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| Earlier in the season . . . (Bravo) |
There were no pleasantries to start this evening’s
reunion show – host and Bravo executive Andy Cohen just jumped right in and put
Brandi in the spotlight. Within a
minute of the show starting we see a highlight package of Brandi this season –
“with crutches, no bra, one high heel and no filter” describing her to a T. Brandi is a woman who clearly takes no
BS, gives it like she gets it, and says whatever comes to mind whether it is
“appropriate” or not. She makes no
apologies for who she is, what she does, or what she says, and has no problem
owning it all. To me, this is what
I both equally admire and cringe at about Brandi – but you know what you are
getting. Clearly, she is not a
woman with a hidden agenda; she puts her good stuff and her bad stuff out there
for the world to see. Camille feels that her humor is very self-deprecating. Andy pointed out there were a lot of
viewer emails about her tiny bikini in Hawaii and whether she feels it’s
appropriate to dress that way around married men. In staying true to herself, Brandi acknowledged that her
bikini was tiny but admitted that she always dresses like that at the beach –
regardless of being around married men or not – and she is not going to change
who she is for anyone. (Quite
frankly, if I had such a banging-bikini-bod, I’d be wearing just as little to
show it off!) She has a few
regrets about things that were caught on camera – being loopy on Xanax after
the flight to Hawaii being one of them – but she owns her behavior, there’s
nothing she can do to change it, and keeps moving forward. Good for her! Then the subject of game night comes up, and that Kyle got a
lot of criticism for being a “mean girl” to Brandi. When asked by Andy, Kyle agreed that she did behave that way
and had not given Brandi a chance.
Kyle acknowledged that she was very stressed out with Kim that night,
the whole evening turned in to a disaster and she still feels bad about
it. Brandi acknowledged that she wasn’t
innocent and took full responsibility for losing her temper. She felt like she was being bullied in
a room full of women, had no friends to help, was pushed to her limit, reached
a breaking point and then fought back.
Brandi regretted making the specific comment about Kim being on
crystal-meth, but stated “clearly she was on something because she was in and
out of the bathroom all night” and pointed out that since Kim is in rehab now clearly
she wasn’t wrong. Kyle corrected
her about what Kim was on, which I think is beside the point. Kyle did apologize to Brandi
after it happened, but Brandi felt at the time like Kyle really didn’t take
responsibility for her part. Now that
they have seen it on TV, Kyle knows that she was just as much at fault as
Brandi was. Lisa interjected that
she called to apologize to Brandi as well about her own attitude towards her
after game night, because she took Kyle’s side without asking any
questions. Once Lisa saw it on TV
and realized the full extent of what happened, she felt awful. Brandi felt very strongly that Kim and
Kyle were definitely bullies that night, and even with Kyle trying to defend
herself, watching footage of her and Kim discussing that Kim took her crutch
and hid it didn’t look very good.
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| Bravo |
There was a short segment about refinement, dignity and class
that included a clip package of the ladies swearing like truck drivers and
having to be bleeped. Apparently,
the two ladies who swore the least this season were Camille and Adrienne with
Brandi having to be bleeped the most.
Andy felt the need to have a “James Lipton moment” (James is the host of
“Inside the Actors Studio”) and ask each of the ladies what their favorite
curse word was. I’m not quite sure
what the point of this was, other than to interject some humor in to the day for
a few minutes before they got back to the serious topics. If you are a regular viewer of the
show, what each woman picked was not a surprise in the least! Also discussed was Giggy drinking out
the goblets at Adrienne’s house.
Lisa pointed out that it was actually Ken that let him do it and yes,
Lisa would let him do it at home.
Adrienne suggested that maybe she should bring Jackpot over to Lisa’s to
do the same thing, and Lisa said he would be more than welcome. Lastly, Andy asked Brandi what the
difference was between looking sexy and slutty. After making a crude joke, she responded, “However you feel
the most powerful and confident is how you should roll.” What a fantastic answer! Kyle, however, feels that sexy is
leaving something to the imagination and slutty is when you show too much (boobs
hanging out, too short of skirt), which was obviously a dig at Brandi for her
attire most of the season. Brandi
just rolled with it.
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| Bravo |
The next hot button topic to be discussed was the
relationship between Taylor and Lisa.
First, a clip package was shown that included a lot of negative comments
about each other and the confrontation at the tea party. We see Lisa saying during her interview
that she realized how desperate Taylor was for her friendship so she looked at
the situation with a new perspective. After it was finished, Taylor said that at the time
she didn’t understand Lisa’s humor and always felt like she was making digs at
her. She realizes that a lot of it
was her own insecurity and Lisa being uncomfortable with things that Taylor had
told her about her marriage. Andy
asked Taylor about a comment she made at the tea party regarding Lisa’s ego
being “out of control” and why she felt that way. Taylor talked about how during that time, Giggy was tweeting
things about all of the ladies (calling Taylor a duck or a blowfish) and she
didn’t feel it was appropriate.
Brandi tried to step in to defend Lisa, and Taylor bit back with an “I’m
not talking to you!” Yikes!!! Andy asked a “viewer question” about
Taylor telling Lisa that the women talk about her behind her back and did she
feel they were afraid to confront her face to face. Uh oh - you
could see that the ladies were getting uncomfortable and there was definitely
an argument on the way. Brandi
agreed that she had said the same thing to Lisa (that people were talking
behind her back), but she was specifically talking about Adrienne and not the
other ladies. Brandi had heard
from people that work for Adrienne that she said she didn’t like Lisa. Instead of denying she said it,
Adrienne asked Brandi “Why would you do that? Why would you tell her that? That’s not nice!”
All of a sudden it turned in to an “I thought we were friends”, “Clearly
we aren’t because you can’t return a call”, “She’s just reaching out to you
because she’s afraid of what you are going to say” bitch-fest! When did it become the Lisa/Brandi
versus Kyle/Adrienne camp and why didn’t I get the memo? Brandi was very clear that she and Lisa
do not sit around and talk about others and Lisa has never said one bad thing
about any of them. Lisa said that
she and Brandi didn’t start off as friends, but they got to know each other
better in Hawaii. It was then that
Lisa found her funny and they became friends. There were no ulterior motives. Lisa made it perfectly clear that she has no problem saying
something to people’s faces, she doesn’t need anyone on her “side” as Adrienne
alluded to.
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| Bravo |
Andy then moved on to Kyle, Camille and Adrienne and asked
them if they felt that Taylor tried to throw them under the “Lisa Bus”. Camille said had felt that way at the
tea party; stating that Taylor said Camille said these things and then she went
out to Paul and said Camille had her back against Lisa when Camille never said
that. Then Taylor said that they spoke
and Camille said that Lisa phoned her and said that she pulled her aside at the
séance and said Taylor is not her friend.
Camille jumped on that and told Taylor she was lying. (This part was a little confusing for
the viewer to decipher because there was a lot of “you said, I said, she
said”). Andy asked why no one took
Taylor’s side during the argument between her and Lisa and at the tea party,
and Kyle said that none of them wanted to get involved because it wasn’t their
argument. She, personally, had
enough drama with Kim and it was hard for her because she was a friend to everyone. Andy asked if the ladies thought the
friendship between Lisa and Taylor is genuine or an act. Brandi once again was quick to defend
Lisa, saying that she had dinner with Lisa once and Brandi communicated an
issue that she was having with Taylor and Lisa immediately came to her defense.
There were no cameras or anything around – it was just two women and a real
conversation. Brandi brought this
up to show that Lisa was genuine and loyal to Taylor. After being asked, Brandi explained that she had seen
Russell out and that he told her that Taylor had him send the email to Camille. Russell said he felt horrible about it,
that he always really liked Camille, and it didn’t sit well with Brandi because
Russell seemed really upset.
Taylor jumped all over it and the next thing you know holy hell broke
loose! Brandi is trying to explain
that this was just her perspective based on the conversation she had with
Russell. Taylor is visibly winding
herself up explaining what type of manipulative person Russell was. Lisa is trying to talk Taylor off the
ledge and then Taylor just goes in for the cheap shots and brings up Brandi’s
ex and allegations that Brandi slit his tires (which Brandi completely
owned). So Brandi hit back
with a cheap shot about “when does the book come out?” alluding that it’s been
VERY quickly since Russell’s passing that Taylor’s book was written. I think it was Brandi’s attempt to fire
a warning shot across the bow at Taylor and get her to stop before it got out
of hand. Taylor, however, missed
that warning and became unhinged.
I’m not talking Malibu-beach-house-party unhinged, but unhinged enough
that Kyle felt the need to jump in so she could compose herself. Kyle, who I normally love and adore, looked a little pious
and holy-than-thou explaining that Taylor is a single mom now with a husband
who killed himself and people shouldn’t judge unless they’ve walked in their
shoes. And then she continued to
take jabs at Brandi about her husband leaving her and calling her two faced
(apparently Brandi called Kyle an nasty name on text and accidentally sent it
to her – something Brandi also owned).
But isn’t that what they have done to Brandi almost all season – judge
her without walking in her shoes?
I’m not taking sides here because I think that there are times that they
are all right and all wrong, I’m just asking the question . . . . . .
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| Bravo |
Andy talks briefly with Kyle regarding her relationship with
Kim, and we see clips of how strained they were all season. It has definitely been a parent-child
relationship with Kyle in the parent role. Kyle said Kim
didn’t watch the show at all and wasn’t really interested in being a part of
the show, which is why she didn’t show up for a lot of things this season. After Andy asked why Kim did it,
we find out that Kyle thought it would be a good idea for her. Hmmm, interesting. Kyle never wanted to confront her about her problems; they
always had a very passive aggressive relationship. She felt that the fight last season, and Kyle calling her
out as an alcoholic on national television, ultimately helped their
relationship. Kyle feels that she
appears to be enabling her on camera, but when they aren’t filming she
definitely isn’t an enabler, which is part of Kim’s anger towards her. Lisa interjected that they didn’t have
much interaction with Kim all season because she was never there. A viewer question was asked which I
personally had been wondering about myself. It said, “Everyone knew that Kim had a substance abuse
problem, but no one said anything except Brandi. Everyone knew that Taylor was in an abusive relationship,
but no one said anything. Don’t
you think keeping quiet does more harm than good?” I thought Kyle answered this beautifully when she said that
it is very difficult for a viewer of the show to judge their choices and their
actions based on the snippets of a TV show that we see once a week. Their lives are very open and they show
the majority of their lives on television but some things need to be handled in
private and these were those things.
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| Camille and Dimitri Charalambopoulos (DailyMail) |
It was Camille’s turn in the spotlight, and everyone agreed
that she went from the “Most Hated Housewife” in Beverly Hills last year to a
fan favorite this year. All of the
ladies agree that Camille is a different person – happier, lighter. She shared that she is very
excited about dating again, and that she and Dimitri (the picture of the HOT
abs from the season finale) are still together after 6-7 months. The ladies have met him, as well
as her children, and everyone seems to enjoy spending time together. Despite Andy trying to get her to label
“where they are headed”, Camille would only say that she believes in monogamy,
the sex is very good, and they are happy and enjoying each other’s
company. Good for her!!! The divorce and settlement from
Kelsey is ongoing (she’s been told it can take anywhere from 2-5 years). They don’t speak, despite her reaching
out to him for the sake of their children. Camille said that it has been very hurtful to hear him talk
about meeting his current wife while he was still married to her. He glamorizes his current relationship
and makes it like a fairy tale beginning, but Camille and he were very much
married (even when his then girlfriend/now wife was pregnant). Kelsey has said that Camille being on
the show his “parting gift” to her – which she scoffs at. First he said he
basically left her because she wanted to be on the show, then he turns around
and tells the press that it was his parting gift. She does, however, take guilty pleasure in the fact that RHOBH
gets higher ratings than his new show.
Camille has continued to use “Grammer” for the kids – maybe after the
settlement and custody issues are done she will change it back. (Brandi said she changed her name back to
Glanville because there were too many Mrs. Cibrian’s running around!) Andy feels that Camille made more of an
effort to be nicer on screen this year, and Camille feels that it’s because she
has gone through so much and she has changed as a person. She did try to avoid the drama this
year – she hid in the bathroom twice during craziness! Sweet kind and funny is the real
Camille.
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| Gallery Books |
Last on tonight’s agenda to discuss was Taylor’s book,
“Hiding From Reality”. Taylor said
she was journaling throughout her therapy sessions and when she went back and
reread them, she recognized that there were a lot of patterns throughout her
life that allowed her to be in controlling relationships. She thought that girls with low self-esteem
could use the boost, which is why she decided to write a book. The abuse in her relationship started
when she was pregnant, about 5 ½ years ago and continued all the way through
her relationship – about every 6 weeks or so. Taylor said she didn’t report it because she loved him and
she didn’t want him to go to jail.
Taylor said Russell would say to her, “Go ahead call the cops. I’ll go to jail and you and Kennedy
will be on the street I’ll bankrupt you and I’ll sue you until you have
nothing.” There was also the issue
of visitation if there was a divorce.
Having to send her child to a person that has a volatile temper and not
want Kennedy to be alone with him was another big fear for her. Adrienne though Taylor doing the show would be a good way for
her to make money so she could find her way out of the relationship. Taylor went on to say that when she
found Russell’s body, she left a briefcase next to him. In it were several files that she knew
nothing about, information about 10 different bank accounts, an office in Rio
de Janeiro, and flash drives that she hasn’t opened because she’s afraid that
once she opens them she will be sued for them. Russell was in severe financial trouble, and now she is
because they were still married. Andy
asked her about a business associate of Russell’s that also committed suicide
in the days following Russell’s death.
Taylor said she has no idea what the link is, but it would make her feel
better to know that his death was at the hands of someone else as opposed to
her husband being in such despair that he took his own life. The episode ends with Andy asking her
if she thinks there is a possibility that this could be a murder . . . . .
NEXT WEEK: The
conclusion to the 3 part reunion, Dana Wilkey makes an appearance along with
Ken Todd (and presumably the rest of the husbands), and a conversation with Kim
Richards about rehab.
If you
or someone you know needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence
Hotline at www.thehotline.org or
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Photo Credits: BravoTV, The Daily Mail, and Gallery Books
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