February 6, 2012 | 11:47 pm

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion Part 2

Posted by Ilana Angel

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I watched the reunion this week like a fan.  I sat on the couch with my cat, had a glass of wine, and enjoyed the show.  I thought it was interesting and entertaining.  That said, I also found it to be a great big serving of steaming hot crap.  If I didn’t pick sides before I watched, I certainly have now.

Brandi has joined in with the ladies this week and Andy jumps right in.  Brandy is a hoot and if it were not for her many of us would not be watching this crap fest. Brandi is the young, beautiful, single one so there is clearly a lot of jealousy from those without strong marriages.

Adrienne and Kyle are focused on being mean to her, which makes me think maybe there is not a lot of hanky panky going on in their marriages. Lisa and Ken are perfection so she could care less.  Taylor swallows men whole so who cares about her, and Camille is in love so she’s cool..

Kyle is just mean and Adrienne’s face is pulled so tight I don’t take anything she says seriously.  I’m not sure why we need to talk about Brandi’s bikini for so long.  She has a rocking body, move on.  Jealousy makes women mean. Instead of hating on Brandi, Kyle should worry about herself.

Andy asks Kyle why she was so mean to Brandi when she came on and Kyle says she was defensive and had her guard up towards the new girl.  Not buying it.  Klye was mean to Brandi because she is mean.  She is bitchy and catty and not a nice girl.  Any other explanation is lame.

Kyle tells us she knows she was mean and ridiculous but I’m not buying that either.  Kyle is doing damage control but it’s too late.  Brandi saying she was going to kill Kyle was about as serious as Russell telling Camille he was going to sue her.  Funny what these chicks choose to hang on to.

Brandi is sorry things got out of hand, but she‘s not sorry she said Kim was using something because clearly she was.  Kyle is annoyed Brandi said meth when it was not Kim’s issue, but lets get real, Kim was doing more than drinking.  Kim is, in my opinion, an alcoholic and drug user.

Brandi calls Kim and Kyle out for being bullies, but is gracious in forgiving them, but then Taylor jumps in.  Important for Taylor to understand that we do not care to hear anything she says.  Taylor is sticking up for Kyle while Kyle sits there saying nothing, which implies she was lying.

Kyle is annoyed people are blaming her for Kim hiding Brandi’s crutches, but it was as much Kyle as Kim.  Kyle knew where the crutches were and never said anything.  She could have helped Brandi and told Kim she didn’t because Kim was wasted and wouldn’t remember.

We are twelve minutes in and I’m not into blogging about it anymore.  Kyle is horrible, Adrienne is ridiculous, and Taylor is a pathological liar.  Another 45 minutes might be too much for me.  A reader told me today I was too negative.  Hard to not be when watching this garbage!

We learn Brandi uses cuss words more than anyone else, and Camille and Adrienne the least.  It’s a stupid segment and the only thing that came out of it was I noticed how fake Kyle’s laugh is.  She sounds like a chicken.  We also see the tension between Adrienne and Lisa.

Adrienne is not missing any opportunity to be mean to Lisa and Lisa seems a little worn out by it.  Andy’s questions are stupid this week and not nearly as good as past reunions.  Kyle thinks Brandi is slutty, but I think doing the splits on a table at a party is whorish so who cares?

Brandi is being Brandi and the others are all grimacing at her crassness, but we know they are just as crass.  The Pollyanna routine is not working.  Kyle can get in the gutter with Brandi and we all know it.  I like the gutter and think Kyle is silly for not owning the gutter.

Kyle is telling us the difference between slutty and sexy.  Really?  Is there a chapter about that in her book?  How did this woman even get a book deal? I have watched Kyle hang onto the coattails of her sister and nieces for years and she should have written a book about that instead.

Taylor let’s us know that no British people live in Oklahoma, which is why she did not understand Lisa’s humor.  Lisa is talking about wanting to help Taylor, and the other ladies think it’s weird that Lisa and Taylor became friendly so quickly.  These chicks are really immature.

Are we like this with our friends?  I don’t think so. Taylor is talking about how mean Lisa’s dog is on Twitter.  Is she serious?  Taylor is mad because of a dog’s Twitter?  Brandi comments on it and Taylor lashes out that she is not talking to her.  Taylor is a loose cannon.

Important to note that if Andy Cohen does not make Brandi a full time housewife he has lost his mind.  Well he lost his mind when he put this pathetic season on the air so it won’t be lloosing his mind as much as proving he is a complete moron who is out of touch with the audience.

We’re at minute 24 and I have put down the wine and poured a cocktail. Adrienne’s face is not moving, she’s talking, but it’s not moving.  Adrienne is mad Brandi told Lisa she spoke about her behind her back.  She does not deny it, but is annoyed Brandi told her.  Adrienne is cranky.

Camille calls Taylor a liar, while Kyle wants us to believe she does not want drama in her life.  Really?  Brandi is calling Adrienne out on her crap, then Lisa calls Adrienne out too, and Adrienne just sits there licking her lips and looking like a fool.  Adrienne brings nothing to this show.

Camille calls Taylor out on her lies, and Kyle hides behind her problems with Kim as a way to deflect everything off of her.  Brandi tells us she spoke with Russell and Taylor says she is a liar.  I am with Brandi on this.  I feel, in my heart, that Taylor is lying about Russell.  It’s tragic.

Brandi says what all of the world is thinking, and I have written about for months.  Why is she writing a book trashing Russell when his body is not cold?  Taylor could have waited to write her book. She could have talked about her childhood and marriage without mentioning Russell.

What she has done is chronicle the story of a monster for her child.  Taylor is an opportunist and I believe part of the reason Russell took his own life was because of her lying.  She is screaming that Russell was a master manipulator so clearly she learned a few things from him.

Taylor calls out Brandi for “slashing” her ex-husband’s tires, Brandi admits it and Taylor seems to think it paints Brandi in a bad light.  What it does is show she is human and was a woman with a broken heart.  She slashed tires. Taylor wrote a book of lies.  Everyone is different.

Sidebar:  Bravo keeps showing commercials for Bethenny Frankel’s show and how they were lost at sea with a broken GPS.  IT”S ALL A LIE.  I spoke with the captain of her “rescue boat” and the United States Coast Guard, and the GPS was not broken.  It was all made up for her show.

Brandi is disgusted with Taylor’s book, Kyle says Brandi needs to have compassion for Taylor because her husband died, and Brandi is clearly trying to control herself from getting up off the couch like our beloved Teresa, and smacking the crap out of Kyle.  I dig Brandi.

Kyle can try to back peddle from her behavior all season but it’s too late. She is horrible.  We have seen her true self and we don’t like it.  We’re not dumb Kyle.  Kyle is a fame whore. A lot of reality fans read my blog and many did not read her book because of this season.

Kyle wants us to think she thought the show would be good for Kim.  Seriously?  How is the pressure of a reality show a good idea for an addict?  Kyle is selfish, has no connection to her sister, and is incapable of having meaningful relationships with women.

Important to note that my opinions of this show are based on this show.  I do not know these women and this blog is show specific.  I am writing about the characters I am shown by Bravo.  That said, the reunion is the real them, and my opinions are not changing.  Just saying.

Kyle then tells us that as viewers, we are not allowed to have opinions because we don’t see everything. Really?  Kyle is a bitch and she is now calling us out.  She has a job because we watch and she is going to throw us under the bus?  Not only is she mean, but she is ungrateful.

There is now a long segment on Camille and because I’m losing my patience with this show I will simply say I love her, am happy for her and her new boyfriend, and think Kelsey Grammer is a cheating pig.  Just because Camille changed how we view her does not mean Kyle can.

Andy is going on and on about Camille making a calculated move to make her herself look better this season and I think calculated is the wrong word. She made a conscious effort to behave in a positive and fun way.  It was not calculated, which implies fake.  It was conscious.

Andy asked Taylor if her lips have gotten smaller and she says no.  My theory is that she lies so much her nose is growing, which makes her lips look smaller.  Just a thought.  Then Andy brings up Taylor’s book and she tells us she wrote it to help women with low self-esteem.

She tells us Russell abused her every 6 weeks for the last 5 years. She sounds like she is quoting a self help book.  She has been lying for so long she is believing her own lies.  I am not saying there was not bad stuff happening in her home, but I don’t buy all the stories.

Kyle and Adrienne talking about the book and Taylor makes me sick.  Taylor is going out of her way to slander this man and seems to forget that he has children, one of which is her child.  She has painted a horrible picture for this little girl and it’s so sad to me.  What is she thinking?

She says Russell was perhaps killed rather than killing himself, and smiles coyly at Andy.  This woman is not well and is putting her selfish needs in front of the well being of her child.  Next week looks like another sack of crap as we watch Kyle make Kim’s issues all about her.

This season has been hard and I am thrilled there is only one week left. Andy Cohen and Bravo need to really think about this show and how to bring them all back.  I will say now, with complete conviction and truth, that if Brandi is not there to give us some fun I’m out.  Just keeping it real.

February 2, 2012 | 9:29 pm

Real Housewives of Atlanta – Sorry Africa

Posted by Ilana Angel

Let me begin with a formal apology to the people of South Africa.  I am very sorry we sent these women to your beautiful country.  They are not the best examples of what ladies of the south are like.  Please forgive us and do not ban Americans from visiting.  Thank you.

After a sixteen hour flight the women arrive in Cape Town. Phaedra is concerned for the ladies who do not have as much cosmopolitan travel experience, while Marlo is over packed with both luggage and testosterone. NeNe has enough luggage for 2 months and they will be there for 8 days.

Speaking of NeNe, I just want to say she rocks on Glee.  She is killer as the swim coach and I cannot wait to see her back on next week. NeNe is fantastic. I predict she will be the only one to transcend the housewives and become a real star.

On the bus ride to the hotel Marlo will not stop talking.  She has a lot of opinions and demands for a woman who was not even invited on the trip.  She is quizzing the women on etiquette, which is just weird.  Sheree is hilarious and wonders if Emily Post has written about aggravated assault.

They arrive at their accommodations and it’s really beautiful.  I need to go to Africa.  As long as I’m not from Atlanta, they should let me in.  They are trying to figure out where everyone will sleep and Sheree says she will bunk with NeNe, which was hilarious and broke the ice a little bit.

Marlo is looking to take the best room and Cynthia is not having it.  Marlo then talks to the concierge and says she wants keys and to know who the housekeepers are.  She also wants to know if they leave early.  Translation: she thinks they are going to steal her stuff.  Whatever.

The girls have met up for breakfast.  Kandi is being snarky, Marlo is giving etiquette tips, and Cynthia is knocking Phaedra’s robe. She thinks it’s funny Phaedra travels with kings but wears a cheap robe. Really?  You could not pay for your wedding and you’re calling out the robe?

Phaedra gives all the ladies an engraved gift as a memento, and Marlo is annoyed she did not get one.  Hello?  You weren’t invited Sweetie.  Speaking of invited, Sheree’s friend is having a dinner party and she does not invite Nene, Cynthia or Marlo, just Phaedra and Kandi.

Did anyone notice that Marlo had her robe on inside out and wore 5 inch heels to breakfast?  NeNe is annoyed the talls were snubbed for the dinner party and let’s be clear, it was really crappy of Sheree.  Nene wouldn’t have gone so extend the invitation.  Sheree looks like/is a bitch.

For reasons I don’t quite get, our trip to Africa is interrupted by Kim, and her parents coming over for dinner.  I’m skipping over it because we will see the same thing on Kim’s new show.  I’m over Kim and her boobs and her complaining, so I’m sticking to Africa this week.  Bye Kim.

The ladies are going a cruise on a fabulous yacht and Sheree tells us it’s a yacht ride.  She’s fancy.  Cynthia brings up she was not invited to the party and you have to wonder exactly how dumb Cynthia is.  She’s like a little kid in the middle of grown women.  Not too bright that one.

The girls are on a sunset cruise and they all go down below and miss the sunset.  Such a waste.  Cynthia is surprised by the changes in South Africa since she was there 25 years ago. Is she for real?  Does she read the newspapers?  Can she read?  Does she own a television?

The bickering begins.  Marlo and Kandi have a little moment while NeNe is asking Phaedra why she has a problem with her, which Phaedra denies. Marlo brings up the tension between NeNe and Sheree, but in the end she needs to mind her own business because they are not ready.

Kandi, Phaedra and Sheree are getting ready to go to the party, while Cynthia, Marlo and NeNe are being left at home.  It’s the smalls against the talls. Cynthia comes in and she is clearly a tall!  She tells the girls to join them after their party.  Sheree tells Cynthia she is the only tall invited.

Cynthia runs to NeNe and tells her and Marlo that she was invited to Sheree’s party, but Marlo and NeNe are still not.  NeNe could care less, but now Marlo is aggravated she was not invited so she stomps over to confront Sheree who tells her she can come if she wants to.

Then it gets funny!  Sheree reminds Marlo that they did not know she was coming.  Marlo is confused, Sheree is being calm, and then Marlo let’s Sheree know she is single because she hangs out with *insert gay slur here.  Marlo is losing her mind and Sheree is the best fighter ever.

I love when Sheree fights.  She does not get scared, does not back down, and does not yell. She just speaks her mind and I love it.  I need to channel me some Sheree.  Marlo is telling Sheree she is broke and Sheree is telling Marlo she is a whore.  Well I think that’s what‘s happening.

I cannot understand a single thing they are saying.  Even the producers don’t know because the subtitles make no sense either.  It’s a Gibberish battle and I can’t stop laughing.  NeNe is trying to stop the fight and everyone else is in shock about what is going down. It. Is. Fantastic.

Sheree and Marlo are trashing each other.  Marlo offers to loan Sheree money, Sheree makes fun of Marlo for dating a white man, Marlo is knocking Sheree for not taking care of her kids, and accuses her of not liking white people.  It is freaking awesome.

We then get 5 minutes of insane yelling, making faces, and Disney voices.  I cannot stop laughing.  The best part of this episode is that it’s just the beginning and we’ve got a lot more Africa to go. These chicks are more aggressive than animals on a safari. That is keeping it real!

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January 31, 2012 | 10:08 am

The Bachelor – Shocking!

Posted by Ilana Angel

I joke a lot about needing to have a glass of wine to be able to sit through these reality shows, and for the most part that is true.  A nice glass of red makes the show more enjoyable.  The problem is that with every uncomfortable moment, I tend to sip which means I am sloshed by the end. For The Bachelor, the best worst show on television, I have now moved on to margaritas because wine is just not cutting it.  These chicks are crazy.

I have gone back and forth on Ben, but in the end I just can’t get into him. His hair is horrible, his delayed speech is annoying, and the shots of him in deep thought about the women makes me want to scream.  By scream of course I mean sip, so after only five minutes in, it’s going to be a long night. Chris is there to explain nothing and I am surprised every week and every year that this man still has this job.  He really is not needed.

Nicki gets the first one on one date, which is odd because they don’t have chemistry, plus he is not going to pick the divorced girl.  Courtney is the bitch/whore of this season and it’s getting a little boring already.  She keeps trying to be confrontational so her 15 minutes can extend, but she’s just not that interesting, not that pretty, makes weird shapes with her mouth, and always has wine so clearly she needs to sip just to listen to herself.

Nicki is very sweet but annoying.  She has a little whine to her voice and her yellow nail polish is hideous.  They are walking around and it starts to pour rain.  In the downpour, with Ben in flip flops and her in high wedges, he grabs her hand and runs through the street.  I am not ashamed to say that part of me was hoping they would slip and fall.  It would have been sad certainly, but gold in terms of reality television.

She takes her shoes off and starts to walk around barefoot on the streets. Not appealing to me.  They go into a shop and buy new outfits, then when walking around he starts to give her the history of the buildings and it’s so dumb.  Like he knew anything about the building.  This show gives me a headache and each week I wonder why I am watching it, then I sip my margarita and it all becomes very clear.  I watch to drink.

The producers find a wedding on the town calendar, then make him give the on-on-one to the only divorced girl there, then make her sit outside the wedding and remember that it was once her and maybe can be again.  It’s all so fake and calculated but somehow it works.  By works of course I mean this show does not work.  Love will not be found and part of the enjoyment is knowing that. We are told that Emily Maynard is the new Bachelorette.

I really like Emily and think she will be a great Bachelorette, but I’m not sure how well she will translate to being the star.  She is clearly the most beautiful woman ever to be on this show, but she is guarded and moves painfully slow, so it might just be boring.  Watching 25 men scramble and stumble around will be fun, but I’m not seeing it work for her either.  I wonder what her kid thinks about it and how involved she’ll be.

I’m not really listening to the divorce conversation because I don’t really care.  Back at the house everyone is going on a group date, except for Elyse who is getting the one-on-one.  Blakeley is complaining, Courtney is complaining, and between these two I want to throw stuff at my television. Nicki is begging for a chance and it’s gross.  She’s divorced, we don’t care, they have absolutely no chemistry but she gets a rose.

The group date is a baseball game.  The ladies will be split into two teams and play against each other.  Some are really good, some are hilarious.  The best part is when they put on the black stuff under their eyes, and some of them have it on at the most ridiculous angle.  It’s not make-up little girls, and you look lame. Lindzi gets chosen to play on both teams, therefore securing her a spot on the group date.  Let the game begin.

In the interest of full disclosure, I was folding laundry during the entire baseball game.  I was in and out of the room putting stuff away and so if something interesting happened I might have missed it.  Wait a minute, I am watching The Bachelor right?  Okay, nothing interesting happened. We’re still on track.  Is it just me or did the game, which was only 3 innings, feel like it took an hour?  The girls are talking like it’s the Olympics.

Four girls are sent back to the house and the other 5 go on a group beach dinner.  Blakely is crying and sad to not spend time with Ben.  She’s creepy and her boobs are freakishly disproportionate to the size of her body. Jennifer is crying, again.  Half take off in a helicopter while the rest leave is a broken down bus.  I love it when the girls cry as if Ben is the love of their lives.  Really?  I would never let my daughter go on this show.

Ben tells Kacie B that the problem with his last relationships ended because he loved them and they didn’t love him back.  It’s because of your hair Ben. It’s dirty and chicks can’t get past it.  Back at the house there is a lot of whining and complaining about Courtney.  On the date Courtney is the one complaining, certain that none of the girls are right for him.  Ben gives the single rose for the group date to Kacie B.

Courtney takes Ben off for a walk and she keeps saying “like”.  Never noticed it before but it’s annoying now.  She makes out with him and says she wants to go skinny dipping with him.  She is plotting, and by plotting of course I mean trying to figure out how much of a whore she wants to be, therefore sealing her fate as the skankiest contestant to ever be on the Bachelor.  If you watch this show you know how really skanky that makes her.

Elyse is going on her date with Ben and I could care less.  Who is this girl? She is pretty, but a little boring and the fact that we have not seen that much of her tells us she is going home.  Elyse is off to a day on a yacht. Within a few minutes she puts the nails in her coffin.  She tells Ben she has accomplished all she wanted in her life.  She was being secure, he took it literally, and it was all over for Elyse.  Bye Sweetie.

Elyse, who had one date with Ben, is crying and asking him what she did wrong.  It’s so sad.  It’s upsetting to watch these young girls fall apart as if they did something wrong, or didn’t deserve love.  These girls need a kick in the ass and some self respect and dignity.  I get that love hurts but this is not love.  It’s the Bachelor.  Off topic, every single girl on this show is wearing a hideous nail polish color.  Seriously ugly.

In a show of horrible editing, Nicki had her date two days earlier, and gets caught in the rain, yet her commenting on the departure of Elyse is done on the same day as her date was she is in the same dress and her hair is not done, as if caught in the rain..  This show is shot in 5 minutes and I get it’s fake, but the editors need to pay closer attention.  We are watching, we are drunk, and we see things we would not see sober.

Courtney sneaks off to Ben’s room and invites him to the beach for some wine and skinny dipping.  They get down to the beach, she strips completely naked, as does Ben, and they are in the water.  Who does this?  In front of the camera?  Why would he want to be with a girl like this?  Why is Courtney still saying “winning”?  Why am I watching this show?  Why am I out of ice? Why is this dragged out to two hours each week?

Ben is feeling crappy about his intimate moment with Courtney.  Too late Ben.  We think you are a pig so feeling bad about it does not change that. You are a whore just like Courtney.  Jennifer is gushing and telling him how much she likes him.  Blakeley fake cries and tells him how she finally thinks she deserves love.  Dear Lord.  This chick is a hot mess and her teeth are too big. Ship her off to The Bachelor Pad.

The girls are all talking about skinny dipping and you know Courtney wants to spill the beans. She says it’s more fun when you do it with someone you care about so I’m wondering how many men she has done it with that you knows it’s better if you dig them.  Courtney is a skank.  Meanwhile poor Emily is talking with Ben and once again talking about Courtney after she tells him she is not focused on Courtney.  Please make it stop.

Ben shuts her up and tells her to move on.  She cries and is convinced he hates her.  Who is raising these girls to have no faith in themselves?  Is love, or the hope for love, so powerful that it makes us think we are unworthy of having it?  Yes.  Yes it is.  I feel bad for Emily because she is sweet, just really dumb.  I hope Ben is watching and realizes she was looking out for him and Courtney is a pig.

It’s the final rose ceremony and I am certain he is sending Emily home, but in the end he sends Jennifer!  The best kisser in the house! I figured she’d be in the final four so I was surprised.  I don’t get the cut when there are women he has no connection with still there, but whatever.  There is no point in trying to figure this show out because it has no point.  Next week could see the end of Courtney so I will be here, keeping it real.

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January 30, 2012 | 11:18 pm

RHOBH Reunion Part 1

Posted by Ilana Angel

Well, it’s finally over and now we get the payoff in the form of the reunion. It is our prize for suffering through this miserable season of crap. The only reality we’re been given all season is the three part reunion, so I’m in!  The ladies are settled in and wine is poured, so here we go!

Is it just me or are all of the dresses tonight ugly?  I expected the ladies to look a little better.  Adrienne’s dress is mortifying and further proof that she thinks it’s 1984.  There is some weird purple haze over the set and nobody looks happy to be there which is good for us!

Kim is not there because she’s in rehab, so as we begin we have Camille, Lisa, Kyle, Taylor and Adrienne.  Adrienne is ridiculous.  There is nothing appealing about this woman.  She is a bitch to her husband, a bitch to her friends, and a moron.  She may be educated, but she’s not smart.

Andy talks to Lisa about the wedding and his wanting to know how much it cost was tacky.  He is rude to Lisa, saying it was her wedding more than Pandora’s and I am turned off my him.  Just as Andy was on Teresa at the New Jersey reunion, he seems to be on Lisa here.

Adrienne is going on about how hurtful Lisa was to her and it’s stupid. Crackpot is not that cute.  Deal.  Adrienne is upset Pandora’s bachelorette party was not at The Palms, which is ridiculous.  Nobody wants to go to The Palms so why would Lisa?  Adrienne is a big baby.

I think the Maloof Hoof/Vanderpump was hilarious.  Adrienne is offended by everything Lisa says and I’m not really listening to her because I am fixated on how puffy her face is.  How much crap does this woman put in her face? The calculated and systematic attacks on Lisa are in effect.

Kyle is pissed at Lisa and it’s not clear why.  Kyle is mean.  I think she is a fame whore and after hanging onto the coattails of her porn star niece and drunk sister for so long, she has had a taste of fame and nothing else matters to her.  I used to love Kyle, not so much anymore.

Kyle is being just horrible to Lisa and I don’t get what is happening.  Kyle is out of control.  She is rambling about how she cares about all the girls and that is crap.  Kyle cares about being famous.  Who would want to be friends with this woman?  If you can’t do anything for her, she’s out.

To hear the women talking about how much they spent on a dress is both disturbing and fabulous.  Good for them that they can drop 30K on a dress and bless their balls for not being too embarrassed to share it.  Then they talk about how tacky Dana is without mentioning Dana.

It’s time to talk about Russell.  This puts me over the edge.  God bless Kennedy and her two siblings.  I hope they have wonderful memories of their dad and never lose them.  Taylor’s lips look bigger.  Maybe it’s because she is thinner, but she is an alien and looks really horrible.

Taylor says she was grieving and did not think about the show airing. Adrienne thinks the show should have shown to let people see what Russell was going through.  Really?  All we saw was that his wife lied about a lot of stuff and he killed himself.  We learned nothing.

There was no great message taught by showing this storyline.  The abuse of Taylor, if it occurred, is horrible, but what lesson did it teach? Stay in an abusive relationship until it gets so bad someone dies?  Adrienne needs to shut up and stop talking as if she knows anything.

Camille felt the show should not air as it would harmful to Russell’s children. I am with Camille on this one.  Taylor is calmly explaining that she agreed to do the show while being abused because the cameras would protect her. Really? I think Taylor, or whatever her name is, is delusional.

She cries and says she loved Russell and misses him terribly.  She then proceeds to tell us that he had a mental illness.  The man has died, he has 3 young children, and she is telling the world that their dad had a mental issue?  The disrespect for the children of this man is offensive.

Adrienne just can’t stop talking and tells us Russell may have killed Taylor. Really?  Again, shut up Adrienne.  We are shown a bunch of clips from Taylor’s nervous breakdown and it’s sad.  I would feel some compassion for her if she would stop lying.  I just cannot stand her.

I am loving Camille Grammer. She is keeping it real so bravo to her.  Back to Taylor’s lies, I just don’t believe her.  I want to, but I can’t.  I think she has built a story and is so far into it she cannot go back.  The truth was bad enough so why embellish it?  Something is not right with her.

Camille is being very gracious to Taylor.  I really like her.  Why is Adrienne talking again?  Why are we talking about Bernie?  He seems like a loser to me and that Adrienne is defending her chef over her friend is weird.  Adrienne has a stick up her butt for Lisa and it really makes no sense.

Lisa says Bernie sold a story to the tabloids and Adrienne turns around says Lisa has.  Lisa is insisting she never has, and Adrienne is saying she is a liar. Lisa then says it’s slander and Adrienne sits there with a frozen look on her face, and all I want to do is rip off her Zolciak wig.

Camille confirms that some guy at a gossip site told Adrienne and Camille that they paid her for stories.  Not buying it.  They told Camille and Adrienne that, hoping they were gullible enough to believe it.  I feel bad for Lisa that she is under such an attack and she is clearly shaken.

With only four minutes to go we get what we’ve all been waiting for.  Brandi Glanville!  We only see her for a couple of minutes, but it is awesome.  She is not taking crap from the mean girls and I love it.  If Bravo does not make her a housewife they have officially lost their minds.

Part one of the reunion was good, but surprising.  The attacks on Lisa were very strange.  It’s idiotic because if we need to choose sides I think Kyle, Taylor and Adrienne will lose.  Those women suck and Bravo letting them go would be the best way to keep it real.

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January 30, 2012 | 8:25 pm

Mob Wives: We’ve Got Raccoons

Posted by Ilana Angel

We start this week with Drita getting ready to sign her divorce papers.  She is sad and hesitating sending them to her husband, who is currently incarcerated.  He cheated on her and she can’t forgive him so she is divorcing him.  He has no idea it’s coming and she has not told her kids.

Drita is crying because once she mails the papers to Lee in prison it will be over and she wanted for it to work.  I cannot imagine how crushing it must feel to stand by a man while he spent years in prison, only to then have it end.  She wasted a lot of years waiting for him.

Drita is one tough cookie.  She will beat you to within an inch of your life if you cross her, but at the end of the day she is just a girl and the man that she has loved for a very long time has broken her heart, and it’s very sad to see her obvious sorrow and fear of the future.

In classic Drita fashion, she jokes that divorce papers should be called “You Don’t Deserve Me” papers.  I love Drita and even as we get to know her better and see she is a great lady.  I am on team Drita because she’s great not because I’m scared!

Karen and Ramona are meeting for coffee and seriously, I’m about done with these two.  They are not interesting or entertaining.  Dump these two and give us some Big Ang!  Karen is full of hot hair.  She likes the sound of her own voice and goes on and on about stuff that we just don’t care about.

I am convinced that Karen sits at home and watches Goodfellas and The Godfather and writes down stuff she can then say on camera.  Ramona is a troublemaker and Karen is desperate for fame and fortune.  She can keep trying, but she is not a mafia princess, she’s just annoying.

Drita is out with Carla and they are talking about homework for their kids and it’s moments like that where we see they are moms, and living real lives. It was funny to me and I loved it.  Carla tells Drita that she met with Karen and Drita is not too happy about it.  Drita is feeling betrayed.

Drita tried to smooth things over with Karen but Karen is too busy pretending to be a hard ass to take advantage of Drita being nice.  Karen does not realize that we all love Drita and every time she crosses her, it pisses us off a little more.  We think you are a joke Karen.

Karen is out for lunch with her daughter who is 12 and visiting from Arizona. She has been with her mom for the summer and Karen is sending her back to Arizona while she stays in New York.  All I will say is that this scene crosses lines for me and I have no respect for Karen.

Renee is out for lunch with Carla and hearing about her meeting with Karen.  She is annoyed Karen made their meeting with Carla all about Drita, and Carla is now worried Renee will get in the middle and there will be more drama.  I’ve had a change of heart about Carla.

I didn’t really get her in the beginning.  She was not as exciting as Drita and Renee, but in the end I think I like her.  She stays calm and is not as over the top as the others, but you just know with the right provocation she would take you down.  I am now officially a fan of Carla.

Renee can’t help herself and needs to speak her mind so she is now having dinner with Karen and Ramona.  She is pissed that Karen made it all about Drita.  Karen keeps looking directly into the camera and it really bugs me.  I just don’t believe anything that she says.  She’s a bad actress.

Ramona is pushing Karen to hate on Drita.  When Ramona goes off she sounds good and you know Karen is sitting there and thinking why can’t I talk like that?  Karen is dying to take notes so she can copy Ramona later. Ramona says Carla’s elevator does not go to the top floor.  Hilarious.

Ramona calls Drita a crumb snatcher and points out that Drita is not even Italian and needs to stop pretending she belongs in the group. Ramona is losing her mind and Renee calls her out and says she is stirring trouble.  In the end she cannot bring peace to the group.

Karen is out again with Ramona and I find myself getting annoyed watching these two.  Karen decides to have a spa party for the girls and will have it at Renee’s house since her apartment is small. She wants to make peace but never mentions that she causes the problems.

Now that Drita has signed the “you don’t deserve me” papers, she is packing up Lee’s things.  Drita is sad that Lee would not betray the Mafia, but easily betrayed her.  The life these women live is fascinating.  I don’t know how they do it.  We are then taken into Lee’s private room.

It’s just a room.  I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it was disappointing and a little anti-climactic.  It was like Capone’s vault.  Whatever.  Important to note that the soundtrack for this show is perfection.  I have downloaded a lot of the songs to my iPod.  I love this show.

Drita finds a letter in a coat pocket from Lee to her from prison and poor Drita cries again.  I feel for the girl.  Over at Renee’s she has Karen over and Karen is just too much.  She keeps looking into the camera and it really pisses me off. Renee is getting stressed out by all the drama.

She struggles with depression and all the stress is killing her. Karen is talking about leaving her daughter and it’s just lame.  I would never leave my kid. Karen has no interest in making up with Drita but is going to invite Carla to the spa day.  Renee agrees to let her use her house.

Renee’s dad is out of prison after eleven years and in a halfway house.  AJ goes to visit him and Renee tells us she has no relationship with her dad. They do not see eye to eye on many things and so she has not seen him or spoken to him.  AJ tells her to go and see him, but she won’t do it.

In light of what is going on with Renee now, I can only imagine how heartbroken she must be.  To hear her talk about her dad with AJ is touching.  When she asks AJ if her dad asked about her, the look on her face made me want to hug her and drive her over to see her dad.

Karen calls Carla to invite her to her spa party and she is trying so hard to avoid the cameras, that she looks ridiculous.  Her eyes are darting around and I can’t take it.  This girl has got to go back to Arizona, be with her beautiful little girl and stop trying to cash in on her mafia connections.

Carla is out with Drita, who once again gets the prize for best quote of the night.  “Karen is like a f’ing raccoon, always in my garbage.  That b**** won’t go away.”  I freaking love Drita.  I wrote earlier that I liked Carla, well I take it all back, Carla says she has Drita’s back, but not so much.

Carla told Drita she did not know if she was going to the spa party which was lame.  If you have Drita’s back then don’t go.  That’s it. Renee, Carla and Drita are out for dinner and Renee wants peace.  Poor Renee is sucked into all the drama.  By sucked in of course I mean she jumps in.

Renee is stirring up trouble by repeating all kinds of crap from Karen and Ramona.  Karen thinks Drita is a wannabe because she is not Italian, and wants to be like her.  For someone who wants peace, Renee is not doing a good job. None of these chicks have Drita’s back.

This week had no Big Ang which was disappointing, but I’m looking at it as a set up for next week and not even a real episode.  Next week there will be fists flying and I can’t wait.  I’m sending good wishes to Renee and I hope everything turns out well for her family, and she keeps it real.

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January 29, 2012 | 7:17 pm

A Conversation with Jennifer Gimenez

Posted by Ilana Angel

I can remember seeing pictures of Jennifer Gimenez years ago when she was modeling and thinking she was beautiful. I didn’t know anything about her, but I felt a connection.  In some of her early pictures she looked so much like my mom when she was young, that I just loved her.

I knew her name, and if I came across a picture of her in a magazine I would always stop to take a good look.  I actually cut out a couple pictures over the years and sent them to my mother because the resemblance was so strong. I didn’t know Jennifer, but I knew I liked her.

I was surprised when Jennifer showed up on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. She was sober and working in the treatment facility.  I can remember watching those episodes and feeling so happy that she was okay, but feeling bad that I had not keep better tabs on her.

I’m not a fan letter writing kind of person, but I would have kept her in my prayers had I know she was struggling to find her way.  Once I reconnected with this girl who I had always thought was so beautiful, I kept her in my prayers.  There is something lovely about Jennifer.

While watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, there was a scene with Brandi Glanville and her friend Jennifer.  I decided I would ask Brandi for an introduction since I had interviewed her. Brandi and I hit it off, I mentioned Jennifer to her, and Ms. Gimenez called me the next day.

Jennifer and I spoke for a very long time.  We talked about our mothers, faith, hope, God and friendship.  We actually talked about everything under the sun and I could have talked to her for hours.  I had a picture of her in my head for years so our talk felt oddly intimate.

Jennifer speaks openly about herself and answers questions with thought.  She would occasionally repeat my question back, as if to organize her thoughts and answer with care.  She is happy, and very aware of how truly lucky she is to not only be alive, but to be living.

Jennifer just marked her 6th year of sobriety.  She credits her mom and Brandi Glanville for getting her into treatment and is not shy about talking about how dark her life was.  If there was ever a person who should write a memoir of her life, if is Jennifer Gimenez.

Jennifer shared amazing stories about the day her mother and Brandi took her life into their hands, and another about an experience she had on a trip in Hawaii, and those stories need to be told.  I’ve decided however they are not my stories to tell.  Jennifer has a lot of stories.

I started to recount her trip to Hawaii and I suddenly felt like my notes were inadequate.  She spoke from a place of great reflection when we talked and I want you all to have the opportunity to hear about the amazing journey this woman has been through, directly from her.

Jennifer has been to hell and back.  I have no experience with addiction, but I know it is dark.  Jennifer had gone from being a supermodel to being in a psych ward, taking rat poison, and trying to end her own life.  Drugs were king and nothing else mattered.

Sobriety was a hard fight for Jennifer.  Not only was she fighting the drugs, but she had a broken spirit and it’s hard for any human being to rise up when their self worth is so shattered.  It’s hard to imagine that the woman I was speaking to had ever been so low.

Jennifer had her first drink at 13, and by 14 was traveling around the world as a model.  By 16 she was a star and by 18 she had appeared on countless covers.  At 18 she used cocaine for the first time.  She can’t remember getting high feeling good as much as making her feel big.

She felt invincible when she was using and that is a hard thing to walk away from.  She was hugely successful, seeing the world, and yet she somehow felt inadequate.  Addiction is a powerful thing and does not care who you are. It will take you and fight hard to never let you go.

Jennifer has an interesting view on life.  She told me that she is the same person now as she was when she was using, only sober.  It’s an interesting statement and one I have seen for myself.  Jennifer was decent and kind before she was an addict, and so she still is.

If you were not a decent human being before you starting using, sobriety only makes you sober, not automatically decent and kind.  Jennifer views her life as a miracle.  She does not need to wait for miracles to happen because she is living a miracle with every breath.

I asked Jennifer how she celebrates now that she is sober and she said being quiet is a celebration.  She can take a deep breath and be quiet without demons telling her to use, or that she is unworthy.  She has found peace, yet knows sobriety is work.

Jennifer has faith and has come to terms with her spirituality.  She relies on faith to get her through and it’s not just about faith in God, or leaning on religion.  Having faith in herself allows her to have faith in something bigger than herself. She is at peace with God and her past.

In terms of a relationship, she says she is currently dating herself, which I loved.  She is enjoying time alone, and is now able to tell the difference between needing a man in her life, and wanting one.  She hopes to get married one day, and have a baby.

She is empowered by strong women and takes great comfort in the support of her fans.  People have watched her soar and plummet so they are happy to see her doing well.  I recently met one of her fans and to hear her speak of Jennifer is really touching.  People really love her.

“Chula”, who is a lovely woman and fan of Jennifer, told me that beyond being beautiful, Jennifer had radiance from within her soul.  It’s very sweet how supportive her fans are and if you follow Jennifer on Twitter you will see she responds with kindness and appreciation to her fans.

Jennifer’s mom is her biggest fan and Brandi is her dearest friend.  She is very close with her brother, who is in the military and served in Iraq.  He is a hero and when she talks about him you can feel how big her smile is through the phone.  Her father passed away, several years ago.

Jennifer let me know she has hit rock bottom both sober and using. She has lived many lives and when given a chance to reflect, life is easier on her soul when she is sober.  In sobriety she sees right from wrong, good from bad, and hope from desperation.  She is now her best person.

I asked Jennifer to tell me three words that best described her and she chose vulnerable, childlike, and feisty.  She also asked if she could have four words, which was really cute, and selected fighter as the extra word.  If I could add a word for Jennifer, it would be goodness.

She is a woman who is trying to do good, be good, and bring good.  She is a celebrity who is sober, not a sober person who happens to be a celebrity.  She wants to be defined by who she is as a human being not her sobriety. She is sober and proud, but that’s not who she is.

She takes sobriety seriously and without it she has no life, so losing it is not an option.  She is a model, actress, daughter, sister, and friend.  When I asked if she thought she was pretty, she said she views herself from the inside out, but appreciates when people say she is.

Jennifer told me that she is always just an arm length away from a drink or a drug and she is aware of it.  She does not know how she was blessed to have found her way out of addiction, but she is grateful.  She tries to not focus on why me, but rather thank God it’s me.

When asked for a message to her fans, Jennifer said they give her courage on days when she has none, and bring light into her journey.  She sometimes feels lonely, or tired, and that people are so supportive lifts her up.  She is a work in progress and all the love is helping to define her.

She is not ashamed that she is sober and in recovery.  She is not a poster child, but if she can give a voice to those who can’t speak, it is her obligation and honor to do so.  She has learned to love herself and knows she must be able to do that in order for others to love her.

Before I spoke with Jennifer I was a little nervous because I wanted to like her and would have been disappointed if what I had thought about her all these years was not the case in real life.  In the end she was exactly what I had envisioned.  She is kind, sweet, caring, and funny.

Jennifer Gimenez has danced with the devil and been comforted by God.  Everything between those two meetings has brought her peace. I wish for her all the things she wishes for herself. Jennifer is beautiful inside and out. I pray she will always be well and keep it real.

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January 27, 2012 | 4:01 pm

Blog Wars

Posted by Ilana Angel

For those of you who read my blogs regularly, or have met me, you know I’m a little sarcastic and like to push the envelope when writing about reality television.  I am opinionated, sometimes harsh, occasionally funny, and always truthful.  I blog my truth and view on the shows we all love and hate.  I make no apologies for my opinions and am blessed that JewishJournal.com lets me say what I want, the way I want to say it.

This blog is popular and I am grateful.  I love that so many people read, and whether they agree of not, I like it when they share their opinions.  I get comments here, and also a lot of emails sent to me by email because people want to have conversations about the show without it being in a public setting.  I used to think that was odd, but over the past year I have come to understand the fear people have when sharing.

There are some blogs where if you make a comment that does not match those of the writer, you are quickly attacked.  People can be quite brutal when they are hiding behind the safety of the Internet.  If nobody knows who you are, then you are not accountable to anyone and therefore can be brutally honest, or intensely mean, and there is no proof it was ever you. The Internet is a wonderful and wacky place.

Over the past few months I have been under attack.  Important to note I am not talking about my blogs, or my employer, but me personally, by Lee Hennessee, Lynn Hudson, and now Michael Mazzella.  If you read reality television blogs you may or may not know who these people are, but they would like you to believe that everyone on the planet knows who they are.  The truth is they are known by many and are on a mission.

They seem to be hell bent on hurting me and I’m not sure why.  Lynn Hudson writes a blog about reality television, Lee Hennessee is a friend of hers who writes for her site, and Michael Mazzello is a young kid who has also started writing for Lynn.  They have individually and collectively decided to write about me, and none of what they write is true or flattering.  Furthermore, in my opinion, none of them are talented writers.


If I try to figure out when this attack on me started, we must begin with Jill Zarin.  Jill was a star of the Real Housewives of New York City and Lynn did not like her.  She was a staunch supporter of Bethenny Frankel, and when Bethenny and Jill had a falling out, Lynn sided with Bethenny, and while I don’t think I picked a side, I was certainly supportive of Jill.  I am unapologetic when it comes to my liking Jill Zarin.

Jill is good television and I was writing about television. By my seemingly aligning with Jill, I was on the attack list of Lynn and her followers.  The shift was subtle but quick.  My blog was increasing in readership and when people who had been loyal to Lynn were reading me and liking my work, she was not happy. I was not reading Lynn’s blog and to be honest, the only reason was I simply did not have the time.  I watch the shows, blog, and move on.

Lynn was becoming more and more hurtful to Jill, which is hard to believe when you consider she called her blog “I Hate Jill Zarin”.  The more she attacked Jill, the more I wanted to protect her.  I did not know Jill, but she was being unfairly hit at every turn by Lynn and her fans.  My voice became louder, my followers were growing, and before I knew it, we had been set up as enemies.  It’s a shame really, but too late to worry about it now.

My issue with Lynn is that while she has contacted me herself a couple of times, she gets her readers to attack me.  She’s a smart lady in that she does not do her dirty work.  She is a mother, wife and businesswoman, so her time would be better spent thinking about what her behavior says about her, rather than me.  It’s not just about me. Many innocent and lovely people are getting caught in the crossfire.  The biggest difference between Lynn and me is that I play fair.

If I have something to say, I say it myself.  There are no minions or “flying monkeys” as it were, who go around and attack Lynn for me.  My readers are certainly loyal, but they are also grown ups and not into the drama.  Some have been pushed to the limit, but have remained calm and walked away from the attacks with dignity.  I am in awe of these people.  They are heroes in their own ways and I am grateful for their support.

As for Lee Hennessee, she has had her lawyer write to say if I do not stop writing about her, she will sue me for slander.  Interesting since writing about someone does not constitute slander.  Her lawyer is a little confused as according to Law 101, and the First Amendment, slander is based on things being said or heard, and libel is when things are written or seen.  That her attorney was not clear on this was entertaining.

Michael is teenage kid who is trying to make a name for himself, and while he is a little aggressive and childish in his writing style, I think is probably a great kid and was so excited to get attention from an established writer, that he jumped in before he realized he was perhaps not aligning wit the right people.  I could be wrong.  He could know exactly what he’s ding and just not be as nice as I give him credit for being.

I get that when they write about me they get good numbers.  I get good numbers when I write about them too.  People seem interested in the “blog war” that we have going, but it’s not really a war.  I don’t know these people.  I have written about them, but I wrote about a lot of people I don’t know.  I am no bashing them on Twitter, accusing them or horrific things, and going out of my way to tarnish their reputations.

I have reached out to Lynn many times to make this all go away.  She is not interested in speaking with me.  I have tried to reason with Lee on Twitter, but each time I do, she becomes unhinged.  Lynn has several long term followers who attack everything I’ve written.  I wrote an article about loving my delicious child and I was called a pedophile.  I written bout a bad date and I was called an Internet whore.  It never stops.

To be perfectly honest, I’m tired.  I have worked really hard and am truly blessed to have a career doing what I love.  I fell into writing by accident and I really love it.  Both of my blogs have grown and taken on lives of their own.  I am safe and protected at The Jewish Journal.  I am first and foremost a Jewish woman trying to find my way and I am very loyal to this site, my bosses, and those who write here with me.

Lately, it is not only me getting attacked but also The Jewish Journal and even my child.  My gut reaction is to simply stop.  Cancel my Twitter, stop writing about reality television, and go back to simply chronicling my journey as a mother preparing for her only child to leave the nest.  It is the reality television writing that is causing me such stress.  By stress of course I mean distress.  The attacks are breaking my heart.

There are thousands of bloggers who write about reality television, but for some reason, I am getting attacked a little more often, and a little harsher than most.  I honestly don’t know why.  I’m a tough lady and I have survived worse things than being attacked on Twitter, but at the end of the day it is really hurting my feelings and makes me fearful.  Who are these people who hide in cyberspace and have such palpable hate for me?

Blogger Lynn Hudson and her contributing writers Lee Hennessee and Michael Mazzella spend a lot of time talking about me. They write articles dedicated to me and have mile long exchanges about me and my blog on Lynn’s site.  I suppose I could be flattered that they enjoy talking about me so much, but in the end I just feel sad for them.  They must have rather empty lives If they can dedicate so much time to my rather fabulous life.

Lynn Hudson needs to stop this mess.  She needs to tell her followers and friends to leave me alone.  There is room for both of us to do our thing and it is okay for people to like us both.  Michael Mazzella needs to realize that if he wants to have a serious career, he needs to start acting like an adult and understand that words matter.  He must figure out who he wants to be and write as that person, not the child he is now.

Lee Hennessee needs to get an attorney that knows the difference between slander and libel.  She also needs to stop her vile Twitter behavior.  It is unbecoming of a woman with her professional background.  Her lawyer wrote that my “slander” was going to impact the sale of her company as I was ruining her reputation.  Really?  Anyone on Twitter who sees what is being written, is aware of exactly who is ruining Lee’s reputation.  She is.

Some days I wake up ready to quit Twitter. By some days of course I mean everyday, but in the end I am not going to walk away from an important part of my work because a couple of mean girls and their little puppet are hurting my feelings.  I have the support of my job, and my child, and this too shall pass.  I have loyal readers who see what is happening and pay no attention to the ugliness that comes my way.  I have back up.

I am not the first person they have attacked.  Many people have quit before me and so for them, and for me, I will hang on another day.  Instead of quitting Twitter, we will create a fan page on Facebook so people can enjoy the blogs, and I will continue to Tweet because let’s face it, I’m hilarious on Twitter.  I will pray, and hope that the ugliness being directed at my family and me is a test I will pass and learn from.

I am no longer going to blog about any of these people.  I will.also not read anything that they write.  Will block those on Twitter and Facebook who want to start trouble, and to go one step further, I will block those who engage in the hate.  The blogosphere has room for everyone and I will choose what I want to see.  I’m going ino a bubble and feel good about my choice because what I see is breaking my heart.

Knowing Lynn’s MO like I do, she will see this blog as a sign of weakness, Lee will write an incoherent blog about it, and Michael will write that I am being unkind to his mentor.  It’s not weakness, and if I were interested in really fighting, I would win. This blog, and my choices are in the best interest of my child, my employer and myself. I’m a grown up and fighting with those weaker than me is no fun.

I will now, for the final time, extend an olive branch to Lynn Hudson as she holds the power over her friends.  Lynn, I am here if you ever want to talk and make this better.  I want this to stop.  I wish you success and peace and am open to anything that will bring the same to me.  I am wiling to talk and listen.  I just want this to be over because it’s exhausting.  It’s time for you to start keeping it real.

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January 26, 2012 | 11:05 pm

A Conversation With Melissa Gorga

Posted by Ilana Angel

Anyone who watches the Real Housewives of New Jersey knows there is tension between Teresa and Melissa.  In fact, you don’t even have to watch the show to know.  Just walk though a supermarket and it is quite clear as every gossip magazine is talking about it.  These ladies sell tabloids.

I like them both.  I watch their show and I blog by episode.  One week I might love one and think the other is not cool, then the next week I do a complete flip and like the one I thought was a drag the week before.  These shows are fun for me because I don’t pretend to know these ladies.

They are characters on a television show and there is, in my opinion, very little reality involved.  It is pure entertainment and while I appreciate this is their lives, I think housewives from throughout the franchise would agree there is manipulation happening from Bravo in the name of “art”.

I write a very opinionated blog.  I have said really lovely things about reality stars and some not so nice things too.  I don’t know these people, but they have put their lives out into the universe in a big way and we are all allowed to not only have an opinion, but also judge what we see on their shows.

That’s entertainment.  You bust your butt to get your name out there, then people attack you.  Some weather the storm and some do not. I’m sure it’s harder for reality stars as there is not always talent, just an interest from viewers to watch their lives.  It’s a phenomenon.

I have been writing a series of articles I call “conversations”.  I have interviewed several reality stars including Jill Zarin, Countess LuAnn, Simon Van Kempen and Brandi Glanville.  I write from the perspective of a fan because at the end of the day that’s what I am.  A real fan.

If I am interested in talking to someone I ask if they are up for an interview.  I’ve never had anyone say no which is lovely, and it’s been a good experience for me. Talking to them about their real lives has been a highlight of the past year and I look forward to more.

I recently had the pleasure of talking to Teresa Giudice from Real Housewives of New Jersey, and there were a lot of surprising things about her.  She was down to earth, honest, open, and made it clear that there was nothing off limits and she would answer anything I wanted.

When I spoke with Teresa she was out with her youngest daughter and it was casual and fun.  We talked about cookingq and kids.  It was like talking to a girlfriend and I loved that about her.  It was not about the show, or what we read in tabloids because I don’t write for a tabloid.

When I conduct interviews I don’t talk about the show really.  I ask things I am personally interested in.  I’m writing to get a sense of who they are in real life and for the most part people have been open and fun.  I have liked them all, even when I was certain I would not.

I have blogged some really unkind things about Simon.  I was not a fan of his on the show, but when we talked on the phone I got a different view.  He was charming and funny.  He really loves his wife and kids and that is what I came away with.  I was proud of him for doing the interview.

His fans told him not to do it because I had been brutal about him on the show, but he did it anyway and when he read it, he called to thank me.  He was nervous to be sure, but he was also decent and so I was decent in return. My blog is not about hurting anyone, it’s just my opinion.

I think the Simon interview is what let the reality stars know it was a safe place to come and talk.  This was about them as people, not about who they are on television. I’m not 60 minutes and they are not nominated for an Oscar.  It’s just reality television fluff, which I happen to really love.

Now, in terms of Melissa Gorga and Teresa Giudice, I like them both.  I have written favorable things about them, and not so nice things, but again it’s all relative, and all based on the ridiculous television show they are on.  In the war of Teresa vs. Melissa, I have not picked a side.

Both sides could read my blogs and make arguments that I am nicer to one over the other, but the fact is I don’t have a side.  I have not seen anything to not like about Melissa.  I enjoy her relationship with her husband and I love how she loves Jesus and thanks him for everything.

I think Teresa is an amazing mom raising her 4 daughters, and love that she never changes her story.  She says what’s on her mind and she sticks to it. There is no waffling with Teresa and I admire that.  I like that she is so committed to her husband and kids above all else.

After my interview with Teresa posted, I got a lot of support from her fans.  They are fiercely loyal to her and it was sweet how supportive they were of her, and therefore me for being kind.  The thing is, I was not kind.  I was honest.  She was great, I wrote she was great, end of story. 

I also got tweets from Melissa’s fans saying I should interview her because she was so much nicer than Teresa.  Not cool, but reality fans are hard core and I get that they were sticking up for their girl.  Before I had a chance to ask Melissa for an interview, Jacqueline Laurita stepped in.

I tweeted that Teresa and I spoke for an hour and Jac immediately tweeted to complain about Teresa doing “another interview”.  Jac spends a lot of time talking trash on Twitter.  She is irrelevant and not interesting so I get she is desperate for attention and bashes Teresa to get it.

She wrote I was a gossip writer, then Melissa chimed in.  I don’t remember it all and am too bored to go back and find it, but the bottom line is that Jac wrote about it, Melissa agreed with Jac, then I wrote to say I was not a gossip writer, and there was a lot of backpeddling.

Jac said she was not talking about me.  Lie.  Melissa said Jac was talking about another interview.  Lie.  I wrote to them both saying they were clearly talking about me, there was no need to lie, and I called them out on it. They then took to Twitter to publically talk about me, so it was on.

Jac insisted it was not me she was referring to then sent me a message telling me to tell people she never said it was me, as she was getting attacked.  Melissa also sent a private message saying she was not talking about me.  Whatever.  Cut to my saying it was not a big deal.

I sent Melissa a couple of my interviews and asked her if she would like to be interviewed.  She publically tweeted to me, “ANYTIME!”  She said her “assistant” would set it up.  A few days later I got an email from her publicist saying Melissa could not do the interview now because of Teresa.

This is the email:

Hi Ilana,

Thanks for your interest in interviewing Melissa.  We are interested in working with you, however because you just interviewed with Teresa we would like to wait a little while.  We will be in touch soon.  Thanks again.

Thank you,
Robyn

I wrote to Melissa and said it was a shame she was postponing and then let my Twitter followers know the interview was off.  Melissa wrote to say it was shady of me to announce on Twitter she was postponing. I reminded her she wrote me on Twitter and people wanted to know.

I told her it was silly to think she could not talk to me so soon after my talking to Teresa, and she agreed, telling me again we would do the interview.  I wrote her to set it up and never heard from her.  She promised an interview twice, and bailed twice.

She not only bailed, but was kind of not nice.  It’s a drag because I really like her.  My readers and her fans were looking forward to our chat and I was really looking forward to it.  I write a lot about faith, and the loss of my dad, and there was a lot to talk about with her.

At the end of the day it’s not really that big of deal that she bailed. What is a big deal is that she was caught in a lie.  She sells herself as the super nice girl getting screwed by her sister-in-law but in the end she looked more like a jealous fame seeker than a nice girl.

Teresa is great and I like her.  I am convinced that Melissa is also great, but we’ll never know the real her because she is guarded, fake, and under the impression that her publicist knows what’s best for her in terms of her interviews, and dissed the Jewish Journal.

All press is good press I guess, but promising an interview to someone who is going to write nice things and gush as a fan, then bailing and denying that you bailed is just dumb.  Melissa has no need to worry about being compared to Teresa because there is no comparison.

I’m here if Melissa ever wants to do the interview.  None of this will play into the conversation for me.  I get that she is doing the best she can, and gets a lot of requests.  I’m not mad that she bailed, just annoyed that they are lying about it.  No need for drama.

I think Melissa is a great mom, has a great husband, and I respect her faith.  I am also a writer who has dealt with a lot of reality stars and their “people” and I would suggest to this lovely woman that she get a new publicist.  One that will allow her to keep it real.

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