Tonight, Bethenny has a Christmas party. The invitation described the event as “Raw Bar and Bubbly.” Guests were asked to bring a tree ornament (optional) and a wrapped gift for a yankee swap (not optional) the dress request was “all that is glittery and gold.” Ramona Singer was not on the guest list. However, it was supposed to be an all cast party, so she might just show up. Luann returns from her honeymoon in the Bahamas to have a wedding reception in NYC.
We start with Sonja and her boytoy Frenchie. Apparently Frenchie slept over because he is making breakfast. ICYMI, Sonja was drunk as a skunk on the WWHL after show this week talking about going to Paris with Frenchie this week. It’s must see TV. Sonja is dating two guys and they both think it is exclusive. At least that is what Sonja thinks. Frenchie lets on that he knows about Rocco. Later in the episode we learn that Frenchie is moving in.
Since Ramona isn’t invited to the party, she crashes Avery’s holiday dinner with Avery’s friends.
Bethenny has a SkinnyGirl ice luge at her party. Because, Bethenny. This is the last filming before people head off to their Christmas destinations. Sonja is going to Phucket. Carole is not much of a drinker, but she is really enjoying the margarita luge. A lot. This could get interesting.
I’m bored. We didn’t even get to see the yankee swap.
On to Luann’s wedding. I’ve never heard an officiant ask the bride and groom if they are there of their own free will and joyfully prepared to marry. It was a lovely ceremony and Luann seems over the moon with happiness. But I found the Marilyn Monroe impersonator jumping out of a wedding cake quite odd.
Bethenny and Carole head to Chinatown for dim sum. I’ve always wanted to do dim sum but since I generally travel alone, it’s just not a thing to order just for one person. One year I was in Chinatown with my sister and we had vastly different things we wanted to do. She wanted to go to all the expensive clothes stores and I preferred Greenwich village, Chinatown and Little Italy. I went out to a club without her the night before we were supposed to leave. I was so hung over the next day I thought I was going to die. I stumbled to China town and got three bowls of soup. As I got ready to go, I realized I didn’t have any money. There was a big brouhaha as I went to go to the ATM to pay the people. I thought I was going to get arrested on my last day. That said, I still love Chinatown and wish we had one in Atlanta. This is Carole’s first time trying dim sum and she finds the whole concept odd. Did Carole just imply Tom is gay? Really? How does that line up with him sleeping with the entire UES? Carole informs us that Adam is moving out of her apartment. Later they go to a Chinese ice cream store. Carole seriously doesn’t seem like she gets out much.
Dorinda meets up with Ramona to fill her in on the wedding. Dorinda forgot to buy her airline tickets and didn’t realize until the last minute. Who does that? Dorinda was also late to hair and makeup and forgot to bring her bridesmaids dress to the venue.
It’s time for Luann’s wedding reception for the people who were not invited to the wedding. Dorinda and Bethenny say this has got to be the end of the celebrations for the wedding. The thing is this was not Luann’s idea, it was Bravos. Since they were not allowed to film the wedding this is what happened. What do we think of Dorinda’s dress? I can’t decide if it is absolutely fabulous or a fashion don’t. I am quite sure I love Luann’s statement necklace and would love to see it up close.
Ramona shows up and sucks all the air out of the room. Tinsley arrives with her 23-year-old lover. ICYMI, Tinsley has a real boyfriend now. Sonja arrives with Frenchie. John is there but avoiding the cameras. John has decided he didn’t he doesn’t really want to be on the show this season. Ramona brings some new guy.
Half way through a conversation with Sonja, Tom oddly grabs Luann by the neck and kissed her. What was that about?
Dorinda gave one of her infamous drunk toasts. It was the highlight of the episode.
Next week, one of Tom’s “Regency girls” shows up to a party. This entire season is about Tom.
Tom mentioned LuAnn put her heart and soul into the wedding several times during the show. It made me feel like he was saying the wedding was all about what she wanted and him allowing it even though it wasn’t his thing.
You just articulated what I was thinking. Homeboy seriously doesn’t act like he wants to be married. I was uncomfortable watching him.
In the last picture, who is the second man from the left? He looks so familiar, but I can’t place him.
He was a designer on one of those shows where they surprised the people with an updated room. What was that show called?
Doug from trading spaces….I think.
Yes! Doug! Thank you DaisyDana and John! That was going to drive me batty.
Dorinda ‘ s dress = Ugly
Agreed!
It is hideous.
That’s Doug Wilson from Trading Spaces
Thanks, Kay!
It was weird to me that none of the people who aren’t on RHONY were shown. Lots of Luann’s real friends were there and some of them were celebrities and they were not shown on camera, why?
They probably refused to sign on the dotted line.
Doubtful, it as people like Carson Cressley who is on anything he can get on. We didn’t even see them in the background, it appeared the empty room was empty just because that is where the filming happened. There were a lot of people there we never saw.
I hate filler episodes like this one.
……..and Carole gets a bit judgemental in her comments regarding Tinsley’s date.
PLEASE!
Jealous perhaps?
I Think the grabbing the throat thing might be because of the height difference. My boyfriend is about 3-4 inches shorter than me and he grabs my throat like that when he wants my attention and a kiss. Caused quiet an uproar with my parents one day, but he says it’s just awkward to grab my cheek or the back of my head. And no we aren’t into anything super kinky either. Lol. Could be wrong though, and it is off putting for others when he does it.
When RHONYC first started, I was a big fan of Bethenny – shes seemed so down-to-earth, easy to relate to, and many times, funny, same with ‘Bethenny Getting Married.” Didn’t get to see a lot of her talk show. But now, she seems so different — since making a bundle, it’s a lot about Skinnygirl, and she even looks different – how does someone get their entire jawline to change as hers has? She says fillers but ? Between that, the changes in her personality and haircut, she’s like a whole different person…Also, sometimes she is a guest judge here and there on Food Network shows. I get she is a trained chef…it’s just between RHONYC, now the Food Network — plus she is a producer on the show “Food Porn” for I believe the FYI Network, there are teasers now on Bravo about her coming out with yet another show that has to do with real estate ?? with Frederik from Million Dollar Listing — it just seems like complete over-saturation of her too many places, plus it also feels like whoever is friends with Andy gets extra shows.
Agree with you Mousie. And one would think that fillers would add to a jaw or to lines bc — they fill in — they do not scoop out. But Bethenny’s jaw looks radically reduced, reshaped and softened. The square edges of her former jaw are gone, which to me might indicate jaw surgery (breaking the jaw and resetting it and/or sawing/shaving it). The point being that if that is what she did – and I am not saying she did – but if she did — to be willing to go through something that painful, in order to market yourself for increased success/monetary ascendancy is so drastic and extreme — that it is a bit chilling.
because, not “bc” — sorry!
Geez. She stated on WWHL she got botox injected into her jaw, that is what has reduced the size/squareness/boxiness of it. Terry Dubrow also on WWHL, but at a later date, confirmed that botox would do that.
And so what? If doing that makes her happier with how she looks why does anyone have a problem with that?
Don’t see how botox could do that. The point is how far people will go, bc of pressure to be cosmetically “perfect”. I think it is wrong to be made to feel that way. Yes, she can do what she wants. But it is extreme, if it was surgery and not just botox.
What? How would Botox do that?! I think she had some major plastic surgery. Which is great. I just hate it when people deny it.
This episode was boring and, idk, but this whole lifestyle is starting, for me at least, to take on a sort of surreal, freak-circus quality. I feel like everything they are showing is wearing thin and that I am watching panckake close-ups out of “Moulin Rouge”. Someone said to me that lots of money changes you and you start doing whatever. But — you don’t have to and, Idk — all these much older mommy figures with younger men, women of an age picking up whoever at that bar they go to, Lu accepting what appears to be the open relationship, Sonia with her multiple guys and saying you just “F” em (on the aftershow), Dorinda not really serious about John and drinking a lot (and yeah I thought her pink wedding/ bride’s maid dress was a disaster – it looked like it was made out of thick chair uphosltery fabric and that she was wearing half the chair).. Idk.. but all of a sudden it seems like it’s all just about money, sex, marrying for money/position or a lifestyle, greed and status (even Bethenny not sleeping around but being all about constantly “making it” and seeming so “hard”) — it just seems a bit “Land of the Donkeys” out of Pinocchio. Also, not only would I not want to sleep with everyone who have slept with everyone (even if they are all from the UES), but I would be terrified of catching diseases.
I liked Dorinda’s dress. I would love to wear it because I am tall and I think it would suit a taller woman. To me she truly has eclectic style. I love the decor in the Berkshires as well. Not so trendy is refreshing to me. I love the ideas, styles, from a broad and diverse range of sources. Now Bethenny’s apartment is the opposite to me, but not in a good way. It’s trendy, predictable, and sterile. I would call it “pintrest chic”. Only it’s not very chic and has no personality. Her apartment looks like a hotel lobby of a trendy boutique hotel that is trying a bit too hard.
I thought the same thing about Bethenny’s apartment – it looked like a cold, merchandise show-room, and not in a good way. But Bethenny seems to be getting colder all the time. You could get frost-bite from just standing in the same room with her. I understand tall women wearing different clothes but Dorinda’s dress did look like a thick piece of furniture upholstery.
I was very intrigued with Dorinda’s dress. And you are right it suits her. It’s beautiful like her Berkshires decor. You either like it or you don’t The more I looked at it the more I liked it. And I could not stop looking at it.
TT, if you find yourself back in NYC anytime soon, you need to try Joe’s Shanghai, in chinatown 🙂 Their crab/pork soup dumplings are the stuff of dreams. They have a midtown location I order from but it’s not exactly the same as their chinatown spot.
It kinda freaked me out a little how Sonja just nonchalantly moved a man she supposedly isn’t committed to, into her home. I know her daughter is at boarding school, but still, this is your family home, you’re moving some guy you’re just sleeping with, in?
I think Luann looked lovely, I preferred her first dress to the rest and her hair and makeup were gorgeous. 🙂
My gawd, from”Frenchy” first spoke, all I think is “oh my gosh, it’s one of those frauds!” Fake accent!! Can’t get past it.
I did too! And when he was talking to the women about riding a bicycle with a basket through the vineyards in France…..it was just too much!
Exactly!! That’s when I knew it! He’s a guy like that Rockefeller dude. Betcha.
Bethenny didn’t throw a holiday party, she threw a Skinny Girl commercial. It was everywhere and had to be perfectly placed for great exposure. It’s just too obvious.
Umm “free will”, odd. I don’t think I’ve said much about Tom with any seriousness, but I can not imagine going through what she has regarding him and not losing her shit with Bravo and everyone else. She shouldn’t have been put through that for so long. Respect her husband, we all know husbands that we wish weren’t.
Dorinda’s party dress was a “yes” for me. She is always Pucci-fantastic, in that when she wears a wild pattern she keeps the silhouette simple and tailored. That makes the overall look fun but not crazy.
Me, too. Am a fan of Dorinda’s style. Chic and sexy, but still age appropriate. It’s the sweet spot we older ladies strive for.
TT, I’m pretty sure you can find Dim Sum in Gwinnett somewhere.
EW, lol. I just don’t equate Dim Sum with Gwinnett. I want to do it someplace with freaky dead animals in the window. But thanks!
I agree with Babs, Tamara. I think some stretches of Buford Hwy especially can transport you to the reference culture fairly well. Buford Hwy is like going to the international section of Epcot, minus the long bathroom queues.
One other thing since I’m still here, not only are there dead animals in the windows, there are live ones too. I remember, going back at least 30 years ago, my boyfriend, who loved Chinese food, and I walked up a side street and there were puppies in the window. Of course, I thought they were adorable and wanted to go inside, thinking they were for adoption. They weren’t there for adoption.
That was the most password post wedding party I’ve ever seen. Bethenny was like standing alone forever. Why did Luann and Tom get there so late? Weird. It looked like it was in the basement of the New York Hampton Inn conference room. Plus on WWHL, Luann said no one gave her wedding gifts but Bethany came to the party with a gift and left it on the table (even if it was some lame SkinnyGirl merch).
I meant awkward, not password
I think this was all a Bravo thing? I am sure if it was it was payback for not letting the wedding be filmed. It did look rather blah and of course the other HW’s couldn’t wait to jump on that bandwagon and the one letting everyone know they were left out. This stinks of a Bravo set up to me for sure. Maybe nothing was in the bag? And free merchandise isn’t really a gift is it?
Did anyone notice how huge John looked last night? He has deliberately not been on the show, but it looked like he had gained a lot of weight.
Comment on her decorating all you want, but I think Bethenny has been deliberately kinder, calmer, more in personal control, more supportive and held her own while being baited and pushed by Ramona, in particular. That’s true despite all the ugliness her ex is creating ( and has been for some time) and she remains silent about. I give her a lot of credit, particularly realizing how long this has been going on.
So we now have at least Ramona, Sonja and Dorinda who clearly cannot handle what ever substance they are using.
I think that we hear B’s side of the story. She was not kind last year in the least. If you call talking behind everyone’s back being kind (with very nasty comments) then yes, I guess she has been. I do agree she is being calmer. But I am sure that has a lot to do with getting a new show with Frederik and knowing how very very disliked she was last year. I do think she is handling herself better but her motives for doing so are suspect and not genuine to me. But, I could be wrong.
The other ladies are a little kooky for sure. I would take Dorinda crazy, lazy and hazy than most any other HW ever! LOL
Yeah, the last few seasons she had nothing but venom poorly disguised as humour to spew at anyone else’s business endeavours including her BFF Carole’s boyfriend. She probably felt less than for years as the poor kid in the fancy boarding schools and she still feels like she needs to put her “friends” down to feel like she’s OK. Normally you grow out of that when you’re pushing 50 so it may be something else.
I loved Dorinda’s bridesmaid dress but am not a big fan of the basement, after wedding party dress.
Luann and Tom’s pda always seems awkward…
Was anyone as sick as I was with Romana hanging out with her daughter’s friends? That whole scene was so cringey .
Yes, and the whole deep thoughts about water was weird af.
First of all, who cooks breakfast in a sports jacket complete with handkerchief in pocket. I guess Sonja grabbed at this dude to be somewhat relevant in the show and to definitely bring him to meet Tom.
As to Bethany s party, can I throw up now? Reminded me of a frat party in college with the weird luge in the ugly apt. I’ll take dorinda’s party, her house and her dresses any day over snarkass.
As to dimsum, Tamara you are not missing anything. I had to go to dimsum a couple of times with friends and I never enjoyed it. If you like experimenting with food, you might like it. Dumplings with who knows what inside, pork, dog, cat or rat? Oh, and the fried chicken feet. I didn’t care for brunching with someone sucking on chicken feet. Can I throw up again,? Give me a good old fashioned brunch of eggs benedict and a mimosa.
As to what we saw of Lu’s wedding, I agree, somewhat strange. Campy weird. Who wants Marilyn Monroe jumping out of a ?. To each his own. They are both very stiff on camera but I’d bet they’re super freaks when alone.
And Ramona, Ramona, I was team Ramona when it’s between her and the B, but to bring an old girlfriend of Tom’s around. No reason for that at all.
Thank goodness for Tinsley and her new found boyfriend, for Dorinda and john, because she doesn’t give a shit of what anyone thinks, and Carol’s kittens, love Carol’s kittens.
Loving your hilarious Dim Sum description.
Maybe I am crazy, but thought luge referred to a single guy on a sled sliding down a course. What did that have to do with alcohol sliding down an ice sculpture? It was all so skinny girl colors..very opportunistic. But that is Bethanny.
Agree. I think the only reason the B came back to rhony was to promote her brand. Because regardless of how hard she worked, and believe me I know people who work just as hard, she hit the jackpot because of the show and people liked her, she got a huge audience because of the show, not because she’s brilliant. Good for her, I don’t begrudge her success, only her narcissistic, snarkiness.
I’m sick of seeing bethanny using this show as a skinnygirl infomercial. I used to like her but now I am so done. She is a user and not friends with anyone who can’t provide a come-up and joins a reality show but complains about not wanting attention “THEN GO AND GET LOST B”. I’m no Ramona fan but liked it when she read B last week at the Berkshires.
As for Sonja I think she likes frenchie but accepted the fact that she couldn’t get some type of commitment from him so just settled for being able to sleep with him on his terms. But she is chuffed that he actually wants to spend more time with her hence letting him move stuff in. She will take all of the attention she can get from him. Rocco was the plan B settling option (better than no-one) but is now toast.
It’s amazing to me that people thought Matt was not really dating (and abusing) Kenya but everyone seems completely sold on the french guy that is way too young to be interested in Sonja, moving into Grey Gardens and cooking breakfast using brown water in a sports jacket with a pocket square.
Because that is totally believable.
My impression of Carole as the gal-about-NY went down a few clicks when she looked so befuddled by the dim sum. It suddenly felt like she’d been locked in a time warp and hadn’t really explored beyond her ‘downtown’ persona.
Between the neck grab and Frenchy’s fake as they come, hitting every American generalization of French people when he’d open his mouth was bizzaro. Ramona’s scenes made me cringe but I finally got to watch the episode after having been on the road with no Bravo for the last week. A mixed blessing!
stereotype, not generalization. Sorry for reposting …