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The opening credits to this Bravo Network reality TV show opens with the following narration:

To a certain group of people in New York City, status is everything – Alex

I never feel guilty about being privileged – LuAnn

New York City is my playground – Bethenny

I run with a fabulous circle of people – Jill

I like making my own money, I find that an aphrodisiac – Ramona

I’ve created a great life, and I love living it – Kelly

I have a taste for luxury and luxury has a taste for me – Sonja

After hearing some of these women speak, it makes me want to throw up in my mouth.  This is season 3 of the show and I admit; I’m addicted.  Initially, I first started watching it because I had met Simon and Alex almost 10 years ago when I was living in NYC.  I thought that they were one of the strangest couples I had ever met.  When I saw they were appearing on this show, I had to tune in.  I figured, if anything they’d be entertaining.  Hence my addiction to this show began.

LuAnn

The show’s premise is about the lives of socialites in New York City; however the irony is that when it first premiered, the only socialite of any note was the Countess, Luann de Lesseps.  The rest of the cast were pretty much a bunch of wannabes.  Luann married into royalty when she married French count Alexandre de Lesseps with whom she is now divorced.  She is a former nurse and model.  She made her money the old fashioned way, she married it.  By the way she conducts herself; you’d think she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.  She reminds me of one of those people who usually fly coach and got bumped up to first class.  She has a real sense of entitlement as seen on the show.  It amuses me to no end that she seems depressed that circumstances have relegated her and her children to living in the Hamptons while trying to find a place back in the city.  Luann can not understand how the cost of living in New York City has become so exorbitant. Those alimony checks from the Count can only stretch so far.  Maybe it’s time to find another filthy rich guy to take care of her?

Jill

Jill Zarin is known as the Queen of Fabrics.  She’s recently earned the title as the Queen of Mean. This formerly chubby yenta is pushing 50 and pretty much mentions in every episode this season that she’s a size 1.  Hellllllllllllllllllllooooo Jill, you are not a size one.  If you’re a size one, then I’ve got a 32 inch waist and six pack abs.  The fashion designers are fooling you.  I must admit that since the show began 3 years ago, you’ve taken your average dumpy looks and worked really hard.  I must applaud your trainer, your dedication to dieting, plunking down some coin on plastic surgery, or all of the above.  Whatever it is; it’s working. You GO GIRL!!!

During the first season, Jill sounded like the voice of reason on the show.  She’d call it like it is and came off as the frumpy girl who hung out with the popular girls in high school.  This meant that she was the one that everyone came to for advice and she always would supply whatever information was asked of her.  She was careful not to step on anyone’s toes, but would seek the company of girls who were prettier and more popular than herself.  This would give her a nice sense of being. 

You can tell by her thick Long Island accent, that she didn’t grow up wealthy.  She may have been around wealthy people, but she definitely wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth.  If she had been, her folks would have sent her off to prep school in New England and helped her rid herself of that atrocious voice of hers.  I think the best thing that happened to her in life is that she met her second husband Bobby.  Mr. Zarin is definitely the sweetest and most genuine person on the show.  She should thank her lucky stars every night when she goes to sleep that she met this man.  The interesting thing is that he does as much as possible to stay off the show.  Go figure.

I really used to like Jill, but it seems that she’s let this new found fame go to her head and she’s become this prim donna pseduo celebrity.  If she could channel the Jill Zarin of 3 years ago she’d definitely end up back on my favorites list.

Kelly

Kelly Bensimon is a former fashion model who is a writer and the lucky recipient of a fat alimony check.  Kelly is the hot dumb girl on the show.  She was a former editor for Elle Magazine.  Her whole sense of self worth stems from her past marriage to International Creative Director at Elle and a world renowned fashion photographer.  Hmmmmm…now we know how she got that gig. She’s forever looking for that next husband who can give her the same status that she once enjoyed by being married to Gilles.

The only nice thing I can say about Kelly based on her actions on the show is that she does seem like she might be a nice person; that is, if you’re a man and she deems you worthy of her attention.

Sonja Morgan

Sonja is a new member of the cast for season 3.  She is immensely likable.  This 47 year old cougar makes no bones about her addiction to plastic surgery and looking hot while pushing 50.  Of course she’s another recipient of a HUGE alimony check.  She is the former wife of John Morgan; one of the heirs to the JP Morgan fortune.  

Interestingly enough, she calls author, Coerte V.W. Felske a friend.  Coerte wrote a novel entitled, “The Millenium Girl” which would be considered a how-to book for any aspiring gold digger with Major League aspirations of landing a guy on the Forbes 400 list.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I highly recommend the book http://www.amazon.com/Millennium-Girl-Coerte-V-Felske/dp/0312976976

In episode 9, Sonja is almost in tears when she speaks about feeling lost after having to oversee the running of 5 homes all over the world to having been reduced to living in her luxury townhouse equipped with its’ own elevator in one of Manhattan’s swankiest parts of town.  Even though 99.9% of the world’s population can’t relate to this, I still like the girl.  I’d definitely have a drink with this sex kitten anytime.  Just drop me a note of Facebook, Sonja.

Bethenny

Bethenny Frankel is the only member of the cast who wasn’t an NYC housewife when the show began.  She was almost like the poor stepchild who was being mentored by Jill Zarin.  Maybe Jill’s attraction to Bethenny is that she aspired to get into the type of shape that Bethenny seems to carry year round. Subsequently she and Jill have have the longest and nastiest running feud on the show.  Sometimes the closer you are to people in the life, the tougher the break up can be.  It would be likened to a divorce that’s being followed all over the world.  Their relationship reminds me of the movie, “Mean Girls.” 

Bethenny is definitely the drama queen of the show, if not for Jill Zarin.  Miss Frankel finally got what she wanted and found herself a guy who would marry her and impregnate her in the form of a guy named Jason Hoppy.  The funny part about their relationship is that they’ve built Jason up to be this big time mysterious businessman, when in all actuality he’s just a working schlub like you or I.  He is a medical sales rep and dabbles as a personal trainer.  Hey, everybody’s gotta get their hustle on in the NYC.

Ramona Singer

Ramona is the certifiable lunatic on the show.  She didn’t grow up with money, but this mid 50’s cougar has done well by marriage and by the blood, sweat, and tears of working her way up the fashion ladder.  It would be safe to say that she has a good mind for business, but a 2 cent brain when it comes to common sense.  All of this can be explained by her abusive childhood that she pretty much refers to in every episode this season. Note to Ramona, your abuse ended well over 30 years ago; get over it. I could write all about her neurosis, but this video of her walking down the catwalk says it all

Alex

Alex is the only New York City Housewife who doesn’t live in the city.  The city being that of Manhattan.  Yes, I know that Brooklyn is one of the 5 Burroughs and you’re subject to paying a city tax, but Brooklyn ain’t the Big Apple.  The interesting thing about Alex is that she is actually a very sweet person and so is her sexually confused husband, Simon. 

Alex is probably the least physically attractive member of the cast, yet she thinks she’s quite the HOTTIE.  If by hottie, we mean, Skeletor; then by all means, Alex could be a pinup model.  You can tell based on how she speaks, she’s undergone a lot of therapy and like Jill, she was that unpopular girl always trying to fit in with the cool kids. 

I am truly happy for Alex and Simon as they’ve been able to milk this show for all its’ worth to become apart of outside ventures that stem from the show.  I believe they are making some serious bucks because of their affiliation with the show.

Overview

All in all, this is a television show that makes some very interesting viewing.  It’s an anthropologist’s dream in human psychology and behavior.  No matter how hard people try to pretend that they are classy, mature, and sophisticated; reality television will strip these folks down and show them in all their ugliness.

On the other hand, the trade off is that these people have become famous and have financially reaped the rewards of being on this show.  They’ve gotten book deals, marketing deals, development deals, and tons of business opportunities.  In fact, people such as Simon and Alex and Bethenny who weren’t RICH when the show started may end up having the last laugh.

richardbrianpenn RBP's Thoughts