#SouthernCharm: Patricia’s Had Enough of the Smarm! (Inquistr article)

Amy Feinstein of Inquistr.com put out a piece today addressing Patricia Altschul’s latest Twitter comments on her rift with Thomas Ravenel. As I reported previously, Patricia let me know privately that in addition to what she saw as a smear campaign, there’s much more to the story and that includes the current sexual assault allegations Thomas faces. Patricia said she would be able to address the specifics in more detail with me once the “gag order has been lifted” by Bravo.

Feinstein writes: “Little by little Patricia has come forward to tell fans of the hit Bravo show why she soured on Thomas Ravenel and his “Cali Girl” girlfriend she assisted on a shopping trip to Gwynn’s. On Twitter early this morning, Altschul responded to Thomas Ravenel’s recent behavior and explains in more detail why she decided to excise him from her life.”

““Why people ask? Because of his and Ashley’s smear campaign, character assassination, lies and purposeful defamation. It made me reassess everything Thomas said to me about @KathrynDennis who has clearly turned her life around while they are on a downward spiral.”

Besides Patricia, another subject of Trashley’s (that’s Thomas + girlfriend Ashley Jacobs) smear campaign is Luzanne Otte. She briefly dated Thomas and now lives to regret it. See my past articles on Luzanne Otte for further information. Luzanne, who is close with Patricia, is finally getting her solid reputation back as Ashley and Thomas’s shenanigans have become more well known. Both Luzanne and Patricia have bonded with Kathryn and a friendship between the Southern Charm matriarch and Kathryn (the former underdog of this franchise) is reportedly blossoming.

#RHONY, Reality TV

#RHONY: Bethenny’s Side Of The Couch

If you’re wondering where Bethenny Frankel will be sitting at the upcoming Real Housewives of New York reunion, there’s little doubt in my mind it will be on the couch with Sonja Morgan and Luann De Lesseps. Andy Cohen will of course be meddling — er, I mean mediating — in the middle. On the other couch, you’ll see Carole Radziwill, Ramona Singer, Tinsley Mortimer and Dorinda Medley.

Bethenny has always had a brazen and abrasive side to her personality, but this season her costars have hit their limit. The tensions you’ve seen (and will continue to see ahead) will escalate, so just stay tuned and purchase a pair of ear plugs for your disinterested significant others (I’ve made a mental note for mine).

Bethenny recently unfollowed most of her cast mates on social media as a result. In addition, Dorinda Medley was CLEAR about her current displeasure with Bethenny in a recent interview with Juicy Scoop podcast host Heather McDonald https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/juicy-scoop-with-heather-mcdonald/id1135332109?mt=2&i=1000413046674, so it looks like Sneaky Sonja is not the only one she has issues with. Regarding the latter, Dorinda’s reply to Heather indicates that she and Sonja were merely filming friends and had never even so much as gone to lunch when cameras weren’t rolling. Juicy indeed!

As an aside, a source close to many of the ladies who speaks to them regularly informed me that Bethenny actually BLOCKED Dorinda on social media at one point….

Yes, BLOCKED. Things are crazy behind the scenes.

Listen to the full interview with Heather McDonald in the link above and let me know what you think.

Will Bethenny return next season in light of her estrangement from most of the cast?

Will she return more emboldened and with a greater storyline because of the bad blood with cast mates?

(Photo Source: Bravo TV)

Bravo TV, Reality TV

#RHOBH Recap: Runways, Recourse & Regurgitation (Season 8 Finale)

In a season of aspirational living rather than actual events, the tiresomely affluent ladies of Beverly Hills presented us with a finale to regurgitate all the mini “dramas.”

Dorit learned – at her beachwear runway show -that the Beverly Hills Lifestyle feature isn’t coming to fruition. This is recourse for her constant kvetching that the photos stunk. But to learn this news at one’s big event is emblematic of being on high and getting a severe humbling. Add to that Kyle’s attack on Dorit at the same event, Dorit’s Event! as Dorit reminds Kyle. This is the second time Dorit feels slighted in this manner. However, who can blame Kyle for thinking it’s pretty crappy of Dorit to rewrite Herstory by giving Kyle a villainous role in #PantyGate?

On that note, I must say I felt a kinship with Kyle who refuses (consistently — because I noticed it last episode too) to say the grotesque P word. She refers to the garment as underwear. We have something in common. As I suggested, this retired argument should be labeled #GrannyPants at this point (Sigh).

While Dorit has the models prance around looking lovely in her Beverly Beach suits, real people with an actual iota of flesh on bone deem them impractical. This is why Erika remarks from the first row: “These would look great on Lisa Rinna” and under her breath “And only Rinna.”

I’ll pause here to say: Thank God Dorit is on this reality show. Why? Because without RHOBH, Dorit would not have met LVP, a matriarchal figure who perpetually has put Dorit in her place this season. Without LVP, can you imagine how much BIGGER Dorit’s expansive ego would be. There’s still work to be done here…

Now, about LVP’s ego….hmm.

Kyle storms out of the event after feeling that Erika hasn’t backed up her gripes about the “underwear” drama with Dorit. In a testimonial, Teddi remarks that Erika’s silent stoicism is equally irksome to her earlier temperamental outbursts.

Mauricio is seen gabbing with Edwin about implementing a top-notch security system for the new mansion. This was cobbled together by editors who scoured the cutting room floor looking for inconsequential footage they never dreamed would become useful. Fast forward a few months and Kyle and Mauricio’s home is burgled with sentimental items stolen.

Other things that have happened since filming wrapped:

Erika’s book is number 9 on the New York Times bestsellers list even though the Pretty Mess remains pretty buttoned up about her past. That’s the most common review I’ve gotten about the memoir.

Kyle’s American Woman is a show you can watch now, I think. However, if you’re the diehard Clueless fan that I am, you’ll want to preserve memories of Alicia Silverstone in her most iconic days.

Dorit is still truly, madly deeply in love with PK and…of course, vis versa. Neither of them will ever let you forget it. Viewers are wondering if we’d have heard more about Beverly Beach if she’d kept the original name, Navah.

LVP requested that editors sneak in a subliminal message to Pandora in the credits. She’d really like to have some grandchildren. For now, plans to adopt more dogs are on hold…even canines that look like her husband Ken.

Lisa Rinna has been wracking her brain like mad (as we saw during the scene with Jonathan Antin and Lisa’s husband Harry Hamlin), wondering how detrimental her good behavior has been to her future on this franchise.

Teddi has been reassuring Rinna: “Look, Meghan McCain didn’t call YOU boring, you’re good.” Despite that, Teddi was the only accountable, measured voice of reason this season and she’ll be getting another….

Mark my words.

Podcasts

Grant’s Rants: Reality TV Perspectives Include his Hilarious Granny’s

When Margaret Josephs of The Real Housewives of New Jersey (RHONJ) mentioned she was listening to Grant’s Rants, my curiosity was piqued. I’m always down for a Bravo show recap and I thought “Grant’s Rants” (full title: Grant’s Rants Hollywood Talk) sounded like an interesting name for a podcast. I started out listening for the host Grant Rutter’s thoughts on the reality TV shows I was watching and quickly found his Rhode Island accent intriguing, along with his shrewd commentary on things that don’t necessarily strike the eye of the viewer.

Then I came upon an episode with Granny June. Grant’s Granny reminds me of my own Nana, who, sadly, passed away before The Real Housewives franchise began, but who would have had some incredibly humorous takes. She is unabashed about sharing her blunt observations on grown women wearing pigtails or making a ridiculous ritual of multiple air kisses. Although I had a particular affinity for the episodes featuring this spitfire grandmother, comedians and pop culture enthusiasts have also lent their expertise. In addition, Margaret Josephs (the “Housewife” to recommend the podcast to me) and Danielle Staub of RHONJ were recent guests who provided tantalizing inside scoop and answered questions many had wondered about.

Grant and Granny June

Here’s what Grant had to say about his podcast:

How It All Began

Grant’s Rants started in August of 2015. I was encouraged by the following I had generated when I was at AfterBuzzTV. In the beginning, I was surprised by people following me on Twitter, and positive comments I got online. I was used to people being destroyed in the comments, but many respected my opinionated views. I figured, there must be something to this podcasting thing. In my opinion, the YouTube space was over-saturated and Periscope was the big thing at the time. The work I saw coming off of Periscope was on the low end. I produced YouTube videos back in the early days and studied TV in school. Podcasts were the perfect platform to roll out a show and test for audience. I’m a long time podcast listener: I remember downloading podcasts off of my desktop computer and adding them to the my black iPod video! Podcasts like Daytime Confidential showed me that you can be a fan and have a perspective, and with a little insight you can legitimize yourself, but you have to be a fan first and always keep it real.

TV Talk Shows are an incredibly over produced medium, hosts read prepared note cards and are delivered every word or joke via prompter. When podcasting, you have to keep it real and be honest, and that’s why I think so many folks who want information or a genuine laugh find podcasts.

What Grant’s Rants is About

Grants Rants is a pop culture commentary experience, featuring a different guest co-host each week to chart the waters of that week’s latest news. It’s slanted towards reality TV but away from the Kardashians. I have one rule for the show, no Kardashian hot topics. You can get that information everywhere, we are here to cover what else is happening. Every co-host is connected to media or entertainment. This provides for an interesting commentary in the second half of the episode where we spotlight their career and the road to get there. I think people’s stories can be interesting. The thing about working in Hollywood is you can be working on a film set one year and the next you’re moving to Seattle to work in banking – the business takes many twists and turns and it’s interesting to see what keeps people hanging on and how dreams morph into career offshoots.

Guests and a Variety of Perspectives

My favorite guests are those who are on the same wavelength as me. Those people that just “get it”. Observant people are the best. I love to people watch. Grants Rants is all about commentary. It’s an escape from the headlines. I like to think if you look at a cover of US Weekly, Kim Kardashian will be on the cover announcing another pregnancy or something (who cares?), and we’ll talk about all the other stories surrounding that image – a Real Housewife divorce, Paris Hilton’s engagement, Britney’s tour, Scientology, etc. Guests who are game to talk about whatever and come to the table with an opinion are my kind of people. In the most recent episode, (#84) Comedian, Heather McMahan was my co-host. In addition to her being hilarious, she’s an old friend who just “gets it”. We have a certain chemistry that just bounces off of one another that is vital to a good show.

Granny June, my grandmother and my most guested guest is a favorite of listeners. She’s very plugged in to pop culture, reality TV and gossip. She also brings opinions to the table – she can’t stand Mama June and Honey Boo Boo, has no time for Roseanne Barr and can’t quit watching Dr. Phil. What’s great about having Granny on the podcast is that we are clearly very different demographics [I’m 28, she’s 88] but we both see what’s happening in entertainment and have our opinions. It also helps that she’s not afraid to give advice and yell certain Housewives on the show. One of my favorite bits of advice was Granny June telling Kyle Richards to sit down and stop having so many parties!

That’s the type of life advice you’ll get coming out of Grants Rants. The show has become an escape for many listeners, and something I plan to explore more in 2018 and the road the 100th episode this summer!

You can start listening to Grant’s Rants now by visiting: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grants-rants-hollywood-talk/id1033690074?mt=2.

Bravo TV, Reality TV

#PumpRules Ariana Madix on Anxiety, Faith’s Crush on Lala and Drama This Season (AllAboutTRH.com)

ariana madix

Vanderump Rules’ star Ariana Madix dropped by the studio of podcast host Danny Pellegrino and did not disappoint. She told the Everything Iconic host that she and former nemesis Kristen Doute are on good terms and provided some other behind-the-scenes revelations.

With regard to opening up about her body insecurities on camera recently, she said that producers had been discussing the possibility of filming her in therapy for the past three seasons. She felt that now the timing was right to finally address these insecurities. “It’s something my close friends all know about. Those struggles have always been there. I got to a point where Tom and I were going through these issues and I knew that people didn’t know the backstory behind any of it. They thought ‘she’s not into him’. I thought that instead of there being all this speculation, I would come out and say what’s going on.”

To read more of this interview, see the full article at http://www.allabouttrh.com/2018/02/26/vanderpump-rules-ariana-madix-anxiety-faiths-crush-lala-drama-season/.

Shira's Got The Scoop!

Tag Archives: Reality TV