The End of Season 2 of RHOBH & Looking Forward to Season 3

We are nearing the end of Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Monday marks the first part of the three part reunion of the controversial season. (The only other time there was a three part Real Housewives reunion was after Season 3 of The Real Housewives of New York City, so you know this reunion special will be juicy.)

After that, we look forward to Season 3 and after the "Great Housewives Massacre" that occurred between Season 4 and Season 5 of The Real Housewives of New York City, housewives across the nation are worried about their status on their respective shows. The latest news and gossip surrounding The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as we move towards Season 3 is who will be in and who will be out. Rumors are circulating that Taylor Armstrong, Kim Richards, and Camille Grammer will not be returning for Season 3, although it is all dependent upon which new housewives they can find to cast. Also, with rumors that the latest housewife to get a spin-off is Lisa Vanderpump, her time on Housewives may also be limited.  Here are my thoughts on who should and should not return for the third season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Lisa Vanderpump
Lisa is a fan favorite whose image took a bit of a knock this season (she was accused of becoming self centered and fame hungry), but she is still entertaining and adds to the show. Her friendship with Kyle is endearing and she and Taylor appear to be developing a stronger bond. There are rumors that Bravo has filmed a pilot with Lisa for her own spin-off which will include shi-shi-shi wedding planner, Kevin Lee. If Lisa's spin-off is picked up and proves successful she may fly the RHOBH coop, although I hope she sticks around.

Adrienne Maloof
I'm not sure that Adrienne adds too, too much to the show, but I want her to stay. She and Paul's bickering is entertaining and she often appears to be one of the calmer, more rational housewives (minus the whole getting on Lisa's case for Pandora's bachelorette party being at Planet Hollywood instead of The Palms). Adrienne certainly does not need the money or fame that RHOBH offers, but she appears to enjoy it and the fans enjoy her, so I hope Bravo keeps her.

Kyle Richards
Kyle is definitely another fan favorite and one who tends to bring the group together. There is typically one stand out housewife per series and Kyle is definitely the stand out of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. There's no doubt that she is going anywhere and I certainly agree that she should stay.

Kim Richards
During Season 1, there were hints about Kim's troubles but we certainly saw them more during Season 2 and heard about them in the press as Season 2 was airing. Kim just got out of rehab and it is most likely in her best interest that she not return for Season 3. She was barely present for Season 2, refused to participate in most of the events with the housewives, and really did not contribute to the season.  She obviously was going through a lot, but nothing will be lost if she does not return. I wish her the best and hope that she continues on the road to recovery.

Camille Grammer
Despite the difficult time Camille went through being left by Kelsey, she was the villain of Season 1 often going head to head with fan-favorite Kyle. This season, Camille came back with a softer edge and she and Kyle grew to become friends. I really like Camille and actually liked her during Season 1 as well. While rumors are circulating that Camille does not want to return for Season 3, something she has come out in the press and denied, she has confirmed that she has not yet been asked back. I hope Bravo comes to their senses and invites Camille back rather than casting a new housewife to replace Camille.

Taylor Armstrong
It is not secret that this was a very tough season for Taylor. Season 2 demonstrates her struggle in her marriage to Russell who not only beat her but also committed suicide a few weeks before Season 2 premiered. It has reported that Taylor will not be asked back due to her personal struggles and apparent substance abuse in response to all of her struggles. I can certainly understand not inviting Taylor back and she certainly went off the deep end during Season 2, but look at what she was going through. I don't think that now is the right time to take away a source of income and even some stability from Taylor. The show not only gives her a job but a platform to create new sources of income. She and Kennedy will need that with Russell's death and why it certainly is not Bravo's responsibility to keep someone on the show just because they need the money, I believe the fans would like to see how Taylor picks herself up and moves on after all she has been through.

Brandi Glanville
Brandi joined the cast in Season 2 not as an official housewife but as a friend of the housewives. Brandi started out as a bit a villain getting into a huge fight with the Richards sisters during the infamous game night. However, as the season progressed Brandi developed friendships with Kyle and the rest of the housewives (minus Kim). Brandi was truly entertaining and added some spark to the show. I suggest that Brandi return as a full time housewife next season.

Dana Wilkey
Dana is Taylor's friend and party planner who joined the cast as a friend of the housewives. Unlike Brandi, Dana did not really form bonds with the housewives and really did not add much to the show. It was good to have her there to be supportive of Taylor as she was going through her struggles, but otherwise Dana's presence was  unnecessary and her constant label/price dropping ($25,000) was obnoxious and screamed nuevo riche. I don't think Dana needs to return for Season 3.

Who do you think should or should not return for Season 3 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?

Russell Armstrong: His Suicide and Its Affect on The RHOBH

By now, everyone knows that Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of Beverly Hills housewife Taylor Armstrong, committed suicide. Russell's suicide has received massive media attention (more than probably any other housewife related event) and put into question the fate of not only the second season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills but also the entire franchise.

Season 2 was set to premiere on September 5th and a major storyline for the season was set to be Russell and Taylor's deteriorating marriage and impending separation. In the weeks leading up to his suicide, reports surfaced that Russell was abusive to Taylor and reports since his death have stated that he beat Taylor so bad she required surgery.  Russell was purportedly concerned that he would be portrayed poorly in season 2 and as a result the media and his family have capitalized on the situation to claim that the show contributed to his death. Personally, I find this claim ridiculous.

In the wake of Russell's suicide it has come out that he had a very troubled past and was in dire financial straits. He had a history of abuse. Taylor filed for divorce months prior. He was facing a $1.5 million lawsuit. He clearly had problems other than the show. Further a suicide can only be blamed on one person, the person who committed suicide. Russell made a choice, a selfish choice that his 5 year old daughter and 2 sons will have to deal with for the rest of their lives. Russell on the other hand does not suffer the consequences of his actions as he is gone.

Bravo is now scrambling to edit season 2 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in order to portray Russell in a more favorable light or to remove him completely. Their concern being that they do not want to be disrespectful and cast Russell as a villian so soon after his death, especially in the face of media backlash and a possible lawsuit from Russell's family (they won't win). There has even been calls to scrap the entire second season or to get rid of all of The Real Housewives shows. That latter is ridiculous.

As a fan, I think getting scrapping and never airing the second season is ridiculous. The reality of tv is the Bravo would never completely scrap the second season. They've already laid out a lot of money filming and editing on the second season, they are not going to flush that money, especially given that they will likely get high ratings after all of this press. May sound insensitive, but it's true. So the question becomes what will Bravo do?

Personally, I would like Bravo to leave the season as it is. I probably in the minority and I know that won't happen, but Russell was who he was and while it may be considered insensitive to show a dead man in such poor light, this is a man who chose to kill himself. A man who purportedly beat his wife. This isn't a man who has earned himself the right to be respected. Others will say that he shouldn't be portrayed in a bad light out of respect for his children. Well his children should probably not be watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and it is up to their mothers to ensure they don't. I'm sure I sound insensitive, maybe I am. I feel horrible for Taylor, Kennedy, Russell's sons, and the rest of his family, they are the ones left to grieve. I have less sympathy for Russell himself. Many people claim that reality shows take things out of context and take something that was one thing and portray it as another. I believe that in instances where Russell was editted inaccurately ot unfairly it should be reeditted to correct. Then again, as a purist, I wish everything in reality shows was edited correctly rather than manipulated. Then again, who knows, maybe I wouldn't like them if they were. I don't think that they should take away scenes where Taylor and Russell go to counselling to work on their marriage. Leaving that in would be a good thing. It would show that they worked on their marriage and didn't just give up. Maybe not all of the fights and everything that portrays Russell as a villian should be left it, but Bravo should still show how the marriage deteriorated. If Taylor and Russell are only shown happy and cheery it will not only be fake it will make his suicide more baffling. The people left after a loved one has committed suicide want answers and want to understand, especially in instances like with Russell where there was no suicide note. Showing Russell in some of his last months of life may help give his family and friends some insight into what he was feeling and how he was doing. It will not bring Russell back but may give them peace to understand why.

Well that is just my random rambling on what I think about Russell's suicide and its effect on the second season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. All in all, I wish Taylor, Kennedy, Russell's sons and his friends and family the best through this very difficult time and hope that the show does not bring them further pain. I express my deepest condolences to them.