When last we saw her, Dina Manzo was renouncing the world of wealth-fueled catfights and marathon shopping sprees, calling it quits on “Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
In Chicago this week, the former cast member of the highest-rated installment in Bravo’s popular reality TV franchise, said her focus these days is raising money to help families fighting pediatric cancer, through her three-year-old foundation, Project Ladybug,
“Thank God I haven’t personally been affected in my own family, but my dad was always a huge supporter of St. Jude Children’s Hospital when I was a kid,” Manzo said at the Drake Hotel Tuesday. Manzo was in town for three days to promote an April 7 fundraiser for her newly established Chicago chapter of the foundation.
“There are a lot of wonderful charities you can help, but these children don’t make this choice. They should be running, jumping and playing. Instead, their lives are hospitals and treatments,” said the woman known more for the lavish lifestyle she and her sister Caroline Manzo, sister-in-law Jacqueline Laurita, family friend Teresa Giudice and trouble-maker Danielle Staub lead in affluent Franklin Lakes, N.J.
Halfway through last year’s second season, Manzo left the New Jersey series — fourth in the franchise showcasing lives of wealthy housewives in Orange County, New York City and Atlanta — to avoid conflict with Staub.
The Chicago chapter of her foundation, Atia’s Project Ladybug Fund, is named for three-year-old leukemia patient Atia Lutarewych of the West Town neighborhood, who was diagnosed at 17 months and is a patient at University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital.
Hard to believe there was once a gentler time in Bravo's sordid "Real Housewives" era - before such women were yanking out one another's hair extensions, sneaking into the White House and inflating tiny grudges into ceaselessly overblown animosities punctuated by overturning tables in one-star restaurants.
Five years ago, in what was supposed to be a larky, reality-TV retort to ABC's fictional hit "Desperate Housewives," Bravo bought into a show in which camera crews hunkered down with five women living in (or very near) a pricey, gated Orange County community called Coto de Caza.
"Really, it's been seven years since they first started following us around," says Vicki Gunvalson. Her son had responded to a producer's search for subjects willing to participate in a documentary-ish look at the privileged lives of Coto teenagers. Instead, the show ended up being about their moms.
"The Real Housewives of Orange County" returns Sunday night for a sixth season, and it doesn't look to be a good one for poor Vicki.
She's on the phone, speaking to us from another sunny Coto day. She's busy at the office, doing Vicki things, between business appointments; keeping herself in the (here it comes) "top 1 percent" of insurance sales agents in the country, whatever that means.
In all, 13 women have rotated through the show, and at one time or another, they've all had something bad to say about Vicki, and vice versa. Since the show began, many of the women on it have split with their husbands. One lost her rich boyfriend to cancer. One left the show to give her family more privacy, including a son who had a drug problem; another left because she was fed up with it. One left under the shadow of eviction and recessionary comeuppance; a current cast member is staving off foreclosure.
Some of these Lost Housewives of Orange County still visit the show in cameo appearances, but only Vicki, who will turn 49 this month, has endured the whole way. This makes her the longest-lasting Housewife on Bravo, an honor of dubious distinction.
Over the years, viewers have watched Vicki cut loose on her party boat at her vacation home in Lake Havasu, Ariz., emitting her trademark cries of "woo-hoo" wherever a margarita could be found. They listened to her talk endlessly about her 12-hour workdays. They watched her needle her layabout son, Michael, into joining the insurance business. They watched her claw and be clawed in the show's usual she said/she said warfare. They watched her complain that her long-suffering husband, Donn Gunvalson, was not "filling up my love tank"; and then they watched her renew her wedding vows with him at a Turks and Caicos beach resort.
It's no secret to gossip-blog readers that Vicki and Donn separated last fall - which looks to provide one of the bigger OMGs of the new season. Vicki won't elaborate on it. "You'll have to watch," she says, ever the good promoter.
Of course, there is some irony that Vicki is the "longest-lasting Housewife" considering how many people (including myself) who can't stand her. But give credit where it's due as she certainly has shared a lot of ups and downs with audiences over the years and yet she's still here...despite what we think. Then too, like I always say in order for a show like 'Housewives' to be successful you need a villain and Vicki has certainly mastered that role to a tee.
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" has made people stars for all kinds of reasons. But what if your notoriety comes from people thinking you're being treated like a slave? That's the case with Sweetie Hughes, who NeNe Leakes called a slave for the way that her boss, cast mate Kim Zolciak, treats her.
"At the end of the day, I said what I thought," NeNe tells Zap2it. "I thought that Kim was treating her like a slave. That, again, is my opinion and I'm free to have that. And when I start stating facts, that's when everybody has to get worried."
Late last month, a "Free Sweetie" campaign was started by Atlanta radio deejay Rickey Smiley after NeNe called in and talked about why she called Sweetie a slave. Apparently, that campaign has been ruining Sweetie's life. Yes, ruining!
"They're doing it for Black History Month, and it offends me," Sweetie told Life & Style in late-February. "They have pastors calling into the radio station and praying for me. They've taken it too far. NeNe's jealous that she's not as close to Kim as I am. I've known Kim for 11 years, since I was a kid. Kim's a great friend to me. NeNe's traumatizing my life. She's bringing hell to it."
"I never want to speak to NeNe again," says Kim. "My assistant Sweetie is so upset about the whole thing, she's beside herself. NeNe has problems."
NeNe still says that she has no plans to forgive or ever speak to Kim again after their big tour bus blow out. And she could care less about the "Free Sweetie" campaign, because it has nothing to do with her.
"As far as Kim and Sweetie are concerned, to me they are old news," she says. "This disagreement happened with us in June of 2010. It's just that the viewers are just seeing it. I've moved on. I'm in a different place in my life today. Sweetie is nonexistent."
RadarOnline.com caught up with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump Thursday night, and in an exclusive new interview, Lisa dished on how castmate Camille Grammer is holding up after her very public divorce from ex-hubby Kelsey Grammer and says "Camille's moving forward with her life after Kelsey."
"As anyone can imagine, it's a difficult time for Camille," Lisa told us. "She was upset when this situation all went down. But she's a fighter and she'll be just fine."
Lisa, who many say is the voice of reason on the hit reality TV show, said Camille has a great support system as well as people whose got her back!
"Camille and I speak daily and she has my full support as well as the support of the other housewives," Lisa told RadarOnline.com as she and her Villa Blanca staff take part in a charity event by delivering food to feed the homeless. "She's a smart girl and she's strong and she will get through this. We all want to her to be happy and I'm proud to see her in good spirits as she moves forward."
As for the bigger question whether Camille will return for a second season, Lisa said: "I don't know."
"I hope that we stay with the same cast because it was a winning formula. If it ain't broken, why fix it."
Weekend that changed his life came inPhoenixtwo years ago, when Rice was still with theMiami Heat, which had drafted him No. 4 overall in 1989 and for which he averaged 19.3 points in six seasons. The story begins, as usual, with Rice’s jump shot, which he used to win the three-point shooting contest. When Rice returned toMiami, teammateMatt Geigerthrew a party to celebrate. It was there that Rice met Cristina Fernandez, a high school special-education teacher. “I told the guys she was going to be my girlfriend,” Rice says. But he wasn’t nearly as bold around Fernandez. He was so shy that he had to send teammate Kevin Gamble over to ask, on his behalf, if Fernandez would like to dance.
She agreed to dance, but she didn’t want anything else to do with Rice, who was separated from his wife and on his way to a divorce. But after several three- and four-hour phone conversations, Fernandez agreed to go out with him. On the day they were to have their first date, Rice scored a career-high 56 points against theOrlando Magic. “I had to do something to impress her,” he says.
Before long Fernandez saw that Rice wasn’t the stereotypical self-absorbed athlete, but surprisingly quiet and conservative. She introduced him to sushi, Spanish and salsa dancing. And she consoled him on Nov. 3, 1995—the day after Rice says Heat president and coachPat Rileytold him not to pay any attention to trade rumors—whenRileycalled to inform him that he had been dealt toCharlottewithGeigerand guardKhalid Reevesforcenter Alonzo Mourningand two other players. “I was on my way to practice when I got the call,” Rice says. “I just went back inside, sat down on my living room floor and cried.”
The tears were over moving away from his sons, Glen Jr., now 6, and G’mitri, 4, of whom his ex-wife, Tracey, has primary custody. They were over leaving the Miami fans, for whom Rice felt such affection that he wrote an open letter of thanks to them, published in The Miami Herald. And they were over leaving Fernandez. In Charlotte, Rice's play didn't suffer—last season he averaged 21.6 points and made his first All-Star team—but his appetite did. His weight dropped from 220 pounds to 205 as he sat alone in the hotel room in which he lived, playing video games night alter night. "Matt and Khalid would tell me I had to come to Charlotte, that he wasn't eating, that his new nickname was Slim," Fernandez says.
She finally moved in with Rice in Charlotte near the middle of last season—they plan to be married in September in Miami—and became his strongest supporter and toughest critic. "She may not know everything about basketball, but she knows me," Rice says. His scoring surge this season began after Fernandez told him he wasn't being aggressive enough on offense.
A big weight loss was revealed by a member of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" this past week.
Jacqueline Laurita, 40, celebrated in New York City, reaching her post-baby weight loss goal as she hit the down 50 lbs mark.
For the first time, Jacqueline debuted her tiny post-baby body since having her son Nicholas in June 2009.
She credited the Medifast diet and regimented exercise for her new figure. She even claimed that she was able to lose 12 lbs within the first two weeks.
Jacqueline shared with Bravo that she was comfortable now in front of the cameras since losing the extra weight and cannot wait to show off her better-than-ever physique during the new season of Real Housewives which resumes later this year on the network.
Wow, who knew??? Must've been spending way too much time down on that wine farm:
Michaele and Tareq Salahi -- the couple that allegedly crashed the White House -- will enter the next season of "Celebrity Rehab" ... along with one of the greatest NY Mets players of all time ... TMZ has learned.
Sources connected to the production tell us ... Dr. Drew will have one hell of a cast for Season 5 ... including:
Dwight "Doc" Gooden ...................Former NY Mets pitcher Tareq AND Michaele Salahi ........ Alleged WH crashers and "Real Housewives of D.C." Bai Ling ............................................ Actress? Michael Lohan ............................... Lindsay's dad Jeremy Jackson .......................... aka Hobie from "Baywatch"
It’s OK for The Real Housewives to bare their claws in the show’s trademark catfights.
But don’t trash talk Hialeah.
That’s the lesson Alexia Echevarria — the self-proclaimed “Cuban Barbie’’ on The Real Housewives of Miami — learned this week after dissing the city’s 250,000 residents on the cable network.
She apologized Wednesday for comments about Hialeah locals being “lower” that sparked an online firestorm and strong stirring of Hialeah and Cuban-American pride.
It’s the latest drama from the reality TV franchise that has become a pop culture phenomena — a guilty pleasure for viewers who enjoy watching rich women from Orange County to New Jersey flip tables and call each other whores.
On the Miami show’s second episode Tuesday night, Echevarria’s seeming put-down started simply enough when the 43-year-old magazine editor addressed the camera about her glossy magazine, Venue.
She referred to Hialeah residents as “lower’’ and wanting to live vicariously through the socialites portrayed in her magazine that caters to Hispanics.
One reason some took issue with Echevarria’s comment: She is married to Herman Echevarria, a former Hialeah City Council president, former chairman of the Hialeah Chamber of Commerce and Industries and a well-connected marketing executive.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump not only owns Beverly Hills hot spot Villa Blanca, she now owns the city!
RadarOnline.com was present at Lisa's Villa Blanca restaurant Tuesday night when Beverly Hills mayor Jimmy Delshad declared March 1 "Lisa Vanderpump Day", and in an exclusive interview, Lisa tells Radaronline.com: "I'm shocked but I couldn't be happier."
"It's overwhelming to tell you the truth," Lisa tells us. "I love Beverly Hills and am privileged to live in such an amazing city."
Mayor Delshad recognized Lisa for her charitable and philanthropic work and presented her with a written proclamation, a plaque with an engraved key to the city and officially made March 1 Lisa Vanderpump day.
"Now that it's my day, you all must wear pink and carry a dog," Lisa jokingly said as she made a short speech after she'd been honored.
Lisa, who is referred to as Pinky in the upscale and super rich Beverly Hills social scene, says she can't be believe she's being recognized for simply being herself and trying to help others.
Lots of speculation on possible new 'Housewives' of late, not that I know who this chick is either:
Move over, Camille Grammer. There's a new housewife in town.
According to a source close to casting for "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," Robbie Williams' 31-year-old wife, Ayda Field, was recently approached to join the cast of the Bravo reality series.
Our source tells us that approximately two weeks ago, the British pop singer's wife got a call about being on the show. While Field hasn't signed anything yet, it's "very likely" she could be the next addition to the television hit, which was made up of Taylor Armstrong, Adrienne Maloof, Lisa Vanderpump, Kim and Kyle Richards and Kelsey Grammer's ex-wife of 13 years, Camille Grammer (nee Donatacci), during season one.
And Ayda, who has lived in Mulholland Estates in LA since she wed Williams last August, has the goods to back it up. Her hubby, the best-selling British solo artist in the UK, is estimated to have a net worth of anywhere between $120 and $140M.
But would the American actress mesh well with Camille, a former Playboy actress and mother of two, who was named the "Most Hated Housewife" by Life & Style magazine?
She may not have to: It is still unknown whether the 42-year-old will be returning for a second season, although the option has not been ruled out for the divorcee.
While her fate hangs in the wings, other housewives are grasping onto theirs. Lisa Vanderpump, who lunched with Field at Villa Blanca in January, has found her own way to knock out the competition. The insider says the casting team was interested in finding a "younger blond" to add to the bevy of Beverly Hills beauties, and the sharp-tongued Brit and oldest of the cast at 50, "wasn't too thrilled."
To secure her spot, Vanderpump attempted to deter those in her zip code interested in auditioning by "telling everyone" within earshot what a "bad experience" she had filming season one.
