I could only stomach about fifteen minutes of the Bachelor. Once, he changed into Michael Douglas gear from "Romancing the Stone" I was about done. First off, he had a date with Nicki and they suddenly get doused by rain -- this causes the change into "authentic" Puerto Rican gear, which I'm sure no Puerto Rican would be caught dead in -- he now looks like a Colombian drug lord. Ben praises Nicki for being such a good sport.
Really? We get praised for handling weather? It's not like it's really a choice, is it? When it rains and we don't have an umbrella, we get wet. Simple science really, so let's not go too far. Can I just say that I enjoyed when "Ghost Hunters" when to Old San Juan and caught a Chinese ghost talking in the old fort. The awkward date with Ben and Nicki? Not so much. And that, was my limit on the Bachelor for last night. Is it just me or is this like if Kris Humphries starred on the Bachelor? It's like Chris Harrison is behind the curtain telling us to forget that Ben isn't really Bachelor material. Just play along!
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion was clearly better viewing. So let's face it, every housewife has had her moment in front of the camera this season where she cattily talks about another housewife. Andy Cohen takes all of these dark moments, mashes them together in a montage of negativity and lays them out for the "victim" to watch. Nice. With friends like these...
Lisa is under fire first for calling Adrienne's shoe line, "Maloof Hoofs" and then saying, they're nothing wrong with that name. They're cute, "fat" little shoes. Oh, that's not offensive at all, Lisa. Adrienne is ticked because Lisa has put down the shoes, her chef and is accused of selling stories to Radar Online. Lisa denies all of this in her Brit accent and calls such things slanderous. She would NEVER sell a story. And it might be me, but I think she might give it away for free to avoid being the one the story is sold about.
The women have all been told by RadarOnline that Lisa sold a story. Note to housewives: that's what dirty reporters tell you to get a story. Wake up! Lisa is also in trouble for calling Adrienne's dog, "Crackpot" -- Lisa has that great English wit though and she's entertaining. So I forgive her.
Kyle gets called out for doing the splits so often in the season. One can only hope that's the end of that awkward behavior. Okay, think with me now. Have you ever been to a party with your friends after high school where ANYONE did the splits? Just saying, that is some really awkward behavior. It's like when a mother says, "Oh, Kyle can tap dance" in front of her friends and we have to sit through a tedious rendition of "On the Good Ship Lollipop." Kyle defends her behavior. Seriously?
On the subject of Taylor and Russell...the ladies are asked if they should have aired the season because of his suicide. Everyone, except Camille, agrees that yes, it was educational. Maybe that's because Camille was the mean girl with regards to Taylor. I have to say, the constant denial of her abuse was educational and not in a good way. Because no one believed Taylor. As if the guy is going to beat her up on camera or he doesn't do it at all.
I appreciated that when Lisa saw the text Russell sent Taylor on her fortieth birthday where he used the F bomb and called his wife a whore, Lisa finally realized what kind of man Russell was. No decent man would ever talk to a woman like that, and if he's that violent on texts, what is to suggest he wouldn't hit her?
Brandi apparently stirs up trouble by telling the women that Russell told her Taylor helped him craft the nasty, threatening email to Camille. But apparently, that would have been impossible as Taylor was in Vegas at the time and without her phone. His being unable to attack her via phone is probably what set him off to send the email. Question for Brandi, why would you believe a man who takes the blame for nothing and uses his wife as a punching bag?
I thought Camille showed her true colors here and she was not a friend to Taylor. She's not buying any of it, but as a victim to emotional abuse herself, I thought that was a bit shallow on her part. Taylor and Camille did have a bonding moment over not being perfect enough for their husbands. The fact is, even if Taylor had known about the email, it's unlikely she would have been able to do a thing about it. You don't stop a man like this from acting. He thinks he's right at all times.
Still, most people don't believe Taylor from the sound of it, so that will continue to be an issue and she will never be able to prove it to many. That's how "gaslighting" works and naturally, she looks crazy. By the way, if she wasn't "off", he wouldn't have been able to abuse her. Abusers pick their victims carefully.
I vote for sending Taylor to Love Addicts, Anonymous and getting her off the show though. She's got her book deal and I think some quiet reflection is in order.
Kyle, I know you all love her, but I didn't see it this year. I thought she was truly a mean girl and an enabler with her sister, who clearly cannot be controlled anyway. So why bother? After comparing being friends with Lisa to playing chess with Bobby Fischer, I'd say that friendship is on the line. She and sexy hubby can go live happily ever after.
Who do you want to see back next year? I have to wonder if Brandi will be back. Apparently, the reason she isn't on for the whole hour, is her booze-induced New Year's Eve wedding incident. Nice role modeling for the kids.
Dana. Face it, no one cares if we hear from Dana again.
