Well well well….let’s discuss that reunion show a little bit, shall we? Remember those moments of truth in the narrative that I said were the only parts worth actually watching on the show?
Gone. Glossed over. Kim and Kyle have closed ranks, and would barely even acknowledge the questions about the alcoholism, and the ongoing tension in their family. To me this is so ironic because it points to the genuine lack of reality in reality tv—here is an actual issue of a “larger than life” family dealing with a problem, and the minute it gets too real, some kind of safety valve kicks in and shuts out the audience, steering us back to the manufactured “reality” of the Housewives narrative.
I’m guessing one of the following things happened:
–The Hilton Family Publicist theory: You know that Kim and Kyle are the sisters of Kathy Hilton, right? One might wonder how much of Kathy’s side of the family’s dirty laundry the Hilton Empire wants aired on national television because it might hurt their brand, and so one scenario might be that the Hilton Family publicist stepped in, gave them all statements, and told them that they were no longer to address this subject on reality tv, in the media, or anywhere else. Chalk this one up to “Wealthy, influential family makes its problems go away,” and also include ALL of Paris Hilton’s drug busts and DUIs and jail time and whatever other shenanigans the rest of the family is getting into, and you have a full-time PR team dedicated to keeping up the Hilton family’s brand equity. Of course, I’m not positive that everyone in America makes the connection between the Richards sisters and the Hilton hospitality brand, so here is another idea:
–Kim took the show because she thought it would revive her child stardom, and when her manager saw the footage in the limo, she realized that Kim is an unhireable mess and that doing the show backfired. Solution—construct an alternate reality where everything is “all good” with the sisters, stick with one statement about how they’ve “worked through it as a family,” and try to put it in your rearview. This is also a valid scenario, with one flaw in its logic—KIM IS STILL AN ALCOHOLIC, and if this was supposed to be her comeback vehicle, it was successful only in showing the detrimental effects of the Hollywood Machine.
Also, I did want to point out that, manufactured drama aside, I did totally appreciate Camille’s honesty in that situation. She is the one I expected to just stonewall given all of her coverage in the press, but she took all the hard questions and answered them, and she did seem less delusional without the help of the Bravo editing. If possible, Kim seemed even MORE delusional without this benefit, which is why I am even mentioning that there is an ugly truth in that family that is never, EVER going to see the light of day, especially on reality tv. Unlike Charlie Sheen (who for now has the power of a big network behind him), Kim didn’t have any career momentum for a number of years, and is, by Hollywood standards, too old to be castable as anything but someone’s grandmother.
Oh, do you think that’s mean? Do you know who’s playing someone’s grandmother?
Martha Plimpton, that’s who. Checking out “Raising Hope,” won’t you?
I’m just saying, Kim has the formidable burden of not having been in the game for a long time, PLUS now she’s been called out for having a substance abuse problem. Sadly, this means only one thing, that instead of re-introducing herself to the world as an actress (which is what she probably thought she was doing by being on RHOBH), she has simply joined the carousel of washed-up stars who make their living appearing in shows like Celebrity Rehab.
That is, if the family will let her. Which I doubt.
Your thoughts on the reunion show, please? Taylor still gives me the impression that she has a goopy black soul. Adrienne still needs to either get a divorce or start respecting that nice doctor. Oh, and like I said—I love Lisa and Ken, but did anyone think Cedric was NOT taking advantage of them? Hello! How long have they been in Los Angeles that they can’t spot a freeloader? Even O.J. Simpson was realistic about the fact that Kato was never going to get a job.
By the way, this has absolutely nothing to do with RHOBH, but I do not believe for one second that Sandra Bullock was “stabbed in the heart” by the news of Jesse James’ recent engagement. That guy is DISGUSTING, and you know Sandra Bullock is probably like “Good luck with that, Kat von D.”
