I would have been much better at recapping this, but I just hate half hour shows. There is more setup time involved than actual show time. Its seems counterproductive. But I do like this show, so here are my thoughts on the last two episodes.
The first thing we learn is Bethenny is one of those picky orders and she orders for the table. Who is surprised? They go out to a middle eastern place and order a tagine and some flat bread and she tells them not too much cous cous. What if cous cous is Fredrik’s favorite part. Then they both try the hookah for the first time. As much as they travel, I be shocked if it were actually their first time.
They are working to get everything done so they can sell the place before the Christmas holidays. Meanwhile Bethenny had to get a bit of carcinoma removed from her face. By the way, she was doing all this while coordinating cargo ships with aid to Puerto Rico. Six month later, 16% of the country remains without power at all and those who have it experience frequent and lengthy outages. The suicide hotline is working overtime. These are American citizens. Dennis wants to get married. Bethenny is not ready.
Fredrik and Bethenny goes shopping for toilets. Bethenny suddenly wants to splurge on wall hung toilets. I can’t believe she doesn’t have one of those fancy toilets of her own. They are also staging the house. I can’t believe they recoup the money they spend on staging. Fredrik says they will though and he should know. Bethenny is not really receptive to all of the staging but she likes most of it.
Fredrik & Derek and the surrogate go to a baby shower for the twins. I’m not sure it if is appropriate for a surrogate to go to a baby shower. What do you think? OMG then Fredrik lets us know that he had the surrogate move in with them for the final trimester! Is it just me and Jeff Lewis who just want the woman to grow the babies and disappear into the night with a check?
Wow. The final product of this remodel is stunning. It’s time for the brokers’ open and over 400 RSVPs have come in. This is going to be a big deal. The night before they met in the apartment to set the price at $4.795 million. For reason that are unclear they did this in the master bedroom, in the bed with champagne. When Fredrik gets up he knocks a vase into the custom headboard getting water all over it! Actually it is wine. Bethenny calls Dorinda for John’s number and has him send someone over to steam it.
Fredrik wants to have everyone take their shoes off. Bethenny refuses to take hers off. The brokers all love the place. I thought they would get offers right away! It was fabulous. However it took 115 days on the market and a price reduction before it sold. They did not disclose the price other than to say it was at a substantial profit. So, other than the fact that you all think Bethenny should be skinned alive and then burned at the stake for some reason, what else did you think about the show? I loved it. I just wish they would have made half the number of episodes with twice the runtime.
I hope this wasn’t a one time show. Surely they can do more than one project at a time. I think Bethenny stepped up for Puerto Rico which should be a priority for the country to get operational. They are citizens same as us
I really liked this show, and I agree with you about half hour shows. If it gets picked up for another season I hope they expand it to an hour.
Great recap! I haven’t been watching. I’m going to catch up on re-runs now. I love some real estate porn. Bethenny can grate on my nerves a bit, “I know it ALL!” but I like the lifestyles of the rich and famous. She and Frederik have great style.
I feel it necessary to speak, with some experience, about the logistical limitations of bringing electrical power to PR, an island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. It is wonderful that BF, as well as thousands of government and non-profit organizations rushed to help with immediate needs. It is quite another thing to bring electrical utilities back to the island. About 12 years ago my father and his wife set out to develop a small 50 acre parcel near Arroyo. They asked me to come down for 6 months to assist with the permit and licensing phase of the project since I had previously successfully done this sort of work in Florida. I cannot begin to tell you the enormous limitations I experienced dealing with PR government officials (and some not so official) to move the project forward during the permitting and utility installation phase. Every time, and I mean every time I turned around, someone was asking for a cash payoff before they would process a document, or worse yet, put me in touch with the local official who had the actual power to make sure my completed document was moved from the bottom of a pile to the top of of a pile. If I refused to pay, or paid too little, the document was either left unaddressed, or moved to the bottom of a very large pile, again. Here, in the 50 states, we assume PR handles governmental processes the same as we do. They do not. Most of the government offices provide no access to processing documents online. Consequently, each step is a lengthy process, often bogged down by bureaucrats who are on the take. Even the honest civil servants often have their hands tied by less than honest. Having experienced all of this while trying to get a small project off the ground, I can only imagine the enormous obstacles faced while trying to restore power to the entire island. Add to that the fact that PR’s power utility agency was known to the the most corrupt agency on the island. After Irma, and then Maria, the U.S. government has basically been forced to wrestle control of that agency. Friends on the island have reported to us that power utility officials were demanding payments and requiring power be restored to family members before others. It made no sense due to the fact that the entire power grid was already in abysmal shape prior to the storms, and had to be rebuilt from the ground up from one side of the island to the other. It wasn’t like contractors could drop into family member neighborhoods and turn on their switches. My father tells me their little corner of the island has been one of the last to have full power restored, but they have been provided with generators which they run for the 1/2 of the day that power is rerouted from their neighborhood to other areas. It has been a struggle, but patience and understanding is required before assuming it was/is a simple feat. Here in Naples, where I am now, our neighborhood street lights are still down and we are told it will be 6 months before FPL will get them back up. If we are experiencing such limitations here, one should consider the limitations to do the same sort of work in the middle of the Caribbean. Patience and prayer, or whatever form of meditation floats one’s boat is obviously in short supply, but is most certainly required.
I am ever so saddened to hear of your suffering with not street lights in Naples. That must be terribly difficult for you and your neighbor. You’re right, PR has their own bureaucracy to blame and they should just pray more and be patient. Also thank you for letting us know Puerto Rico is an island. It had truly slipped my mind despite our president realizing it on national TV for all of us. Those Puerto Ricans will just have to learn how to be more resilient.
And again. Thoughts and prayers about your streetlights.
It’s an island??! Damn, I was planning to roundtrip there once the infrastructure was up and running.
Watching renovation shows always makes me want to gut my kitchen and bathroom and make it like a 5 star resort. Then I remember that costs money that I’ve yet to win from the lotto.
Back to PR, the island not the contiguous state, it’s absolutely devastating thinking of the psychiatric well-being of those residents. I remember spending 24 hours in the aftermath of the tornado in Tuscaloosa and cannot imagine living that reality for months. Let alone for those who need constant, or even urgent medical attention. Debbie downer moment over. Online at least. Ill go finish my hotty toddy now.
Seriously TT? You don’t get that I’m using a comparison when I talk about missing street lights in Florida a full 7 months after Irma, yet everyone expects full recovery to be already completed in PR? Come on down and take a drive down my street. Maybe you’ll give a shit if you see roof after roof still tarped and leaking because we can’t get reputable roofers here. Yes, PR is a fucking island. Yes, the logistics are a fucking nightmare. Until you’ve lived there, as I have, and have family who live there, as I do, don’t pretend to know the facts. If you really want to know what someone looks like who speaks without knowing the facts, take a look in the mirror. Now get the fuck outta here and put me in your glorious WLS. I’m beginning to get the feeling I’d rather hang with them over you. Oh, and if I didn’t say it already… ( I know you love those dots), since I’m done sucking up to your rules…quit calling others on grammar when you have some of the worse I’ve ever witnessed. Lay off the booze and go back to school. You need it.
Oddly, the folks I know in Naples are much more bothered by the brush fires right now. They are not aware of streets full of tarped roofs at this late date. Tarps you failed to mention in your first post. Isn’t that a bit odd that street lamps were more important to you than roofs? Please, let me know where all these tarped roofs are. It seems like you have a reoccurring problem of not being able to find a reputable workers anywhere. It was your characterization of Puerto Ricans that I took issue with. They’re slow to get power because of corruption and they just need to pray harder and be more patient. You on the other hand are suffering mightily because your street lights haven’t been fixed yet. You talk about having family there, but it doesn’t sound like you or your family actually ARE Puerto Ricans. It sounds like someone in your family was down there working as a developer and needed your advance skills in acquiring permits. It also sounds like you have no compassion for the Puerto Ricans where “your family is developing land.” It was for that reason that I suggested some of my commenters might benefit from some actual facts about the situation. You howling like a hit dog over my suggestions to the commenters to gain more information assures me that I was right about my original assessment.
Again, you are ignorant. The brush fires in the Picyune State Forest happen to be directly in my back yard. Our daughter had to head north because she has asthma. I’m not going to argue points that you know nothing about, but I have much experience with. You have my IP address, so look it up and you will see that neighborhoods directly across the street from me were under a voluntary evacuation order due too brush fires. Today is the first clear day we’ve had in at least a week. Bugger off if you can’t find the minimum of respect and compassion for people who’ve been dealing with one hazard after another here in Naples. Also bugger off if you won’t educate yourself about the logistical and governmental limitations in PR recovery effots, because both are limiting what families like mine are able to achieve in terms of gaining power, water and other basic infrastructures. I’m done trying to educate you because you lack the critical thinking skills to educate yourself. FYI, I am not a Trump fan and he has nothing to do with my knowledge of PR recovery. First hand knowledge and understanding dictate my thoughts on the matter, not the media narrative.
“Oddly, the folks I know in Naples are much more bothered by the brush fires right now. ”
My first point was that the people I know in Naples right now are much more concerned about the brush fires rather than street lights. I am not sure why you are so argumentative. Initially, I didn’t point out any of the weird things in your first post that didn’t line up. I simply suggested that my followers who seemed to be concerned with Puerto Rico like I am find a place to donate and seek out other sources of info other than your post. I did that because I found you completely devoid of compassion for Puerto Ricans and beyond that you seemed to be blaming them for their situation.
Also you did not express your need for compassion for all of the issues going on in Naples, but instead compared the plight of PR to the lack of proper street lamps on your street. It sounded rather elitist and dismissive of Puerto Ricans. But I didn’t say any of that until you lost your mind because I suggested people donate to PR and read up on their current plight which is a plight I find completely unacceptable. You seem to feel your situation needs to be perfect before the Puerto Ricans are attended to. I have opinions on that.
I appreciate the first hand info you shared, KioshiGirl. It’s much more than we think, and I get your street light comparison in your post.
Thanks KioshiGirl. I didn’t realize the level of corruption with the government and power company. People complain about officials in the City of Atlanta being corrupt. While many things about Bethenny get on my nerves, I loved this show. I’m amazed at all of the work that Bethenny is able to accomplish in her businesses and for Puerto Rico. The chick is a whirlwind. No wonder she is skinny – she moves all the time.
Yes, thanks, KioshiGirl. You hear stories all the time about how many hands you have to grease in countries like Puerto Rico, and you experienced it firsthand. Just like the earthquake in Haiti a few years ago – a great deal of the money didn’t go towards making life better for the Haitians, and ended up in the wrong pockets. I know President Trump appeared to have very little sympathy for P.R., but was there a lot of international aid, I wonder, and has that accomplished anything?
Puerto Rico is not a foreign country. It is a territory of the UNITED STATES! Its residents are US citizens.
I was going to point out that Haiti got well over a hundred times more add that PR and we were there almost immediately with on duty military in droves to help. And that was for an earthquake that gave no notice.
But I’m weary of providing actual facts here. People believe what they want. We have a president who didn’t know PR was not a foreign country and who calls such places “shithole countries.” I just can’t.
I, too, appreciate your insights KioshiGirl. And I get the streetlight comparison, too.
Sheesh.
Glad I’m not alone.
Hard for me to catch half-hour shows, & this definitely needs to be renewed for a full hour. Hope the re-runs will play long enough for me to catch up.
Gotta give props to all Bethenny does. She’s so abrasive but if she had a penis she’d get a presidential Medal of Honor. Congrats to them both!
I’d like to see a full hour and multiple projects as well. They play nicely off each other and I enjoyed the mix of their personal and professional lives. Thanks for your recap- always a highlight!
With a half-hour show, you’re just getting into it and it’s over. Hate it. Wonder why they decided to do that with Bethenny and Fredrik? It seems like they’d have plenty material to make an hour long episode. Hope they come back – they have great chemistry.
I love Bethenny, always have. She can be abrasive but, she’s funny and smart smart smart. As soon as she became successful it seemed people started to dislike her for the same reasons they liked her when she was the underdog. I really enjoyed this show when it was natural. Her and Fredrik smoking a hookah and getting drunk in the Hamptons made me laugh. It’s what I’m missing from the housewives these days. Funny and fabulous. I hope it comes back.
Too bad I like Frederick but despise Bethany. Could not pay me to watch I hope it had dismal ratings. Sorry not sorry.
I really liked this show. I will never get sick of looking at Fredrik and when Bethenny is good, she is so bloody good. I was hoping for an extra peep at those twins, but to be fair, they never promised one.
I won’t repeat the sentiments already raised except to say I found the half hour running time disappointing too.
A Nightmare that has caused PR citizens to come to the mainland stuck in hotels in Florida,Probably wanting to be back in PR.
I love this show we really got teased though first 2 episodes played same night so I hoped they would continue the 2 shows half hour is just not enough.
So the apartment sold I wondered why there was nothing about a sale .etc. I thought the whole point was seeing how much they made in profit ?
I would live in that apartment in a heartbeat it is Gorgeous.now only to win a big Lotto
I do not get why so many people hate Bethenney I have always rooted for her she works her butt off literally.
I agree. Wasn’t the whole premise to flip and show what profit they made? Instead it was all about “look at me aren’t I fabulous.” Also Bravo showing prior shows at 10:30 was confusing. IMO Bethenny and Fredrik didn’t come off looking very well.
Everything for Frankel is a “look at me” moment.
Ugh, true that Shaunna. I started watching this because I am really into real estate voyeurism and I was curious about their profit margin on this apartment. I quit the show 3 episodes in because I couldn’t stomach Bethenny talking over everyone and her screechy temper tantrums. To hear that they glossed over the one thing that would have kept me involved, (the profit margin on the flip) makes me glad I bailed on this show.
I watched one of the episodes, but Bethenny’s annoying personality drove me away. It’s bad enough when she’s on RHONYC but at least you get a smaller dose of her on that show. Does anyone remember the series Bethenny Getting Married? It really revealed what a mean, egocentric, viciously greedy, screwed up person she is–. which is why I’m sure her good friend Andy has promised her it will never air again. That is of course unless Bethenny gets to edit and produce the version she wants to show, while she collects huge amounts of money as talent, producer, editor, writer, head of her own production company, etc..
I also cannot watch Bethenny talk over people CONSTANTLY. Have you seen her on Shark Tank? She is so terrible on that show; I had to change the channel the one time I saw her on it. And I have seen pretty much every episode since season 1.
Love what she did for PR though; just cannot abide her personality.
Add me to those wanting a longer show. After the first two, I just watched two at a time on Demand. I was going to say “more shopping, more camera time on the finished product, less eating,” but I love NYC restaurants and miss living in the city. So i really enjoyed all the extra stuff (except Bethenny’s ass in the repeated airing of her standing on her head).
I often wonder if the furniture gets sold with the apartment. Some of those built-ins, like the bed in the master, can’t be moved I imagine. IDK, it’s all lovely fantasy about living in such a beautiful apartment in Manhattan.
Bethenny’s negative character defects are more pronounced when she is not with the ensemble cast of RHONY. She is beyond too irritating for me!
It hasn’t been sold yet.
It looks like the dropped the price to $4.5 million, they had an offer in February and over a month later it is still listed as “Under Contract.” It’s possible the information just hasn’t been updated.
https://streeteasy.com/building/10-madison-square-west-new_york/2d
The Douglass Elliman has it listed as “contract signed.” Which means they agreed to a price but someone hasn’t come up with the money. Financing problems? Contingency contract? 60 day close? Who knows. But it looks like they have a buyer.
https://theeklundgomesteam.elliman.com/new-york-city/10-madison-sq-west-10-madison-square-west-2d-manhattan-yqbchcd
Bethany tweeted last night that it hasn’t been sold yet.
It’s great that so many of you are concerned about Puerto Rico. There are many places still accepting donations to help out our fellow citizens.
If you would like to know the real issues that are involved with restoring power, there are many, many articles on this subject on the Internet. Here’s one, https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/puerto-rico-crisis/why-does-restoring-full-power-puerto-rico-seem-never-ending-n847211
It is important to note that a PR citizen attempting to get permits to bring electricity to a new parcel of land via goverment permitting officials and restoring a power system to the entire country after a natural disaster are too very different things. It’s the difference between having your power restored after a hurricane and a builder filing permits on a new development. The two having nothing at all in common.
Patience and Prayer are in short supply because what is truly needed and has been FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS is for there to be more pressure on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who are tasked with rebuilding the power grid to quit making excuses and getting the job done.
As a Puerto rrican, I thank you Tamara for your empathy and trying to bring awareness of this crisis to your readers. My family is there and they still don’t have power. I would ask people here if they could live 6 months without electricity? I think our people are demonstrating great resiliance already. What has happened to our island is heartbreaking. I’m not going to get political but I will say there is a lot of ignorance and judgment about our island, our people, and the history that has brought us to this point.
So sorry about your family IslandGirl. It’s unfathomable that this is even happening. Six months!
I’ve always loved Bethenny, and she brings out a lighter side of Fredrick that’s fun to watch. I could watch the two of them talk to each other for hours. Since they’re so great together, I didn’t enjoy the asides where we saw other parts of their lives. I just wanted Bethenny, Fredrick, and tons of real estate & design. Like everyone else, I wanted to see them develop more properties. I was surprised the show ended with just the one. I’d like at least 3 or 4 per season, if not more. Is that too crazy?
I’m fine with the surrogate being at the shower. They certainly couldn’t do it without her and I think it’s nice that they have a relationship and are honoring her part in it. It’s not like a secret adoption because unless technology changes, at some point the twins are going to know there was another parent involved.
I was confused by the pricing on the staging. Can anyone explain it to me? First she quoted one price and then it seemed like they agreed on a lower price under a different structure. Thanks.
By the lighter side of Fredrik would that be the man Bethenny brought to tears by calling him names and attacking his integrity? I don’t think they even jointly promoted the show together.
I don’t see a second season as these two never even registered in the ratings. That is pretty sad with a lead in like RHOBH.
I don’t think Bethenny, with her cheap shoddy substitutions made as much of a profit as she thought might happen. Did they ever invest in a second property?
Wow. You really don’t think.
I loved it! But, I have always been a fan of Bethenny and never understood the hate thrown her way.
I was hoping to see them working on multiple projects during the season, not just one apartment. Hopefully they can do that next season, if there is one, and make it 1 hour.