<title> Lisa Steinberg</title>

May 25, 2013

RECAP: “The Real Housewives of New York City” Travel Reservations

We open the episode with Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan meeting up for lunch and talk about how there has been so much tension lately in their group that they all could use a vacation. The two toss around a few ideas and LuAnn suggests the exotic location of Morocco! LuAnn has been many times with her ex-husband and she can take care of where they will stay and all of the details. LuAnn says that Morocco is sophisticated and magical and she knows they will all have an unforgettable time. LuAnn will talk to Cindy, Jill and Kelly and Sonja will chat up Alex and Ramona.

Next we see LuAnn on the phone with Jill telling her about the trip and Jill is excited because she says visiting Morocco is on her bucket list. When LuAnn talks to Ramona she finds her to be a bit concerned but Ramona says that they will all make it work. Ramona says her big concerns are about how Morocco is a third world country and they don’t respect women. When LuAnn talks to Kelly about the trip Kelly is very hesitant and says that she will think about it because after last seasons trip, she isn’t exactly keen on getting into close quarters with Ramona.

Switch to Ramona and LuAnn now meeting up for some lunch and the two get to talking about Ramona’s party from last episode. LuAnn says that the party was cheapened when Ramona fought with Jill Zarin in public like that and that Ramona was not being a good hostess doing that. LuAnn continues by saying that Ramona says a lot of hurtful things to others and Ramona says at least she says those things to people’s faces. LuAnn goes on the defense and says that she doesn’t talk about anyone behind their backs and Ramona says that she wasn’t referring to LuAnn. Ramona calls LuAnn pious and says that she is taking sides. LuAnn tells Ramona she can talk and say things about people, but not at the cost of their feelings. LuAnn wants to know how Ramona can sleep at night because she thinks Ramona is trying to turn things around on them. Ramona says that her feelings are hurt and that she knows sometimes she puts her foot in her mouth. Ramona says that she wanted to puke over the way LuAnn was acting. LuAnn says that she sees what happened to Jill and Betheney and she doesn’t want that to happen to Ramona and Jill. Ramona relents and finally agrees to talk to Jill.

Flash to Sonja having a photoshoot for her new book about toaster ovens, only we find Sonja in gowns all vamped up and looking alluring. Enter Kelly Bensimon who says that Sonja asked her to come over during the shoot to help advise her since Kelly is a former model. Kelly admits that she is disgusted by what Sonja is doing during the photoshoot and says that there isn’t even a toaster over there! While doing her photoshoot Sonja climbs on to a table and Kelly is disgusted because she says Sonja flashed her vagina. Kelly wants to try and be subtle with her criticism with Sonja but at the same time a woman in a gown on a table isn’t going to sell toaster ovens.

The camera switches to Cindy Barshop who has invited LuAnn, Jill, and Kelly to Canyon Ranch for a getaway. Kelly relays what happened a Sonja’s photoshoot and Jill says that Ramona texted her but hasn’t actually called her like LuAnn said Ramona would. Kelly says that she is a single mom and she has fought a lot in her life and she works hard. Kelly admits that she has been in an abusive relationship before and she was in one with her last boyfriend Ivan. Kelly hugs LuAnn and LuAnn says that she felt close to Kelly at that moment and that Kelly needs a man who will adore her and protect and take care of her.

Ramona brings Sonja and Alex with her to her plastic surgeon and they all get different procedures done. Alex gets her skin looked at while Sonja has some work done with the extra skin on her stomach from after she had liposuction. Alex admits that she needs to take better care of her skin because now that she is a model she really needs to step things up. She said she normally does nothing for her skin and a lot of times she slept in her makeup.

Back at the lodge Kelly says she never talked before to anyone about her abusive past and that after talking to LuAnn she felt lifted. Kelly says she is fragile and she can’t go on a trip that Ramona will be on because of what happened last time and going to Morocco she will have no escape. LuAnn imparts some sage wisdom that she shouldn’t let Ramona spoil their trip or keep her from having fun.

Switching over to Jill we find her hosting a charity event that will benefit that deals with the recent bullying and suicide incidents that have been occurring. Jill says that LuAnn has donated a bunch of her CDs while she herself has a bunch of her own books to provide for the event. Jill says she invited Ramona because it is an event for charity and she did not want to be rude. Alex says that Jill and Ramona assume the worst about each other and that Jill claims she’s changed her ways, but a lot of times she still acts like the same old Jill. Ramona shows up and she says she’s brought some of her pinot wine with her for the event. She searches all over for an employee there who will open up a bottle and let her have a drink. Ramona wants to clear the air with Jill after what happened at the party last episode and they talk quickly and Ramona says they will go further into things when they are on the trip together.

LuAnn comments that there are so many charities now a days that it’s good that they can give money and not blood! She tells Jill that it’s so nice that she shares her designer contacts with her friends unlike Ramona who told her she couldn’t use the same designer as her. Ramona takes offense and says that she didn’t want to show up in the same outfit and that she knows LuAnn usually uses one specific designer. LuAnn says that it is bitchy that Ramona wouldn’t share and how they all just got back from the spa trip to Canyon Ranch without her and she was doing fine. She takes things further and says that everyone is hesitant about having Ramona on their big Morocco trip and how Ramona never called Jill like she said she would. Ramona thinks LuAnn is picking a fight and LuAnn counters that it is her responsibility before buying any plane tickets to make sure that everything is all good. Alex calls LuAnn a thug in a cocktail dress because she is instigating with Ramona and Ramona says that she is insulted by LuAnn and how LuAnn was rubbing it in her face how they went to Canyon Ranch without her. Ramona tells LuAnn that she should not get involved in things between her and Jill.

They all sit down and watch a fashion show and Jill comments to LuAnn how she heard Ramona was invited to bring some of her wine to use in a silent auction and how Ramona is drinking the wine she brought. She is concerned about Ramona who is drinking very early in the day. Kelly shows up after the fashion show and says she has decided to actually go on the trip to Morocco. She doesn’t want to let Ramona spoil a fun time that she really wants to be a part of.

Oy, next weeks episode is going to be filled with lots of exotic Moroccan locations and food; and even more drama than ever! Want to visit Morocco? Just grab some snacks and park yourself on your couch for a lavish vacation with the Real Housewives of New York form the comfort of your own home that won’t cost you a dime.

Recap: Real Housewives of New York City “Following Pecking Orders”

She’s back!  Yes, Jill Zarin has returned from her trip with her hubby Bobby from their trip to Australia.  She joins LuAnn de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan, and Kelly Bensimon for a little bit of lunch and dish.  Jill says that on her trip she had a lot of time to think about her priorities and how she wants to stay away from gossip and drama. 

What’s funny is, I had a talk with gossip and drama, they can’t stay away from Jill and have no intention of doing so!  LuAnn takes time to catch up with Jill and give her the scoop on what went down at Cindy Barshop’s party in Quoge.  They talk about how Ramona Singer decided to accost Cindy’s brother Howie at Cindy’s party about what went down at the wedding.  Speaking of recounting, Kelly takes time to mention how she got a threatening text at 1:30 AM from Ramona which said “Don’t expect me to support you, if you can’t support me.”  Sonja thinks Kelly’s use of the word threatening is funny and that Kelly needs to check out a dictionary or thesaurus and update her vocabulary. 

Hmm…something we can actually agree on from out of Sonja’s mouth, amazing, right?  Kelly says that the next day she’s actually having lunch with Ramona and she’s nervous about it.  Sonja tells Kelly that she should practice with her to go over what might happen with Ramona as Kelly hates confrontation.  Sonja does a pretty good job imitating Ramona and gives some great responses.

Things switch over to Alex McCord’s house where she surprises her sons with a guy in their living room playing the piano.  It’s her son Francois’ birthday and they have been searching for a piano that goes with their decor as Francois has been taking piano lessons and Alex says he’s fallen in love with.  Francois looks bewildered as to why some strange man is in their house playing a piano, and seems quite shell-shocked.

Next we find Sonja has organized Kelly and Ramona’s lunch meeting and even joins the two as a buffer.  Ramona says she has little patience for Kelly and she is glad for their lunch meeting so that she knows how to handle her in the future.  Kelly says she wants to lay it all down and Ramona apologize for her behavior with the text message she sent Kelly.  Ramona says that it was childish and immature and she apologize profusely.  Kelly says she is willing to forgive, but she’s not that willing to forget.  Kelly talks about how before their trip last season Ramona had said she had her back and she would protect her and she feels like Ramona didn’t do that.  Ramona thinks that she did protect her and that she realizes it’s about understanding the other person and where they are coming from.  Ramona admits she was nervous coming to their meeting together and they all drink to evolving relationships.

Flash to Cindy meeting up with Sonja for some tea and Sonja explains to Cindy about what happened with Kelly when Cindy decided to intervene.  She said that it was her intent to protect Kelly and act as a buffer with inviting Ramona to her house but Cindy explains why she divulged to Kelly about Sonja’s plan to get the two together.  Sonja says that Cindy could have just mentioned Kelly’s kids, and not that Ramona would be there, and Cindy tries to say that she never mentioned Ramona’s name to Kelly. 

Of course we get the flashback to last weeks episode wherein Cindy does mention Ramona being at Sonja’s and how Sonja was trying to spring Ramona on Kelly.  Sonja said she had a plan and it would have been successful, and in fact she organized the lunch meeting from the day before, and it was successful.  Sonja says that she can’t tell Cindy anything in confidence now.  She tells Cindy further how no one wanted to go to Quoge for Cindy’s party an d that it was only out of respect for Ramona who said they should go did they attend their party.  Sonja talks about how Ramona was upset because there was no pinot and that Ramona said Cindy texted her to say there definitely would be some.  Sonja flat out says to Cindy that there is a pecking order and that Cindy should know her alliances.  Sonja states that Ramona is a star and that Cindy needs to remember that.

Switch to Ramona having a jewelry event where she is trying to find women to sell her jewelry from their homes, you know, she’s going to be the Mary Kay of jewelry.  LuAnn shows up saying she came to support Ramona and that she’s happy Ramona is moving away from just making crosses and is making bigger items.  LuAnn asks Ramona about where Ramona’s wine is from and Ramona tells her it is made in a town in Venice.  Of course Ramona lacks couth and pronounces the name of the town incorrectly, and LuAnn swoops in with her etiquette and class lessons in order to teach Ramona the name of the city.  LuAnn says the way Ramona says the name of the town is as if she’s talking about some small city in New York.  LuAnn further talks to Ramona about why Ramona chose the opportunity at Cindy’s birthday party to try and talk to Cindy’s brother Howie.  Ramona says it was LuAnn’s idea that she do it, but LuAnn says she meant to do it, but not at Cindy’s party !  LuAnn steps in with her etiquette again and says she thinks that Ramona needs a refresher when it comes to manners.

Heading to Kelly and Cindy in Central Park walking and Cindy relays to Kelly about her conversation with Sonja and her hierarchy of friendship.  Kelly thinks that a hierarchy of friends is odd as her friends are all her friends.  They happen to encounter Jill walking with her dog Ginger and they both tell Jill about the pecking order Sonja has made with Ramona being the queen bee.  Jill says that Sonja is not a mean girl, but she’s been hanging out too much with Ramona and they are picking up each other’s bad habits.

We then see Sonja meeting up with LuAnn and Kelly at Sonja’s house where Sonja is making lunch for the ladies in her toaster oven.  LuAnn remarks about how Sonja claimed she had this great toaster oven, but it looks like this stone age rickety piece of crap.  Sonja claims she has cooked for the Churchills out of Saint Tropez with her toaster oven.  Sonja comments how when the Countess is there, you have to be on your toes because she likes to have things done a certain way.

Next we see Jill heading over to Alex’s house and bringing Alex’s boys a treat.  Jill is there for lunch and she says she would like to make up with Alex and move on because it’s too stressful.  Alex says she’s skeptical of Jill’s motivation and Jill comments that Alex is like wine, she gets better and better with age.  The two have lunch and Jill says she would like to let everything go and find her own responsibility and be friends again with Alex and go back to the fun they used to have together.  Alex doesn’t trust Jill and feels like Jill at times would do things to hurt Alex and make comments that would go below the belt.

Flash to Cindy who is meeting up with Ramona for lunch and Cindy remarks how Ramona did call her after Cindy’s party and apologized for her behavior.  Cindy says she wants to be more open with Ramona and Ramona says that friendship is about learning and growing with people.  Ramona doesn’t know where Cindy is coming from, because it seems like Cindy wants to fight.

Back over to Jill and Alex with Jill saying that she wishes her friends would have taken the time with her and Bethenny Frankel to say the two weren’t leaving the room unless they had made up.  Alex said she’s seen Jill lash out of her like Jill used to do with Bethenny like making digs at Simon or Alex’s kids.

Hitting back to Cindy she tells Ramona the she is upset how she harped on having no Pinot at her party, that it was the first thing out of Ramona’s mouth.  Ramona says that she thinks that Cindy is taking things way too personally and that she’s been married for eighteen years and that she wants to do adult things and not child things, like Cindy’s party.  Cindy feels like she is talking to someone who doesn’t want to even try and at that point communication with these two stop and Ramona decides to leave.

Oy, I am thinking these ladies all need to take a page out of LuAnn’s book.  No, not her guide, I mean the dictionary!  They all need to take the time to actually look up what the word friendship means, they use it so much in their vocabulary, but they never truly get the meaning.

Tune in to an all new episode of the Real Housewives of New York City, Thursday nights on Bravo.

Recap: The Real Housewives of New York City “March Madness”

Tonights episode opens up as Sonja Morgan, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Kelly Bensimon, and Alex McCord are getting ready together for the Marriage Equality of New York March.  Sonja says that she was asked to be the Grand Marshall and give a speech.  She says that Marriage Equality called her and said she was a gay icon and they really wanted her to be a part of the event.  I’m thinking Sonja really needs to get an ego check, because when I think gay icon, her name isn’t among the many that come to mind right away. 

Alex explains the reason that they are all walking across the [Read more...]

Recap: Real Housewives of New York City Premiere

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