Bethenny Frankel is arguably the best product manufactured by Bravo’s Real Housewives factory. She’s smart, funny, and self-aware. She’s also aggressive, argumentative, and drives a hard bargain, whether it’s with her Skinnygirl business or her marriage to Jason Hoppy.
Watching the Monday-night premiere of Bethenny Ever After, the inevitable sequel to last season’s Bethenny Getting Married?, I was also struck by Frankel’s gift for quick thinking and rapid-fire punchlines. She’s like an self-editing, walking, talking TV show; early on in the premiere, what began as a calm discussion about the need for drawing up a will rapidly escalated into a patented Bethenny screed about how Jason, should she die, was going to use her money to latch onto a new, younger woman. “I’m not leaving you one [f-word] dime for that whore!” she barked to a startled Jason. Yes, Bethenny can go from do-I-need-a-will? to how-dare-you-re-marry! in a matter of seconds — any stand-up comedian would be proud to sculpt a chunk of raucous material like this that quickly.
On the premiere of Ever After, Bethenny went with her husband Jason and their sweet little baby Bryn to Hazelton, Penn., to visit his parents. Whether she was shopping for a suitable bra (“The hounds must be leashed”) or was taken to a grungy Hazelton bar that Jason always enjoyed, Bethenney was a non-stop barrage of acerbic one-liners (“I feel like Jodie Foster in The Accused… There was maybe one set of full teeth in the bar”).
What saves her from soulless yammering is her vulnerable side: She clearly adores that baby, and she teared up with emotion when Jason’s old buddies toasted her with shots. I think it’s a measure of her being more rooted in reality than most reality stars that she engaged the blue-collar fellows Jason hangs out with, with genuine interest and curiosity… and then, of course, alone with Jason, expressed herself with typical Bethenny frankness: “We could not be more different,” she said to Jason after their Pennsylvania trip. “Why didn’t you say you’re an alien?”
The true test of whether you liked Bethenny Ever After probably occurred during her conversations with her in-laws, when Bethenny brought up her desire to move to California. You could see the the faces of these nice people, happy new grandparents, fall at the thought of their new grandchild being taken thousands of miles away. There was no true reason to bring up what sounded like a very vague, half-formed idea about a West Coast move, other than to provide some drama for the cameras.
“Sometimes she pushes it too hard,” said Jason. That’s for sure.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’d watch Bethenny Ever After every week, but the show did remind why she was the only “character” on The Real Housewives of New York City that ever made me laugh with her, instead of at her.
Agree? Disagree?
Twitter: @kentucker
Oh joy. Another TV show about an ego-centric, narcisstic, DemiCeleb — Because there just aren’t enough of those on the air….
Oh yippie, another self-righteous comment about reality television – Because there just aren’t enough of those on the internet
…yammered to Pot to the Kettle…
I hate to tell you Ken but it was her husband Jason who brought up the move to California. He told his parents that they might move to California if Bethenny gave him a second child. I love Bethenny and think she is so funny. Yeah she comes off as “cold” sometimes but hell she didn’t have any kind of parents to love her so maybe YOU would be that way too.
those parents, while well-intentioned, were insufferable. sorry, but “she forgot who we were because we haven’t seen her in 2 weeks” was just inane, as are their expectations that every weekend is spent with them. they could stand to let go a bit. maybe Bethenny’s tactics weren’t the best, but I think she was totally right to call them out on their manipulation attempts.
What a beautiful woman who has the compassion and desire to share intimacy and love with intensity and licking and TallPeopleMeet was amazing
That’s a mold-breaker. Great thiknngi!
ITA!!! This pig is so overrated, she makes me sick just looking at her with her huge jaw!! She reminds me of the character from family guy, u know the dad!
Thank you Susan, i couldn’t have said it better myself, I know this crap is cheap to make but come on people.
Agree 150%!!!! Bethenny Frankel is the best thing that’s ever happened to Bravo.
I also agree….Bethenny is the ONLY housewife I will watch…she is a delight, their baby is precious, and Jason, and his family are so real and likeable. I pray that her show will continue forever….LOVE,LOVE
Yeah, good luck with that. You’re probably also buying Skinny Girl products and books from this celebrity ho ho. She looks like an anorexic and bulimic..there is nothing “healthy” about her. And she’s starting to seem like a nut job psycho…crazy mood swings and manic behavior. She needs meds. Jason was a fool to marry her…but let’s face it, he picked her up in a seedy bar at 3 in the morning. Um, desperate much?
Samantha, you scoff at those that might be buying her products, and yet you watch — you’re one more viewer that raises the ratings of her show. I’m sure she reads what people like you write and laughs all the way to the bank.
She’s another hypocrite! claiming to be over her eating disorder, she’s got everyone buying her crap and she’s still just as sick as they are! Only in America!
Actually in Bethanny’s defense because I’m watching the show at this very moment – it was Jason that first made the comment about California during dinner and Bethenny was surprised he even said anything to his parents. I would love to have her out here!
i stopped watching mid season last year as she was at times too hard to take. i turned it on tonight and was surprised at how funny she was. her observations were spot on and she has a nice chemistry with jason. her delivery can be harsh but she is so sharp that you can;t help but laugh. and her vulnerability makes her so relatable. can’t say i’ll tune in weekly but i thought this episode was enjoyable.
Whoa, Lynn! I had the same experience! I stopped watching last season, and tuned in tonight only to be pleasantly surprised. I went in with low expectations and found myself laughing throughout the show. It was easier to watch than New York Housewives, also.
It wasn’t Bethenny that brought up California, it was Jason. He should have kept his mouth shut but had to bring mommy and daddy into their marriage discussions. I Would have been annoyed if I were her also. His parents need to cut the cord. I hate how they make them feel bad. Everyone deserves to branch out and be their own family.
I disagree! She might be a good business woman but she has no people skills. I felt hurt for the Hoppy family including Jason. She doesn’t belong in that good family. She also didn’t appear to care that she slighted them!!
Me too and my daughter felt the same.. She has no idea how to interact, is self absorbed not to mention a very depressed person.. Yikes the “mother and father” thing with her is annoying and old..I think her shrink thinks she is a nutcase- it is pure nonsense.. Lady grow up and take repsonsibility for yourself.. She is so fragile, her emotions are all over the place.. Poor Jason, he is a sweet man.
sandy and mimi=
jill and Kelli, out of the two, sandy is kelli and mimi is jill.
She’s a good business woman as long as Jason does the work.
Of course Bethany has no people skills-she’s said many times that she was raised by wolves! She feels smothered because she doesn’t know what being part of a family is. I get the impression that she’s trying.
What I like best is how honest Bethenny is, how “real” she keeps it as they say. She struggles and talks it out, out loud even. She becomes emotional and explains why. She is thankful and says it. She finds it all amusing and lets us in on the joke.
I admire her and I feel for her.
I’ve like her a lot since she was on that Martha Stewart apprentice show. I was glad to see her when she showed up on Housewives NYC, and am thrilled to see more of her.
Really? Let’s think about this – she shows up on the Martha Stewart thing – then she is cast as a NYO Housewife…when she isn’t even married. She gets a gig on Skating with Stars, and is the only “Housewife” to get all these insipid follow-up shows. Is it because she is so “real”? Or could it be because she knows someone…?
or she’s a sorceress?
…or is related to someone?
…Or because she’s the only one who is interesting?
Or is a Media Whore?
I’m not buying the “interesting” thing….but, media whore makes sense.
I liked Bethenny at first but she’s a mess. Like another poster said, she does not belong in Jason’s good family.
I have dealt with a lot of Bethennys in NY. Her schtick is to appear honest and direct, but she is actually really manipulative and hostile. Her acknowledgements of her shortcomings is her manipulative way of excusing them. See, I know I have this problem, I apologize for it, therefore I am a self-aware, sensitive person. However, the behavior never changes. I find her to be a self-absorbed, vile human being.
You hit the nail on the head. Hostile. She is the epitome of a self-pitying, hostile sycophant. She is a vapid, emotional vampire whose low level of maturity is unmeasurable. Self-absorption doesn’t even nick the surface of her vacuuous and deluded existence. It’s like listening to the ramblings of selfish insanity.
There is nothing real about this woman who is a major fame seeker who actually compares her lame show to Seinfeld and thinks of her show as a reality sitcom. So real! Hahaha!
I always did think Bethanny was the “realest” housewife(of New York City if not overall). I agree with the writer’s “more rooted in reality than most reality stars” assesment. I love her quick wit and sense of humor more than anyones. With that being said, I doubt i’ll watch her reality show much. She needs the RHWofNY to add her personality and bounce her zingers off of.
The “realest” housewife? She wasn’t even married during that show! She was nobody’s wife – house or otherwise.
If you look at all the housewives franchise, there’s always someone that’s not married. Bethanny, Kim x2, Kandi, Sheree, Linda, Danielle, Gretchen, and couple of women in Miami, etc..
Wait a minute-there are mulitiple unmarried women on every single housewives franchise. In fact, Atlanta only ever has two women that are married per season.
do your research, dude. every housewives show has an unmarried housewife.
I only watched the New York Housewives for Bethenney’s soundbites, which were always spot-on, truthful, and comic, so I love she has her own show. I do agree about Jason though–he’s too involved with his parents and while that’s a good thing, sometimes too much is a bad thing.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Jason being too involved with his parents considering he is the only child left they have.
What a crock of crap. I always liked bethenney but her hurtful comments and barbs at his parents and her self righteousness over the town he grew up in and the people in it was just way too over the top for me to even like her at this point. Tonight bethenny was the girl you want to root for but she is so self righteous and arrogant and superior that I can hardly imagine Jason sticking around too long for all that BS drivel that flows from her mouth. I will give her that she used her 15 minutes of fame to capitalize and I can’t hate on that but WOW…. what an inconsiderate, self-righteous ingrate, who doles out hurtful comments to anyone she pleases, especially his poor parents…poor Jason, even when she sees he is hurting, she is so obnoxious she can’t shut her hole. I guess her money can’t buy her class but it certainly can buy her more air time…….why again?ugh so disappointed and over her…so much for buying those skinny girl drinks…after tonight Hell No!!!!
you said it perfectly!!
I agree totally. I always liked B, but after all her mean-spirited comments about his parents, friends and his town — it was too much. The hurt on his parents’ faces said it all. UGH. I’m done.
I was also disappointed in Bethanny last night. She was definitely over the top with Jason’s hometown. For the first time, I really don’t see them together after this year.
I cancelled my DIR recordings of any future Bethanny episodes. I cannot believe that she insulted the people, when she knows it will be airing. The people in his town were kind and welcoming and she acted as if she is from some elite town that is above all of them. She is crude and rude. His poor mom has to deal with her. I hope the people in the bar consider the source when they see the episode. Remember Bethanny and Jason met in a bar. Where she gets the high and mighty attitude is beyond me…
there are so many fake bitter posters here. i find it interesting that ive heard way more blunt stuff from bethanny in the past but all of a sudden people are posting vicious things on this site . Must be the legion of jills fakes names and people shes paid off. seriously.
SOO tired of people blaming Jill Zarin for negative comments about Bitchenny. I can’t stand the sight of sound of her, and I’m NOT Bethenny.
Bethanny made me sad last night..Jason has his work cut out for him babysitting Momma & Baby…What a condescending woman…
Spot on!
I really, really enjoyed it, much more than I expected for the 2nd season. Bethenny made my howl with laughter and shed a few tears, and I appreciate we get to see some real emotions amidst the Housewives Botox social club lol. And yes, it WAS Jason who opened his big mouth…sometimes I wonder if Jason’s parents guilt trip him or if he has his own issues from his brother’s passing that do not allow him to cut the cord already. I’m surprised B can handle seeing her in-laws every 3 weeks because I’d tell Jason to take the baby by himself, geez can be grow a pair already. He’s lucky his parents are only 2-3 hours away as it is.
I’m sure that Bethenny didn’t know how much baggage that she wasn’t so prepared for this family. Yes they are very nice people but she wasn’t sure what a bruised family he came with. He could have stood up for his wife. He knew her quite well when they married. Bethenny reacted in a way that first visit went. It wasn’t Bethennys fault the walked right into a spider webby family and they are all trying to fit in; Nothing that Bethenny said was so awful that these commenters don’t see her position. After all what did Bethenny know from familys. I think its going to work out very well because all four of these people love Bryn so much thats the key all of this. I wish them all well and I think it will be fine for everyone in the outcome. That little baby with that great big smile is irrestistable.
How could he stand up for her when no one can get a word in edgewise? Besides, she was wrong. Boo hoo for Bethenny and her fragile, damaged self. Give her some Litium and shut her the hell up!
Last year on Bethany you found it very easy to root for her. By way of her own admission she wasn’t raised under the best of circumstances. However, this seasons opener made me a bit uncomfortable. Bethany would have to ask herself, what child in the world ever complained that they had too much love in their lives? I understand that no women wants to feel like the in-laws are more important then her core family but as they stated they had Jason for 39 years, they are treading new territory, give them a break already. Bethany should be aware by now that money isn’t everything. Yes, explore new opportunities ofcourse, but never choose fame over good family and values. Fame can be fleeting but as Jason well stated “family is family” and it is forever. When the public grows tired of you and your anticks and they will, it will be family that holds you close to its bussom and allows you to laugh, cry and be who you are. Do not forsake, Jasons family and the love they are offerring you for this fame thing, because in the end Bethany the people you want around you when your sick or whatever are these kinds of people. Also Bethanys excuse of having money for Bryn college, I mean come on this kid will not be starving. Teach Bryn the real value of family that you so needed when you were growing up. Bethany has to learn how to truely except all the goodness that has been bestowed upon her in this juncture in her life and really embrace the greatfulness of it. If she doesn’t she will not only be losing fans but family and once thats gone you truely have nothing. I hope for her sake she is not content with the temple of her familiar. Don’t move to California for money, if you move it needs to be a better reason. Jason will truely resent it even if he doesn’t admit it. lol
Home run! Great slugging with that aensrw!
Everything she (and everyone else on Tv) do is for money you nitwit! She just made 120 million selling Skinny girl products and she is sickly thin and unhealthy herself!
I’m glad others have pointed out that Jason – not Bethenny – brought up the “California Compromise” with his parents, because reading Ken’s take, I was confused. I found the show uncomfortable. Jason’s “I can’t disappoint my parents” is a massive train wreck in the making. And the way they kept “joking” about keeping the baby with them was just creepy. Bethenny better keep an eye on Jason’s mother – she’s a passive aggressive nightmare bent on hijacking her son’s family.
AH – you’re SO right about his mother being passive aggressive. I’m a little surprised that no one else has said that yet. Everyone automatically thinks Bethenny is the bad guy because she’s louder.
but it had to be her idea for him to bring it up…
“Jason’s mother – she’s a passive aggressive nightmare bent on hijacking her son’s family.”
AH, are you drinking or on anti-psychotics? Or maybe you’ve just never met normal people like Jason’s parents?
Couldn’t agree more – not only should they not be discussing behavior that they’ve misidentified, but they NEED to be on anti-psychotics along with B!tchenny. Jason’s mother sees that her son married a psychotic and is afraid for her grandchild.
i totally agree. it was his parents and jason that were behaving in a manipulative passive agressive manner. Bethanny ( in my view kindly but firmly) reminded them she wants her own family and needs time with them. I think its ironic that bethanny who has no family married into a family who lost a son and is over the top with the one they have who is also over the top and tied to their apron strings. how sad, and potentially tragic, but bethannys fault? or being NOT nice enough to be in the family? hardly.
there must be some pretty pathetic people out there who consider the antics of his parents to be kind. these people are newlyweds with a baby, his wife is the major breadwinner with a franchise and they want her in Pa every week? are they insane? or just setting her up to be the bad daughter in law. Jason, grow a pair, stand up for your own family or get a family therapist in there quick
I love Bethanny and I’m so happy she’s back on in Bethanny Ever After! I enjoy her frankness and understand her dilemmas with Jason and the in-laws. She is very real, sometimes harsh. hopefully Jason wiill be able to put up with her over time. I do think she needs to slow down and enjoy life and her baby.
I love Bethanny and I’m so happy she’s back on in Bethanny Ever After! I enjoy her frankness and understand her dilemmas with Jason and the in-laws. She is very real, sometimes harsh. Hopefully Jason will be able to put up with her over time. I do think she needs to slow down and enjoy life, marriage and her baby Bryn.
I LIKE BETHENNY AND JASON,BUT AT TIMES ITS KINDA OF HARD TO WATCH LIKE THE FIRST SHOW. BETHENNY YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP TOO MUCH CRYING. YOY SHOULD NEVER PUT JASON AGAIST HIS PARENTS. HE WILL NOT BE A HAPPY FATHER AND HUSBAND. LIGHTEN UP PLS IT WILL GET OLD. HAVING SAY THIS I LIKE THE SHOW
And obviously you like your CAPS LOCK.
Lighten up she full of hormones she just had a baby!!! This couple reminds me of me and my husband Mark. He has a great big family and its like learning to love all new people it takes time. She needs Jason slow relaxing approach to calm her dynamite personality. Its a balance!!
I may be mistaken, but I believe she said, “Why didn’t you tell me I was an alien?” Not “YOU were and alien.” I remember liking it when she said it…
Nope, you’re mistaken. She said “Why didn’t you tell me YOU were an alien?”
Still funny, and like the writer said, her humanity at the end of the bar scene softens those brash comments of hers.
I interpreted it as her asking Jason why he didn’t say to her “you are an alien” (I heard “you are” not “you were”
Maybe he is an alien. Here in LA there are no guys like Jason. He has a job, he’s cute, he respects his family, thinks pregnancy is hot, and doesn’t dress in lingerie or talk about his screenplay ad nauseum or do lines of coke on your iPad.
So yes, Jason might be from another planet. I hope that his home planet invades soon. Earth could use more Hoppy.
I WAS a fan of Bethenny (key word “WAS”) I live 20 miles from Hazleton PA and did not appreciate her negative comments about the people & the area. YOU are the alien, Bethenny. I come from a close-knit family & I know it can be “too much” at times, but there is always someone you can count on. Bethenny should embrace her in-laws, accept their love & support, and be thankful. The most important thing you can give your child is a loving, extended family. Don’t you want Bryn to enjoy the childhood you didn’t have? Elaine