Bethenny Frankel made no secret of how much she LOVED returning to Real Housewives Of New York – and Bravo is making no secret of how much they loved having her back! Is the Skinnygirl is ready for more? Bethenny is reportedly already finalizing her contract for season 8.
Bethenny’s dramatic return to RHONY (along with the cast dynamic) revived the once stagnant show. RHONY has always been Andy Cohen‘s baby – and the same can be said of Bethenny, his friend and the original break-out Housewife. Bravo is hoping to continue that magic next season is well and are in “final negotiations” with Bethenny for a contract renewal. Along with Bethenny, the other definite returning Housewives are Luann de Lesseps and Carole Radziwill because of the former friends acrimonious arguing on and off TV.
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Luann and Carole, two Housewives who have flown under the radar the last couple seasons, are “deep in negotiations” and seeking salary raises to coincide with Bravo’s newfound interest in them! Carole is still involved with Adam, and has no plans to back off from savaging Luann on twitter. Producers want Luann and Carole’s arguing to “play out” next season.
Dorinda Medley is also up for a return as viewers and producers alike adored her zany, yet “lovable” personality. NY Daily News adds fuel to the fire that Heather Thomson is done with the show. “Heather says she quit, but it was a mutual decision after meeting with the network,” their source explains. “Kind of like a, ‘Hey, I don’t want to come back,’ and ‘We don’t want you to come back’ kind of thing. Heather didn’t like the drama and said it was bad for business and her personal life in the end.” Heather reportedly feuded with producers over allowing her marital issues to become part of the show. As a result of Heather refusing to play ball, almost her entire storyline was scrapped.
The source also dishes that Ramona Singer has NOT been offered a contract yet, although we all know Ramona and Sonja Morgan will both be back.
Finally, Bravo reportedly has a renewed interest in Kristen Taekman! Kristen was widely-rumored to be fired but then Josh’s Ashley Madison scandal was exposed.
After a break-out first season, which featured her marital explosion and feuding with Ramona, Kristen faded into obscurity and was dismissed as “boring” by producers. However, Josh refused to participate in filming so most of Kristen’s storyline was summarily cut. “But Taekman is back in play again,” reports an insider.
Bravo chose to include footage of Kristen and Josh’s 10th anniversary party the Secrets Revealed episode, which took up the majority of the episode, because those scenes “now look much more salacious.”
As one network insider revealed, “Kristen definitely isn’t boring any more. She was perfect and pretty, and now she has problems like everyone else. That makes for good TV.” Another positive for Kristen’s return: she has remained close friends with both Carole and Luann, despite their arguing, and can play the part of negotiator – or instigator!
It’s unclear what the status of Kristen and Josh’s marriage is, but friends say she is sticking by him. So far there hasn’t been any suggestion of possible new Housewives joining the group. I personally enjoyed the dynamic as-is and would be disappointed if any of the ladies left. You?
TELL US – WHO DO YOU WANT TO SEE RETURN AND GO?
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