The Real Housewives of New York City
| The Real Housewives of New York City | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Current LuAnn de Lesseps Alex McCord Ramona Singer Jill Zarin Kelly Bensimon (season 2 -) Sonja Morgan (season 3 -) Cindy Barshop (season 4-) Former Bethenny Frankel (season 1 to season 3) Recurring Jennifer Gilbert (season 3) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 38 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Jennifer O'Connell Nick Emmerson Christian Barcellos Andy Cohen Matt Anderson |
| Producers | Keira Brings Paul F. Rosenthal Jim Fraenkel Michael Gail |
| Production locations | New York City, United States |
| Running time | Approx. 44 minutes (excluding commercials) |
| Production company | Ricochet Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | Bravo |
| Release | March 4, 2008 |
The Real Housewives of New York City is an American reality television program on the Bravo cable TV network. A spin-off of the Bravo series The Real Housewives of Orange County, it is the second city featured in The Real Housewives of... franchise. It was tentatively titled "Manhattan Moms" while in production for Season 1.
The first season premiered March 4, 2008 and starred Bethenny Frankel, LuAnn de Lesseps, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer, and Jill Zarin. Contrary to the series title, the women featured were not all actually housewives. Frankel was unmarried and had her own business, and McCord, Singer, and Zarin all had jobs outside the home. Singer owned her own business.
The series was renewed for a second season and premiered February 17, 2009, adding a sixth "housewife", Kelly Killoren Bensimon.
The third season premiered on March 4, 2010. Sonja Morgan, the show's newest housewife, joined the cast in the seventh episode of season 3. The third season reunion was filmed on May 26, 2010 and was aired as a three-part special. Event planner Jennifer Gilbert joined the cast, but her appearances were extremely limited and she was not featured as one of the housewives in the show's trademark open, which features each woman with her name on-screen. Season 4 has been announced and filming began in late September 2010. Singer confirmed that Cindy Barshop will be joining the cast and will be Frankel's replacement.[1] Season 4 is slated to premiere in the spring on Bravo.
Cast
LuAnn de Lesseps
(Season 1 to present)
"I never feel guilty about being privileged."
LuAnn de Lesseps née Nadeau (born May 17, 1965) was born to a concrete manufacturer [2] still owned by 2 of her brothers in Berlin, CT but quickly wanted to leave her working class life behind. She is a former Wilhelmina Models model[3]. in addition she is an RAN. She is of Algonquin and French descent.[4] She was the fourth wife of "Count" Alexandre de Lesseps, a descendant of Ferdinand de Lesseps of the Suez Canal family. They have two children, Victoria and Noel. De Lesseps and her husband were divorced in 2010 amid reports of infidelity & drug and alcohol abuse by both parties.[5] De Lesseps is listed as the author of a book released in 2009 entitled "Class With The Countess" although as she admitted during filming of the 2nd season, when Diane Reverand appeared on the show that the book was actually written by Reverand. In April 2010, de Lesseps released a single entitled "Money Can't Buy You Class".[6].
Ramona Singer
(Season 1 to present)
"I like making my own money, I find that an aphrodisiac."
Ramona Singer (born November 18, 1956)[7] is the owner of RMS Fashions, a company that purchases excess goods from clothing manufacturers and resells them to discount stores. In the apparel industry, Ramona is known as a jobber - a middleman whom manufacturers sell their surplus fabric to.
After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Singer began her career as a buyer for Macy's and then moved into the wholesale clothing business with French Connection and Calvin Klein. She's developed and markets her own line of jewelry that is sold through the Home Shopping Network (HSN). She also developed and launched a skin care line, TruRenewal, in 2009.
In 2010, Singer appeared on an episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire assisting a contestant, as well as a few episodes of Bethenny Frankel's spinoff, Bethenny Getting Married?.
Singer lives in Manhattan with her husband Mario and their teenage daughter, Avery.
Alex McCord
(Season 1 to present)
"To a certain group of people in New York, status is everything."
Alex McCord, (born October 1, 1973)[8] is married to Simon van Kempen, who was the General Manager of Hotel Chandler in New York City[9] throughout the first 3 seasons, but has since left to start his own social media business within the hotel sector.[10] They have two boys together, Francois and Johan[11]. McCord and her husband have written a book together entitled Little Kids, Big City, which was released in spring 2010.[12] She was a graphic designer for over nine years.[13] In March 2009, she was laid off from her job in visual merchandising[14] for Limited Brands/Victoria’s Secret. McCord was born in Washington, D.C., raised in Kansas, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and has lived in New York City since 1996.[citation needed] She attended Northwestern University but never graduated.[15] As of 2010, she and van Kempen reside in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.[citation needed] In 2010, McCord appeared on an episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, assisting a contestant.[citation needed] McCord also made several appearances on cast mate Bethenny Frankel's spinoff "Bethenny Getting Married?"
Jill Zarin
(Season 1 to present)
"I run with a fabulous circle of people."
Jill Zarin, (Born 30 November, 1963; Woodmere, New York), is married to Bobby Zarin.[16]. Bobby is owner of Zarin Fabric Warehouse and Home Furnishings, a home furnishing and fabric store on the lower eastside, which was started by Bobby's father. Zarin does marketing for the store and also holds a real estate license.
Zarin attended Simmons College. She currently lives on the Upper East Side neighborhood with her family. The Zarins' summer home in the Hamptons, featured on the show, was sold in 2009.
Jill Zarin Enterprises: brand; Jill Zarin Home, a tv career, public speaking career, book tour and charity work.
In 2010, Zarin published the advice book Secrets of a Jewish Mother, which she co-authored with her sister and mother.
In 2010, Zarin appeared on an episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
Kelly Killoren Bensimon
(Season 2 to present)
" I've created a great life, and I love living it."
Kelly Killoren Bensimon, born on May 1, 1968[17], joined the series in Season 2. She is from Rockford, IL, and was married to photographer Gilles Bensimon, with whom she had two daughters, Sea and Thaddeus "Teddy". She is a former model, equestrian, and magazine editor. She is the author of The Bikini Book (2005). She has developed a line of costume jewelry, which is sold through the Home Shopping Network
Sonja Morgan
(Season 3 to present)
"I have a taste for luxury, and luxury has a taste for me."
Sonja Morgan, born November 25, 1963[18], is the ex-wife of John Morgan, one of five sons of Henry S. Morgan, a great-grandson of J. Pierpont Morgan. Prior to getting married, she was a hostess at a restaurant in New York City. She and Morgan have a daughter together.
Morgan is currently working on a screenplay she describes as "a Candace Bushnell society novel."
According to the New York Post[19], Morgan agreed to finance a motion picture in 2006 but backed out at the last minute because she had just been served with divorce papers. In September 2009, a federal jury in California awarded the production company $7.06 million in damages.
According to the New York Daily News[20], Morgan filed for bankruptcy in November 2010, claiming to be $19.8 million in debt.
Cindy Barshop
(Season 4 )
Former Housewives
Bethenny Frankel
(Season 1 to 3)
"New York City is my playground."
 |
Bethenny Frankel is a natural foods chef. She is daughter of Bernadette Parisella and the late thoroughbred race horse trainer and horse racing hall-of-famer Robert Frankel.
Frankel (born November 4, 1970), graduated from Pine Crest School and attended New York University and The Natural Gourmet Institute in New York. Before she appeared in the reality show, Frankel starred in the 1994 movie Hollywood Hills 90028 and acted in the 1995 movie Wish Me Luck. She was a contestant and the first runner-up on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. She was a regular contributor to NBC's coverage of the 2009 Kentucky Derby and 2009 Preakness Stakes, and Bravo's coverage of the 2009 Kentucky Oaks.
Bethenny created BethennyBakes, a company that offered a line of wheat, egg and dairy-free baked goods that was carried in hundreds of retail outlets. This company ceased production in 2010 when Frankel launched the Skinnygirl brand. The flagship product is the Skinnygirl Margarita, a premixed drink lower in calories than a traditional margarita.[21]
Frankel is the author of Naturally Thin: Unleash Your Skinnygirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting (2009), a New York Times best-seller in the Paperback Advice List category.[22] She has since authored The Skinnygirl Dish, The Skinnygirl Rules, and released an exercise DVD, Body by Bethenny. Frankel’s fourth book, A Place of Yes, is expected to be published in 2010.[citation needed]
In 2009, Frankel posed nude for animal rights group PETA's anti-fur campaign; her photo was featured on a billboard in Times Square.[23]
On March 28, 2010, Frankel married Jason Hoppy at the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York City. She and Hoppy now star in Bravo TV's spinoff series, Bethenny Getting Married?, which premiered on June 10, 2010.
On May 8, 2010, Bethenny gave birth to a baby girl, Bryn, who weighed approximately 4 lbs 13 ounces at birth.
On August 31, 2010, Frankel officially announced that she would not be returning to the series for a fourth season. However, because of contractual obligations, Bethenny will make a few appearances.[citation needed]
Recurring Housewives
Jennifer Gilbert
(Season 3)
Jennifer Gilbert was added to the cast for the third season. She was filmed as a housewife for nearly four months, however during the filming she was not involved with the central conflict of the show. That being said, Gilbert's appearances were limited and her own footage was never shown.
She will not be returning for the fourth season.
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Season Premiere | Season Finale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | March 4, 2008 | May 6, 2008 | |
| 2 | 15 | February 17, 2009 | May 26, 2009 | |
| 3 | 18 | March 4, 2010 | July 1, 2010 | |
| 4 | 21 | Spring 2011 | TBA | |
Season 1 Episode List
- 1. Meet the Wives - March 4, 2008
- 2. The Hamptons - March 11, 2008
- 3. Fashion Week - March 18, 2008
- 4. Social Wife - March 25, 2008
- 5. Careful, She BITES! - April 1, 2008
- 6. Girl's Night Out - April 8, 2008
- 7. Second Chances- April 15, 2008
- 8. Reunion, Part 1 - April 22, 2008
- 9. Reunion, Part 2 - April 29, 2008
- 10. Lost Footage - May 6, 2008
Season 2 Episode List
- 1. New Girl in Town - February 17, 2009
- 2. Hamptons Retreat...But No Surrender - February 24, 2009
- 3. On Their High Horses - March 3, 2009
- 4. If You Have Nothing Nice to Say... - March 10, 2009
- 5. New York State of Mind - March 17, 2009
- 6. Runaway Run In - March 24, 2009
- 7. Kelly Vs. Bethenny - March 31, 2009
- 8. Game, Set, Feud - April 7, 2009
- 9. Wife in the Fast Lane - April 14, 2009
- 10. Unfashionably Late - April 21, 2009
- 11. Van Kempen's House Party - April 28, 2009
- 12. Charity Wives - May 5, 2009
- 13. Reunion, Part 1 - May 12, 2009
- 14. Reunion, Part 2 - May 19, 2009
- 15. Lost Footage - May 26, 2009
Season 3 Episode List
- 1. New Alliances - March 4, 2010
- 2. Dueling Labor Day Parties - March 11, 2010
- 3. Fall in Manhattan - March 18, 2010
- 4. Fashion and Fighting - March 25, 2010
- 5. Hot Off the Press - April 1, 2010
- 6. The Ambush - April 8, 2010
- 7. New Girl, Old Money - April 15, 2010
- 8. Let's See That Ring - April 22, 2010
- 9. Stay on Message - April 29, 2010
- 10. Leap Before You Look - May 6, 2010
- 11. Housewives Overboard - May 13, 2010
- 12. Sun, Sand, and Psychosis - May 20, 2010
- 13. Shunburn - May 27, 2010
- 14. Rebuked, Reunited, Renewed - June 3, 2010
- 15. Reunion, Part 1 - June 10, 2010
- 16. Reunion, Part 2 - June 17, 2010
- 17. Reunion, Part 3 - June 24, 2010
- 18. Lost Footage - July 1, 2010
Housewife History
| Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex McCord | Alex McCord | Alex McCord | Alex McCord |
| LuAnn de Lesseps | LuAnn de Lesseps | LuAnn de Lesseps | LuAnn de Lesseps |
| Bethenny Frankel | Bethenny Frankel | Bethenny Frankel | |
| Jill Zarin | Jill Zarin | Jill Zarin | Jill Zarin |
| Ramona Singer | Ramona Singer | Ramona Singer | Ramona Singer |
| Kelly Killoren Bensimon | Kelly Killoren Bensimon | Kelly Killoren Bensimon | |
| Sonja Morgan | Sonja Morgan | ||
| Cindy Barshop |
References
- ^ http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2010/09/ramona-singer-confirms-addition-of-cindy-barshop-to-real-housewi/
- ^ http://www.nadeauconcrete.com/gallery.html
- ^ "Countess LuAnn de Lesseps for Ford Models - Manhattan Moms on Bravo - Bazaar.com". Phoebe Eaton. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
- ^ "Class With The Countess: About". LuAnn de Lesseps, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
- ^ Luann de Lesseps' Cheating Saga
- ^ Countess LuAnn
- ^ https://www.dobsearch.com/people-finder/view.php?t=1272130948&sessid=8eea7c579b6b9928cb9b9f4ad5ff78b2&searchnum=17171940496
- ^ http://www.movieeye.com/celebrity_birthdays/details/14452/Alex_McCord.html Alex McCord: Celebrity Birthdays
- ^ http://www.linkedin.com/pub/simon-van-kempen/11/879/920 Simon van Kempen LinkedIn
- ^ http://www.prweb.com/releases/simon/vankempen/prweb4297374.htm
- ^ "The Chums". McCordvanKempen, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
- ^ Alex McCord Resume
- ^ "Laid off? Update Your Resume and Take Time to Admire the Gold Sparkly Drag Queen"
- ^ "Alex". McCordvanKempen, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
- ^ "15 Minutes With: Alex McCord, Real Housewife of NYC and Northwestern dropout"
- ^ "Bravo reveals 'Real Housewives of New York City' cast, to debut Mar. 4". Rocchio, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
- ^ https://www.dobsearch.com/people-finder/view.php?t=1272130736&sessid=8eea7c579b6b9928cb9b9f4ad5ff78b2&searchnum=17170977996
- ^ "http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2114006/bio" Sonja Morgan, IMDB
- ^ Boniello, Kathianne (March 28, 2010). "New 'Real Housewife of NYC,' Sonja Morgan, sued by film company". New York Post. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
- ^ Everett, Cristina (November 18, 2010). "'Real Housewives of New York' star Sonja Morgan files for bankruptcy, lists $19.8 million in debt". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
- ^ Bethenny.com (official site). Retrieved June 26, 2009.
- ^ "Best Sellers: Paperback Advice (June 21, 2009)" The New York Times, 2009. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.
- ^ "Bethenny Frankel: Nude For PETA". December 15, 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
22. http://www.apparelsearch.com/Terms/J/Jobber_Textile_Jobbers_Fabric_Jobber_Clothing.htm