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November 15, 2011 | 1:03 am

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills:  Spitting on Russell Armstrong’s Grave

Posted by Ilana Angel

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Will Russell Armstrong ever rest in peace?

Before I blog about this train wreck, I want to say I am sick of this show.  Each week I think it can’t get any worse in terms of their behavior, and then they outdo themselves.  These women are fame whores with no regard for each other.  This week’s episode it yet another example of Bravo’s attitude towards a man who took his own life. That they are creating this legacy for his children is shameful.

We begin at Kim’s house, where Kyle is meeting her new boyfriend.  The same boyfriend who currently has a profile up on match.com.  I almost feel bad for the guy that he has put his life out on the line for everyone to attack. By everyone, of course I include myself.  This guy looks creepy, but when he hugged Kyle goodbye I liked him.  No chick is worth what he will go through.

Kyle is crying like a baby and it’s just odd.  I get that it’s her sister and she’s worried, but there is an insincerity to her crocodile tears that make me think she is more bitchy than loving.  Kyle is selfish, and a fame whore, and I think her concern for his sister is more for the camera than anything else.  I also happen to think she stole the house in the desert from Kim.

Adrienne and Paul are out for his birthday dinner.  This couple makes me crazy, and her unfiltered hatred for her husband is upsetting.  Why he allows her to humiliate him is fascinating.  Even more confusing is why Adrienne refuses to brush her hair, and wears clothes from the 80’s.  I used to think their banter was cute, but she can no longer hide her dislike of him.

She rattles off a list of things you need to do to make a marriage work, yet she does not do any of the things she lists.  On her husband’s birthday, she decided she is going to talk about Taylor.  Whatever.  It is in such poor taste that they are showing these scenes of the ladies talking about Russell. Kyle talking to husband is boring and I’m skipping over it.

Taylor is at an event with Russell and it makes me sick.  I’m not sure why I have such a reaction to seeing him, but I do.  It makes me want to cry that his children will watch this show, to be able to see their dad, only to see he is painted as a truly horrible human being.  Taylor is nominated for an award, which she loses.  Yes, Taylor is a loser.  Literally.

The pretentious double kiss that these chicks do is dumb.  We don’t do that here so I’m not sure why they insist on it.  Kyle “accidentally” tells Lisa about the event she was not invited to.  By accidentally of course I mean Bravo scripted it. Lisa’s feelings are hurt and I feel sorry for her, for a second, until I remember what a complete bitch she is.

Lisa is hosting a tea for the ladies and invites Taylor, but not the new girls Brandi or Dana.  She is once again in a dress that is too small.  Taylor arrives and the train is moving forward and ready to crash.  Taylor is a mess and Lisa is looking to pick a fight.  Does anyone else think Taylor this season is acting like Alex in NYC last season?  Trying to have a voice?

Lisa keeps asking Taylor why she came to the tea, which is odd.  Has Lisa forgotten she invited her?  Alex, I mean Taylor, is going off on Lisa, telling her all the things she has said and done to hurt her.  Lisa is defensive, Taylor is having an episode, the other ladies are sitting quietly, and Kyle is sticking her nose into business that she should simply shut up about.

Taylor’s mouth makes her look like a duck.  Best line of the whole night, “If you can’t be my friend, just please don’t be my enemy.”  It’s classic weak girl standing up to the bully.  I feel heartbroken for Taylor, but truly sad for Kennedy.  That her father took his own life, and this is the view of life that Taylor is showing her daughter is completely screwed up.

Taylor is screaming, Lisa is denying, and nothing is being resolved.  It’s hard to pick a side on this one because neither one of them seems sincere.  Taylor is having a nervous breakdown, and Lisa has a tone of dismissal that is annoying.  Then it happens.  Taylor turns off the tears and has a bi-polar moment.  She is now in total bitch mode and looking to take people down.

Taylor tries to get the other ladies to turn on Lisa but it’s not happening, so she bails.  She heads out and finds Paul loitering at the gate.  Taylor starts spewing her crap to Paul, and back in the house, everyone is now questioning whether Taylor is telling the truth about Russell, or making up the stories of abuse.  This poor man will never rest in peace as long as this show is on.

Sidebar:  Isn’t it interesting that when this show airs, and we see what a conniving and fake person Kyle is, she starts tweeting things about her daughter that are super cute?  Really?  You act like a bitch, and we are supposed to not think badly of you because of the all the cuteness with your little girl?  We’re not dumb Kyle.  You are mean. Own it.

The ladies all turn on Taylor in my opinion, and call out her marriage.  She seems annoyed by it, which is odd since she has been trashing her husband for a year.  Camille puts it out in the open that Russell hits Taylor.  This show is a clusterf**k.  I feel sorry for all of their children, and I feel pathetic that I watch this crap fest.  It is crossing boundaries.

Like all good train wrecks, I simply cannot stop watching. Every one of these women has serious problems in their lives and even with their money, and beautiful homes, I cannot imagine anything that would make me want to have their life.  Remember the first season of Orange County when it was campy and fun to see how the other side lived?  Those days are gone.

These women are more concerned with fame than they are with leaving an important legacy for their kids. There is nothing appealing about these women or the lives they lead.  It’s time for Beverly Hills to go away, or be recast, because watching them ruin their lives is not any fun for us. Bravo should do the right thing, and start keeping it real.

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The whole point, Ilana, is that little of this show is
“real”.  The agreement was to make Taylor’s marriage this season’s topic and it backfired when Russell found himself the “battering ram” for the excuse to film and took his own life.

We may never know if the abuse itself was real or pumped up for ratings but either way, it is a horrible reason to make it part of a show.  If real, then the producers should have cut Taylor loose and advised her to seek counseling and help rather than showcase these issues for the general public.

Sleazy women “starring” in a sleasy program that only provides pain for the family left behind.

Comment by Donna on 11/15/11 at 7:09 am

I understand & respect your feelings re: Russell’s depiction on the show.
However, some of this responsibility must lie on Russell’s shoulders. He wilfully signed on to season two which he know is not required for Taylor’s
participation w the show see.Alexis & Jim Bellino of OC. Also, and I know this will be upsetting, but Russell chose to take his own life. W/ that decision he decided to relinquish “control” of his legacy & throw it to the wolves.I say this as someone who knows depression and its hurdles but at the end if the day Russell & Russell alone is responsible for his life just as you are responsible for yours and I a responsible for mine. Your compassion for Russell is noble.

Comment by lunarlibra77 on 11/15/11 at 8:47 am

I adore Lisa and therefore am wearing blinders. Please tell me what I’m not seeing.

Comment by lunarlibra77 on 11/15/11 at 8:49 am

@ Donna:  Agreed.

@Luna:  Most of the responsibility falls to Russell.  But for Taylor to allow these things to be said on film, for her daughter to see, is mind boggling to me.  Her child lost her father, and he has other children, and to discuss him breaking her jaw, is not cool, and in my opinion, not true.  If what she says is true then why did nobody help her?  Why didn’t Bravo step in and save her?  There is something not kosher about her story and in the end it’s not important because he’s dead.  She had no respect for him and now has no respect for his children.

Comment by Ilana Angel on 11/15/11 at 9:22 am

I get Lisa.  Her sarcasm and English wit are fabulous.  I think she is mean however and jealous to not be the Queen Bee.  She wants to be the leader and when she is not, she gets quite mean.  I can’t quite figure out what it is about her that is rubbing me the wrong way this season, but i’m sure I will.  It’s such a shame because when she did not care about being the leader, she simply was the leader.  Now she is desperate and flailing.

Comment by Ilana Angel on 11/15/11 at 9:26 am

@ilana I really appreciate you responding and accepting my comments in the spirit in which they were intended. And you are absolutely right re: no one stepping in if they knew Taylor was in danger or at least letting her go as she said. You’re right. She is responsible for how all this will be presented to his children and that’s a shame. She’s a mess.

Comment by lunarlibra77 on 11/15/11 at 9:29 am

I like the dialogue Luna.  We all watch and see things one way, so it’s nice to snap out of our view and see another one.  Abusive relationships are complicated, I know first hand, but if you can’t save yourself, save your kids.  That is our obligation as mothers.  That she is allowing this is beyond comprehension.  Those poor kids, and not just Kennedy, but his other children also.  It’s shocking.

Comment by Ilana Angel on 11/15/11 at 9:57 am

It’s time for you to go away. You are not accurate with your review. So perhaps you should be recast as a writer.

Comment by jenpink on 11/15/11 at 11:01 am

Russell Armstrong’s demise definitely fouled up Bravo’s plans for the season. Rather than having the good sense to put the program on hold until they could shoot more footage, they (Bravo) have nipped and tucked (no offense “wives”) together a program that is disjointed and hurtful.  Seems that Kim’s lovelife is now Plan-B with a dash of Russell and Taylor on the side; throw in a lavish engagement and wedding topped off with a few cat fights and call it a wrap. Wonder what the viewership numbers are this program?

Comment by Becky in 'Bama on 11/15/11 at 11:03 am

The only thing that has me questioning the abuse is the fact that Taylor stayed at that one party last year and did not leave with Russel.If he had previously been abusive toward her surely she would have known she would have the hell beat out of her for refusing to leave with him.
I’m torn about what the children will learn of their father from this show.If what is being portrayed is honest then I feel that we all have right to know who are parents truly are/were.Plus if true that he was an abuser I imagine his children know already.
As for the rest of the world knowing I agree that Russel ok’ed this whole deal.

Comment by billie on 11/15/11 at 11:11 am

Lisa can have her bare behind as her screen saver if she wants to.

In comparison to what Taylor has revealed, Bravo has shown remarkable restraint.  After the death of her estranged husband, Taylor went on a media campaign to paint herself as the real victim, which included an appearance on Entertainment Tonight, multiple other appearances, a book deal, and photographs of the bruises she allegedly suffered at the hands of the dead father of her daughter.  Who, then, has shown less concern for the legacy of her father that has been left for her daughter?  Her mother.

Comment by Missy on 11/15/11 at 12:04 pm

First off I really like Lisa always have. The thing with Taylor she needs MAJOR psychiatric treatment. It seems bravo was trying to make it like it wasn’t just Russel who was the bad person but Taylor too. They should have just left it all alone. Nobody needs to see Taylor loose it. I feel sorry for her child.

Comment by dawn on 11/15/11 at 1:34 pm

I agree it’s sad to see Russel exploit like that. Especially now that he can not defend himself.
What makes me question Taylor are many documented lies she told so far (her name, Ford family connection, Adrianne godmother to her daughter…).
What makes me question the abuse most are her contradictory statements. In her exclusive inteview about abuse (you can see it on youtube) she said she hit her seriously (causing damage) only once (as “documented” with eye photo). Now there is a talk about broken jaw? Hope somebody will call her on that.
Don’t know if she was victim of abuse - but that is beside point now. What’s sure - she lies a lot.

Comment by Viewer on 11/15/11 at 1:47 pm

Thanks Ilana, I really enjoy your reviews. I too have become horrified by everyone’s behavior (except for Camille’s) this season yet I cannot somehow push myself away when a new episode is available on Amazon. I have never experienced such an incredibly strong train-wreck pull with a show before. Amazing. Must be some serious schadenfreude. I found Adrienne’s dinner with Paul interesting because he seemed to be seriously questioning whether Russell could be a wife beater. And as a doctor, and Taylor’s doctor, I would assume he’s seen her face quite a bit and would know if she was injured or had her jaw broken.  Like many things on this show, it just does not all add up.

Comment by JenniferA on 11/15/11 at 3:28 pm

Hi Ilana, I like Lisa so leave her alone. Just kidding. Maybe her problem this season is everyone seems to be giving her a hard time and saying mean things about her, like Adrienne’s chef. Perhaps she is just a little confused about what the other ladies are up to. You had me laughing at the comment about Taylor’s quick change from victim to the leader of the “get Lisa” movement. I don’t want to give Taylor a hard time, she has been through an awful trauma, but she acts like such a silly person sometimes. She is hard to figure out. I thought the show tried to show Russell in a favorable way.

Comment by pryan on 11/15/11 at 3:48 pm

I really enjoy reading your blog. Bravo should have cancelled this season. At first I wanted to see how they would handle Russell passing. However, even if he was abusive or even a wonderful husband it should have all been left unsaid.

Comment by Adrianna McLean on 11/15/11 at 8:56 pm

Adrienne and Paul do display some common sense on the show, along with Lisa and Ken. Kyle,Kim, Cammille,Brandi,and Dana are so irrelevant to anything on the show. As for Taylor, get rid of her from the show. I find her to be very repugnant!!!

Comment by Lee Hack on 11/16/11 at 9:19 am

I have to think some of these scenes are re-shoots. They taken the exaggeration out for legal reason and too look better.  He was broke and the gold digger moved on.
I think she over exaggerated the abuse.(I’d liked to of seen his face) using this story line backfired and he killed himself. 
They do need to go back to the original format. Getting this personal into private lives for entertainment and all this table flipping lowlife stuff which now has ended in a death. Does Bravo have no dignity?

Comment by mary on 11/17/11 at 2:02 pm

I gotta say, Kim us the most interesting thing about the show - her scenes are the most entertaining by far whether it’s serious or funny. She just seems like the most genuine and really seems to actually be revealing something about her life and personal side and I think the complications of her and Kyle’s relationship are sincere. Everyone else just seems like they are fronting for the cameras.

Comment by JH on 11/17/11 at 11:46 pm

adrianne, needs to respect her husband, he seems like a fun,  wonderful man, who just happens to be a “doctor”, hello ?!...and, .your wrong lisa, “kyle is a class a bitch” !!
back the hell off, of “your older sister”,  kyle, and get a life!!!!!.....and lisa, who i normally love, is even bitchy this season??!!.....what the hell gives??!!

Comment by AMBI JO on 11/19/11 at 1:58 pm

I couldn’t agree with you more! Kim and Kyle are a couple of the meanest women I have ever seen in my life. There is no amount of botox, collagen or plastic surgery that can fix the ugly on these two. Brandy and anyone else who becomes a target for these self-loathing females should simply turn a cold shoulder to them. I wouldn’t allow these chicks into my yard while my dog was in it! Shameful behavior. Disgusting.

Comment by Ally on 11/20/11 at 5:18 pm

I realize there are 7 more minutes before you can post tonight’s RHOBH review but let me be the first to say -NOT about the obvious painful elephant in the room but re something else - Camille - the ENGLISH major says: “Don’t GOAT me!”

Oy Vey! Looking forward to your review of tonight’s show

Comment by sharebbe on 11/21/11 at 7:55 pm

I’m not sure what show you’re watching but Lisa is a very sweet and generous woman. Traylor is a known liar and most people don’t believe she was abused including me! She spent the 1st season trashing Russell every chance she got and saying that they’re relationship is business and not love. All she did last season was trash him for TV time and sympathy. She loves to play the victim and is a total fraud.

Comment by AmazeBalls on 11/23/11 at 4:41 am

So, when someone passes away (wheteher it be self inflicted, or natural) we should not hear about or know any of the things good or bad that they did in life??  Don’t be ridiculous!  The truth is no one will ever know what truly went on in ones marriage, dead or alive. There is that saying, there are 3 sides to every story, his side, her side, and the truth, and I think this applies here.  And BTW, the fact that these women seem to live beautiful, glamorous, luxurous lives, and have lots of money and beautiful homes AND still have problems just like the rest of us is part of the appeal of the RHW franchise.

Comment by nicole on 11/23/11 at 7:45 am

I do not believe Russell was abusive. I think Taylor is violent and when she drinks, I think she would pick fights with Russell. Russell appears afraid of her as if he is walking on eggshells fearing she will explode. If Russell had broken her jaw (the women admit they haven’t seen Taylor with a broken jaw) than she would have worn a brace,sucking food through a straw for several weeks, and nobody noticed that? Also, even if Taylor refused to contact the police regarding the abuse, hospitals are legally responsible to report suspicious domestic abuse when the victim arrives at the hospital.

Comment by Sharonlynn on 11/27/11 at 2:24 pm

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