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 Regina

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If you don't like it, don't read it. Suck it up and move on.

By princesspr

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" 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."
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

OOOOK Jill I know you are current cast member who stated this!

By Robin

Okay Jill, we know it's you spreading all this crap because you have a big mouth and can never keep things to yourself. YOU and the other "Ladies" are on a REALITY show and get paid to cry, throw tantrums, start rumors and promote Bravo and your own products. Before these Bravo shows started, no one in the real world knew who you were except for Jill, you seem to know everyone since you drop stars and other's names all the time. Oh I know Donald, oh having dinner with Hugh Jackman.

WHO CARES???? So sick of these reality shows. Regarding Bethenny, I enjoy watching her show. Her show is empowering to women that they can be entrepreneurs. She came from nothing and worked her way up. You all were born with silver spoons in your mouths. You guys are "actors" plain and simple and some of these "reality" shows cause marriages to dissolve, bankruptcy, etc., but any press is good press, right?

By Donna

I really don't think Bethanney cares either way...she is worth millions...!!!

By Sue

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If Bethany's childhood was so tortured and abusive, why would she deprive her daughter of the supportive presence of her inlaws as much as possible? Her attack dogs seem to have erased the fact that Jill extended her home and family to Bethany and the reason the rift started was Bethany's self absorbed behavior to begin with.

IF she truly truly loves her daughter and only wants the best why not ditch the show, move to her husbands home town and live off the millions she has until her daughter is old enough to choose whether to participate in her self promotion?

Friday 10 June

By princesst

We all know that Jill is the source for this article. Now I know why she was so eager for Rob Shuter to call in to her sister's radio show this afternoon. The gig is up Jill. Last week Jill's target was Ramona, this week it's Bethenny. I think Bethenny has better things to do than worry about RHNYC's ratings. Let's see, she was on the Tonight Show a couple of nights ago, she is on the cover of Forbes Magazine, there was a segment about her on 20/20 last night. What is Jill doing?........crickets. Jill still hasn't found a hobby.

By Oprah's Massive Afro-Armpits

She is an old ugly Jew, who would want to watch her.

By maddmike

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She is one ugly broad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By sandy

Did the "insider" (hi, Jill) ever stop to consider that Bethenny is the one and only RHONY who could possibly carry a solo show? And she is doing it, by the way. Plus, RHONY beats Bethenny by 40%? Well, there are 500% more leads! So, despite an uneven show biz playing field, Bethenny is holding her own, and strongly.
And even if the show were to tank, Bethenny has a young marriage, small child, booming business, and close friendships from way back; she seems like someone who knows and cherishes real life, not just Reality Life. Game, set, match, "insider;' no more malicious lies for you to spin.

By judith Warrne

I don!t know how there #1 I seen the show it!s worse than last year give me Beatheny any time

By lbryant936

Since the ratings are higher for RHONYC than BF Ever After, it seems to me that all of those BF fans that said they would not watch RHONYC once BF left were just blowing smoke up someone's butt.
Don't get me wrong, I still love BF - but I also love all the other housewives of NY...especially Cindy, Jill, LuAnn, Kelly and Alex (when she's not off fighting Rameana's battles). It makes her look stupid and insipid and covers Rameana's butt so she won't have to look like the idiot.
The same ones that are calling LuAnn, Jill, Kelly and Cindy two faced are the pots calling the kettle black (Rameana, Alex & Sonja). I have found a new respect for Jill this year. I have let go her and BF's differences and given Jill the opportunity to make amends and be a better person and it seems to me that she has changed for the better. (atleast she's trying. Some people won't let it go.) Of course none of them will be perfect -no one is) But I like the crew (minus narcicistic Sonja and childish Rameana).

By jill

The only reason people tune into to watch RHONY is to see these crazies flail about... the reason people tune into watch Bethanny is to watch her succeed. She's great all on her own and doesn't need the drama of the others!!

By NAUGHTY BUT NICE ROB

I THOUGHT SHOW WOULD BE DEAD WITHOUT HER...AMAZED, NUMBERS ARE UP

By kittykat

Poor jason just a glorified babysiter now it seems. Wonder how his manhood is doing? She ran over that like freight train!And when her daughter falls off her bike who will she run to? -- the one she's closest to-- the nanny- who is also the godmother (very strange)not one girlfriend tobe the godmother- now theirs a big red flag! Shame all the money now - she should take off the pants in the family, relax and raise her daughter- those years you can never get back! JMO !!

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