Image Credit: BravoMy God, last night was like watching a sequel to Mean Girls. Mean Middle-Aged Women who still engage in stealth phone wars. This season is one harsh toke of nastiness. I’m with Ramona. At this point perhaps Simon is the only person who can save us from this toxic misery. More red pants and harmless ridiculousness! Kelly did provide a little comic relief when she engaged in some casual non sequitur flirting with a Playboy freelancer. “I just read an amazing Swedish novel called The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” he told her with a jaunty leer. “I don’t have any tattoos,” she quickly responded. Somehow all of this awkward banter ended up in a cutely flustered Kelly getting asked out on a date. But then she remembered that she was up here and he was down here. The ex-wife of Gilles Bensimon deserved someone more major. Yikes, sorry Mike.
I’ve done a fair amount of taking Bethenny to task this season. That’s done. She called Jill to initiate a dialogue over their floundering friendship and all Jill could do was grasp for the speaker button. “Are you alone?” a confused Bethenny wondered. Jill said no, without bothering to reveal that LuAnn was excitedly curled up on the couch next to her making obnoxious faces. (“I said friends,” Jill later unconvincingly told the camera. “She didn’t ask me who, I didn’t lie.”) Bethenny wondered over the disproportionate escalation of their troubles. Jill snipped for a definition of disproportionate. Bethenny, who was trying hard I thought to keep her default aggression in check, asked how their troubles had grown so enormous. Jill meanly expressed her lack of interest. “I thought our relationship was much bigger than this,” Bethenny said with genuine sadness. It was ugly. Jill kept swatting Bethenny down — basically calling the girl an ungrateful orphan who had been given food and shelter by the beneficent Bobby — until the younger woman snapped and started volleying back lobs of her own. Why didn’t Jill respond to her e-mail? Why didn’t Jill let her know the severity of Bobby’s condition? Why was Jill busy running around to press events all summer if Bobby had been that sick? Jill’s face got scary mean and she looked like she was about to eat her phone. She got the last word, announcing that their friendship was over and done and hung up.
Bethenny was left stunned to the point of tears, unmoored on a Manhattan street. The scenes of her misery were juxtaposed with shots of Jill and LuAnn snickering to each other. “She’s a poisonous snake,” sneered LuAnn. “I don’t want to be in the same room as her,” said Jill. “She doesn’t deserve it.” Jill ought to be ashamed of herself. I hope she is, and I hope she delivers a heartfelt, unconditional apology at the reunion show. I’m embarrassed to admit that last season I was so taken by her daffy charm that I became a fan on Facebook of the woman. I took it back this morning. She doesn’t deserve me.
It’s hard to imagine where the season has left to go. Oh God, that’s right. Ramona and Mario are going to TruRenewal their vows. (The woman did have a rare moment of measured emoting last night when she cried to her friend Joni over the death of her abusive father.) I imagine we’ll all be crowding onto the Brooklyn-bound F train for fashion week and more scenes with Alex’s day gay, Duckie-doppelganger Derek.
Next week: Ramona calls Bethenny a loser. What? What?! She’s not being mean, she’s just being factual, she tells it like she sees it, mole mountains!, give her a break, give her a break!
What about you fine folks? Do you like Bethenny again? Can you handle an entire season of bickering? What would Gloria say about all of this? Did you like it when Alex threatened Kelly and Bethenny with a time-out?
More Alex, Simon, and their cute little boys please! They are about all I can stand on this show. And since when is Kelly an A-lister. Delusions of grandeur, party of one, your table is ready!
LOL- I second this post!!
Third this post.
Ditto!! Alex and Simon have become the voices of reason and dignity on this show! When Jill and Bethenny speak, I MUTE and put on the CC..the sound of their voices is headache inducing…and Kelley is as dumb as box of rocks..and Ramona OY! Imagine if you were on a long plane ride with this woman as your seat-mate..AARRGGH! As for The Countless…to say she looks and sounds like a drag queen..is an insult to drag queens.
Everyone was so rude to Alex and Simon last year and now they are all fighting for position to try to win them over as the neutral parties, even Ramona, wierd. Alex and Simon keep your heads up and enjoy it. Love the Duckie comment Karen. I did a double take too.
Ditto.
Those kids were awful last year! Do you not remember them sticking their fingers in other people’s food at restaurants and running wild? And I hate Simon- he is a publicity whore and freaks me out!
AND why didn’t “Miss Manners” LuAnn speak up and tell Bethenny that she was there listening? It was so rude.Jill has hit a no low. She really is some sort of bully, especially the way you berated Kelly about the exact title of the Playboy spread. Jill is mean and she really looks bad this year.
I’m with ya dani…for someone who thinks she’s so up on manners she has the worst. It’s laughable.
JILL ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARIN
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
5 TOWNS WITCH….WOODMERE TRAMP ALWAYS WANTED TO BE HEWLETT HARBOR..A NOTHING THEN AND A REAL NOTHING NOW,,,AND THAT CHIN?????????
FLOOR….WATCH OUT ITS FALLING FAST
NO WONDER BOBBY PLAYS WITH PORN IN THE BASEMENT…CAN U IMAGINE BANGING JILL ZAAAAAAAAARINNNNNNNNN???
SHES LICKING GINGASSSSSSSSS ASS
ITS NOT COUNTLESS
ITS C—TESS
I agree. I love Alex, the beatches say nasty things about her kids, her husband and she keeps pretty cool about it. She has class. Jill is not a friend to anyone. Watch out Countess. I wouldn’t ever call her that if I were her friend. Bethany is okay, I wish her happiness but why is she trying to befriend Jill. Jill is not your friend, dear. Forget about her. Kelly is alright but frankly I don’t believe a thing she says.
Smile!
Even though Jill was horrible, vile and childlike last night, that doesn’t take away from the fact that Bethanny has been equally as horrible, vile and childlike. Adding to mocking her boyfriend’s friend (simultaneously embarrassing and hurting him) was last night’s digs at Brooklyn. They are all crazy and mean and give women a bad name.
birds of a feather
I used to love Jill, but she lost me this season. Yes, Bethenny can be snarky and tough. But Jill was downright mean. And the Countless is a total loser. Now, all Jill and Countless need is a friend whose boobs can tell the weather.
@Jenn – I think Kelly’s boobs can tell when it’s raining.
IMO Jill was intentionally cruel. B is just rough around the edges, it is obvious she has a big yapper but she oes not mean to hurt Jason’s friens and really did not intend to hur Jill. Jill blew that up and B was reacting when both Kelly and LuAnn sucker punch her with words out of nowhere. B did not hunt them down. I think the previous seasons pettiness with B had a lot to do with her association with Jill. Jill now has the countess acting a fool.
Then that huge noise heard this last episode is everyone scrambling back to team Bethenny.
I was really surprised at Jill’s nasty behavior. The whole thing, for the second time this season, by the way with the speakerphone was just mean and I don’t like mean people. Not that Bethenny is a saint but Jill was over the top. Ramona was right about Jill; she only wants friends who are vulnerable; that is why she is suddenly BFF with Count-less. Karen-nice recap but you missed one thing. Jill bullying the dim-witted Kelly via email about being friendly with Bethenny. Way out of line.
seriously. that e-mail was creeepy.
I was more on Jill’s side this season until last night. The e-mail to Jill broke the camel’s back for me.
I mean Jill’s e-mail to Kelly.
Forgot that wow that really showed Jill’s colors didn’t it?
Jill has really shown her true colors with this Bethenny mess. She should’ve taken her call privately, but instead she seemed to take pleasure in the fight. Like, it was getting too good to forgive Bethenny now. Bethenny needs to cut her losses. I read an article in Vanity Fair that Jill did with George Wayne, where she let him call B a horseface while the whole table snickered. If you were ever a good friend, even if you’ve parted ways, you wouldn’t let that type of thing go on. She went on to tell GW that she was only friends with her because she “likes to give everyone a chance.” Like B was some kind of charity case. Jill was so thrilled to be written up in VF that she posted the article on her website. I don’t think there’s any hope that she will ever think she did anything wrong. She is vile.
People say this show is “so high schoool.” No, this is how b itches in MIDDLE SCHOOL would act. They get off on ganging up together and ostracizing someone. “For shame” is right.
That’s exactly what bothered me – the amount of pleasure Jill took in each barb. She was enjoying the fqact that she was inflicting pain and LuAnn seemed to be getting off on it too. Until this episode I had some real sympathy for what LuANn and Jill had both gone through but now I find them both a bit vile. Somebody needs to explain that no matter how good your designer clothes or handbag, that amount of spite makes a person look downright ugly.
Believe me when I say nothing against any of the fans who posted but have you all been duped? How can you say Jill was meaner than Bethenney (who btw has become especially obnoxious and entitled, and is a vindictive snarky insecure biter – and I mean biter not bitter) for putting Bethenny on speakerphone?? Did NO ONE notice that Bethenny GOT OUT of HER chauffered car for no other reason than to make the phone call – so camera’s could capture it??!!! Obviously this was not meant to be a private conversation from either side – OR IT WOULD’VE TAKEN PLACE OFF CAMERA! (Pls excuse caps, not shouting, just using for emphasis/irony.). Neither the attempt – or the tears – were completely sincere. They’re both wrong, and while I’m definitely disappointed with Jill’s behavior, and no excuses for how poorly she handled Bethanny’s snub, but, if your best friend’s husband gets cancer, you pick up a phone. You don’t send flowers or email.
cmf- I totally agree with you and am shocked that no one remembers the previous seasons that were full of B’s comments and this season she seems full of rage. I believe Jill put her on speaker phone to have a witness, we all have seen how cruel B. can be. Why Bethenny is a fan favorite has always been beyond me, but I guess I am not into vicious name calling and hurting others .
Read where Jill signed a contract with Kodak recently. Wonder what the powers that signed this mean witch think of all her “Kodak” moments on this past show?
While I have always found Bethenny abrasive, I have to side with her on this one. Whatever exactly happened is unknown, but the way Jill has been playing it up and reacting to it is so far over the top mean. Bethenny responded to Bobby’s illness and checked in. Was it how Jill wanted or expected it? No, but how is Bethenny to know unless Jill communicates it with her. If she was offended, a sane person, when asked how Bobby is, would write back “he’s not doing well; come see him.” And to put her on speakerphone with Countless (Mario was right) snarking next to her… uncalled for. Luann, if you ever get huffy about being called a liar, you are on tape lying about being at Jill’s (shaking her head when Bethenny asked if anyone was there). Alex is now the only sane and sympathetic one.
Not to defend Jill but I think when they’re filming, bravo pretty much requires one end of the call to be on speakerphone so the audience can hear.
But in this case they were filming Bethany too, so they didn’t need it to be on speakerphone? Maybe the crew that was filming Jill didn’t know that Bethany was being filmed. Who knows.
That makes no sense whatsoever…1. you both act as if Bravo only has ONE camera crew that has to scramble from housewife to housewife…2. technology has progressed far enough for calls to be broadcast without resorting to speakerphone…3. Even if Bravo DID have some crazy speakerphone policy, why then would Jill, Luann AND Bethenny all be freaking out about it
I think Jill is sensationalizing her husband’s illness for the convenience of an EXCUSE to guilt Bethany out and call herself a victim gathering the sympathy of all who want to rearrange their status in the group, i.e. LuAnn and Ramona (Alex is the only REAL person other than Bethany here) as well she is a QUEEN manipulator and I suggest her husband probably was not “cut open from ear to ear” as she suggests, what a hag Jill is not letting her friend shine and succeed. I also suggest that Jill does like only the underdog hense LuAnn (the man?) slipping in as the new BFF on the shredded tails of Bethany (LuAnn is a pathetic “yes” man). What horrible people they are.
Had a friend with thyroid cancer this summer. You might be surprised how large the incision has to be. It is an extremely delicate, dangerous surgery because of the location of the thyroid and the potential for suffocation/death permanent injury. The pain they suffer is intense. Very scary. Although I thought Jill came across as hard, she obviously was quite hurt. Bethenny seemed as though she regretted the fight, but not cutting Jill off and sending flowers and not lending her presence in a time of crisis.
I don’t know why I keep watching the show. These women make me realize that money does not make you smart or kind or worth paying any attention to. I quit. As much as the rest of the snarky, “we’re so much better than she is” women make fun of Alex, she’s the most mature (at least as we can see on the show). The rest of them are embarrassingly ridiculous. I work with high school students who are better at resolving real conflicts than these people. LuAnn is the model of proper, ladylike behavior? No. When you are “afraid to be in the same room” with another person because they confronted you,or pretend you’re not there on speakerphone, you’re acting like you’re still in middle school. Would LuAnn approve if her own daughter did the same thing? Kelly’s stupidity is hard to watch sometimes. Her interview with Mike the journalist was laughable, and I think he felt badgered into asking her out. Then she completely dismisses him later because he’s not good enough for her? Based on what? Bethenny, who seems to be the most rational, despite her abrasiveness, disappointed me too. why does she bring up her conflict with Jill at every opportunity? She needs to get a hobby of her own. She should deal with the issue with Jill and no one else. I’m embarrassed to say I watch this show. I quit.
Totally in agreement with you. I was initially on Jill’s side with all this, but after the past few episodes that is over. Jill and LuAnn are absolutely awful. Jill’s interviews with the camera are only verifying everything Bethenny said about her in the beginning episodes…the Teen Vogue shoot and the “all about me” comments Jill made, lying to the camera on multiple occasions when, HELLO, we saw FOOTAGE from last week that disagrees with you?? The e-mail to Kelly was a low, low level of immaturity. And after refusing to talk in person, Jill settles for wishing Bethenny well on her Bravo blog? Jill, WE are done.
haha well put.
Jill – I’m done with you too.
Jill is shameless. No matter what the real backstory is concerning their fall out relationship, for her to put this call on speakerphone was totally indefensible. All these ladies wish to have some sort of “career” beyond “Housewives”, but I would never be bothered with Jill again as she has shown what a real “snake” looks like.
I have watched the “real Jill” come out over the last 3 seasons and to be honest, she was never “nice”. She has managed to diss each and every one of those other ladies and the speakerphone was not a new trick. She did the same to Ramona on Labor Day, allowing LuAnn to overhear the diatribe delivered by that one.
They may all have issues, but Jill is by far the worst. Pitting one against the other is surely not a “hobby”. Keeping and playing phone messages is sick. This lady needs help.
Not to defend Jill but I think when they’re filming, bravo pretty much requires one end of the call to be on speakerphone so the audience can hear.
But they’re filming both sides when it’s another housewife.
Exactly, the phone call was staged. Who gets out of a chauffered car to make a 3 month late call on the side of a random street? Bethenny was surely told that Jill was being filmed. That’s also probably why she inquired about the speakerphone, b/c they are always on speakerphone.
Besides, Jill could have gone into another room and left it on speakerphone. She did not have to sit there with Countless.
I used to like this show. I have now removed it from my DVR record list. Same for OC. The only ones I seem to like now are the Jersey girls. They are just funny.
I am siding with Bethany, she was trying to make amends. Jill and the countess should be ashamed of themselves.
This reminds me of high school and frankly, I use to look forward to watching and now I do not bother. Too much bickering
I wanted to watch this version to see how NY women live day to day in high society. I didn’t think I would get the grade school BS. Some countess, they should all be ashamed to have that on TV.
PS, I’m done.
I don’t get it. Jill told Bethenny that she had “friends” listening to the call, the call was obviously scheduled to appear on the show as cameras were rolling. Who did Bethenny think the “friends” were? Clearly someone connected with the show DUH! It looks like a set up to make Jill look bad and Jill walked into the trap set by Bethenny and the producers. In other words Jill is the mean girl in Season 3. You people have to retake Reality Show 101. Jill is no better or worse than she has ever been, and neither are the rest of the fishwives on this show. The thread for this season is that Jill is a beyotch. Stay tuned.
um…. not really. Jill said “Friends” and listed her assistant and purposely didn’t say Luann.
There was even an interview section with Jill later where she was defending her actions by saying ‘I said Friends, I didn’t lie.’ This wasn’t a trap. Jill is just being a nasty mean girl.
Normally I wouldn’t argue with someone on a comment section, but I hate to see gullibilty (is that a word?). Obviously the producers asked Jill if she had lied during the talking heads interview, and she answered the question. She probably knows NOW that she has been had, but she didn’t realize how all this would come off when the call was spliced together showing Bethenny’s crocodile tears and her nasty behavior with Luann during and after the call. They both knew the call was scheduled and was being filmed. The only question in Jill’s mind should have been to what end. She wasn’t smart enough to get there by herself on the spur of the moment. Hence Jill is the beyotch. The WSJ blog author should be pointing these things out.
I wish we all were as smart as you Amy.
They had a poll on Watch What Happens about who audiences thought was the real mean girl between Bethenny, Jill and Luann. Assuming you can even combine Luann and Jill together, 89 percent aren’t a fan of Jill anymore. How it’s changed.
89% of me feels icky that I even watched this show. I haven’t seen this episode & won’t because I think I’d feel less icky watching an accident. I have no intention of “watching an accident” & won’t watch Bravo now except for Top Chef, so 89% of me is no longer a fan of Bravo. The peacock network’s feathers should be down low in “shame” for presenting this garbage.
Sorry Andy Cohen, you seem like a nice enough guy, but weren;t these shows your idea? Really not that much better than being in the adult industry, not that most of your casts qualify as chronologicaly & emotionally adult. Yes, you wouldn’t put it out there if people don’t watch, but hopefully enough people stop watching & force you into producing something that’s actually creative or at least original.
If I hear Jill say the words “get a hobby” one more time, I’m going to go to New York, find her, and smack her in the head.
Funny! I agree!
JILL ZAAAAAAAAAAAAARIN IS A 5 TOWNS WITCH..AND HER CHIN IS FALLING B ADLY..A MEAN NASTY C—T…LIKE HER MOTHER
Wow.
I agree. I was watching that mom during the photo shoot. Now I know where nasty Jill gets her bitchyness. I think it’s becuase they are so woefully unattractive. And Jill acting like she’s some sort of model during the photoshoot was hilarious! Poor thing doesn’t realize how funny looking she is. Big nose. Wonk eye. Weird body. And that voice. Uuggghh! Nasty trolls.
CAN U IMAGINE HER BEFORE THE FACE NOSE TITS AND LIPO???
A PIGGIER PIG
What this TV shows us is how base and classless our culture is. These fools think they are famous, fashionable and envied. They are jokes, broke and broken. What kind of idiot gets on TV to show her misery so the world can be entertained. Real classy women wouldn’t even watch this hot mess, much less do it. I don’t blame the Count or Gilles for finding better women. Mario is on the down low. Bobby is a puppet. I heard LuAnn slept with half of New York.
I don’t blame the count or gilles for finding “better” women. But the count should have gotten a divorce FIRST. He’s a low life too.
NO WAY!!!
MORE LIKE 3/4