'Real Housewives of New York' Reunion Part 1 Recap: Ramona Won, Hands Down

Wow, gotta admit that made for great TV, any wonder RHONY remains my favorite 'Housewives' show. The 'Blondes vs. The Brunettes' saga stayed intriguing all season long, but who knew how bitter things would get between the two teams, so much so that I can't see them making up or anyone swtiching sides anytiem soon. That said, I thought Andy Cohen did a tremendous job under what had to be very trying circumstances--he asked all the right questions and called out the 'Housewives' who were clearly being hypocritical. Now granted, I'm definitely with Team Blonde, so call me biased, but here's what I thought of what went down last night anyway:

1) Alex was clearly ready to do battle, getting in on every turn and interrupting Team Brunette members every chance she could get. But I liked how the brunettes tried to play "Ramonja" against Alex, because they're not that close to Alex and Alex desperately wants to be down with the rich, blonde girls (Jill was at her best here, making snide little comments referring to Alex and Sonja not really being that close, but she took it to another level getting nasty and calling Alex an "effing bitch" twice). And while Kelly, LuAnn and Cindy did their best to throw some shots at Alex too (and get her to speak only when spoken to) Alex did get in some great zingers, including the line of the night telling Cindy how she "needs to get laid". However, the problem with Alex still remains her inability to stay calm while making a zinger (practice by watching some tapes of Bethenny when she throws darts) and clearly as long as Simon stays by her side, people will always have a valid reason to not like her (can we please get Alex some friends?).


2) I don't care what "Cosmo" says, Crazy Kelly remains a nutcase. I loved when Andy smacked her down when she was supposedly trying to play "peacemaker" while Cindy and Sonja went at it. And that B.S. story about being "abused"? I'm not buying it, esp. considering that the woman has been arrested before for beating up a guy. Nor am I buying that Kelly isn't phased at all by Bethenny's success. That said, I could go either way on Kelly coming back next season--no one could say she's not entertaining.


3) Ramona, to me, was hands down the winner tonight. She took on the Brunettes with gutso, zeal and plenty of barbs that tore into the hearts of each of them--and she managed to stay calm throughout. Did she go too far talking about LuAnn's kids? Of course. But LuAnn went there first about Ramona's marriage while they were all in Morocco and we all know by now that when it comes to talking about Ramona's family she doesn't play. Ramona also got in some great shots at Cindy and Jill and for the most part put Kelly on ignore where she belongs.


4) Cindy is a bitch. I don't like her at all. She just refused to acknowledge that what she did at Sonja's house, taking that meeting in the kitchen, was flat-out wrong. I don't even have a problem with Cindy picking up her phone or having the stupid meeting, it's just simple etiquette to excuse yourself and ask if you can use another room. Then too, the woman clearly has anger issues--the way she shouts people down and talks down to them is just revolting. And as I've said from the beginning there's this air to her that makes you feel she really thinks she's better than "those people" (i.e. the Housewives)--please Bravo, just be done with her.


5) I just feel bad for Sonja and was surprised when she broke down about how much her marriage meant to her (tho I can't help but think that what she really misses is the lifestyle). Loved how she took down Kelly for talking about her house like that.


6) LuAnn did well for the most part, but she is in clear denial about how rude and unclassy she can be towards people. I liked how she even called out Cindy for taking the conference call in the kitchen at Sonja's. LuAnn may deny it too, but she also "found her voice" this year, esp, when it comes to reunion shows.


7) Compared to last season's reunion Jill had an easy time of it. Her current feud with Ramona doesn't look like it will end anytime soon, but somehow they always find a way to be friends again. That said I can't wait for Part 2.

Alex McCord to Dish About Motherhood on New CafeMom Web Series

HollywoodReporter.com:

Former The Real Housewives of New York cast member Alex McCord has landed a new (web) TV gig.


McCord will be appearing with original Melrose Place star and CafeMom.com co-founder Andrew Shue on the original YouTube channel, CafeMom Studios, on a web talk series called Coffee Shop Confessions.


“It’s Andrew and three loms – I’m one of the moms,” McCord tells The Hollywood Reporter. “There’s a more conservative religious mom, you’ve got hippy granola chick mom, and I guess I’m sort of the saucy, inappropriate one.”


Premiering on April 6, Shue -- himself a father of five -- presents McCord, Timberly Whitfield and Julia Knight with different mom confessions the site has gathered and the women will weigh in on them.


“It was such a phenomenal group of women,” McCord says. “And it was everything you want a group of women to be as far as egging each other on and supporting each other in a positive way and everyone being funny and building on top of one another. And no one was tearing anyone down, oddly enough.”


The confessions range from the comedic and peculiar like “My son’s name is Spongebob,” to the possibly unspeakable such as, “I’m secretly skipping my birth control, so I can get pregnant again.”


“Each episode starts with a funny little dialogue and we’re chitchatting,” she says. “Then, we watch the reenactment of whatever crazy confession it is and then react to it. Whether it’s, ‘Oh, my God, that’s a Tuesday. I do that every day. That’s no big deal,’ or ‘That mother should be lit on fire.’ And we certainly didn’t always agree, which I though was the beautiful part.”


After Bravo decided not to renew her contract last September, McCord says she and husband Simon Van Kempen have been placing a lot of effort into their bedding and bath textile business Aluxe Home, her children, and charity work.


Additionally, McCord says the couple is seriously vetting possible television opportunities, which includes ongoing talks with Bravo.


“As far as future reality [series] for us,” she explains. “We don’t want to have to play defense… we don’t want to put ourselves out there for that kind of toxicity again. So whatever we do next, we want to make sure it’s the right show. I would rather not do a show than set myself up with the wrong show.”