Sunday, November 27, 2011

Review: Bethenny's Skinnygirl Face & Body Bath Collection

So as soon as I heard that Bethenny Frankel had created another addition to her Skinnygirl line of products, I knew I had to have it!

I'm hopelessly addicted to all things Skinnygirl and this is something I can use every single day. Plus, it's totally affordable. 15 bucks for a whole bath set?! Sign me up!


Included in this Walmart-exclusive holiday set is a body wash, lotion, and scrub.

It comes in two Skinnygirl Cocktails flavors: the original classic Margarita and the summery sweet Sangria.


I HIGHLY recommended this delightful gift set for yourself or someone you care about this holiday season.

Bottoms up!


Friday, October 14, 2011

REVIEW: Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmo

MEET THE NEWEST NEW GIRL


Bethenny Frankel JUST introduced her newest creation, the Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmo
... and it is delicious!


Made with vodka, triple sec, and natural flavors, this low-calorie cocktail is quite a treat.
And perfect for the upcoming fall and winter holidays!



Skinnygirl never disappoints and the newest flavor is no exception. The White Cranberry Cosmo is really a crisp and refreshing flavor - plus, it's vodka!! This will probably be the most commonly liked Skinnygirl because some people (not me!) are picky about tequila (Skinnygirl Margarita) or wine (Skinnygirl Sangria), but most at least enjoy a vodka drink.

I enjoy mine over ice with a splash of seltzer (preferably Adirondack's Cranberry-Lime flavor).


It's the perfect light twist on a cranberry juice & vodka!


So far, it seems Skinnygirl White Cran Cosmo has made it to FL, IL, MI, and NY. Have you found it yet?

Sunday, October 2, 2011

EXCLUSIVE Review of the Real Housewives LIVE Tour

So, last night (October 1st) was the kickoff of the Real Housewives LIVE Tour in Atlantic City, NJ. I love AC and I obviously love the Housewives so this 8pm show was right up my alley!

Originally scheduled to appear was my favorite of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Kyle Richards, but she was replaced about a week ago by Cynthia Bailey. Joining the Real Housewives of Atlanta beauty on stage last night in Atlantic City were one each of the Real Housewives of New Jersey, New York City, and Orange County; Caroline Manzo, Countess LuAnn DeLesseps, and Vicki Gunvalson took the stage by storm and gave the fans a great night to remember!


Not many "secrets" were revealed by the four women but they were so much fun, very personable, and interacted with each other a lot, which I found to be quite entertaining! We learned that LuAnn would like to get married to Jacques one day but not any time soon and that Vicki's new boyfriend of 10 months (Brooks) will appear on Season 7 of RHoOC, which is currently filming. Caroline revealed that Season 4 of RHoNJ is filming now, too, and that the family drama between Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga & Kathy Wakile reaches unbelievable depths and unexpected lows. Cynthia said that she and husband Peter Thomas, who sat in the audience with Caroline's mother and daughter (Lauren), just reached their 1 year wedding anniversary and are very happy together.

John Jude, a producer on my beloved Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live, did a great job hosting the event and talking to the ladies.

A few video vignettes were put together for the women to comment on, much like the set up of the infamous reunion specials. Each Housewife also had an introductory video as they walked out onto the stage at Caesars Circus Maximus Theater (which was beautiful by the way). [You can see Countess LuAnn's intro vid on my Twitter @OhHellYes.]

Audience questions were fielded by the Housewives and a Twitter-question as well as a "Bravo blue carpet" video-question were answered. Most questions were pretty uninteresting but it was nice to see the ladies loose and ready to have fun with the audience.

The Housewives also played a few WWHL-like games that were fun. One had a Newlywed Game feel to it where the host had asked the ladies' men some questions about their habits and qualities, what animal they would be (Cynthia - bird, Caroline - puppy, LuAnn - an animal not yet discovered, and Vicki - a lion or tiger), and how they would react to the possibility of getting plastic surgery (Jacques said "not today, but in 10 years maybe" for LuAnn - she was a great sport and laughed it off!).

It was all in good fun and many of the women's answers matched up with their men's answers, but Caroline came out on top (no surprise there!) with Cynthia as the tied winners while LuAnn and Vicki struggled a bit since their relationships are fairly new.

There was a ridiculous trivia contest between two dingbats for the "biggest Housewives fan" but the girls chosen knew nothing and got prizes anyway (I'm not bitter... -_-).

When asked about the shocking departure of 4 of the 7 Real Housewives of New York City, LuAnn said she'd miss Jill (eff that!) but that she was looking forward to meeting the 3 new replacements when Season 5 starts shooting in the coming weeks. Other than that, she said that her cringeworthy moment of last season was not really letting Ramona have it and telling her off more; LuAnn promises more of that in the new season, though!

Cynthia said that on Season 4 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, which premieres Sunday November 6th, she always went in on the defensive with her castmates and that there is a lot of drama this season. She also said that NeNe Leakes is her girl both on and off the show (yay!).

As a sidenote, Caroline said her girl's night out buddy would be Jacqueline and Vicki said hers is Tamra.

Lastly, which I found the most fun, was a positive Bethenny mention from none other than my favorite Countess! When asked by an audience member if she preferred Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio or Skinnygirl Margarita, LuAnn said Skinnygirl ("I love my tequila with Bethenny!" she said). She later revealed that she has seen B since getting her own show and leaving Housewives and that they are friendly and have no issues between them. <3

I have to say, I went to this live tour knowing I loved Caroline and LuAnn, but I left LOVING LuAnn's charismatic and fun-loving personality and I really enjoyed Cynthia's spirit - she was a lot of fun. I had never liked Vicki but I really enjoyed her a lot too on the tour and my opinion has definitely changed on her character. The 4 ladies provided a fantastic night and I enjoyed each one of them immensely!

All in all, it was SUCH a fun night in Atlantic City with the Real Housewives and I had a great time! Also, I had to buy something (mostly because I wanted this cool black shopping bag), so I bought this neat plastic reusable Real Housewives Live Tour cup.

Any questions? Hit up the comments and tweet me @OhHellYes!

Friday, March 18, 2011

On Episode 4 of 'Bethenny Ever After...'


IT'S MY BAPTISM AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO (3/21/11)
It’s faith overload when Gina takes Bethenny, Jason and Bryn to her Trinidadian church to give Bryn a “blessing.” Once the ceremony is underway, Jason and Bethenny suddenly realize it seems much more like a baptism than just a simple blessing. Feeling misguided and upset, Bethenny and Jason explain their feelings to Gina but also begin to understand how being parents to Bryn has changed everything for them. Jason’s parents come to New York for Bryn’s official Christening ceremony and also get to join in the fun of her first Halloween.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Charity Clicks




Click to give at The Hunger Site.

Just one click a day can help various charities.

Monday, March 14, 2011

New 'Real Housewives' book...?

This Amazon.com listing for The Real Housewives Tell It Like It Is shows a release date for September 21, 2011 and may be the second tell-all book, after The Real Housewives Get Personal, about the Real Housewives series on Bravo.

Hopefully we'll get more info soon, but until then you can pre-order it now for only $10!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Next week on Episode 3 of 'Bethenny Ever After...'


BUSINESS AS USUAL (3/14/11)

Business is booming for Bethenny but not quite fast enough when it comes to the growth of Skinnygirl Margarita. When Bethenny realizes that liquor stores are unable to replenish their supply quick enough, she enlists Jason to help to figure out the problem. But it’s a precarious position for Jason, as he understands Bethenny’s fiery nature and wants to make sure he doesn’t get burned in the process. When Bethenny then faces the consequences of her boundary issues with other important people in her life – namely her intern Max and her broken hearted baby nurse Gina – she realizes she must find balance in all of these relationships before things spiral out of control.

Bethenny Ever After... airs Mondays at 10pm on Bravo.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Lisa Lampanelli back for a new Comedy Central special!



Comedy's lovable queen of mean, Lisa Lampanelli, is back with an all-new Comedy Central special Tough Love on March 27th at 10!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

'True Blood' S4 News!

Trying to get True Blood executive producerAlan Ball and the cast of the HBO series to give away anything about the upcoming fourth season is not easy. Oh, but how they love to tease! During Saturday's PaleyFest panel, we heard all about fairies, demon babies, amnesia (poor Eric!) and why — brace yourselves — Sookie and Bill are doomed for the time being.

Bill's not getting back into Sookie's, er, good graces any time soon. It's going to take a long while for her to get past Eric's big revelation in last seaon's finale: Bill (Stephen Moyer) had been sent for Sookie by Queen Sophie-Anne (Evan Rachel Wood) from the very beginning. (Bill even let Sookie get beaten to a pulp in the first episode just so she'd have to drink his blood and ensure a connection!) "The betrayal is so deep that I don't think she sees a way back from that," Ball says. "That's why we need 17 seasons!"

Speaking of Bill, we last saw him and the Queen, midair, ready to fight. They're weren't alone! Yes, Sookie can uninvite him from her home if she wants — Bill's still not done protecting her. "There is a bite-off [between Bill and the Queen]. Things happen," Ball says. "It's not just the two of them involved."

How did Eric know about Bill's original motives for seeking out Sookie anyway? Blame the Queen. "Eric has a relationship with the Queen," Ball reminded the audience. She was "loose-lipped" and "probably told him a thing or two."

But enough about Sookie ... Eric will have much bigger problems coming up. What kind of problems, you ask? Well, for starters, his memory will be erased. "He messed with the wrong people," Alexander Skarsgard says. When next we meet Eric, he's "definitely not stable." And it gets worse, too. "He doesn't know who he is anymore ... Eric needs help." Help from Sookie? Not exactly. "There are a lot of friendly people in Bon Temps kind enough to help," the actor continues. But the bottom line is Eric is a changed man. "The powerful character he was is just gone. He's the polar opposite of who he used to be. He's just completely lost ... and very vulnerable," the actor says.

Meanwhile, Sookie's been having quite an adventure with the fairies. Of course, Ball and the cast weren't telling what kind of adventures. Anna Paquin says she's learned a few things, just not how to control her "microwave fingers." Says the actress: "I believe that's the technical term for them ... and no, she doesn't have control, but she's still new to all this fairy stuff." At the same time, "we will see what she learned from tempering the way she goes about looking for independence."

Demon baby lives! Oh yes, Arlene (Carrie Preston) will have Rene's (Michael Raymond James) baby sooner than you can say "season premiere." And the baby won't exactly be a bundle of joy. "Evil" is he word Ball uses. Unfortunately, Terry (Todd Lowe) will be smitten from the get-go. "That problem grows exponentially," Preston says.

Tara will be back with a new 'do and a new 'tude. Whew! Tara will be back in Bon Temps as soon as the season returns. "We'll see a new Tara," Rutina Wesley says. She's "a lot more stable." (It's about time! We want tough Tara back!) "She may find some happiness, but just for a bit ... You'll find out early on where she's been."

Lafayette is under the spell of Jesus, recently revealed to be a male witch. At least that's what Nelsan Ellis says. "I think Lafayette can trust Jesus," the actor says. "He does. He has him under a spell so he has no choice but to trust." So their romance isn't real? Kevin Alejandro says maybe, but Lafayette still needs to be careful. "You can never trust anyone," he says. The witches story line will be introduced through a coven of Wiccans (but the Wiccans won't be the "bringers of evil," says Ball.)

Expect good things for Hoyt and Jessica. All signs point to them being soul mates, but they're going to be challenged from all sides. Hoyt's mama will make things even more difficult for the happy couple. (Remember that gun she bought?) "Mom is awful," Parrack says. And then there's the vampire-hating public. "The fairytale can't go on forever," Deborah Ann Woll says. "But maybe the reality is better than the fairy tale." Jim Parrack says viewers should keep the faith. "Jessica is the one."

Is Alcide still going to be hung up on Debbie? "She did have a gun pointed at his head," Joe Manganiello says, laughing. But "she's still alive and at large, so you never know." He and Sookie will be spending more time together too, which won't be making Deb too happy.

Long live the King -- 'cause he ain't dead yet! Ball says the writers made the specific and deliberate decision to not kill the King, Russell Edgington (Dennis O'Hare), in last season's finale. He was merely burned in the sun and buried in cement. "We have definite plans to bring him back — and he's gonna be pissed," Ball says.

Sam's getting another love interest. "I get another shot," Sam Trammell says. "I'm at bat again. I think Sam will sober up." But Alan Ball says sobriety won't last too long. "He can do that for one episode." Why? Well, he did shoot his brother, Tommy, at the end of last season. That's going to cause some problems.

Good luck trying to figure out what Jason Stackhouse is up to this season. All Ryan Kwanten will say is that "he should not be looking after an entire village of meth addicts — he's Jason Stackhouse."

Meanwhile, Andy will be discovering the ups and downs of V. It was no coincidence that viewers saw Andy (Chris Bauer) keep a vial of the potent vampire blood last season. He doesn't exactly know what it does yet, but he'll find out very soon.

Godric will be back, too, but he's still dead. Godric (Allan Hyde) remains a pile of ashes. Ball says with the ancient vampires, "you can go back [in time]... or they can appear in people's dreams." Gary Cole and Fiona Shaw will also guest-star this season. No word on who — or what — Cole will be, but Ball says Shaw will be playing "a witch — among other things."

The panel was moderated by TVGuide magazine Editor-in-Chief Debra Birnbaum.

The new season of True Blood premieres in June.

[Source: TVGuide.com]

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

RHoNYC returns April 7th!

Yay! The Real Housewives of New York City Season 4 premieres Thursday, April 7th on Bravo!

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Monday, March 7, 2011

The Skinnygirl Workout Online

Now you can get an online personal trainer with The Skinnygirl Workout designed by Bethenny!

The Skinnygirl Workout includes a meal plan and customized workout routines for your personal weightloss goals. Sign up today!

USA Today: Q&A with Bethenny


USA Today has a new Q&A with Bethenny.

Don't forget an ALL NEW episode of Bethenny Ever After airs tonight at 10 on Bravo!



Q: What's changed from Bethenny Getting Married? to Bethenny Ever After?

A: I've taken on too much, and I really fully acknowledge it and admit it. Ironically, I wrote a book called Place of Yes, and I'm deciding finally that no can mean yes.

I'm so used to trying to be a survivor and fighting to pay my rent, to meet someone, to have all the things I want in my life. I'm just so used to striving, and it's been a little weird to just have to realize that I have what I want and I can relax a little bit finally.

Q: How are you deciding how much of Bryn to show on camera?

A: In my head, (that's) the most difficult thing. (Early on) she was such a tiny baby, it didn't really matter, but toward the end of the season, she started recognizing the boom and things like that.

The problem is the show doesn't say, "She has to be in so much." She's in a lot because I want to be with her all the time. I'm with her every second of the day that I'm not absolutely incapable of being with her.

Q: How are you and husband Jason Hoppy coping with fame?

A: Truthfully, in the beginning of your career, you want attention and you hope that someone will care to take your picture. To be honest, I wouldn't change it, but once you enter into (fame), you're in a different world, and you can't get off the ride. I can't walk out and say, "Just kidding! I don't want to be famous now, I want to be with my daughter." It's weird that it's a machine and it takes on a life of its own. It's a strange dynamic.

(Jason's) the perfect mixture of not loving it so much that it would be a turnoff but not hating it so much that it would be difficult. I think he secretly likes the attention a little bit, which is natural.

Q: What has the toughest stage with Bryn been?

A: Breast-feeding was the only challenge I've had that didn't come totally natural. But she's the most delightful, sweet child in the world. I hit the baby lottery.

Q: What surprised you about living in Los Angeles for Skating With the Stars?

A: I would think that everyone was way more jaded there, but I got attacked in L.A. And I was like, "Guys, Madonna's probably like three blocks away. I'm not that big of a deal."

Q: Any regrets about Skating With the Stars?

A: I just think it was not a wise decision. I had a new baby, crazy career and there was just no reason to put myself through that. I just thought it was fun and it was going to be ice skating. ... I was painfully thin. I was just miserable. It was the single most excruciating experience of my life. And everyone took it so seriously.

Q: What's the most surprising thing about turning 40?

A: It just happens to be the year that I start to realize "God, you're starting to look old." Just getting out the door involves a crane. The gray hairs, and you've got to get your eyebrows waxed all the time. When you're younger, you can walk out the door without any makeup on. Now you really need to have under-eye concealer and lip gloss. You've got to get your hair colored once a month. It's a lot of maintenance.

Q: What was the hardest thing to film this season?

A: My 40th birthday. I hate my birthday. I'm not a birthday person, and I oddly don't like attention when it's planned like that. I can't explain it. Jason got me a gift, and they filmed that, and I don't like to get gifts in front of people. I was really uncomfortable.

Q: Do you want more kids?

A: I just love (Bryn) so much. She's so sweet, and I'm going to be so sad when this little baby phase is over. So, yeah. We'd better get cracking. Would I love to be 32 and saying this? Yeah, but you are who you are.

Q: Do you miss Real Housewives?

A: Not even a little.

Q: Who are you still in touch with?

A: Ramona, Alex and occasionally Sonja. But not a lot.

Q: Are you going to watch their new season when it returns later this spring?

A: Absolutely.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

RHoOC starts TONIGHT @ 10 on Bravo!


The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 6 begins tonight at 10pm on Bravo!

Then watch Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens: Live! with guests Vicki and Tamra!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Next week on 'Bethenny Ever After'


THERE IS NO NORMAL (3/7/11)

Bethenny’s back in New York and in the fast lane as she attends a party honoring her as one of US weekly’s most stylish people. The next day, Jason talks about visiting his parents again and although Bethenny tries to remain calm, she hits a nerve when she tries to stand her ground. Later, Julie is elated when she finds out she’s not only getting a promotion but a makeover from the Rachel Ray show. Taking some time away from it all, Jason and Bethenny head out for a much needed date night. But what starts out as a great evening takes a turn for the worse when Bethenny reveals that she’s angry at Jason for judging her feelings about what’s “normal” when it comes to family. All is forgiven in the end, but this conversation is far from over.

Bethenny Ever After... airs Mondays at 10pm on Bravo.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Bethenny: A Place Of Yes - Audiobook Sample!

Click HERE to listen to a great audio sample of Bethenny Frankel's newest book A Place of Yes, available everywhere March 22!

Monday, February 28, 2011

TONIGHT on 'Bethenny Ever After'


HOPPY TRAILS TO YOU (2/28/11)
Bethenny and Jason hit the road with their four-month old daughter, Bryn, to visit Jason’s parents in his hometown in rural Pennsylvania. Bethenny experiences a culture shock as she and Jason stroll through the neighborhood and visit with some of Jason’s old classmates. Things get tense over a dinner with Jason’s parents as they voice how much they miss their granddaughter and how important it is for them to spend time with Bryn. Bethenny is frustrated by this and voices her need for having time alone just with Jason and Bryn. Trying to be the voice of reason but feeling caught in the middle, Jason does his best to make everyone happy. In the end, Bethenny begins to understand her husband’s roots a little better as well as learning to embrace her own.

Bethenny Ever After... airs Mondays at 10pm on Bravo.

Friday, February 25, 2011

The first original songs from Glee!


Ryan Seacrest premiered the first two original songs from Glee this morning on his radio show. Both songs, "Loser Like Me" and "Get It Right" were written by musical genius Adam Anders for the Regionals episode, which will air March 15th on Fox.


Both songs will be included on Glee: The Music, Volume 5 - in stores 3/8!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Ryan Seacrest to debut 2 ORIGINAL 'Glee' songs tomorrow!


“Glee” fans have reason to rejoice this week – the show’s first ever original songs are set to be unveiled Friday, February 25 with “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” and RyanSeacrest.com at 7:30a PT/10:30a ET.

The show’s music director Adam Anders spoke exclusively with Entertainment Weekly about the lead song “Loser Like Me” and the musical genius behind it.

“It’s a very uptempo, kind-of-summery hit,” explained Anders of the song produced and co-written by hit-maker Max Martin, the man behind such songs as Britney Spears‘ “Hold It Against Me” and Katy Perry‘s “Teenage Dream.”

Leading most of “Loser Like Me” are Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, while the other single “Get It Right” is a slower ballad led solely by Michele. For more details about the songs, hop over to Entertainment Weekly here.

Both songs will air in March 15th episode of “Glee,” as well as in the latest soundtrack compilation, due out March 8th.

(Source: RyanSeacrest.com)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

'Bethenny Ever After' Season 2, Episode 1 Synopsis


Bethenny and Jason try to be Hoppy together in the Season 2 opener. The couple take a trip with baby Bryn to Jason's hometown in Pennsylvania, but the rural environs prove to be a culture shock for Bethenny. Worse, dinner with Jason's parents turns tense when the parents desire more quality time with Bryn.
Original Air Date: Feb 28, 2011(Source)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Just for fun: RHoNYC Original Press Releases

In honor of what should have been the premiere night for the fourth season of RHoNYC, the following are the original press releases for Seasons 1 and 2. Enjoy!



BRAVO ANNOUNCES NEW SERIES 'THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW YORK CITY'

BRAVO'S HIT DOCU-SERIES "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES" HEADS TO THE BIG APPLE
"The Real Housewives Of New York City," Following the Busy Lives of New York Socialites, Premieres Tuesday, March 4 At 11 PM ET/PT



NEW YORK – January 14, 2008 – Building off the success of the original series "The Real Housewives of Orange County," Bravo is heading to the big apple for its newest installment, "The Real Housewives of New York City." The series will feature an elite and powerful set of New York socialites as they juggle their careers and home lives with busy calendars packed with charity fund-raising galas, the social whirl of the Hamptons, and interviews for elite private schools. These driven and ambitious women show everyone what it takes to make it in the upper echelon of society, where money and status are an essential way of life. "The Real Housewives of New York City" will premiere on Bravo on Tuesday, March 4 at 11 PM ET/PT and moves to its regular time period on Tuesday, March 11 at 10 PM ET/PT.

"This series will explore the personal and professional lives of five ambitious women who in the upper crust of New York," said Frances Berwick, EVP, Programming & Production, Bravo. "'The Real Housewives of Orange County' continues to thrive and this series will explore many of the same relatable issues – relationships, children, and work-life balance – while giving a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make it in the privileged world of Manhattan society."

An up-close and personal look at a lifestyle where private chefs, Au Pairs, front row seats at Fashion Week and Hamptons estates are part of everyday life, "The Real Housewives of New York City" follows five glamorous Manhattan women as they balance motherhood, demanding careers and a fast-paced social calendar, and shows what life is like in the most exclusive areas of New York. The Real Housewives of New York City are:

· Alex McCord, an up-and-comer in New York society, is a high-powered career woman juggling two children, a husband, and a thriving social calendar. Her children take music, art, swimming and French classes, and their live in Au Pair only speaks French to them, in hopes the kids will soon be bi-lingual. In addition to her busy career and social life, Alex is a former actress and model, and currently a graphic designer within the visual merchandising world.

· Bethenny Frankel is a single socialite in her 30's with a burgeoning career as a natural foods chef, a wealthy Wall Street boyfriend with three children, and is a staple on the New York social scene. She is a celebrity chef who owns her own company, Bethenny Bakes, has a health column in Hamptons Magazine, is a TV spokesperson for Health Magazine and for Pepperidge Farms new line of healthy foods, and was a runner-up on "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart." Her main focus these days is settling down and starting a family.

· Jill Zarin is the quintessential New York woman. She is a regular on the Manhattan social circuit, as well as an accomplished businesswoman and a talented photographer. Jill is married to Bobby Zarin, a successful entrepreneur, and together they operate Zarin Fabrics and Home Furnishings. Jill is also involved in numerous charities and counts many celebrities among her friends. A permanent fixture in the Hamptons as well as Manhattan, Jill juggles her career with being a wife and a mother to her daughter Allyson and her stepchildren David (and wife Jill), Jennifer and Jonathan.

· LuAnn de Lesseps is a real-life Countess. Her husband, Alexandre Count de Lesseps, is a French aristocrat (of the Suez Canal dynasty). With LuAnn's Countess title comes a great sense of pride - the de Lesseps presented New York City with the Statue of Liberty. She uses her title to help with her various charities and is a socialite very much in demand, as well as a busy mom of two. The de Lesseps travel extensively around the world, with trips to exotic locales in Italy, Switzerland, France and Africa.
She also teaches etiquette on morning television shows and has a local cable show on WVVH-TV in the Hamptons called "The Countess Report."

· Ramona Singer is a busy entrepreneur. She owns her own business, R.M.S. Fashions, a jewelry line, truefaithjewelry.com, a clothing line "True Faith," and is developing a skin care line as well. She and her husband Mario, a third generation jeweler, and their 13-year-old daughter Avery, live in a striking four-bedroom condo in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. They also have a beautiful second home in Southampton directly on the water. Ramona is an avid tennis player and loves to entertain and is constantly organizing dinner parties and social events.

"The Real Housewives of New York City" is produced by Ricochet Television Inc. Jennifer O'Connell and Nick Emmerson serve as executive producers with Lenid Rolov and Kirsty Robson as co-executive producers.

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BRAVO'S 'REAL HOUSEWIVES' FRANCHISE RETURNS TO THE BIG APPLE


The Second Season Of "The Real Housewives Of New York City" Premieres Tuesday, February 17 At 11 PM ET/PT


NEW YORK – January 5, 2009 – The much anticipated hit series "The Real Housewives of New York City" returns to the Big Apple for a second season of drama with everyone's favorite Manhattan ladies. Premiering after the finale of "The Real Housewives of Orange County," on Tuesday, February 17 at 11 p.m. ET/PT, Alex, Bethenny, Jill, Luann and Ramona, along with new cast member Kelly Killoren Bensimon – continue to juggle their careers and home lives with busy calendars packed with charity fund-raising galas, the social whirl of the Hamptons and nights on the New York social scene. Following the premiere, the series will then move to its regular Tuesdays at 10 p.m. timeslot on February 24.

"Our viewers really warmed up to these characters and their daily dramas in the first season, and there's a real thirst to find out what they'll do next," said Frances Berwick, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Bravo Media. "The immense growth Bravo has seen with the success of the Atlanta and Orange County franchises only adds to the upward momentum this series will hopefully see."

An up-close and personal look at a lifestyle where front row seats at Fashion Week, ritzy nightlives and Hamptons estates are an everyday occurrence, "The Real Housewives of New York City" follows six glamorous women as they balance motherhood, demanding careers and a fast-paced social calendar in the most exclusive areas of New York. The Real Housewives of New York City are:

· Alex McCord is a busy Manhattan career woman working at a fortune 500 retailing company in the visual merchandising world. Always on-the-go, she juggles being a mother to her two children, Francois and Johan, a wife to her devoted husband and constant sidekick Simon van Kempen, and a thriving social calendar. After an event-filled and somewhat drama-filled excursion to the Hamptons for the summer, as well as their annual trip to St. Bart's, the van Kempens return to the city and their active social life as one of the recognizable faces on the New York City scene. With both their boys in school, Alex and Simon begin a major home renovation project; stage two of what will help them complete their dream Brooklyn home.

· Bethenny Frankel is on the fast track and has firmly cemented herself as a "woman about town." Newly single, Bethenny is taking the Hamptons and Manhattan by storm, attending numerous social and charity events while managing both her burgeoning career as a natural foods chef and her line of baked goods, Bethenny Bakes. Somewhere in her busy schedule she found time to write a book on healthy living – "Naturally Thin: Unleash Your Skinnygirl & Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting" – that will come out in March, and a line of "SkinnyGirl" cocktails, out in May. Bethenny is also hot on the dating scene looking for "Mr. Right."

· Jill Zarin is still one of the busiest Housewives around, juggling a jam packed social calendar full of charity events and galas, preparing Allyson for college, and helping her husband Bobby run their fast-growing business Zarin Fabrics. When Ally heads to France to study for the summer, Jill is left with empty-nest syndrome and quickly immerses herself working for the "Help for Oprhans" charity and being the consummate hostess in their Hamptons home. After a somewhat drama-filled summer, she returns to Manhattan and wastes no time gathering all the other Housewives to help her friend Christina with a major charity event, "People Reaching Out," as well as a complete re-design of her entire Upper East Side apartment.

· Kelly Killoren Bensimon, the newest Housewife, is known as one of New York City's major tastemakers. Mother of two daughters, Killoren Bensimon is a model, equestrian, author, editor and designer. She recently created a line of costume jewelry and a collaboration of sweaters that were sold in major department stores nationwide. The former Editor of Elle Accessories, an ambassador for Wool Corp., she is also the face of Saks Fifth Avenue's "Wear" Campaign for spring 2009. In addition to her own reality show on Plum TV called "Behind the Hedges," she is a columnist for New York Post's Page Six Magazine. She has also published three books – "The Bikini Book," "American Style," and "In The Spirit of the Hamptons" – and donates a portion of her book proceeds to the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Killoren Bensimon splits her time between New York City and East Hampton.

· LuAnn de Lesseps, everyone's favorite Countess, spent an eventful summer in the Hamptons with her family. With live-in housekeeper Rosie out of the country for the summer, LuAnn balanced running a household with her two active children and still found time to participate in her active social life, where she attended numerous social events and was honored for her charity work at a major Hamptons affair. With daughter Victoria headed off to boarding school, LuAnn uses her free time to pursue being a writer, sharing with us her vast knowledge of manners from her experience as a Countess to ink a book deal on manners and etiquette, called "Class With The Countess," which will be out in April.

· Ramona Singer continues to be focused on her career running her business R.M.S. Fashions, as well as her successful line of jewelry, "True Faith." Always the entrepreneur, her newest business ventures including developing an anti-aging skin care line – Tru Renewal – and also a line of estate-like jewelry that will be sold on HSN in March and April. After traveling across the country for the summer with her tennis player husband Mario, who competed on the USTA circuit, Ramona has settled back into her busy Manhattan life packed with social obligations and running after 13-year-old daughter Avery, who is growing up right before her eyes. Always the fiery one, life with Ramona is never dull, as she continues to keep everyone in check with her "tell it like it is attitude."

"The Real Housewives of New York City" is produced by Ricochet Television Inc. Jennifer O'Connell, Nick Emmerson and Matthew Anderson serve as executive producers.