Sunday, December 13, 2009
Daily World Buzz Reports That Kim Zolciak and Nene Leakes Alledgedly Fired from Real Housewives of Atlanta
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Real Housewives of Atlanta Kandi Burruss Flies Above.. 100% Class Act!
" When Kandi Burruss reveals, during a recent telephone interview, that her favorite expletive is "motherfucker," it's almost too cute to bear. As if we really needed another reason to root for the Atlanta native, come to find out she likes to cuss up a storm, too."My mouth is bad sometimes," she says, smiling through the phone. "I have to wash it out with soap. Luckily y'all don't get to see that ’cause you can't really say bad language on TV."It's probably one of the few character wrinkles of Burruss' that wasn't excessively ironed out over the course of Season Two on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." While NeNe Leakes transgressed from fan fave to villain with a vengeance, newbie Burruss stole the hearts of viewers with her down-to-earth, charmed demeanor and an off-screen plot line that earned an outpouring of sympathy.Considering all the tribulations and B.S. Burruss has publicly endured in recent months — from the gossip blogs that initially made a mockery of her relationship with former fiancé Ashley "A.J." Jewell to the shocking tragedy that claimed his life before the season finished airing — it almost seems as if her decision to be on the show was cursed from the start.But the exposure, and all the drama that's come with it, could potentially work wonders for the solo career of the Grammy-winning songwriter and former member of the Atlanta-based girl group Xscape. Not only has she garnered a new fan base, she's renewed old fans' interest. And she's done so by giving them something they never had before — an intimate look at the story behind her music.Case in point: "Fly Above," the lead single on her new self-released EP of the same name, is a half-baked R&B ditty about one of the most cliché topics in black pop — them haters. But set against the backdrop of Burruss' whirlwind drama, unfolding as it has before the viewing public, the song rises to the level of a cathartic anthem."'Fly Above' is [my] theme song because so many people have counted me out and hated on me over the years," says Burruss. "And over and over again, I have to prove myself."She first sprouted wings after the demise of Xscape, the ’90s female R&B quartet she joined, along with Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, as a 14-year-old attending Tri-Cities High School in East Point. After dropping three platinum albums in eight years, the ’round-the-way girls of Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label split amid finger-pointing and infighting. "When the group was falling apart, certain members were just like, 'Y'all ain't gonna do nothing once I do my thing,'" Burruss recalls.
But she went on to achieve groundbreaking success when she and Cottle co-wrote TLC's No. 1 hit, "No Scrubs" (1999). Burruss followed that up with a string of hit singles and album cuts written for such chart-topping acts as Destiny's Child ("Bills, Bills, Bills," "Bug-a-Boo"), Pink ("There You Go"), N'Sync ("It Makes Me Ill"), Whitney Houston ("Tell Me No") and more. "I break off and start writing songs for everybody, and that caught people off-guard."But solo success still eluded Burruss. Her debut, Hey Kandi, released in 2000, failed to make a dent. Even though the danceable first single "Don't Think I'm Not" reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, Columbia Records bounced her from the label. Still, the industry couldn't write her off just yet. Her behind-the-scenes writing credits earned her a Grammy for "No Scrubs" and she was the first woman to be honored as Songwriter of the Year by the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.She'd emerged as the new voice of female empowerment, penning plain-spoken, in-your-face anthems that gave ladies the upper hand. In particular, such songs as TLC's "No Scrubs" — inspired by a bootleg boyfriend of Burruss' — and Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills" — in which potential male suitors are reminded, as Gwen Guthrie did in 1986, that "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent" — cemented her rep for putting the smack down. "I think a lot of those songs are like two homegirls talking trash," she says. "It's just something me and my girls talk about [and] laugh about that I just put into a song." But knowing she was the pen behind such lyrics ("Can you pay my bills?/Can you pay my telephone bill?/Can you pay my automo-bill?/Then maybe, baby, we can chill") also made it easy to misread Burruss as a gold-digging expletive. Surely, her steady flow of royalty checks might cast aside that aspersion with the quickness, but it took her turn on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" to demonstrate the truth to those of us not privy to her financial statements.
As viewers discovered during the show's 15-week run, Burruss is the anomaly among the cast of wannabes. The only member who came to "RHOA" as a bona fide celebrity, she's proven herself the least pretentious on a program where ratings are fueled by constant cat-fighting, crass materialism and diva-like drama.
"People have expectations," she says, "and they think, 'Oh, she's gonna be bougie' and 'She got money.' The funny thing is, I think the girls on the show are more about material things than I am."Meanwhile, the drama in her life has almost been too real for reality TV. From the time Bravo announced her as the replacement cast member for Season Two, the ish hit the ’Net. Her new fiancé, Jewell, came with baggage: namely, six children by four different babies' mamas. It seemed like the wrong move for a single mother trying to stay scrub-free while raising her own 7-year-old daughter, Riley. Gossip bloggers feasted on the irony. She and her disapproving but doting mother disagreed onscreen about the relationship. It seemed like a lot to bare before the cameras, but Burruss was committed to keeping it real. In an early episode, during a scene set in her kitchen, tears streamed down Burruss’ face as she tried to convince her mother, along with several close family members gathered with them, that Jewell was worthy of her hand in marriage. It became a defining moment, due in part to her emotional outpouring, but also because it showed her surrounded by a host of relatives, with such down-home names as Aunt Hazel, Uncle Bebo and Uncle Booley, professing their unconditional support.Scenes like that humanized 33-year-old Burruss in a way that nothing in her past two decades of entertainment could have. And with a sophomore solo album in the works, it made for the perfect career setup.Jewell, on the other hand, hated the public scrutiny that came with being on the show, according to Burruss. His source of income was regularly questioned, as was his faithfulness to Burruss. But Burruss stood by her ex, allowing him to move two of his daughters in and continuing to take care of them even after she and Jewell broke up in June of this year. By then, the season had wrapped and she'd started to notice some of the warning signs her mother spoke of coming to pass. When Burruss spotted him with a date immediately after their split, that sealed their separation, though they remained friends.
"A lot of things happened after the show stopped taping that made me be like, 'OK, my mom was right about a lot of stuff.' Like, a lot of the kids did end up moving in for a period of time." Burruss says. "It wasn't that she didn't like him, she just didn't want that situation for me."
After Jewell died on the night of Oct. 2, as a result of a one-on-one fight with Fredrick Richardson in front of the Body Tap club — the Marietta Boulevard strip joint he was buying into — she received such an outpouring of love via Twitter, random blog commenters, even strangers on the street, that it shocked her. In hindsight, his death made Burruss "regret the fact that [the show] focused so much on A.J.," she says. "It pissed him off and I hated to see him upset. "But other than that I wasn't really bothered by anything that they showed about me on the show because I went into it saying I wasn't going to be secretive. I was just going to do me, and however that came off is how it was going to come off. So I feel like it was cool." Her willingness to be so outspoken and direct has always been her best songwriting tool, and several of the songs on the EP are ripped straight from the pages of their relationship. On the playful cut "It Must Be Good," she toys with the popular notion that there's only one way she could've fallen so hard for Jewell. "He got that fire/he got that whoopty-whoop," she sings. "He got whatever it is you say he do."The ballad "I Just Know" was written "when A.J. and I were in a really great, happy time in our relationship," Burruss says. "It's a perfect wedding song."Despite the tragedy, Burruss says she's handling it well. "My brother passed away when I was 15, and he was the closest person in the world to me other than my mom. So I feel like anytime somebody has experienced death with somebody that's really, really close to you, it never affects you the same after that," she says. "It makes me emotional, it makes me sad, but at the same time I know that things are going to be OK. I'm more hurt for his children. So when I listen to those songs, it brings back happy memories about our relationship."In the meantime, she says she'll take her time before re-entering the dating pool. She's focused on her family and her career. Her sophomore album is on hold while she continues to shop for a major-label deal. But she released the Fly Above EP — which features production by Drumma Boy and cameos from Rick Ross, Gucci Mane and her longtime friend Rasheeda — via iTunes on her own Kandi Koated Entertainment. The Bravo network has also asked her back for the third season of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," for which she'll get paid an undisclosed sum of money. Beyond that, she doesn't plan to become a regular on the series. "I don't think I'll do past one more season," she says. "I don't want to get to the point where that's all people see me for is reality TV."Indeed, that would be a motherfucker."
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Our Hearts Go Out To Kandi Burruss For The Beating Death of Ex Fiance AJ Jewell
Our hearts go out to our favorite housewife Kandi Burruss, the breakout star of season 2 of the RHOA and AJ's 6 children. Kandi and AJ allegedly ended their engagement in August. When Kandi appeared on the Bravo Show "Watch What Happens" with Andy Cohen and Tyson Beckford last week, she was not wearing her ring. Those who watch the show know that Kandi's mother was not supportive of the impending nuptuals. We love you Kandi and our hearts and prayers go out to you.
Arrest in ‘Housewives' ex-fiancé beating death ajc.com
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Saturday, September 26, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Real Housewives of Atlanta Kim Zolciak Calls for Boycott of Atlanta Magazine Article
Just when things at Buzz Central were getting a little too quiet (it is late August, after all), comes word of a brand-new bitch slapping contest concerning —who else? — “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
Kim Zolciak has taken to her website under the headline ”Atlanta Magazine: Screw Off” to announce a boycott of the upcoming “Housewives” cover story in the September issue of Atlanta magazine describing it as “disgusting and manipulating.”
Zolciak claims she was “inaccurately portrayed” in the cover story written by Amanda Brown Heckert.
Since Buzz Central happens to have an advance copy of said story, let’s take a quick looksee to see what could possibly have set off the weave-whacked, aspiring vocalist.
Oops.
The headline of the story?
“Trashionistas: Sound the Sirens! Just try not watch the train wreck that is The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
Oh, my.
Here’s the lead of Brown Heckert’s profile: “Five pretty Georgia peaches, plump with collagen and ripe with ambition, sit as still as Evian in the pool house of the Pink Palace, a ludicrously lavish villa that has housed generations of Buckhead socialites and, now that it’s for rent, a Ne-Yo video.”
And yet, despite her protestations, Zolciak has posted pictures of herself from the exquisitely camp-tastic Atlanta magazine 14-page photo spread featuring the Bravo reality stars.
Explains Zolciak: “Because the photos are gorgeous, I have posted them but please don’t waste your money or time in picking up this trash magazine.”
While the September Atlanta issue officially hits news stands next week, “Housewives” fans can get a preview of the story and pictures at www.atlantamagazine.com. Also, for a mere 99-cents, you can read the entire story by clicking here.
It was not immediately clear whether Atlanta magazine’s attorneys will host a tutorial on copyright infringement to Zolciak’s website administrators. After all, the publication’s creative team retains the rights to the photo spread Zolciak is generously posting all over her website.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Real Housewives of Atlanta Show Wrap Up
Before we got to the main event, there was some ridiculousness to plow through. We got a scene of Kim and the kids doing their homework at the table under the new nanny’s watchful eye. The notion of verbs stumped the girls. Is sightseeing a verb? It’s an action, you know. But maybe it’s an adjective? Kim declared the question a Catch-22. Her oldest daughter Briele wondered how the phrase “in a jiffy” solved the conundrum. I started rocking in place at home. Finally Briele rapped a Spanish prayer to an awkward chicken dance. The nanny snapped and said the girl was going straight to hell. Kim was pissed. So pissed that she didn’t fire the nanny. (Woman’s got to work get her weave trimmed and she needs childcare.) But then the nanny went on a tampon run, leaving the kids at home alone, and that was the final straw. Nanny gone.
Kandi starred in a photo shoot to promote her revitalized singing ambitions and also to celebrate family. Problem was her Mom sulked in the corner eating a buffalo wing, and refused to so much as look A.J. in the eye. Riley looked like a doll, and was hopefully oblivious to the tension. A.J., a man of woefully few words, gave up after saying hello. Kandi, who strikes me as all the more moving because she internalizes her pain and doesn’t play it up for the cameras, seemed always on the verge of tears. Oh dear, I’m thinking we most likely won’t see a wedding this season. But I do wish her the team player she deserves. Also—those were pretty peacock feather earrings!
Bravo wants a piece of Dwight in every episode this slow season. So off NeNe toddled to his salon to get a manicure from Ruben Studdard. Dwight appeared in a gold suit straight out of Duckie’s closet. NeNe wants to find him a man. So he oozed into some caramel leather pants that left nothing to the imagination and joined Sheree for a night of speed dating. It was painful! Dwight asked event planners about their shoe sizes. Sheree suffered through 25-year-olds with restraining orders and one interminable joke from a good egg named George. Outside Lisa and NeNe, who put the whole evening together, congratulated themselves on their husbands and how they would never subject themselves to something as humiliating as speed dating. Smug wenches!
At King Tut, NeNe got a little prickly when she saw Kim and Kandi bonding in the corner. I love me some NeNe but that woman has a small streak. The new friendship put her in a fussy mood, and she sneered afterwards to the cameras that Kim was a fair weather friend and Kandi was just a little bit too “geh-toe, a little bit hood” for their group. Kandi, being the only sane one in this group. treated NeNe’s baiting with cool equanimity. Sheree and Lisa, who’d been snickering in the corner about Kim’s singing, pushed Dwight into a wretched version of Summertime. Kandi belted out a few pretty notes. NeNe sniffed that the girl wasn’t all that. A.J. stood in a corner texting his baby mamas.
Next week while Lisa tearfully wonders if she’s ready to visit her older brother’s grave. Here’s an idea, do it between seasons! I don’t want to be insensitive to her pain but I’m not sure that having cameras present helps with the grieving process. Also, Shereee starts a rumor that Kim told everyone in Atlanta that Lisa is a crack whore. "
p.s. Kim has a black puff of a dog named Chanel and a naked picture of her clutching her balloons hanging in the hallway. I had to rock myself to sleep.
Kim Zolciak...I Like Your New Look!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
OK! Exclusive: Kim Zolciak Admits, “I Did Hit NeNe”
On Wednesday, NeNe Leakes claimed that fellow Real Housewife of Atlanta Kim Zolciak was not an innocent victim in the alleged assault in which Kim claims NeNe “choked her out.”
Now Kim has admitted to OK! that she did “smack NeNe’s finger” — but insists she did not strike out first.
“Kim is trying to make it seem like, ‘I need an apology. I’m so hurt’,” NeNe said on Atlanta’s Q1000 radio station today of the fight that was alleged to have happened back in April.
“Well, can you please tell them what you did, ma’am?,” she challenged Kim. “If you let them know what you did, then we can go from there.”
When OK! put this to Kim, she said that she only touched her former best friend after NeNe put her hands around her throat.
“I was not pleased with the stuff that’s coming out her mouth, but as far as putting your hands on somebody, absolutely not. I didn’t touch her first,” she said.
But Kim did concede: “She put her hand in my face after she choked me the first time, and I smacked her finger out of my face.”
“I think I was so shocked that someone would strangle me.”
My Encounter With Nene Leakes....Fabulous! BAM!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Another Atlanta Housewife Faced Foreclosure
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sneak Peek at Nene Leakes' New Memoir................
"......if you aren’t already familiar with Nene Leakes, the straight-talking, attitude-slinging breakout cast member of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” the author blurb on the back flap of her brand-new book fills you in.
On the dust jacket of “Never Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons on Love and Life Learned the Hard Way” written with Denene Millner, Leakes is described as: “An active member of Atlanta society. She resides in an upscale area of Atlanta with her husband Gregg and their two sons. Nene donates her time to various charities and founded the Twisted Hearts Foundation to bring awareness of domestic violence against women.”
The book officially hits stores on Tuesday as Leakes begins a whirlwind media tour for the tome. Fans of the hit Bravo reality show will likely love the book written in Leakes’ trademark sassy voice. And there’s no shortage of dirt dishing and mud flinging either.
For example, Leakes tells readers “I was a little lifted because I’d had almost an entire bottle of wine on an empty stomach to loosen up” for her first on-camera interview with producers to become a member of the “Real Housewives” cast. Oh, and she was wearing flip-flops, a wife beater and camouflage pants and her hubby Gregg was “on my last good nerve” at the time.
“Finally, I just said ‘Gregg, shut the hell up!’ right there with the cameras rolling and everything, honey!” Leakes tells the AJC with a laugh. “But I knew for real when that producer drove off, she was thinking ‘That’s one of the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ right there.’ ”
Alas, Leakes concedes that being on a show that attracts millions of viewers each week can have its downside. Like when you’re trying to quietly buy some feminine hygiene products after hours at the Walgreen’s.
“Sometimes I’m not in the mood to be cute for people,” she explains. “But they’re not aware of the day I’ve had. That I’m tired and I’ve got cramps and I just need to buy some tampons. And then I see it on a blog that they can’t believe Nene is buying her tampons at Walgreen’s. Well, I hate to tell you but Neiman[-Marcus] and Saks [Fifth Avenue] don’t sell those!”
Leakes also writes about how she felt when she saw TV news reports about her and her family getting evicted from a rented house last year. In the book, she explains that the owner was being foreclosed on and the rent checks her family was sending in weren’t being used to pay the mortgage. She writes: “So finally we decided to move. We refused to pay another dime in rent because we felt like [the owner] wasn’t dealing with us in good faith.” (the issue was eventually settled in court).
“To see that splashed all over Fox 5 News, a station I’ve watched most of my adult life, was hurtful,” Leakes recalls. “Not only did they distort what happened but the two anchors were chit-chatting back and forth about me like they knew me!”
And while Leakes will likely have many admirers standing in line when she hits the Barnes & Noble in Buckhead starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday and the Borders in Lithonia at 7 p.m. on Thursday, her co-stars likely won’t be among the fans.
As predicted, Leakes lets loose in “Mistake” about the difficulties she’s encountered with wig-wearing nemesis Kim Zolciak and budding fashionista Sheree Whitfield.
Of Zolciak, Leakes writes: I’m not sure if she’s been clinically diagnosed but I’m convinced if she were to lie down on a doctor’s couch, a psychiatrist would surmise within minutes that Kim is a wack job.”
The title of the chapter devoted to Whitfield? “Watch the Girl Who Throws Rocks and Hides Her Hands.”
“I haven’t really thought a whole lot about how the other girls are going to respond to the book,” Leakes says. “But there’s nothing in that book that I wouldn’t say straight out to them to their face. I have a set of [male reproductive organs]. And my husband will tell you that when they drop out, it’s a terrible sight to see!”
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Picture of Real Housewives of Atlanta Kim Zolciak's Big Poppa Finally Revealed!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Nene Leakes Speaks Out about the Alleged Kim Zolciak Altercation
The following is an exclusive Peachbuzz interview with Nene Leakes where she dishes her side of Chokegate. Enjoy!
"In an interview with the AJC Friday, “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member NeNe Leakes said that no charges have been filed or a warrant issued for her arrest following a April 14 incident with castmate Kim Zolciak at Atlantic Station.
Leakes confirmed that a disagreement materialized between the two women as Bravo cameras rolled outside Taste clothing boutique, a 17th Street shop owned by Teresa Caldwell, the mother of Atlanta rapper Bow Wow.
According to a police report filed by Atlanta police officer R.J. Byers on April 15, he met Zolciak at the Atlanta shopping center where she reported Leakes attempted to choke her during an argument. Byers reports witnesses broke up the skirmish. The officer also stated he advised Zolciak to “take pictures of any bruises to her neck” and to go to the Fulton County courthouse with the witnesses and request a warrant for Leakes’ arrest.
“There was never a warrant and there was never an arrest,” Leakes told the AJC. “The cameras were there. Everyone will see what really happened when it airs on the show. Kim has a problem. You need to type that out in big, bold letters. If she feels threatened, she should. I would never claim that someone put their hands on me and tried to choke me if it didn’t happen. For real. If that happens to someone for real, I would advise them to call the police and have that person arrested. That clearly didn’t happen.”
Leakes said viewers can expect more fireworks in next week’s edition of the hit Bravo reality show. The episode will pick up from Thursday night’s explosive argument between feuding “Housewives” Zolciak, Sheree Whitfield and Leakes.
The trio initially met at French American Brasserie restaurant downtown to try and negotiate a truce. Things quickly spiralled out of control with name-calling and shouting as shocked FAB staffers and diners looked on in horror.
In previews for the next week’s show, the three are seen screaming at each other on the sidewalk outside the eatery on Ivan Allen Boulevard.
“There might just be some wig-pulling, yes!” Leakes said laughing. “We called it an intervention, after all. The people inside the restaurant actually applauded when we left. It was like, ‘Thank God, those bitches are finally out of here!’ “
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Nene Leakes of the Real Housewives of Atlanta Schedules Buckhead Book Signing
Well, fan fave NeNe Leakes herself will be at two area book stores next week touting her brand-new book “Never Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons on Love and Life Learned the Hard Way”
On Aug. 12, she’ll be at the Barnes & Noble in Buckhead starting at 7 p.m. On Aug. 13, she’ll sign and greet admirers at the Borders in Lithonia at 7 p.m.
So what can fans expect in “Mistake?”
Here’s the official word from publisher Touchstone: “Reality TV drama queen shares her wild journey from a scandalous past to the top of reality television stardom in an outrageous and captivating memoir. Charting her journey from family black sheep, single mother, to realizing her dreams and making good, NeNe shares intimate accounts of her past and the hard lessons learned in discovering her path to true love and self-acceptance. Written in her bold, tell-it-like-it-is voice, she also addresses the rumors about her past and dishes on her fellow members of the cast. She is a self-made woman who has not forgotten where she came from and knows exactly where she wants to go.”
Oh, and check back at Buzz Central early next week. We’ve booked an interview with Leakes to discuss her book and the second season of the hit Bravo series."
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Kim Zolciak Speaks With ET About Her Alleged Altercation With Nene Leakes
Kim's publicist tells ET: "The police report that has went public today pertaining to my client Kim Zolciak and a serious physical altercation that was started by fellow housewife NeNe Leakes is a very serious matter that is still under investigation.
"Mrs. Leakes has now proven to the world that she is not the woman she claims. She has spoken publicly of being a former victim of domestic violence and her charity work to help others that have suffered the same. And then she would have such anger to choke my client instead of acting like a REAL woman and talking their personal conflicts out or simply walking away. Violence is a very serious issue and we are not going to be taking this incident lightly.
"Mrs. Leakes needs obvious therapy for her apparent anger management issues."
Monday, August 3, 2009
Real Housewives of Atlanta Are Back and Better Than Ever.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Nene Leakes Charms Morning Television Audience on the Today Show
- Nene is writing a book entitled "Never Make The Same Mistake Twice which will hit the stores in August.
- She was accompanied by her husband, Greg and her son, Brandon.
- According to Nene, the RHOA is still the highest rated of the Housewives shows.
- Nene is a germaphobe.
- Nene has 3 close girlfriends and "lots of associates".
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Tanning Tips from Delores DiGagorio, New Jersey's Finest....
In honor of the upcoming holiday weekend and my new favorite show, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, I am posting Delores' tanning tips....yes, it is that time of year once again.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Sheree Whitfield Unveils Her She by Sheree Clothing Line
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Way (Weigh) to Go Helen, Mike, Tara and Jerry on The Biggest Loser!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Real Housewives of New Jersey Premieres Tonight on Bravo!
All those McMansions, swimming pools, boutiques, charity auctions and spa splurges have been merely rehearsals, introductory rounds leading to the apotheosis of the Bravo “Real Housewives” franchise, “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
The New Jersey housewives are more real and more riveting than their predecessors because, well, they are from New Jersey, and also because they so closely mirror the make-believe characters in “The Sopranos.” The best reality shows look like fiction. The five women who make their debuts on Bravo on Tuesday night are buffed and polished to resemble real-life versions of Carmela Soprano, loud, nasal, nouveau-riche wives who raise spoiled children and spend their husbands’ money in vast marble and onyx starter palaces in Franklin Lakes, N.J. They boast about everything, including how soon they qualified for the black American Express card. As Danielle Staub puts it, “I actually got mine before Madonna did.”
Viewers already know the milieu, the accent and the attitude. The rest is delicious: clannish sisters and sisters-in-law who squabble among themselves but band against newcomers.
“We’re a large Italian family and we’re tougher than most,” Caroline Manzo, the matriarch in the group, explains. “Before I like you, I don’t like you.”
Toughness is part of the pedigree. Caroline is married to Albert Manzo, owner of the Brownstone, a catering and banquet business in Paterson N.J., and the son of Albert (Tiny) Manzo, whose 350-pound body was found riddled with gunshot wounds, his arms and legs bound in plastic, in the trunk of his Lincoln Continental in 1983.
This may be the most preposterous “Housewives” edition, but it’s also the most believable. The suffocating family ties are an improvement over past incarnations, when producers often threw together women who were not really that close and whose frictions often seemed forced. These women actually do know one another well, talk every day and raise their children together (badly). The camera crew seems to be eavesdropping, rather than masterminding. Some of the women seem to have a sense of humor, or at least to enjoy the joke that is their lives on film.
Caroline’s baby sister Dina, a statuesque blonde, is married to Albert’s brother, Tommy, so they are sisters married to brothers. The sisters’ brother, Chris, is married to Jacqueline Laurita, a former Las Vegas cosmetologist, and Dina and Caroline treat Jacqueline as a younger, more biddable sister.
“Her heart is as big as her bubbies,” Dina says of her sister-in-law, meaning it as a compliment. (Bubbies is their preferred term for breasts, a topic that is always on the table.)
They are not directly related to Teresa Giudice, who is married to Joe, a self-described entrepreneur and the owner of a construction business, but they might as well be. Teresa, the mother of three small girls, is the biggest spender in the group, always shopping for new clothes and more ornate furniture for her family’s unfinished French-style chateau.
The economic slump is rarely if ever mentioned on “Real Housewives.” Partly, that’s because it’s a buzzkill for viewers hooked on the free-floating vulgarity. But the men and women who agree to be on the show have more prosaic motives than just vanity or exhibitionism — fame brings publicity, and publicity is good for business, be it catering, event planning or real estate.
So the recession is mentioned only in passing. “I hear the economy’s crashing,” Teresa says saucily on her way to another spree. “So that’s why I pay cash.”
Danielle, who is divorced and not a relative or even Italian-American, is the outsider. She befriended Jacqueline at the beauty parlor, and is on “frenemy” terms with the rest of the women. None are particularly prudish or reserved, but Danielle has no secrets, not even about phone sex.
Locations and accents change, but the faces (frozen) and the formula never alter. The humor lies in the editing, and one of the hallmarks of “Real Housewives” is its reliance on ironic contrast: a woman makes a boastful assertion that is instantly contradicted by tape of her doing or saying the opposite.
“I am so not a stage mom,” Teresa says, while the show turns to footage of her coaching her young daughter, Gia, who is made up like a pageant contestant for a dance recital.
Bravo has already shown a “preview special” that contains much of the material found in Tuesday’s premiere episode. It doesn’t matter. There is nothing linear to the show’s narrative; instead, cat fights and outrageous remarks are played and replayed in every episode in a continuous estrogen loop. Like Nicholson Baker’s time-lapse novels, each season of “Real Housewives” can take weeks, and endless detours and heated arguments, to get from the nail salon to the fashion show.
“Housewives of New York City” seems to drag on forever because there is something so dismal and joyless about that clique of arrivistes. “Housewives of New Jersey” is more farcical, less phony and a lot more fun
Monday, May 11, 2009
Jonathan Jaxson, Kim Zolciak's Ex Publicist, Still Holds a Grudge
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Kandi Burruss Goes Into Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta With An Open Mind
Richard Eldredge of the infamous Peachbuzz column in the AJC dished about the newest Atlanta housewife after her appearance at the Q100 studios in Atlanta...
"When “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” stars Kim Zolciak and Kandi Burruss popped by the Q100 studios Thursday morning to promote their joint birthday party Friday tonight at Aja in Buckhead, the drama wasn’t far behind.
Still, for fans of the inexplicably popular Bravo reality series, it gave listeners an opportunity to get acquainted with Burruss, a former member of the 1990s R&B group Xscape and co-writer of the TLC hit single, “No Scrubs.”
Burruss will join the cast when the show’s second season premieres July 28.
So how did the singer-songwriter get talked into doing the weekly televised train wreck?
“I watched the first season and was a fan of the show,” Burruss explained. “I went into it open-minded.”
Naturally, Zolciak’s memorably awful stints as a singer during the show’s first season became a topic of conversation. Buzz readers will recall that Zolciak was shown on-air being mentored by Atlanta producer Dallas Austin and tutored by Atlanta vocal coach Jan Smith who later compared Zolciak’s voice to an attractive house — with a cracked foundation.
“It was an inaccurate portrayal,” said Zolciak. “I saw [Jan Smith] a lot and I spent a lot of time in the studio with Dallas. They just aired the crazy footage."
Kim and Kandi's birthday party was on Friday at Aja, a fabulous restaurant in Atlanta. More to follow!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Recessionista Budget Wine Recommendation
"Displaying a dark color and a vibrant purple hue, the 2007 Pillar Box Red has bright aromas of blue and dark berry fruit entwined with licorice, spearmint and cigar box complexity. The palate is rich and fleshy, with flavors of fresh blackcurrant and blueberry fruit combined with orange rind, dark chocolate and spicy smoky oak characters. Whilst the tannins are full, the palate is round, soft and well balanced, leading into a lingering harmonious finish."
I highly recommend this wine......you will not be disappointed!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Real Housewives of Atlanta Lisa Wu Hartwell Unveils Her Closet Freak Clothing Line in Atlanta
Next up: Kim Zolciak's birthday party!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Lisa Wu Hartwell of the Real Housewives of Atlanta Unveils New Closet Freak Clothing Line
If you’re not sure of the difference, stay tuned.
Lisa Wu-Hartwell is betting that her new clothing line of that very name will make sense to both.
“I wanted very classical, elegant pieces, but still a little flirtatious. I think these days a lot of women overexpose themselves to get attention,” said Wu-Hartwell of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
The 18-piece collection, including skirts, tops, jumpsuits and dresses, debuts at an invite-only showing tonight in Midtown.
This won’t be Wu-Hartwell’s first foray into design —- she oversees Hart to Hart Baby and Wu Girls Design jewelry, both of which she has scaled back to focus on Closet Freak —- but she is quick to admit she’s no designer.
“I’ve always loved fashion … the ‘studying’ I have done is going to retail shops for years and knowing quality,” she says.
Rather than go it alone, Wu-Hartwell hooked up with Atlanta-based designer and American InterContinental University graduate Evelyn Lambert. A transplanted Brit, Lambert originally dreamed of owning an airline, but after landing in Atlanta in the mid-’90s and sensing a lag in fashion, she thought she could make a difference. She started designing handbags, and later added an upscale fashion line.
Closet Freak was initially envisioned as T-shirt-oriented casualwear. But after chatting with Lambert and viewing sketches, Wu-Hartwell had a change of mind. She and Lambert opted for more detailed and dressed-up clothing, which they describe as comparable in style and price to the fashions at women’s retailer Bebe.
There are jersey dresses with ruffled necklines, strapless jumpsuits with blousy pant legs, bubble skirts and print blouses in sheer silk chiffon and silk charmeuse. Colors are bright —- purples, greens and pinks —- for spring; and there are florals, animal prints and basic black.
Atlanta shoppers could see some items in local boutiques soon, Lambert said, but manufacturing details have yet to be nailed down.
Proceeds from Closet Freak, which Wu-Hartwell considers more of a movement than just a line of clothing, benefit the Big Hart Foundation, the Hartwells’ nonprofit organization to aid children and female victims of domestic violence.
For closet freaks, meaning those who love their closets, or closet freaks, as in those who dress ladylike in public but ramp up the sexy behind closed doors —- or for anyone who happens to have an alter-ego (see the “Real Housewives” pole dancing episode from Season 1) —- Wu-Hartwell says, this one is for you."
Monday, April 27, 2009
Lee Najjar, Kim Zolciak's Alleged Big Poppa, Makes An Appearance on MTV Cribs
According to http://www.homesoftherich.net,/ the 16,000 + square feet home is located on W Paces Ferry Road NW in Atlanta, GA and has a massive foyer with grand sweeping staircase (Katelin says she will walk down these steps the day she gets married), a huge ballroom, a gourmet kitchen with adjoining breakfast room, numerous bedrooms suites, a recording studio, an amazing home theater with a wrought iron door, a swimming pool, a tanning bed room, a game room with ping pong table, a gentleman's club with special filtration for smoke, a beauty and nail salon, a massage room, a moroccan room complete with a hooka pipe, a massive pool House, a basketball court, and an outdoor hibachi grill. The family cars include several Rolls Royce, Mercedes and Range Rover.
Take a peek.....do you think that Kim Zolciak will become the next woman of the house?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Congratulation to Real Housewives of Atlanta Nene Leakes For Bravo A List Award!
Cash For Gold ...The Sign of the Times?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Summer Chastain Park Concert Season Begins
Friday, April 10, 2009
Dieting Tips from Jersey Girl Delores DiGagorio
As a homage to my Jersey sistas and the upcoming series The Real Housewives of New Jersey, I want to share some great diet tips from Delores DiGagario. As bathing suit season approaches, it's time to face the proverbial mirror, be it physical or emotional or mental. As Delores says "Would you rather be skinny or dead"? I heart Delores... you go girlfriend...fuggedaboutit! You rock!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
US Army Soldiers Make Hot 'N Sync Music Video in Iraq
I am ready to make a tour of duty....check out these hot soldiers.........I salute them!
Doctor Does The Nasty With A Couch on Nip Tuck!
After reading Scandy's post about the male propensity to spank the proverbial monkey 24/7 (www.scandaloushousewife.net), I thought I would post this video, which shows a quite different and shocking method of self pleasure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf9Ynn0n1GU If you don't like graphic language or naked men with nasty thoughts, watch at your own risk!
Back to this video, Nip Tuck is one of the best shows with the hottest men on television. In this episode last season, Dr. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) catch a doctor that they are thinking of hiring having sex with the couch in Christian's office.
The irony is the risque strong language song which accompanies the video. I never knew there was a song titled "Fuck Your Couch" but this confirms that men think about doing so.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Real Housewives of Atlanta Quiz
My Results:12 out of 12 answered correctly
REAL Hot-lanta Fanatic
You've been paying attention, and when it comes to following the fabulous lives of the Atlanta elite, you don't miss a thing.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Do Not Disturb... I am In Treatment .....Returning Tonight to HBO
Throw away the meds! I am a fan of HBO's In Treatment which returns tonight for Season 2. Gabriel Byrnes is one hot therapist.....it would be hard to concentrate in session with him. What would Sigmund Freud have to say about that?