By Drew Grant 5/20 12:45pm

The Real Housewives of New York City

The cast of RHONY, approximately. (Bravo)

Real Housewives of New York City Will Go On: Cast Filming in NYC, But What’s the Headcount?

Despite the finger-biting anxiety of the last two weeks, when negotiations between Bravo and the members of The Real Housewives of New York City broke down, causing the network to threaten cancellation, it looks like all’s well in the RHONY world after all.

Reports have seen the women out and about together with a camera crew at various NYC locales, including the studio of celebrity trainer Will Torres.

But the question remains: will all the Real Housewives be making it back for the next season? Read More

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 Drew Grant 10/26/12 6:34pm

Feminist Counterpoint

Housewife Aviva Drescher and social critic Camille Paglia (Getty Images)

Aviva Drescher Responds to Camille Paglia’s Love of Feminist Housewives

Two weeks ago, feminist Camille Paglia did an interview with Salon.com in which she came out as the world’s biggest fan of The Real Housewives franchise, calling it “a revelation of the deep truth about female sexuality.” She added:

It’s like the Discovery Channel—sending a camera to the African savannah to watch the cheetahs stalking the gazelles! What you’re seeing is the primal battles going on among women. Men are marginalized on these shows—they’re eye candy, to use Obama’s phrase, on the borderlines of the ferocity of female sexuality.

We decided to call up Aviva Drescher, RHONY’s newest villainess (though we still think she’s very nice), to get her reaction to the compliment. Read More

By Drew Grant 4/06/12 9:15am

The Real Housewives of New York City

The RHONY cast: Ramona Singer, LuAnn de Lesseps, Aviva Drescher, Caroline Radzwill, and Heather Thomson (Getty Images)

Real Housewife of New York City’s Aviva Drescher Spills About New Season’s Drama

With the 5th season of The Real Housewives of New York City airing June 4th, the first teaser trailer has given fans a lot to look forward to. Not only are there three new Housewives—Aviva Drescher, Heather Thomson, and Carole Radziwill—but the sneak peak shown earlier this week has everything from prosthetic, skinny-dipping, and an elderly gentleman suggesting that he could give one of the ladies her “first squirting orgasm.” And a lot of booze, to be sure.

Ms. Drescher, an advocate for amputees (she herself only having one leg) appears to play a major part in the drama of the season. The trailer begins with Ramona Singer asking if the toes on her prosthetic are “real” and ends with Ms. Drescher calling the tenured Housewife “white trash.”

“I regret having said those words,” Ms. Drescher told The Observer by phone yesterday. “I have a much larger vocabulary than that.” Read More

By Drew Grant 1/17/12 6:04pm

The Real Housewives of New York City

Cindy Barshop, merkin expert

Former RHONY Star Cindy Barshop Offers Three Decorative Vagina Services At Spa

Completely Bare, the skin care/spa/beauty place owned by ousted-Real Housewives of New York City Cindy Barshop, is a classy joint. Not only can you go into one of three locations in NYC, Scarsdale, or Dallas to get your free teeth whitening consultation or facial tanning (just make sure you don’t get that backwards), but Ms. Barshop’s stores offer only the highest quality vaginal decorations. Read More