The Bravo Thread

[mezzoforte]

Until about an hour ago, I'd been up in the air as to whether we really needed a Bravo thread.

Then I checked Gawker and realized we absolutely do. THIS must be discussed.



And also, THIS.



The housewives have taught me many lessons through the years, but chief among them: white chicks choose the worst weaves.

[HejiraNYC]

...and the worst plastic surgeons.



Although I have to admit that the NY plastic surgeons tend to exercise a bit more restraints than the practitioners on the other coast.

Great idea for a thread! Must rush home to watch the Countess!

By the way, I get my shirts made by the same tailor that Jill and Bobb-ay Zarin visited in the episode a couple of weeks ago - Mohan (where Jill insisted on having her initial monogrammed on his shirts ). I'm going to have to get some inside dish when I go back there next week.

[Amlyn]

Great idea Grace. Bravo is my go to network nowadays, especially in the summer. I'm obsessed with most things Bravo.

I can't wait for Flipping Out to start up again next week. That's one of my top favs.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by Amlyn

Great idea Grace. Bravo is my go to network nowadays, especially in the summer. I'm obsessed with most things Bravo.

I can't wait for Flipping Out to start up again next week. That's one of my top favs.

This is the show that makes me thankful I don't live in southern California.

Here is what I've wondered: Is Zoila really his maid in real life? Surely she gets paid decently to appear on the show (in the six figures easily). So when they are not filming, does she really continue to clean toilets and take out the trash? She's a celebrity, er, Bravolebrity, for crikeys sake! She probably even has her own agent and management.

I think a new season of Millionaire Matchmaker starts up soon. I luvs me some MM and Patti Stanger! That is what I'm most looking forward to.

[Amlyn]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

This is the show that makes me thankful I don't live in southern California.

Here is what I've wondered: Is Zoila really his maid in real life? Surely she gets paid decently to appear on the show (in the six figures easily). So when they are not filming, does she really continue to clean toilets and take out the trash? She's a celebrity, er, Bravolebrity, for crikeys sake! She probably even has her own agent and management.

I think a new season of Millionaire Matchmaker starts up soon. I luvs me some MM and Patti Stanger! That is what I'm most looking forward to.

Good question! I wonder. I really wish there was a way to secretly film some of these people. I mean this stuff is "reality" only up to a point. I think Zoila might really live with him, although I might tend to agree with you that she's not really the housekeeper.

MM is good. I've been coming around on that one. Did anyone see the RHONJ this week? I don't even know where to begin on that one other than saying Teresa looks like she stole an outfit from the It's a Small World ride last time she was in Orlando.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by Amlyn

MM is good. I've been coming around on that one. Did anyone see the RHONJ this week? I don't even know where to begin on that one other than saying Teresa looks like she stole an outfit from the It's a Small World ride last time she was in Orlando.

OMG, I love how Teresa presumed that they (the NJ housewives) were too classy for the Catskills, especially when she said stuff like "They looked at us like they've never shopped at Bloomingdales," or "when we walked in, it was like 5th Avenue." As Danielle Staub would say, "Puhlease!" Unless she was referring to 5th Ave. in East Orange, I think she was delusional. Here she is living like she's a countess, yet her husband makes pizzas for a living. I guess bankruptcy just wasn't the learning experience it was supposed to be.

And am I the only one believes that there is no singing career for a "wench" like Melissa Gorga?

[Amlyn]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

OMG, I love how Teresa presumed that they (the NJ housewives) were too classy for the Catskills, especially when she said stuff like "They looked at us like they've never shopped at Bloomingdales," or "when we walked in, it was like 5th Avenue." As Danielle Staub would say, "Puhlease!" Unless she was referring to 5th Ave. in East Orange, I think she was delusional. Here she is living like she's a countess, yet her husband makes pizzas for a living. I guess bankruptcy just wasn't the learning experience it was supposed to be.

And am I the only one believes that there is no singing career for a "wench" like Melissa Gorga?

I agree with everything you said!!! And I'm not getting the Melissa can sing love either. Maybe she needs to go on the Voice.

Some other tidbits...Someone i know was driving down to LBI a few weeks ago and was stuck in a traffic snarl and low and behold at the front of the pack was Teresa and Joe driving...at like 20 mph with a camera crew beside them. She said Teresa was driving (I assume because Joe lost his license) and that it was just so painful because there was no concern for the traffic that was being caused. My friend who told me this also has a lot of connections around NJ and told me that she heard that Joe was about to go serve some hard time.

I work about 5 mins from the Brownstone. I went to a wedding there once too for a family friend about 9 years ago. I saw them recently and they told me that they were not the nicest people to deal with. Gave them lots of problems about paying the bill not all in cash or something. Who walks around with 40k in cash to pay for a wedding? Well, those who aren't well, you know....

Here's the thing...if it wasn't for this show, NONE of these people would be household names. I mean, yeah, sometimes it's entertaining. But when you really stop to think about it, it's pretty beyond pathetic. Not that I would ever stop watching!

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by Amlyn

I agree with everything you said!!! And I'm not getting the Melissa can sing love either. Maybe she needs to go on the Voice.

Some other tidbits...Someone i know was driving down to LBI a few weeks ago and was stuck in a traffic snarl and low and behold at the front of the pack was Teresa and Joe driving...at like 20 mph with a camera crew beside them. She said Teresa was driving (I assume because Joe lost his license) and that it was just so painful because there was no concern for the traffic that was being caused. My friend who told me this also has a lot of connections around NJ and told me that she heard that Joe was about to go serve some hard time.

I work about 5 mins from the Brownstone. I went to a wedding there once too for a family friend about 9 years ago. I saw them recently and they told me that they were not the nicest people to deal with. Gave them lots of problems about paying the bill not all in cash or something. Who walks around with 40k in cash to pay for a wedding? Well, those who aren't well, you know....

Here's the thing...if it wasn't for this show, NONE of these people would be household names. I mean, yeah, sometimes it's entertaining. But when you really stop to think about it, it's pretty beyond pathetic. Not that I would ever stop watching!

Joe serving hard time? For what? He wasn't driving drunk. Sober people crash into trees all the time. In fact, he crashed his car and was so startled that he had run over to a neighbor's house and drink a fifth of vodka to calm his nerves. Yes, that's the first thing I would do- drink. Call 911 or the police? Puhlease. That's for sissies!

There is definitely something amiss with the Brownstone. The calculus just doesn't add up. Yes, I get that it must be a profitable business. For one family. But there are multiple families living high on the hog in their McMansions, Bentleys and Range Rovers from a catering hall that looks kinda low-scale and tacky (even by NJ standards). And I've read about some of the Manzo connections that have been indicted on all kinds of criminal activity. And what the heck does a meathead like Chris Laurita do for a living to also live so high on the hog? They are all connected somehow... They would have to cater weddings every single day to support that standard of living for so many people. I'm not saying there is any organized crime going on... but... I'm just sayin'... It seems ironic that Caroline would be so critical of Danielle's history considering she's probably in the thick of some unsavory doings of her own...

[Amlyn]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Joe serving hard time? For what? He wasn't driving drunk. Sober people crash into trees all the time. In fact, he crashed his car and was so startled that he had run over to a neighbor's house and drink a fifth of vodka to calm his nerves. Yes, that's the first thing I would do- drink. Call 911 or the police? Puhlease. That's for sissies!

There is definitely something amiss with the Brownstone. The calculus just doesn't add up. Yes, I get that it must be a profitable business. For one family. But there are multiple families living high on the hog in their McMansions, Bentleys and Range Rovers from a catering hall that looks kinda low-scale and tacky (even by NJ standards). And I've read about some of the Manzo connections that have been indicted on all kinds of criminal activity. And what the heck does a meathead like Chris Laurita do for a living to also live so high on the hog? They are all connected somehow... They would have to cater weddings every single day to support that standard of living for so many people. I'm not saying there is any organized crime going on... but... I'm just sayin'... It seems ironic that Caroline would be so critical of Danielle's history considering she's probably in the thick of some unsavory doings of her own...

I don't know more about Joe, other than I think he's in more trouble than that drinking incident. Which was a total headscratcher with what happened after you smashed a car.

Yeah, i have no clue was really goes on. I'm sure the family that is on the show is making decent money. Jacqueline even alluded to the fact that her daughter made enough to pay for her car for a year.

The sad thing is they probably were decent people before this show. I mean sure, issues were there, but this show has just made everyone's head the size of Texas. Look at Jill from NYC. Before when you quoted the episoe where she went with Bobby to pick out suits...poor guy couldn't get a word in edge wise. It's nuts!!

[skcin]

Originally Posted by Amlyn

Here's the thing...if it wasn't for this show, NONE of these people would be household names. I mean, yeah, sometimes it's entertaining. But when you really stop to think about it, it's pretty beyond pathetic. Not that I would ever stop watching!

I can't watch this sh*t. These people are nobody. NOBODY. Same for those Jersey morons. I am guilty of watching reality TV, but it's usually competition shows - Food Network Star, Top Chef, Project Runway, Amazing Race, American Idol, etc. Anyway...


At this point, my current Bravo shows are pretty much just the various incarnations of Top Chef.

[Beachwood Mac]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Joe serving hard time? For what? He wasn't driving drunk. Sober people crash into trees all the time. In fact, he crashed his car and was so startled that he had run over to a neighbor's house and drink a fifth of vodka to calm his nerves. Yes, that's the first thing I would do- drink. Call 911 or the police? Puhlease. That's for sissies!

The hard time is for marrying and impregnating someone from the gorilla family...his wife. Seriously, her hairline starts just above her eyebrows.

I won't admit to watching this show. Instead I will claim I read all about it on the survivorsucks website. The hard time he is facing stems from lying on his financials when they were foreclosing on his house. He also used a fake driver's license and, I believe, used a relatives birth certificate to obtain it when his license was suspended.

[mezzoforte]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

This is the show that makes me thankful I don't live in southern California.

Here is what I've wondered: Is Zoila really his maid in real life? Surely she gets paid decently to appear on the show (in the six figures easily). So when they are not filming, does she really continue to clean toilets and take out the trash? She's a celebrity, er, Bravolebrity, for crikeys sake! She probably even has her own agent and management.

I think a new season of Millionaire Matchmaker starts up soon. I luvs me some MM and Patti Stanger! That is what I'm most looking forward to.

Honestly, I doubt it's anywhere close to that; reality TV stars are paid a lot less than you'd think. The cast of RHONY were each paid only $8000 for the entire first season, and I would guess Zoila earns less than that. She doesn't have much to bargain with--whereas Bravo risks losing viewers if a popular housewife walks, a maid could be replaced relatively seamlessly. Nor can she supplement her income substantially with appearances or book deals, as the housewives do. I think it's actually plausible that she's still a maid.

Originally Posted by Amlyn

I don't know more about Joe, other than I think he's in more trouble than that drinking incident. Which was a total headscratcher with what happened after you smashed a car.

Yeah, i have no clue was really goes on. I'm sure the family that is on the show is making decent money. Jacqueline even alluded to the fact that her daughter made enough to pay for her car for a year.

The sad thing is they probably were decent people before this show. I mean sure, issues were there, but this show has just made everyone's head the size of Texas. Look at Jill from NYC. Before when you quoted the episoe where she went with Bobby to pick out suits...poor guy couldn't get a word in edge wise. It's nuts!!

Well, yes and no. I do think that only a specific type of person wants to be on a candid reality show. You'd have to be something of an egomaniac to believe that America not only should care about the minutia of your life, but will also fall in love with you for it.
That sad, some of their heads do appear to inflate exponentially with each season--NeNe, Sonja, and Jill being the prime examples.
Ah, Jill Zarin! How I adored you in season 1! I wanted you to be the Jewish mother I never had! And now you've gone off and joined ranks with Countess LuMan and Kelly "Satchels of gold" Bensimon and done terrible things to your perfectly nice face.

[DefDumbandBlond]

Haha I love the Real Housewives.....series. Except for DC and Miami which were f*cking boring as hell. Sonja on NY is my fave, partly because she loves me haha!

[Heartboy]

Originally Posted by skcin

I can't watch this sh*t. These people are nobody. NOBODY.

I have to disagree esp when it comes to Kim & Kyle Richards!

just sayin'

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by mezzoforte

Honestly, I doubt it's anywhere close to that; reality TV stars are paid a lot less than you'd think. The cast of RHONY were each paid only $8000 for the entire first season, and I would guess Zoila earns less than that. She doesn't have much to bargain with--whereas Bravo risks losing viewers if a popular housewife walks, a maid could be replaced relatively seamlessly. Nor can she supplement her income substantially with appearances or book deals, as the housewives do. I think it's actually plausible that she's still a maid.

That was per episode, not the entire season! I believe I read that the going rate now is $30,000 per episode, which puts them on a par with actors on scripted network shows. So it's no wonder these shows are re-broadcast 20 times per week- that's a big investment to recoup. I suspect Zoila has to get at least in the low five-figures per episode. After all, she is a featured "character" and is in the opening credits. I do wonder whether the husbands and kids get paid, e.g., Simon, Albie, Donn, Slade, etc.

Okay... so what do you think about Million Dollar Design? I think it's painful to watch. Not only because it haunts me with memories about my own (ongoing) construction nightmare. It's just that interior design is just inherently not interesting enough to make into a reality series. I kid you not... there was actually this "tense" scene where one designer and his partner (professionally and personally) are fighting because one wants to put a floor lamp next to the couch, and the other wants to put an end table with a table lamp. It even featured that "fight music" soundtrack in the background. Really? You would think they were fighting over custody of the kids or something.