Bethenny Who? 'Housewives' Stars Bask in High Ratings Without Her

By Rob Shuter Posted Jun 9th 2011 05:30PM

To every cast member's surprise, including Bethenny, ratings for 'The Real Housewives of New York City' have actually increased since Bethenny Frankel left the show.

"During filming and again just prior to our fourth season airing, many articles popped up stating that RHONY would flop after Bethenny's departure," a current cast member tells me. "Many of these seemed to be veiled leaks by B and her team, designed to hurt us and boost her own spin off. Unfortunately for them, those plans didn't pan out."

While the NY franchise has seen its ratings continue to grow, Bethenny's second season has dropped 22% from her debut. That isn't to say it's not still a hit, though, and it remains the highest-rate solo show on the network. A third season has been ordered. Meanwhile, 'RHONY' continues to outstrip hers with 40% greater audience with over 2.28 million viewers tuning in last week.

"Bethenny saw herself as the star of that show and assumed without her, less people would watch," the Bravo insider tells me. "This is Bethenny's worst nightmare. She would have liked nothing more than the show to fail without her. She desperately wants her own reality show about her new married life with her baby to kick Jill Zarin and the other ladies asses."

'Bethenny Ever After' averaged a very healthy 1.45 million viewers for its latest season and has already been renewed for a third season. But more importantly what this has taught Bravo is that no one lady is more valuable than the show itself. So watch out NeNe, Teresa and Gretchen ... as much as we love you the real star is the show itself!

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Tags: Bethenny Ever After, Bethenny Frankel, Real Housewives of New York City

Comments

(34)

Thursday 09 June

By bogey

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" Last time i saw a mouth like that it had a hook in it" RIP Rodney

By porthos5ny

Are you sure it was a hook? ;-)

By gatsby10021

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If anyone did the leaking, my guess it was the other "Housewives" They seem to be pros about leaking all over the place. Sonja having the biggest puddle.

By joe

Oh Give the Girl a Break!
-She Jewish- and was Single for yrs
-She had to make it on her own, not from being married to a Rich Jewish Man like her Friends
-Most Jewish men don't like an Aggressive and Successful more than them, woman. Their Ego's are bruised enough as it is
-She Now has her Child and can be a Mother.. a Jewish Mother no less.. a Jewish Girls Dream
-And did she Blow Up like the Goodyear Blimp? No She got right back in Nice Shape..!
-You Go Girl!

MozzelToff!

By Twyla

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Bethenny is obnoxious, love the housewives withhout her, and now we dont miss an episode!! We tried Bethennys show and couldnt take her at all! Maybe watched it twice! NEVER AGAIN.

By Lauraaa

"This is Bethenny's worst nightmare" oh please. i doubt she even cared. She just wanted to get away from those monsters!!

Friday 10 June

By Alyce

I agree with you. I doubt she even cares I think she is at a calmer place being out of that atmosphere. Besides whats there to miss? She still on Bravo, you can watch her if you choose to. I for one am a fan of both, it's one of my many guilty pleasures.

By Patricia

I think it's always been clear that Rob Shuter is a big fan/friend of Jill Zarin, and it shows in his "reporting." I doubt Bethenny is spending a lot of time worrying about RHONY ratings, let alone to bother to try to sabotage them by planting rumors, which would be a pretty lame way to go about it anyway. Frankly, I think RHONY has so far this season seemed rather pathetic. It's nothing but pre- and post-menopausal (Alex excepted) women looking like they're desperately trying to think of something to scream at someone about. Everyone is just unpleasant. If their ratings have gone up it's only because the woman have developed into such an unbelievable (and I mean that literally) trainwreck that people can't look away, no matter how horrific the carnage.

Well said!

By Sue

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You must be employed by Bethany Patricia. Rob has been generous to Bethany having her on his web interviews and otherwise giving her coverage,

Bethany is a shrew who is so ungrateful to her wonderful inlaws and to RHONY for giving her a platform. I am sick of her and her whining self promotion and NO I don't work for or know ROb of Jill

By cndy

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that just go to show you that one person is usually never missed that much. on the housewives, there is always enough drama with all of the women that when one leaves the rest is still there. i think bethanny thought she was more than what she was. i like her but most of the time it is really about her and no one else. she seems to have to be the center of attention.

By Patty

I think Bethenny is still laughing all the way to the bank!!

Monday 04 July

By Nancy from SB

Of course she is! This fake story is a plant...

By A J

One thing is for sure her exfriend is the one who introduced bethemy to houswifives and now Bethemy has a great way to thank her. dump her as a friend! So what does this tell you ? don't invite friends to your show and if you do dont look for any thank yous!

By Cynthia Meikle

Sorry it was Jill that told Betheny we are done and with the money Betheny has made from her venture she does not have the time to miss those plastic women. The show sucks I Dvr it and run through all the nasty way these so call friends treat each other

By SoFla

Isn't Jill the one that said "I"m done"? Jill needs to get over herself.. I think Bethenny is enjoying her success, her husband and most of all her baby. If RHoNY is even on her radar I'd be surprised. She has bigger and better things to keep her occupied.

By cleveland girl

Watch the show and get a clue. Jill is a monster.

By Mike

Frankel "the fraud" has people snowed.

By regina

She's rude, mean and self-absorbed. What is there to miss? The really sad thing is that now Ramona is trying to act like Frankelstein and she just does not have the panache to pull it off.

By biased article

Wow, This is a crap article. The show is for fun people, if your that much into it, especially,to make up drama on Bethenny and attribute made up quotes, you need a reality check!

It's a reality show (a lot of stuff is over-exagerated for the camera's!!)Besides, I don't think anyone, especially Bethenny - would care enough about how the other show is doing with her success!! Stupid... Take it from a man, always gotta knock the woman who dares to be successful, reality show or not.

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