The Real Housewives of New York City - Page 376

AngloAm · 11-20-2009, 08:55 AM

Sorry. It was here in DC at a local cable show called "Q&A Cafe" - at the Ritz-Carleton in Georgetown (very swank). A nice luncheon while a local journo quizzed Simon about being on the show and any advice he had for the still-in-casting RHoDC.

(Which will be very difficult to cast; I'm surprised they even tried. We did get to see one cast couple, the Amons who are apparently famous for something or other. DC people are very discreet and private and the currency is 'power' not 'money.' You can be Someone To Know even if you've got a modest salary and frumpy clothes, if you write a connected newsletter or blog, or have the ear of somebody high up. DC women aren't stylish, they're safe. "What do you do?" is the main question and if the person gives any cryptic answer it's assumed not that they're being cagy and mysterious, but that they're in intelligence or something else.)

Simon was very gracious, I still don't think he and Mario will ever be good friends, he also talked about filming (for example, they avoid any big deal about what time of the year it is to avoid 'date stamping' the show), the pressures of both of them having 'day jobs' and two children while filming and trying to write a book, how they tried to be more natural the second season and improved their image, how we don't see much of what happens (they fed the kids candy b/c the producers insisted they have 'breakfast' in the afternoon but the kids were hungry, or not hungry - forget which), and how the cast members don't often see each other apart from filming.

After the interview and we'd eaten our lunches, me and Biffy and Muffy and the Ladies who Lunch at the Ritz-Carleton, got to approach him for questions while his lunch cooled and congealed. I 'know' him from Facebook and he remembered that my birthday was the Saturday following and wished me a happy one, chatted to me for quite some time - a good five minutes - and wished my Aussie partner well. He is very tall and really very nice. I wouldn't mind having him as a neighbour or even a friend.

All in all I had a lovely time and may go to more of the Q&A Cafes; they're pricy ($50 plus the valet parking) but this woman gets all sorts of really interesting guests. And it'd been ages since I'd been to someplace that required gracious good manners; it was good practice. I even remembered to stand every time a lady came to or left the table.

Google · Sponsored Links

Jexter · 11-21-2009, 12:23 PM

Thanks for sharing Anglo Am. I like Simon - always have. I didn't care for his and his wife's social climbing comments from the first season, but that aside, I think they are great, and would be good fun to hang out with.

rebotco · 11-21-2009, 05:43 PM

Anglo, thanks for taking the time to write about the Simon encounter. I don't like Simon and Alex based on what I see on the show - in fact, they're what inspired me to sign up for these forums in the first place because, being a real (as in born, raised and still living in) New Yorker, I had to vent about the despicable phoniness they embodied.

Now that we know that Simon & Alex consciously choose their personalities for each season of the show, it makes me less inclined to like them. I mean really, for what reason (okay, $$$ and fame for fame's sake) would people choose to portray themselves on a reality show, but then go on to portray themselves in a very, very, VERY ugly and unflattering manner?

Sigh . . . why can't all TV just be as good as "Hill Street," "Arrested Development," and now "Modern Family?" Please someone make the "reality" shows go away!!!

daiseyo · 11-21-2009, 05:44 PM

I've been curious for awhile regarding Alex losing her job at Victoria's Secret/Limited Brands. Sorry if this was already discussed last year, but does anyone know if Alex being on the show had anything to do with her losing her job? Maybe Limited Brands didn't feel it was a good reflection on the Company?

Prism · 11-21-2009, 08:12 PM

When Alex explained losing the job, it was in the context of quite a few people being let go because of the economy. Not much she says is honest or real, so I guess we can believe what we choose ?

PA Snow Bunny · 11-22-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngloAm

Oooh I forgot to mention: I met Simon and chatted with him here in DC. He's very tall, and very gracious.

Just please tell me he wasn't wearing a speedo or those awful pink shoes

I am sure Simon is a very intelligent & engaging person IRL. Glad you had the chance to meet him.

AngloAm · 11-29-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebotco

Now that we know that Simon & Alex consciously choose their personalities for each season of the show, it makes me less inclined to like them. I mean really, for what reason (okay, $$$ and fame for fame's sake) would people choose to portray themselves on a reality show, but then go on to portray themselves in a very, very, VERY ugly and unflattering manner?

Not to be argumentative (although I'm sad to say I am good at so being) but I didn't get the impression that they exactly chose their personalities as much as let different aspects shine through? Also it was easier with the kids since they were older.

AngloAm · 11-29-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PA Snow Bunny

Just please tell me he wasn't wearing a speedo or those awful pink shoes

I am sure Simon is a very intelligent & engaging person IRL. Glad you had the chance to meet him.

No he was soberly dressed in a dark blue business suit, white shirt, dark tie. Very sober. Apparently he travelled on the train down from NYC in something more comfortable but changed for the interview. I thought he was gracious and charming.

Other things I'm just now remembering:

At the party for Page Six, where Jill and Mario had the dust up and where Simon wound up calling Mario a hypocrite, Simon said that it was very late and they were dog tired and tried to get out of it. Everyone of the cast was tired and on edge and had warned that they were not in the mood.

When it looked like they were giving their kids jelly beans for breakfast it was actually four in the afternoon and they'd been pretending it was breakfast. The kids were squirmy and anxious and the jelly beans quietened them down.

AngloAm · 12-17-2009, 08:39 AM

Is it 'allowed' to mention something you heard from a person on the show that's related to that person only and not to the full-time cast members? I don't want to do the wrong thing but I heard something nice from a person who appeared four times on RHONY that might interest the rest of us.

Rockytop Chick · 12-17-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngloAm

Is it 'allowed' to mention something you heard from a person on the show that's related to that person only and not to the full-time cast members? I don't want to do the wrong thing but I heard something nice from a person who appeared four times on RHONY that might interest the rest of us.

that has to be Max!!! I hope it's OK to post

11-20-2009, 08:55 AM	#3751
AngloAm FORT Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 646	Re: The Real Housewives of New York City Sorry. It was here in DC at a local cable show called "Q&A Cafe" - at the Ritz-Carleton in Georgetown (very swank). A nice luncheon while a local journo quizzed Simon about being on the show and any advice he had for the still-in-casting RHoDC. (Which will be very difficult to cast; I'm surprised they even tried. We did get to see one cast couple, the Amons who are apparently famous for something or other. DC people are very discreet and private and the currency is 'power' not 'money.' You can be Someone To Know even if you've got a modest salary and frumpy clothes, if you write a connected newsletter or blog, or have the ear of somebody high up. DC women aren't stylish, they're safe. "What do you do?" is the main question and if the person gives any cryptic answer it's assumed not that they're being cagy and mysterious, but that they're in intelligence or something else.) Simon was very gracious, I still don't think he and Mario will ever be good friends, he also talked about filming (for example, they avoid any big deal about what time of the year it is to avoid 'date stamping' the show), the pressures of both of them having 'day jobs' and two children while filming and trying to write a book, how they tried to be more natural the second season and improved their image, how we don't see much of what happens (they fed the kids candy b/c the producers insisted they have 'breakfast' in the afternoon but the kids were hungry, or not hungry - forget which), and how the cast members don't often see each other apart from filming. After the interview and we'd eaten our lunches, me and Biffy and Muffy and the Ladies who Lunch at the Ritz-Carleton, got to approach him for questions while his lunch cooled and congealed. I 'know' him from Facebook and he remembered that my birthday was the Saturday following and wished me a happy one, chatted to me for quite some time - a good five minutes - and wished my Aussie partner well. He is very tall and really very nice. I wouldn't mind having him as a neighbour or even a friend. All in all I had a lovely time and may go to more of the Q&A Cafes; they're pricy ($50 plus the valet parking) but this woman gets all sorts of really interesting guests. And it'd been ages since I'd been to someplace that required gracious good manners; it was good practice. I even remembered to stand every time a lady came to or left the table.

11-21-2009, 12:23 PM	#3752
Jexter FORT Fogey Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,152	Re: The Real Housewives of New York City Thanks for sharing Anglo Am. I like Simon - always have. I didn't care for his and his wife's social climbing comments from the first season, but that aside, I think they are great, and would be good fun to hang out with.

11-21-2009, 05:43 PM	#3753
rebotco FORT Fan Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 194	Re: The Real Housewives of New York City Anglo, thanks for taking the time to write about the Simon encounter. I don't like Simon and Alex based on what I see on the show - in fact, they're what inspired me to sign up for these forums in the first place because, being a real (as in born, raised and still living in) New Yorker, I had to vent about the despicable phoniness they embodied. Now that we know that Simon & Alex consciously choose their personalities for each season of the show, it makes me less inclined to like them. I mean really, for what reason (okay, $$$ and fame for fame's sake) would people choose to portray themselves on a reality show, but then go on to portray themselves in a very, very, VERY ugly and unflattering manner? Sigh . . . why can't all TV just be as good as "Hill Street," "Arrested Development," and now "Modern Family?" Please someone make the "reality" shows go away!!!

11-21-2009, 05:44 PM	#3754
daiseyo FORT Regular Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 692	Re: The Real Housewives of New York City I've been curious for awhile regarding Alex losing her job at Victoria's Secret/Limited Brands. Sorry if this was already discussed last year, but does anyone know if Alex being on the show had anything to do with her losing her job? Maybe Limited Brands didn't feel it was a good reflection on the Company? __________________ "Pooh!" whispered Piglet. "Yes, Piglet?" said Pooh. "Oh, nothing." said Piglet. "I was just making sure of you."

11-21-2009, 08:12 PM	#3755
Prism FORT Fan Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 251	Re: The Real Housewives of New York City When Alex explained losing the job, it was in the context of quite a few people being let go because of the economy. Not much she says is honest or real, so I guess we can believe what we choose ? __________________ We don't live in a world of reality, we live in a world of perceptions. Gerald J. Simmons

12-17-2009, 08:39 AM	#3759
AngloAm FORT Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 646	Re: The Real Housewives of New York City Is it 'allowed' to mention something you heard from a person on the show that's related to that person only and not to the full-time cast members? I don't want to do the wrong thing but I heard something nice from a person who appeared four times on RHONY that might interest the rest of us.