More on Kelly in NYC court today

So....here's a photo of Kelly outside the NYC court today, where her allegedly abused boytoy Nick Stefanov sought to extend his restraining order against "Socializer," Kelly Killoren Bensimon.

According to the NY Daily News, Kelly is going with the old "blame it on the boyfriend" defense.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20269066,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines From the article:

Blame it on the boyfriend.

The lawyer for Kelly Killoren Bensimon - one of "The Real Housewives of New York City" - says her jilted beau was responsible for the lovers' quarrel that landed the reality star in court.

"I can't believe the guy went to the police," defense attorney Ed Hayes said Tuesday. "It is very, very mean-spirited. It's not like she's in his apartment. He's in her apartment."

Hayes said there was a break-up between Bensimon and Nicholas Stefanov, followed by a scuffle in her Manhattan apartment when he refused to leave.

"It's the reverse of a jilted girlfriend," Hayes said after a brief court appearance. "He's a rejected boyfriend."

While prosecutors asked for an extension of an order of protection for Stefanov, Hayes charged the ex-boyfriend was sending Bensimon threatening e-mails.

"I'm going to make your life misery," read one of the missives cited by Hayes.

Bensimon, 40, the ex-wife of famous fashion photographer Giles Bensimon, was dressed in black from head to toe for her courtroom appearance. The case was put off until June 8.

The mother of two girls was accused of punching 30-year-old Stefanov in the face, causing lacerations below the left eye and "substantial pain," according to a complaint he filed with police.

"I'm devastated my girls and I have to go through something like this," said Bensimon, sporting a gold watch and diamond stud earrings. "They don't need to be exposed to something like this."

Bensimon, a model and editor, was confident the case would be resolved in her favor. "The only time I'll ever be here again is for jury duty," she said.
She could face up to a year behind bars if convicted.

Kelly Bensimon in court for assault charge

Pictured above, Kelly Killoren Bensimon--in happier days--with then husband (and old man) photographer, Gilles Bensimon.

This morning, Kelly was in a Manhattan courtroom with her famous mouthpiece, Eddie Hayes, to answer charges of putting a beatdown on her fiancee/boy toy, Nick Stefanov. Kelly is 40, Nick is 30. Kelly was the 3rd wife of French born Gilles Bensimon, who is 65.

According to People magazine, Stefanov was not in court this morning and Kelly said little more than how "uncomfortable" this situation is for her and her two daughters. Her lawyer, Eddie Hayes, did manage to tell a tv program that Nick is just a "jilted moron." The link to People magazine: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20269066,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines

Real Housewives of OC's Vicki receives death threat?

Listen, I abhor Vicki's "woo-hooing" as much as anyone, but I can't condone a death threat against anyone. What kind of obsessed fan would email Vicki and Jeana????

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/03/31/2009-03-31_real_housewives_of_orange_county_star_vi.html From the article:

A "Real Housewives" star is experiencing some serious off-screen drama.

Vicki Gunvalson, one of the stars of Bravo's "Real Housewives of Orange County," has received death threats from an unhappy female fan.

The obsessed viewer, who was not pleased with a comment Gunvalson made to a castmate during one episode, called for payback, reports E! News.

"Vicki did get a threatening call from a fan who was watching the show, and she didn't like something Vicki said to [co-star] Jeana Keough," says Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino. "Jeana also got an e-mail at home containing a direct threat to Vicki."

Amormino said the fan alluded to potential acts of violence in the e-mail to Keough, saying, "I'll take care of Vicki."

"It is a criminal threat and we are pursuing it aggressively," Amormino says.

Gunvalson has been on the hit series, now in its fifth season, since the show's inception.

The 45-year-old also runs a successful insurance and financial services agency.

SCARY!!

Breaking up is hard to do, my love

Breaking news on "The Countess," LuAnn DeLesseps...and it's not about her upcoming etiquette book! Rumors have been swirling in The Big Apple that the Count, Alex DeLesseps--the often unseen husband of insufferable LuAnn may be shacking up with a much YOUNGER woman overseas. Today, it reached The NY Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/31/real-housewives-countess_n_181122.html From the article:

Luann de Lesseps, the countess from "The Real Housewives of New York," is single. The 40-something American former model has been dumped via email by her 60-something husband Alex, with whom she has two kids.

Tuesday's NY Post confirms the rumors first reported Monday by New York Social Diary.

From the NYP:


A close pal said, "They decided to separate. She got wind he was seeing somebody and he didn't answer her when she called. He finally sent her an e-mail saying he was with an Ethiopian woman in Geneva and he was serious with her."


The revelation came as a shock to the countess, who celebrated her 16th anniversary with her husband on March 16.

"Luann was blindsided. She was just devastated," the close friend told Page Six. "They have basically lived apart for many years -- he lives in Europe and comes and goes as he pleases, but she never thought this would happen.


Monday's NYSD wrote:


Word comes from across the sea, that New York Housewives' Luann deLesseps has flown off (desperately?) to Europe to see husband Alex in an attempt to save their crumbling marriage. Alex, the Count de Lesseps has, it is said on the streets of Geneva, taken up with a beautiful Ethiopian beauty who is not only quite a bit younger than he but also quite a bit younger than his wife.


In the meantime, the sixty-something count has slimmed down, tanned up and looks years younger, according to friends, which once again raises the age-old question: Ain't love grand?



Luann plans to keep the title, though. Her book on manners, "Class With the Countess," comes out next month.






I sure hope LuAnn took note of the dating advice she laid on Bethenny a few episodes back--it seems she may need to use the advice herself. I'm sure, being Alex's fifth wife, she never saw THIS coming . A marriage unraveled via email?? How declasse!

Pot Calling the Kettle Black (Why I can't stand Bethenny Frankel)

The cartoon is just a little kitchen humor directed at Real Housewives of NYC's Bethenny Frankel. I DVR'd tonight's episode, which was good because the past few weeks have been boring and predictable so I just semi-watched while they aired and didn't bother with a re-cap. The truth is--I can't stand Bethenny Frankel and it actually has LITTLE to do with her incredibly annoying voice!!

Tonight, I rewound several parts just to make sure I could accurately quote Miss Bethenny. I was stunned at her hypocrisy so here are the quotes I had trouble with (both are directed squarely at fellow castmember, Kelly Killoren Bensimon):

43 minutes in, she looks directly at the camera and says, "Her reputation is someone who is really, really trying desperately to be famous."

The next gem, attributed to some "unknown people" who have been talking to Bethenny happened 47 minutes into the episode, and again, was announced straight into the camera so there's zero chance of bad editing or misquoting/splicing, "People have said to me that she's extremely enamored with celebrities and it's very important to her to be associating with influencers and celebrities and, and, and, people like that. I know celebrities, too. It's my work. It's not my goal."

Now please, in the name of IRONY, please tell me these words weren't declared by Bethenny Frankel of not ONE, but TWO reality tv shows. Yes, the celebrity-seeking contestant of Martha Stewart's Apprentice and The Real Housewives non-housewife.

Go back in time to 1994 and check out Bethenny in "Hollywood Hills 90028" or given its reviews...don't. Here's the synopsis on www.imdb.com It's not pretty http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369540/

From there, you only have to read Bethenny's blog this week to learn more of her "celebrity" connections..."I produced large-scale events such as the Grammys, Emmys, movie premieres, and more... in my past life.

This not-so-kind assessment of Bethenny comes from the OC Register, which does a great job of covering their own OC Housewives "The reality TV world surprises us sometimes with all of the interconnections. We saw a great example of that this week on “Dancing With the Stars.”

And we’re not talking about Bethany Frankel of “The Real Housewives of New York” (and Martha Stewart’s version of “The Apprentice”), who was sitting in the audience Monday and practically waving into the camera every time it pointed her way."
http://pedrowatcher.freedomblogging.com/2009/03/20/reality-tv-its-a-small-world-after-all/4569/
Yes, Bethenny of blogging on *any* show on Bravo and now expanding that to blogging on Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bethenny-frankel/the-business-of-reality-t_b_172147.html In Bethenny's own words, "Well, it is true. I am now a reality star.

I always say it is about the journey not the destination and this is part of my journey.

In my years of acting, TV production, then movie production, then event production and ultimately pashmina importing, I never knew that I would become a chef to the stars and more famous for my role in The Real Housewives of New York City.

I always say, "Don't hate the player, hate the game."


When it comes from a woman who apparently has chased (and found) stardom of sorts, touts herself as a CELEBRITY chef, writes a book, incorporates how she can help Oprah with her weight loss book on nearly every interview, blogs anywhere there is an audience, tells reporters that she used to babysit Paris Hilton, and finally, is so in love with her own reflection in the backdrop of "Dancing with the Stars," where does Bethenny get off criticizing *ANYONE* of being "really, really desperate to get famous," when in fact, she is the complete embodiment of that accusation? It's a kind revision of history when Bethenny claims that she "knows celebrities because it's her work and not her goal." Precisely what "work" was involved with "Dancing with the Stars?"

Unlike Bethenny, I don't hate the player nor the game. It just seems like a pile of hypocrisy for her to accuse Kelly Bensimon of doing something she has actively done since 1994.

Dear Bethenny--you'd better check yourself before you wreck yourself. (I know that's one of your favorite lines to repeat, ad nauseum, but I couldn't resist)

Real Housewives of NYC Season 2, Episode 6 Runway Run-In

1. We begin this week's episode with Kelly sorting through her Fashion Week invites, but I'm distracted by the giant horse statue that resides in her living room. Jill pays a visit to her fav NYC designer, Zang Toi. He's ADORABLE in his kilt, and his legs are enviably hairless. I wasn't familiar with his clothes, but they look amazing on Jill....most especially the ball gown!! It was nice to see Jill feeling like a princess (although, truth be told, there is no way in hell she's a size zero....and not because she's overweight, but because she's busty). Still, the clothes in this collection make Jill look radiant and it's so nice to see.


Fashion Week has even hit the 'burbs and Alex and Simon are traipsing through Brooklyn to meet up with their local designers. I KNOW these two are always saying that they are each other's stylists, but REALLY (!!) why is Simon here? None of the other housewives (on any franchise--OC, ATL, or NYC) have this co-dependent relationship with their husbands.... He's just TOO involved. Listening to his monologue about how living in NYC means having to own the right number of little black dresses (how is he an authority on this topic, Mr Hotel General Manager??), followed quickly by his 'vasectomy revelation'....ugh! My stomach.



2. Jill, Bethenny, and Ramona meet up with Jill's friend, Christina to talk charity stuff and it can't be overstated that Christina has a rooftop garden and view TO DIE FOR!!!! CreakyJoints sounds like a terrific charity.

Bethenny says in her voiceover that she gets frustrated at these meetings because "it's a lot of talking." I can't imagine how else the details would be hammered out (hieroglyphics?) and what more important things does Bethenny have to be doing..? Baking cookies and cupcakes? (Okay, that seems snarky, but just last week, Bethenny asked Alex to join her at the health expo and I don't remember Alex criticizing that all it amounted to was handing out muffins and cookies). Besides, Bethenny was finding a way to market her "skinny girl" margaritas so it wasn't a complete waste of her time.

3. Next, Kelly is off to Russel Simmons' Fashion Show. I don't know if this is directly related to the addition of Kelly Bensimon to the cast, but Russel has been in at least three episodes of the RHoNYC this season. He's almost neck and neck with Simon in the camera-whoredom department.

Speaking, again, of Simon, I was confounded by his confrontation of Ramona this week. They were in the front row of the fashion show and (again) not another husband in sight. WHY IS HE EVEN THERE?? We don't see Mario or Bobby. Anyway, wrong time and place for the discussion he was trying to have with Ramona. He's not a cast member, but I'm pretty sure (with all his personal interviews and voiceovers) that he thinks he is one. Here's a clue, Simon, when someone is avoiding you, you can't possibly think that a crowded fashion show (with reality tv cameras rolling) make it an appropriate venue for ironing out last season's tiffs?



4. Kelly and LuAnn visit the Malo cashmere store. LuAnn and Kelly are both so statuesque that they could be sisters. I don't know why Kelly was being such a stick-in-the-mud. LuAnn is coming off a rough few weeks as "The Countess/Manners Hypocrite" so it was surprising to see the LuAnn of last season--who is actually damn likeable. In my humble opinion, the cashmere dress looked better on LuAnn and I totally didn't get Kelly's pairing the hat with the gorgeous dress. LuAnn settled on a beautiful black sleveless number, which fit her perfectly.

In the Malo store, LuAnn mentions Jill's charity and there's the foreshadowing that Jill hasn't included Kelly in the planning stages and I could understand Kelly's trepidation of being invited to the charity meeting second-hand.



At the Malo show, LuAnn and Kelly dish on the Ramona-Simon feud. LuAnn mostly threw Ramona under the bus. She downplayed the "Simon at girls night" from last season (which was the very beginning of the creepiness that *is* Simon) and proceeded to run Ramona over a few more times, back up, and run her over again.

Kelly, for the second time, expresses her concern about getting involved with Jill's charity, yet LuAnn apparently doesn't pass this info to Jill and that will be critical later. I do *not* understand Kelly's reluctance to have her name on invitations, but at least she's been consistent in saying this two days in a row. If LuAnn was assuming the role of messenger, she should have relayed not just the invitation, but also the feedback she was getting.



5. Jill and Ally arrive at the Zang Toi fashion show luncheon (YAY Ally is back!) As she explained last season, Jill is a "connector" and she clearly likes hooking up this designer with her circle of friends who can afford his clothing line.

I was surprised to see Bethenny at the luncheon, but I'd forgotten she was on the cover of "Social Life" magazine and the gown she was wearing was by Zang.

The fashion show luncheon was a great success and Jill was clearly in her element.

6. Kelly goes to Jill Stuart's studio to interview her. Her interview "style" was all over the place and I'm not sure what "gems" she got for her article, based on the awkward conversation we saw. I'll cut her some slack in that she works for "Page Six Magazine" for the NY Post--a publication that won't be winning any Pulitzers in the foreseeable future.

7. Bethenny and Jill have a girls' dinner at Le Cirque. I love this restaurant and I was surprised/disappointed that they allowed filming of a reality show in their dining room. Bethenny *finally* decides to tell about her reasons for not liking Kelly, which dates back TWO YEARS. I am puzzled because in the very first episode of this season, when she and Jill are in the Hamptons and Jill begs Bethenny to tell her everything she knows about Kelly, she didn't mention a peep about the crap she made seem a big deal tonight.

Anyway, according to Bethenny, two years ago, Kelly was supposed to host a party for Bethenny's friend, Ginny Hilfiger, at Kelly's apt and Bethenny says that Kelly didn't even bother showing up until TOMMY HILFIGER arrived and worse yet, Bethenny is sure that Kelly was hitting on Bethenny's boyfriend at the time, Kevin. Kevin was a famous photographer and Bethenny swears she was paying too much attention to him and saying she wanted to book him to take her pictures, etc. So, there's a history...and now the rivalry seems to make sense.

The funniest part of the whole episode was Jill's objection to Kelly's not wearing a bra (or as she pronounces it..."brar")!! Bobby Zarin does not need to see wandering breasts (and frankly, neither does anyone else.)



8. Yes, it's still fashion week and although Bethenny keeps protesting to the camera that she's not a "fashionista" and she's so not into fashion, we are about to see her attend yet another fashion show (and she lists three others to Kelly that we DIDN'T see her attend...). She's been invited by Jill Stuart's publicist to Jill's show. Naturally, we already know that Kelly and Jill Stuart are chummy and Kelly has an interview coming out about Jill's line so, for sure, she will also be there. (Also, audience, be real--surely the film crews KNEW these two would be filmed at this event for tonight's episode. We're not as naive as the plot line would suggest).

Bethenny was next to Jill Stuart's publicist and Kelly was with Howard Stern's wife, Beth, so I have no idea why Kelly and Bethenny chose to sit directly next to each other, except that it gave them each an opportunity to move their hair around and look uncomfortable....and give the camera crew something to tape.

I have to agree with Kelly's interview assessment that she invited Bethenny to see the work of a photographer with her and Bethenny basically turned it into a pissing contest of who knew whom better, etc. It was a really passive-aggressive moment for Bethenny. If she wanted to bring up the long-forgotten moment of Kelly flirting with a boyfriend...who is at least two boyfriends ago, then she should do it or let it go.


(Who ELSE is late for this meeting? Uh, ALEX and apparently, Ramona)

9. And now for the best scene of the ENTIRE season. Charity meeting number two at Christina's fab apt and Kelly shows up late. (Upon reading Alex's blog on Bravo, apparently, she was LATER than Kelly so I'm not sure why the late arrival seemed to set everyone off). Anyway, Kelly immediately puts her foot in her mouth by responding to the news that Ally has arthritis by saying, "Oh that's cute." True, that was about the last thing to say, BUT I blame Jill for the set up on this. After being invited, secondhand, by LuAnn, clearly Kelly doesn't even know the basics on the event.

Predictably, the issue of being named an Honorary Co-Chair and appearing on the invite is broached. The Countess knew this several days prior so there's a communication breakdown between Jill and everyone serving on her charity. As soon as Kelly voices her objection to being tied to *any* charity (not just this one) Bethenny starts shooting looks all over the room as if this woman has just murdered her cat. For Bethenny, clearly, this isn't about the charity, but it's an easy foil for her agenda of not liking Kelly. Period.

Kelly expresses that she is at the meeting to get info and she's happy to attend and/or work in the trenches, but she doesn't want her name on it. As Bethenny flashes crazy-eyed looks around the table, the girl next to her asks, "Who is she?" in regards to Kelly and Bethenny thinks it's time for one of her self-congratulatory one liners, "Evidently, she's Madonna." It was a catty moment and not funny, especially from the person who is using the charity to market her alcoholic signature drink and playing bartender at the event.

Bethenny then launches into some lecture about "coming from a place of no," where she kind of lost me, but I thought Kelly's blog on Bravo's site summed it up best that the "place of yes," vs "place of no," is clearly something one would hear on a therapist's couch and I agree (http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/blogs/kelly-killoren-Bensimon/b-is-for-bully-not-baked-goods).

Bethenny accuses Kelly of showing up at the charity a half an hour late and by saying what she would and wouldn't do, that she made the meeting all about herself, but it all goes back to the fact that Jill should have reached out to Kelly, personally, in advance of the meeting and gotten her approval. I can't imagine Bethenny being in a "place of yes" if the same scenario was thrown at her.

Next week promises to be AWESOME with Kelly and Bethenny really duking it out.

**It should be said that I don't care much for Kelly!! I was totally unaware of her before she joined this show and when she was arrested, a few weeks back, for putting the beatdown on her boytoy, I dredged up every article I could find in the NY papers and posted them on my blog. I don't think Kelly fits in well or adds much to the dynamic of this show, BUT in this argument, I don't think Bethenny has a leg to stand on....and I'll post why in my next entry.

Here, also are Bethenny's blog http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/blogs/bethenny-frankel/bang-it-out .


In case you need Trashy Tamra Barney's perspective (??) she offers her support for Bethenny (who, curiously blogged in support of Tamra in the hideous episode that became known for Tamra getting a houseguest "naked wasted") http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-new-york-city/blogs/tamra-barney/cut-the-bs

Preview for next week's catfight

Ramona Singer dancing--alone--at Hamptons party

Sheesh--last week, I thought it was just me (or some unfortunate editing!) when I spied Ramona dancing, by herself, at the Hamptons Party for Bethenny's cover on The Real Housewives of NYC. The show has "featured" Ramona's spastic dancing in the past and it never disappoints!!

Some genius posted this clip on Youtube and as you can see, my eyes did *not* deceive me. Not only is Ramona a horrible dancer, please note that she is the ONLY person in the crowd, dancing at all. Classic Ramona.

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Bravo TV Video - Catchphrases

This is a VERY short clip, but it emcompasses why I am having trouble getting into The Real Housewives of NYC this season:

Ramona rambling about getting what she wants (and not just spitting out what she has been saying since she first met a tv camera--that making money is an aphrodesiac and she likes it), the "Countess" referring to herself in the third person, and Bethenny having absolutely no sense of modesty by dubbing HERSELF the "Queen of One Liners," yet prattling off tons of one-liners...none of which remotely belong to her! Newsflash, Bethenny, the 1980s called and they want their lines back.

Bravo TV Video - Feeling the Heat

Ooooh. I just figured out Bravo's new site. Well, the site itself isn't new, but they did some upgrades a while back and I could no longer figure out how to embed the videos or photos---and that's because AOL won't play nice with *ANY* site on the entire internet. Playing with IE, there's actually a tag to embed on Blogger, which will make the RHofNYC easier and more fun.

Here's the icky clip of Simon "feeling the heat." Ramona is right--he makes my skin crawl! And is it just me or did Ramona get her meds adjusted because she's not nearly AS loathsome this season...

As much as Simon van Kempen makes me itch....

Okay, as fake as I know these two are...and as much as I skeeve when I hear Simon mutter, "feel the heat," while being massaged (and I do!!)

I am so loving the digs he takes at the faux NYC Housewives on his blog (Bravo only publishes the HouseWIVES so Simon has his own outlet) here: http://www.mccordvankempen.com/blog.php

"Real" Housewives of NYC

I had so many posts dedicated to the antics of those crazy Orange County Housewives, yet I can barely type a write-up on the Housewives in my own city....of NYC.

Unlike 90% of the blogosphere, I CANNOT stand Bethenny Frankel. God help me!! I can't stand her shrill voice or her corny second-hand lines that she passes off as her own. For example........"Check yourself before you wreck yourself." Sure...we *ALL* know Ice Cube uttered that phrase in 2006. Right? Cough, cough?

Apparently not. Bethenny used that in the final show with Andy Cohen and the cast cracked up. This week, in cast blogs, not only does Bethenny recycle it, but Jill uses it.

I find Bethenny soooooo annoying and so self-congratulatory that I find the show hard to watch. I am ever so grateful that Bethenny owned up to throwing up in her own mouth over watching herself, on this week's episode, talking about how envious others are of her....because we were all feelin' it.

Weakly, she wrote, that she didn't realize how that would play out. Uh---I can never see how it would have played out well. Patting yourself on the back that hard? Yeah--we weren't envious. Trust me. We were all feeling badly for you and luckily, you did catch on. (We wanted to tell you to "Check yourself, etc.") I am 99% sure Luanne was dubbed "Discountess" somewhere else before Bethenny STOLE that one-liner.

I like Jill. She's a busy body and I think either Bravo should give her gay boyfriend, Brad, his own show or cut him lose. He sucks the oxygen out of the show. I know Jill's daughter was in Paris, etc, but we do *NOT* need a sub-plot of Ginger (her dog) or Brad. Her husband, Bobby, is awesome and we could use more of Gloria, her mom.

What we could use a whole lot LESS of is the "Zarin fabrics," multilevel chocolate diet scheme, your Ebay site, your sister's radio show, your "Team Jill" tee shirt tie in, and every other link you can possibly put on your blog!!! This is a mindless tv show---not an infomercial for every business endeavor you have ever considered. It's a recession and we are home watching Bravo because we do NOT own homes in the Hamptons. Just stop!!

Crazy-eyed Ramona has never bothered me. I find her amusing and I like Mario and Avery. In real life, I'd avoid Ramona like the plague, but since she's part of the show, I watch her and I love her Hamptons house.

Luanne? Luanne, Luanne, Luanne. Goodness gracious. Telling the pizza delivery guy that you are a COUNTESS? Ridiculous. As ridiculous as chastising Bethenny last season for using your "real" first name with the limo driver. Luanne--you are the Count's THIRD wife. Get over yourself. We have *ALL* read about you in the NY Post for your drunken and cavorting escapades so drop the etiquette crap. See where E-T-T-I-Q-U-E-T-T-E bullshit got Tamra and avoid that pitfall. You are setting yourself up for a huge fall and the other castmember's blogs are showing you up.

I totally discount AlexandSimon. Yes, they are one word. They're fake to the extreme and the beauty is that they are clueless that this show (their vehicle to SOCIETY) shows them up as frauds so I watch and laugh that fake laugh as they expose themselves (and much more when Simon wears his speedo). Their kids are terrors that I hope I'm never seated next to on a small airplane.

And that only leaves Kelly Killoren Bensimon, whose arrest I dedicated at least three posts to this week. She is soooo mannish and in light of the whole Chris Brown/Rihanna crap, she should be held to the same standard.

As for the broad shoulders and the fake uber-educated prose blogs she posts? Yeah--thanks for the rundown this week on everything that happened since you last wrote? I was sure bored to tears with the detail----------------until I realized you left out the whole ARREST thing that happened. Try again, doll. True? Yes, your booking sheet actually indicates you ARE a man!! It was a mistake, but an understandable one at that. At what was it you said on camera about "Kelly-time?" You said that mean something FUN was gonna happen. Did you mean a smackdown? Was your boyfriend sporting flesh wounds and that can only mean...."Kelly time?!?"

Here in Manhattan, no one who is really "high society" would ever consent to these camera crews and crazy editing. Ditto on the West Coast (and clearly in Atlanta). It makes for good basic cable TV, but these divas let the "fame" of basic cable get to their heads---and THAT it why it's fun to watch!! Further, I read a blog Bethenny submitted to Huffington Post last week (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bethenny-frankel/the-business-of-reality-t_b_172147.html) What's so funny in reading her post, in earnest, is that this shrill bitch *STILL* doesn't get that the joke is on her.

Absolutely, I will still DVR "The Real Housewives of NYC." It's mind candy. Empty calorie tv, by definition....and watching these ladies take themselves so seriously is incredibly funny. They can write all the "CYA" blogs they want....the joke is (and always has been ) squarely on them.

Chelsea Lately

I so rarely watch E! Network (okay, except for watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians.....which is so awful I can't *not* watch it). I saw the season premiere of Keeping Up with Kim & the Gang, but I was distracted while it was on so I rewatched it tonight and left E! on.......

You'd be surprised at what happens when you leave on a station you wouldn't normally watch. I SWEAR Chelsea Lately said Jason Mesnick used to sell cell phones in the mall and he's flat broke.

Did anyone actually see this show.........or am I hallucinating??

Alex McCord loses her job at Victoria Secret

I was just reading an update on Kelly Killoren Bensimon and the charges against her for battering her boyfriend (uh, allegedly) and I found out that Miss Alex McCord (other half of AlexandSimon) lost her job. Oh no!! How ever will those two be able to afford the clothing shopping sprees and enjoying St Barth's (off season)?

If I had to guess, they will just drop the renovation plans on their townhouse and continue to live in the shambles they did last season.

More on Kelly Killoren Bensimon's arrest

This comes right from NYC's favorite tabloid/newspaper of record when it comes to gossip--The NY Post--and funny enough, it's the newspaper where Kelly used to have a column:

She's a hissing, claws-out socialite on the hit Bravo reality show "Real Housewives of New York City," but Kelly Bensimon turned into a butt-kicking boyfriend beater in her posh lower-Manhattan coop last week, court records claim.

The 6-foot-tall, 40-year-old former model, horse fancier and one-time marathon runner got into a fight last week with her boyfriend, 30-year-old Nick Stefanov, and clocked him, giving him a black eye and opening a blood-gushing gash on his left cheek, according to the records.

Stefanov fled her apartment on Centre Street after the Tuesday-morning beating and reported the mother of two to cops at the 5th Precinct station.

A source said Bensimon at the time was sporting "a fat lip."

Bensimon surrendered two days later and was charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault. She's due in court March 31.

"We got engaged a couple weeks ago," Stefanov told one friend. "We got into an argument that escalated and escalated. She hauled off and started swinging. She got a lucky punch on my cheekbone and just split it right open. I went down to the police station covered in blood."

Stefanov declined to speak directly to The Post, but told pals he went to his hometown of Pittsburgh because he was embarrassed to be seen in New York with a black eye and cut face.

"If I had done it to her, I would have been put in jail immediately," Stefanov told his friend.

"My injuries are worse than Rihanna's - and Chris Brown was charged with two felonies."

After dating Bensimon for nearly four years, and being a surrogate father to her two daughters, taking them to soccer games and ballet classes, Stefanov isn't ready to end their relationship.

But when he got back to New York a few days later, he learned there was a restraining order that prevents both parties from contacting each other.

"I sent her an e-mail, and the cops called me and said you can't do that," Stefanov told a friend. "It's snowballing into something no one ever intended."

Bensimon's lawyer, Stephen Turano, called the charges "unfounded."

A Bravo spokeswoman said the show "doesn't comment on the private lives of our talent."

An e-mail to her ex-husband, fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon, who is the father of the couple's two daughters, was not returned.

Kelly Bensimon ran the New York City Marathon in 2007, wrote a book on bikinis and was a columnist for Page Six Magazine.

She also modeled for Elle, Mademoiselle, Cosmopolitan and Harper's Bazaar, and was the face for Clarins.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03102009/news/regionalnews/beau__i_got_a_wife_beating_158911.htm?CMP=EMC-email_edition&DATE=03102009

Kelly Killoren Bensimon arrested for hitting her boyfriend!

Wow. This is big news in NYC....it's even on the front page of the NY Daily News. Here's the article http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/03/09/2009-03-09_real_housewives_of_new_york_city_star_ke.html

I have to say that I really don't "get" Kelly as an addition to The Real Housewives of NYC. I watched one episode where she tried to explain her job as "The Socializer," or whatever her job is. She flits into Hamptons parties, takes some photos with guests, proclaims the party "foxy," and skips away.

There is something very masculine about her build. I sure wouldn't want to take a sucker punch from her! Anyway, I you know you're news when Regis mentions you at the top of "Regis & Kelly," and that's how I first heard about this. Not good.

One thing of interest--she is 10 years older than her punching bag, I mean, beau...Nick Stefanov.

JASON MESNICK--awesome Youtube video--as you've never seen him before!!

This made me laugh HYSTERICALLY. I was so glad to be home alone when I viewed it because I am sure I couldn't explain to anyone else how funny I find this video!! Pay special attention to the EYEGLASSES and the second photo....is that a man-perm gone wrong?? Thanks to whomever posted this on Youtube. I am sure I'll reference this post for days to come when I need a good giggle!!

Melissa Rycroft to join "Dancing with the Stars"

Well that was quick!! Melissa, formerly engaged and dumped by Jason Mesnick, has signed on to the show "Dancing with the Stars" to replace Nancy O'Dell from Access Hollywood, who was injured during rehearsals.

Melissa may have an advantage, having been a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. I could have *sworn* she said on Ellen Degeneres's show that her reality tv show days were behind her. It is a girl's perogative to change her mind---so what's Jason's excuse??

Link to NY Daily News article http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/03/08/2009-03-08_the_bachelor_exfiancee_melissa_rycroft_t.html

More details on the Gretchen Rossi restraining order against Jay Photoglou

I am really starting to like the website Radar Online! According to their latest post on the Jay Photoglou melodrama, Gretchen is seeking restraining orders in additional cities. Here's what they have to say:

"Real Housewife Files a Restraining Order
Adding another twist to her ongoing real-life drama, The Real Housewives of Orange County star Gretchen Rossi filed a temporary restraining order on Friday against a rumored recent ex-boyfriend Jay Photoglou.

A source tells RadarOnline.com exclusively that Rossi had at least thirty pages of evidence against Photoglou to show the judge this morning and plans on filing similar orders in multiple cities. She also apparently filed a restraining order for him to stay away from her dogs.

"I look forward to the truth being played out in court," Photoglou tells RadarOnline.com. "It's an obvious attempt by Gretchen to silence me, as I've only spoken the truth about our relationship."

Here's a direct link to their article: http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2009/03/real-housewife-files-a-restraining-order.php

I guess it would be easy to accrue 30 pages of evidence with Jay's big mouth and busy fingers hitting up every tabloid and internet website he can find....

Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney show their faces--On Ellen's talk show

Well I hope that's the last I see of those two...I tuned on mostly to see how Ellen would handle the scandal-ridden couple. Jason's excuses are weak and pathetic and when they brought Molly out, what's with her embracing and kissing Jason? Um, didn't they arrive to the studio together and weren't they backstage in hair and makeup together? Someone forgot to give Molly the memo to QUIT pretending like she hasn't seen Jason--like she did on the Affter the Rose Part II atrocity.

I could also live with just one four minute segment when they can refrain from shoving their tongues down each other's throats. Just...ick.

Now, go away.