By Drew Grant 5/13 11:37am

Exclusive

RHONY, Season 5 (Bravo)

Exclusive: RHONY Contracts Still Unsigned as of This Morning; Tensions Still Running High for New Season

Last week it looked like The Real Housewives of New York City could get shut down for good when all six of the cast members refused to sign their contracts. Shooting for the series was supposed to commence last Wednesday (according to several news outlets), but was delayed when negotiations stalled.

Thank goodness it might not be over. According to Deadline, RHONY ladies Carole Radziwill, Ramona Singer, LuAnn de Lesseps, Heather Thomson, Aviva Drescher and Sonja Morgan all received modest pay increases, though how “modest” that money is definitely on a case-by-case basis; Ramona Singer made $500,000 last season and was holding out for a million, while a source close to the negotiations told The New York Observer that The New York Post’s quoted “average” payout for a housewife–$65,000–was “in the ballpark” of what was being offered this time around.

According to an industry insider, however, none of the ladies have officially signed their contracts yet, so don’t be jumping for joy just yet. Read More

By The Editors 6/05/12 7:08pm

Opening Shot

I'll Have Another washing off for the big show.

Summertime Dramas

It’s June, and yet we’re still wearing our London Fog raincoats and carrying around our Brollys. It’s almost as if New York’s weather gods didn’t get the memo that it’s Hamptons season, and some of us don’t like getting soaked waiting for the Jitney.

Another thing seasonal annoyance for New Yorkers is traffic created by out-of-towners, Read More

By Drew Grant 5/23/12 5:31pm

RHONY

Housewives drama! (Bravo)

Real Housewives Pre-Show Drama: Sonja Morgan Accuses Aviva Drescher of Phony Philanthropy

Last night at the Harboring Hearts Spring Gala at the Rubin Museum, Real Housewives of New York star Sonja Morgan sniped about her new co-star, Aviva Drescher, calling the latter out for only joining charities after she knew she would be on the show.

“We all went to one of her SoulCycle events, but she wasn’t really involved with any charities,” the ex-wife of JP Morgan told The New York Observer. “I ran into her ex-husband (Harry Dubin) and he was just as surprised; he said Aviva never did any philanthropy.” Read More

By Drew Grant 9/20/11 3:21pm

Reality TV

Bye-bye Simon!

The Real Housewives of New York City Cuts Mean No More Simon van Kempen

Stop the presses! Four of the ladies from Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City have been cut from the new season, so Alex McCord, Kelly Bensimon, Jill Zarin, and Cindy Barshop will no longer be around to air all their crazy drama and terrible brand image over the airwaves (unless they, like Bethenny Frankel, get a spin-off show). That leaves only two of the original NYC‘ers in the cast, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and Ramona Singer. Also avoiding the chopping block is Sonja Morgan who is bankrupt, which is a known requirement for being on a Housewives show.

But the real tragedy will not be losing these four women — who we’re sure will be replaced by equally entertainingly desperate social-climbers — but the lack of Simon van Kempen, who has been the best part of the show since its inception. Read More

By Molly Fischer 6/09/09 10:41pm

Ker-splash! Ted Danson Ditches Eco-Benefit; Housewives Don Cerulean Hues

On Tuesday, June 9, the conservation group Oceana joined the clothing company Nautica and Vanity Fair magazine to host a blue-carpet party at Hudson Terrace, celebrating the official recognition of World Oceans Day by the United Nations.

New York Ranger Brandon Dubinsky was among the earliest arrivals, looking as clean and eager as if Read More

By Staff 10/30/06 3:45pm

Cuomo’s Money

Bill Clinton may not be gracing the stage with Andrew Cuomo for a couple of hours, but already, the money for the event is pouring in. According to the Board of Election’s 24-hour notices of campaign contributions greater than $1,000, Cuomo raised more than $100,000 this weekend.

A cursory glance at the list Read More