Weekly Bravo Cocktail Party: January 15th

We’ve come to the end of the Covid seasons of RHOC and Southern Charm. They were both disappointing, partly because they were dealing with heavy topics that are important but not necessarily the light escapist tours of closets that we’ve come to expect from Bravo. Also, both casts were missing some of their staple cast members this season and, combining that with the lack of parties and trips to integrate the new cast members, led to the feeling like the main players were disconnected and disengaged, which doesn’t exactly make compelling tv. Basically, both the OC and SC were boring this season, although I do have give a round of applause to some of the ladies from Southern Charm that did their best to bring the drama and the fashion and drag the rest of the cast into the modern age.

That said, I’m optimistic about the new season of RHOD and very excited for Summer House and New Jersey to start! I think 2021 is going to be better for Bravo (and for all of us!) and I’m looking forward to diving in to these new seasons.

Photo by Bravo. Dr. Tiffany Moon is bringing a lot of opinions to this season of Dallas!

Who Didn’t Make the Guest List:

The Entire Cast of RHOC: I think we’re looking at a major reboot of this show. Even though I did not love Vicki or Tamra, they were at least invested in the show and they had real friends and real enemies amongst the cast. Without them, it feels like a bunch of women with either very depressing life stories or totally oblivious life stories, who get together occasionally and don’t really like each other. While I do like Emily and Gina this season, they’re not providing a lot of glamour or drama, and Shannon and Braunwyn are so neurotic and selfish that it’s hard for me to find anything compelling in their narratives.

Shep and John Pringle: Are break rooms still a thing?

Whitney: I can’t wrap my head around Whitney’s behavior in this fight. She started out saying that she was going to confront Jen about leaving Mary out because all of the women were uncomfortable about that but afraid to say anything. Then it turned in to proving that she was a good friend to Jen by telling her that the other women were talking about her behind her back and saying they were afraid of her. Then, in the truly baffling outdoor bathtub scene, she was blaming everyone else and not wanting to admit that it was her fault for drinking way too much and having terrible timing.

Meredith and Seth: I think I have to join Brooks in being grossed out by their ooey-gooey reconciliation. I’m happy for them to be back together, but I’m going to be a little skeptical until we learn more about Seth’s whale chasing efforts in Ohio.

Kary: Her attempts to needle D’Andra and give her a hard time came off as grumpy and negative, but I do think she was great when she was talking with her daughter about adjusting to life back in Dallas.

Photo by Bravo. Was this the strangest filming location ever?

Who Made the Guest List:

Craig: OMG the rowing scene from The Notebook cracked me up. I would like to go there and do the exact same thing.

Madison and Leva: These two did their best to bring some tough love to the show and I am here for it. They are both gorgeous and successful business owners, and neither of them shies away from giving the Charleston boys a piece of their mind. Without them, I don’t think there would have been a show this season.

Heather: Eternal Heather fan here.

Lisa: Guys, I don’t know what it is, but Lisa’s monotone voice and disses towards Whitney were really making me laugh this week.

Jen and Coach Shah: For all of Jen’s craziness, I thought that the conversation between Jen and her husband was so open and vulnerable and I really hope that it brought them some ability to move forward and be happier together. I’m rooting for them and hoping that if they can get to a better place, then we can have more scenes like that hilarious dance off at his birthday party!

Emily: I loved the way she tried to get to the truth of the matter with Elizabeth and with Braunwyn at the beach party. She was able to pinpoint their inconsistencies without turning into screeching a la Kelly Dodd. This was a good season for her!

Tiffany: Dr. Moon is really bringing some A game to Dallas this season. I love her cute family, giant house and fingerprint access-only closet. She’s very open about who she is and also very bossy. I think she’s going to rub a lot of the ladies the wrong way and it’s going to be fun to watch.

Kameron: This is just how I like my housewives: rich, well-dressed, eccentric, and unable to cope with the normal realities of life! Kameron is so funny and I could watch a whole show about her attempting to deal with her dog while wearing insane sunglasses. Her husband, Kourt, has also perfected the house-husband art of seeming like a normal, responsible, slightly put-upon male without coming across as too rude or condescending (maybe because Kam is about two feet taller than him and that clearly doesn’t bother him?). It’s interesting watch Kam and the other Dallas ladies dealing with husbands who sometimes treat them as less than equal partners-it seems to be a definite theme in that city, and I think we’re going to see more of it with Stephanie and Travis next week.