Zarin Fabrics Bankruptcy?

So in addition to writing this blog on my thoughts of The Real Housewives..., I have created several pages dedicated to The Real Housewives on Squidoo.  One of the features on Squidoo is that you can see what search terms people have entered to get to your page and this week, many people have searched "Zarin Fabrics Bankruptcy" and found my page about The Real Housewives of New York City News.  This of course lead me to wonder whether Zarin Fabrics, the family owned and run business of former New York Housewife, Jill Zarin's husband, Bobby Zarin, had filed for bankruptcy.  My own personal search has not revealed any information about a pending Zarin Fabrics bankruptcy, so the question becomes---did Zarin Fabrics file for bankruptcy or is this a bubbling internet rumor?  Or did a bunch of random people happen to search "Zarin Fabrics Bankruptcy" on the same day?

Jill had a bad rap the last few seasons she was on The Real Housewives of New York City as her portrayal went from "queen bee" to "mean girl."  Regardless of your opinion of Jill as a person, I certainly hope that Zarin Fabrics is not filing for bankruptcy.  Zarin Fabrics has been a mainstay in New York's lower east side since 1936 and is a third generation family owned and operated business.  Jill has proudly shared how her husband, Bobby, has expanded the store and its success by leaps and bounds.  She is also an integral part of the Zarin Fabrics business.  Unfortunately, as well all know, the economy has been rough for all businesses in the past few years and Jill's ouster from TV and perceived bad image may have taken away from their customer base.  (Although, I doubt the majority of Zarin Fabrics' business was Real Housewives fans checking out the store because it was featured on the show and they may see Jill.) Zarin Fabrics was around and very successful long before Jill became a housewife.

I guess time will tell whether this is just an odd budding rumor or whether Zarin Fabrics is headed for bankruptcy.  Perhaps Jill will shed some light on whether this is a rumor or not.  Also, remember that bankruptcy does not necessarily mean the end for a business.  Many businesses enter bankruptcy, restructure, and come out of bankruptcy to become successful businesses once again.  Either way, best of luck to Zarin Fabrics in the future and continued success!

UPDATE: I tweeted Jill Zarin to get an answer regarding this whole Zarin Fabrics bankruptcy thing and she quickly tweeted that it was not true and seemingly angered, wanted to know who started this rumor.  I hope she doesn't consider me to have started it as I clearly stated that I could find no evidence that Zarin Fabrics was filing for bankruptcy but was perplexed that a significant number of people in a short period of time had been searching "Zarin Fabrics Bankruptcy" and was wondering what the deal was.  Guess we'll probably never know what provoked the "googling" but for now it is safe to say that it is probably some weird coincidence or very undocumented rumor.  Glad to hear that Zarin Fabrics is NOT entering bankruptcy.

Don Cheated on Vicki for 20 Years?!

The latest clip released from Bravo in anticipation of Monday's Part 2 of the reunion show from Season 7 of The Real Housewives of Orange County includes a major reveal....Donn cheated on Vicki for 20 years!  A fact confirmed by both Vicki's daughter, Briana, and Vicki's BFF turned frenemy, Tamra.  As Briana is discussing her dislike of Vicki's boyfriend, Brooks, she shares that Brooks has been around long before Vicki and Donn separated.  Amidst her denial than anything was going on, Vicki shares that Donn had an affair for 20 years during their marriage.  Both Briana and Tamra share that they were aware of this.  Gretchen is shocked and maintains that Vicki is a hypocrite for her relationship with Brooks.  Not only is he a deadbeat when it comes to child support--a topic that has been a sore spot between Vicki and Gretchen as Vicki previously attacked Gretchen for dating Slade in spite of his inability to pay child support for his children--but Vicki has also attacked Gretchen for being allegedly unfaithful to her deceased fiance, Jeff.

Things got even uglier as Tamra accused Vicki of cheating on Donn while they were in Cabo filming for Season 6 of The Real Housewives of Orange County.  Apparently, after Tamra left Cabo, Vicki stayed and called her one morning to share that she woke up naked with some guy.  Vicki denied this on the lives of her children and her unborn grandchild.  To which, Tamra told Vicki she was going to hell.

Here are my thoughts on Vicki and all of these allegations.  Who knows whether every single allegation is true, but clearly some of them are.  My biggest issue with housewives of any of these shows is that they refuse to admit when they are wrong or make mistakes.  They continue to deny, deny, deny even when they're caught.  Further, even if they do admit to doing something wrong that they've previously maligned someone else for doing, they always have an excuse for how and why it's different and why they really weren't wrong.  If Vicki simply said to Gretchen and Slade earlier in the season You know what, I was wrong to attack you two for dating and the whole not paying child support thing.  While I don't condone not paying child support and I believe that Slade you should be doing everything in your power to pay every last cent of child support owed to the mothers of your children, it's none of my business and your relationship is none of my business.   Yes, Brooks got into a situation where he couldn't pay his child support and even had to go to jail for it.  I don't condone him not paying his child support, but he is doing everything he can now to pay it and I believe he's better off out of jail so he can work and provide his kids with money than in jail unable to support his kids.  I'm sorry for attacking you in the past, I was wrong, and I won't do it again."  Simple, easy and she won't be called a hypocrite.  Everyone can change and realize that they do not know every detail.

While personally, I have some of my skepticism of the whether Slade is doing everything for his children, I don't know every detail so it's not for me to judge.  It is clear he doesn't make the same amount of money he made when we watched him in Season 1 and Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Orange County, so how could he afford the same child support? Also, one of his sons is severely ill and has extensive medical bills.  It's also possible that a significant portion of Slade's money is going towards his son's medical care than his child support.

Anyway....my whole rambling is basically to say that I think where housewives get in trouble is where they are not honest with the viewers and try to provide a cover up by just yelling louder and louder to deny allegations against them.  It's when you hide who you really are, that the viewers begin to dislike you, just like with Alexis--but that is a discussion for another time.  If Vicki just admitted that her marriage to Donn was not what it seemed, that he had affairs and yes, she met Brooks when she was still with Donn and started a relationship during the marriage, viewers would appreciate Vicki's honesty over her deception.  Instead, Vicki insists on denying the accusations and insisting that she was 100% faithful to Donn both emotionally and physically.  On another note, anyone finding the whole vow renewal/my love tank is now full that took place during Season 5 may have been just for the cameras and at Bravo's insistance not Vicki and Donn's?  What do you think of the revelations from Bravo's latest clip, which can be found here, and Vicki's changes this year? Share below!

Be sure to keep up to date with all the latest news about The Real Housewives of Orange County here.

Vicki Wants Donn Back

The latest news from The Real Housewives of Orange County is that original OC housewife, Vicki Gunvalson, wants her ex-husband Donn back.  Previews for tonight's episode shows Vicki crying and sharing that if Donn wanted her back she would go back to him.  This revelation is in strict contrast to the fact that Vicki filed for divorce and how happy she is with her new boyfriend, Brooks Ayers.  So the question is does Vicki really want Donn back?  I find myself thinking that it is not so much that Vicki wants Donn back, but that she was met with a lot of backlash for leaving Donn and even more for dating Brooks.  Rumors have circulated that Vicki cheated on Donn with Brooks, that Brooks went to jail for failing to pay child support (revealed to be true), and that Brooks is only with Vicki for her money.  Overall, fans hate Brooks and while Vicki's fans are happy to see Vicki happy, they do not trust Brooks and preferred her when she was with Donn.  Vicki's declaration that she would go back to Donn may simply be her attempt to make fans believe they are separated because that is what Donn wants and that Donn is the reason they are not together.  Another possibility is that Vicki, who has previously said that God hates divorce may feel deeply conflicted about her second divorce and truly wish that she and Donn would have made it work.

I tend to be a bit cynical and believe that at this point, the housewives are well aware that everything they say and do on camera will be strictly scrutinized by fans and they know their fans are the key to their success.  Vicki is a very smart woman who understands this, I believe at least part of this declaration is to get fans on her side and to make Donn seem like the bad guy.  As a person who was sad to see Vicki and Donn separate (but certainly understood it), I would love to see Donn and Vicki reconcile (especially because I do not trust Brooks and think he's with Vicki for her money).  Time will tell what the real story is and we will all have to turn in tonight to see whether we believe that Vicki wants Donn back.

What do you think? Does Vicki want Donn back?

Booted NYC Housewives Getting New Reality Shows?

May have referred to the firings of former NYC Housewives: Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, Kelly Bennsimon, and Cindy Barshop as the "Great Housewives Massacre," and it has purportedly lead to many housewives across the country being nervous about their status as housewives.  It has now been reported that some of the housewives that will not be returning for Season 5 of The Real Housewives of New York City will be returning to television in their own reality shows.

Former NYC Queen Bee, Jill Zarin, will be starring in a reality show on Fox titled "The Beverly Jillbillies" which is expected to portray Jill as a "fish out of water" after moving to Los Angeles.  Jill is reportedly currently looking for houses in LA.  Jill is certainly a born and bread New Yorker and there are differences between "New York society" and the upper echelon in LA (mainly the Hollywood crowd), but it's not like Jill is moving to Zimbabwe.  New York and Los Angeles are not that different. I don't know if this concept will be significant enough to spawn an entertaining reality show.  Yes, there will be the question of whether Jill will fit in Los Angeles and be accepted without all of her New York connections.  Of course Jill's BFF and fellow "bravolebrity" Patti Stanger (Millionaire Matchmaker) lives in LA, so I imagine the two will meet up and hang out.  But will Bravo let Patti appear on Jill's reality show?  I doubt it.  Bravo personalities sign strict contracts that provide that they not appear on networks that are not a part of the NBCUniversal family, the parent company that owns Bravo.  Fox is not a part of the NBCUniversal family and is a competitor, so I doubt we'll be seeing Patti anytime soon on Jill's show.  Time will tell how Jill's reality show will do, but I for one will not be turning in.  I used to be a fan of Jill but thought her true colors came through in Season 3 during her feud with Bethenny and showed her to be a phony.  (BTW, isn't it interesting that Season 3 of Bethenny Ever After was supposed to be about Bethenny & Jason's move to LA and now Jill is pursing a reality show about moving to LA?  First, the shapewear, now this.  What's next?  A low calorie cocktail?)  I continued to be disappointed with her during Season 4.  Jill refuses to acknowledge any of her faults or that she was wrong, she instead points the finger at anyone else (Alex, Ramona, etc...) and accuses them of being out of line when she herself is often out of line.  I truly believe that everything Jill does is for the cameras and publicity.  She is constantly trying to manipulate the situation to make herself come out in the best light and I am just not buying it anymore.

The next former NYC housewife who is set to get her own reality show is Kelly Bennsimon.  Kelly's reality show does not sound like the traditional type which will follow her around and capture her life, but instead a competition or self-help type show based upon her upcoming book I Can Make You Hot!: The Supermodel Diet.  More details about Kelly's reality show have not been released nor is it known whether it has been picked up by a network or is just being shopped around.  I have never been a fan of Kelly, so I definitely will not be tuning in for this reality show, but I do wish her well--and that some of the income from her book and show go towards some mental health treatment.

Finally, Alex McCord and her husband, Simon Van Kempen, have been shopping around their own reality show called Based in Brooklyn.  The show would focus on Alex and Simon and similar thirty-something parents in Brownstone Brooklyn as they raise their families.  While shopping the show, Alex and Simon have apparently been bashing The Real Housewives of New York City calling it a "train wreck" and "faux reality show."  The irony being that while biting the hand that used to feed them they are also trying to court said hand.  Alex and Simon purportedly are pitching their new show to Bravo.  It will be interesting to see if Based in Brooklyn is picked up by a network.  I make no secret that I could not stand Alex and Simon during Season 1, but they did grow on me and in later seasons I found them a lot less cringe-worthy.  Alex had a rough season in Season 4, but I think that was much more about her being ganged up on by the "brunettes" than her being out of line.  She would try to be rational and reasonable and talk out conflicts only to be treated like she was crazy and consistently attacked.  When she finally fought back, she was further criticized for being dramatic, starting fights, etc...  If Based in Brooklyn is picked up, I believed I will tune in, mainly because I am a fellow resident of Brownstone Brooklyn and in part because I think Alex didn't get a fair shake on The Real Housewives of New York City.  But if I see Alex and Simon reverting to their pompous, social climbing ways of Season 1 or if Alex gets into fake drama without being provoked, I may be tuning out.  Guess we'll have to wait and watch what happens...

Will you be checking out any of the former NYC Housewives new reality shows?

Fans=Success So Why Ostracize The Fans?

Many of The Real Housewives have used the popularity and fame they have gained through the show to market their own businesses and make money.  Their success is dependent upon their fans, so it surprises me that a Real Housewife would ostracize their fans.  Some Housewives go to great length to protect their image and have employees dedicated solely to handling their social media and ensuring that negative comments (via Twitter, Facebook, etc...) about them quickly disappear from the internet.

Jill Zarin from The Real Housewives of New York has been most frequently accused of doing so.  If someone is making defamatory or bullying comments perhaps there is some grounds for this, but then again isn't that par for the course when you are in the public eye?  Many of the reasons why celebrities do not sue the tabloids for reports that are full out lies is that when you are a public figure it is very difficult to prove defamation.  There is a much higher standard for defamation for public figures versus private figures.  Also, if Housewives are blocking fans who are merely pointing out the truth, that is hardly fair.  If someone is holding a mirror up to your face and showing you your actions and you don't like it, perhaps it is time to change your actions not break the mirror.

This whole idea leads me to a Twitter interaction I had with Gretchen Rossi from The Real Housewives of Orange County.  There was a recent article on Dailyglow.com called Real Housewives' Gretchen Rossi Shares Recipe For Skinny, Sexy Cocktail.  Essentially, Gretchen is promoting Voli's low calorie vodka and pink lemonade drink.  I retweeted the article and questioned whether Gretchen was trying to be Bethenny Frankel.  

For those who don't know, Bethenny is a former NYC Housewife who purportedly  made $120 million selling her massively successful Skinnygirl Margarita.  Who wouldn't want to follow in Bethenny's footsteps.  It appears that Gretchen was offended by my tweet as I got, what I interpreted as a somewhat nasty direct message saying "No its called an endorsement deal!" (sic).  The thing is, there is nothing wrong with a Real Housewife having an endorsement deal.  They should take every opportunity to parley their time in the public eye into financial success--after all who knows how long the Real Housewives success will continue on.  I personally just found that by Gretchen direct messaging rather than replying via a public tweet it was clear she was bothered by my tweet and being nasty in return.  But of course did not want the rest of her followers to see her being nasty.  First of all, even if it does bother her, she felt compelled to message me directly with a nasty response.  She has nothing better to do with her life?  And two, I was not a Gretchen hater and I wasn't really criticizing her.  I promoted the company she has an endorsement deal with by retweeting the link and basically said what the article said, that she as following in Bethenny's footsteps.

Before this incident I didn't think Gretchen was perfect and she certainly had her flaws, but all in all I was a fan.  I thought she was fun, a good person, and enjoyable to watch.  But now my impression of her has changed. I am starting to wonder if her niceness on camera is just that--on camera.  That she really isn't a good person and that everything we see on the show is just acting.  I've never really decided where I fell on the whole "Tamra v. Gretchen" debate.  I've always liked both of them and wasn't sure who to believe with the whole "Jay" situation.  Seeing that Gretchen can be nasty to a fan, so long as it's not in a public forum, makes me truly wonder how she really is when the cameras are not running.  I now wonder the same thing about the rest of the Housewives.  Who is authentic and who is acting?  But at the end of the day, even if you think no one is watching when  your success depends upon fans maybe you should be nice.

I wanted to write this blog post not as some type of revenge because I was offended by Gretchen, I really don't care--the message.  But I saw the direct message is my twitter inbox today, it got me thinking about whether the Real Housewives are who they show on camera and about the importance of fans.  Gretchen's success is in part dependent upon her fans wanting to buy her products and the products she endorses.  If she is going to be nasty to her fans in private, it is something that the rest of her fans should know.