comfortable with NENE. She seems to try to be someone else when she arounds NENE. Their relationship is so fake. They’ll probably be at each other throats next season.
I think after this photo shoot Lisa will pull away a little from NeNe. NeNe’s head is getting too big.
Lisa has drawn Nene to her side just like Pres Obama drew Hilary to his side — it is the safest way to handle some powerhouses.
lol!
My quick rundown:
Lisa: I’m a bit biased, because I went to high school with her, but she hasn’t changed personality wise. She was well-liked growing up. I think she’s coming across welll on television… and her husband is hot for real!
Sheree: Really… just go away. I don’t know how she decided she was the hottest designer in Atlanta. Doesn’t Michael from Project Runway still live there? LOL! She’s irrelevant.
Kim: Every show where she says, “class & money can bring you power.” or whatever she says in the opening credits, I bust out laughing. She’s a joke.
Kandi: Looking forward to the day she curses one of these women out (hoping for a Kandi/NeNe blowout!) At least Kandi’s money is from her own hard work.
Finally, NeNe: I used to love her, but she is the definition of MESSY. Just messy! She is about as two-faced as she can possibly be… and she has a whole lotta nerve calling somebody “hood” or “ghetto”… I give her a big ol’ “CHILD PLEASE!”
Also have to say- what the hell was Nene wearing when she went shopping in Beverly Hills? It reminded me of Pretty Women… just trashy! I liked how when they were drinking when she tried to cover up that hideous bodysuit with a blazer. I was wondering if the restaurant made her wear that because she didn’t meet their dresscode.
Also as for Kim- she definitely has a drinking problem. They know her bottle of wine at the restaurant. She orders a bottle just for herself??? How has she not yet gotten a DUI? How about when she was at the hair (oh I meant wig) dresser and was drinking wine but had to leave cos the nanny went to fetch tampons. She said she’d already had quite a few then was drinking at the salon- does she ever not drink?? She is a mess and her face looks awful.