Real Housewives of New York City: A little recap to Season 1 and Season 2

Updated on April 18, 2023 13:04 PM by admin

The Real Housewives of New York City started in 2008, and its original network was Bravo TV. It’s a reality show where seventeen housewives are shown throughout the franchise to mingle and create an atmosphere where people can learn how New York City’s multiple homemakers live.

The introduction with a party

The show starts with one of the homemakers - Bethenny Frankel - planning a party in her apartment and getting everything ready. The other guest-housewives began coming in as it looked like the natural homemakers were planning to have a get-together in the home environment. The homemakers came together and organized the party as five women had dinner together.

However, it looked like the hostess, Bethenny, was setting dinner for six members, so one needed a reasonable modification. However, another housewife Jill Zarin confirms to LuAnn de Lesseps that she has consciously set six chairs as Simon is invited to the party along with Alex McCord. The party went on as other homemakers came in with champagne and different kinds of stuff. Ramona Singer, one of the party guests, is offended that Simon is invited to a girls' night out.

Ramona Singer finds it strange as she was looking forward to a girls' night out, but it turned out that Simon was invited to the party. She started questioning Alex ‘can’t they ever have a girls’ night out?’ It was awkward for Jill Zarin, LuAnn de Lesseps, Alex, and Simon McCord when Ramona Singer reacted exaggeratedly.

Ramona created embarrassment

Ramona was all along attacking Simon at the party in front of Alex, and she mentioned that she hates surprises because a man coming to a girls’ night out is not a good surprise. LuAnn and Jill tried harder to make the situation less tense as Ramona was hellbent on ruining the party. Bethenny was fixated as she could not determine what was wrong with Ramona.

LuAnn and Jill were trying their hardest to make Simon comfortable. On the other hand, Alex started complaining that Ramona Singer was hyperventilating as she went to the kitchen with Bethenny Frankel, unable to stand Simon even for a second. Alex even pointed out that Ramona did not have a good marriage, so she ventilated out on Simon.

Ramona has specific rules, which Season 1 of the Real Housewives of New York City showed clearly. She mentioned that she considers her time spent with friends away from her family precious. So, she hated it as it was damaged with unnecessary surprises like bringing in husbands between girls’ nights out. Bethenny Frankel was trying harder to calm Ramona Singer down as the latter was freaking out.

At the dinner table

Ramona confessed that she had a rough day, and the housewife was looking forward to spending some time with her friends for dinner. So, a sudden, shocking guest like Simon McCord was making her mad. Bethany Frankel told her to take it easy and to go with the flow. The dinner was terrific, and Jill Zarin thanked Bethany for inviting them, but Ramona was not in the mood, as she felt shell-shocked and out of the group entirely.

Ramona attacked Simon even during dinner time, as she called Simon tacky and for not meeting the protocol and not being classy enough to join a bunch of girls in a given typical girls’ night out. Simon’s wife Alex was done entirely with Ramona spitting fire on them. It seemed like Ramona would eat Simon alive without the need for salt and pepper.

Luann de Lesseps intervened and said that class was to make people feel comfortable in any given situation. Ramona Singer was not making Simon or any other housewives comfortable then. Ramona was so done with the ambiance and LuAnn’s statement that she shocked Bethenny, Luann de Lesseps, and other homemakers and left the dinner party. She called her friend up and left everybody stunned in-between the dinner party.

Everybody was stunned

Bethenny Frankel was done with Ramona as she felt offended by her behavior. Ramona Singer made it clear to Bethenny and everyone else that she was looking forward to a girls’ night out, and since she was given something she was not expecting, she was going to leave for good. She confirmed to Bethenny that she would go for a girls’ night out with her other girlfriends.

Bethenny took offense at Ramona’s behavior because she had spent thousands of dollars to arrange the party, and even the food was good, but Ramona walked out on her just because she was not happy with the presence of a man on a girls’ night out. One of the homemakers, Jill Zarin, said that she was so embarrassed by Ramona Singer’s behavior that she wanted to crawl under a rock and die.

Through Jill, Ramona got invited to Bethanny’s party, and the last thing she did was disappoint Jill Zarin. LuAnn de Lesseps says Ramona’s walking over them wouldn’t stop them from enjoying the night. They would have a girls’ night out, as usual, keeping the bad taste out of their mouths, which Ramona Singer left while walking out of the dinner party. Jill Zarin was done with Ramona Singer and went through the situation anyhow.

Jill goes uninvited to the party

There was a time in Season 1 of RHONY when Jill Zarin took offense that Ramona Singer didn’t invite her to a cooking party. Ramona called only thirty heads to the cooking party and forgot to include Jill. However, Ramona Singer hyperventilated and said it was simply a little party, and Jill shouldn’t take it to her offense. However, later on, LuAnn sent Jill a voice message clarifying that she thought Jill already knew about the cooking party, so Ramona didn’t individually invite Jill.

LuAnn de Lesseps was confused that something was wrong between Jill Zarin and Ramona Singer, but she was not getting to the root. Jill Zarin was done with Ramona for walking out on her at Bethenny’s dinner party and then not inviting her to a cooking party that Ramona organized. She was very angry with Ramona, as she said to LuAnn. Jill was ready to take revenge on Ramona and wanted to get on with the tennis game for Ramona’s constantly embarrassing behavior.

LuAnn drove Jill up to the tennis court, covering her up to the stands of the court as she wanted to see Jill beat Ramona in the game. Bethenny Frankel was laughing, looking at Jill and Ramona fighting on the tennis court. Bethenny said she couldn’t stop watching as she felt like she was looking at a train wreck, which was funny. Jill Zarin was mad at Ramona, and she went on to play her A game and even won the match against Ramona.

A tension between Jill and Ramona

Later, Jill and Brad ran into a lively Ramona after their tennis match in the Mercedes Benz fashion show, and she was cool about everything. Jill felt a bit of tension in the air, although Ramona tried her best to ease the discomfort out of their space by being cordial and sweet. Jill admitted that Ramona had hurt her feelings, so winning against her made her feel good.

Ramona was embarrassed by Jill’s behavior; when Jill discovered that she and Brad were sitting behind Ramona and her friend, she denied sitting there and immediately walked out of that fashion show. Ramona said Jill left the Mercedes Benz Fashion show with the excuse that she didn’t get the front row seats. However, Ramona knew it was not the real cause behind Jill’s ice-cold behavior towards her and not towards the fashion show.

Ramona Singer did not like Jill Zarin’s behavior; she said back then in Season 1 of RHONY that she was learning more and more about Jill. She further said Jill’s behavior was not ladylike, classy, or elegant. After the tennis court incident, Ramona thought that Jill might have gone on to forget whatever happened between them. Afterall, Ramona was not holding any grudges against Jill even though she lost against her on the tennis court.

Ramona hurt Jill’s feelings

Jill Zarin could not get past the discomfort she faced during Bethenny’s dinner party. However, when Jill arranged a party, Bethenny asked about Ramona getting late for the party. Jill confirmed that she called Ramona and told her that the party was going to start at six and then it was seven; yet, Ramona was not there. Bethenny was feeling uncomfortable as they were getting late for their dinner. She did not expect Ramona would disappoint her and hurt her feelings.

Jill was mad at Ramona for being late to her party. Everybody showed up at the party on time, yet Ramona was not there. Jill Zarin was not going to wait for Ramona anymore as the dinner was getting late. LuAnn, Bethenny, Alex, and other homemakers were already waiting for Ramona to turn up with their partners. But, she made everything late and disappointed everyone. She ruined her friendship with Jill Zarin by not turning up at her party on time.

Ramona entered late with her partner and apologized twice to Jill, but the hostess was done with her. Ramona was feeling awkward with the attitude of Jill Zarin towards her and her partner. Jill was cold towards Ramona, who admitted that even though she is a strong woman, Jill’s ice-cold behavior sometimes scares her.

Party at the Hamptons

In Season 1 of RHONY, Bethenny revealed that all the homemakers visited Southampton and described Southampton as the complete concentration of Manhattan’s wealth. She further described Southampton as the place in the Big Apple to show everything. All the homemakers took everything they could to party at the weekend at Southampton. Bethenny joked that it looked like everyone was going to France for a year, as the tons of luggage were overwhelming.

Bethenny described back then that in New York, one could live in an apartment and hide behind a one-room closet and still can purchase a Ferrari. But, in Southampton, everything is a show. Bethenny loves to go to Southampton during the summer because of the beautiful beach, fantastic surfing, barbecues, and delicious margaritas. Moreover, Bethenny always found Southampton a peaceful part of New York.

Southampton is the oldest English city in New York, established in 1640. Jill and Bobby Zarin have their house in Southampton, and the homes in the Hamptons start at three million dollars. The most expensive places in the Hamptons go up to fifty million dollars. Jill Zarin explained in Season 1 of RHONY that everyone in the Big Apple wants to live in the limited space of the Hamptons community, so the houses are pretty costly. Everyone wants a piece of land out in the Hamptons, making house prices escalate sharply over the years.

Alex and Simon got ready

On weekends Jill Zarin loved to party, so all her friends decided to hit her place since it is the most expensive community in the whole of Big Apple. So, overall, Jill Zarin was prepared to welcome all other homemakers back then. In Season 1 of RHONY, Alex McCord lived in Brooklyn in her townhouse with Simon McCord and her two kids. The cameras showed them preparing for their trip to Southampton. However, Simon found the weekend outing a relaxing family holiday since so many people would be there.

Alex McCord was shown as the only former housewife to be quiet and timid. It looked like Simon did all the talking and deciding what to do and where to go, and Alex just followed his instructions one by one. Even though Hamptons is not under the top ten list of expensive places in the Big Apple, the area still holds many posh homes and neighborhoods. Simon was excited to go there more than Alex could even think of during the first Season of RHONY.

Simon packed casual t-shirts and formal wear to wear at the weekend party at the Hamptons. Simon looked like the real housewife who took all the responsibility for arranging clothes for each night. He took every attire possible to wear to the party, with Alex coying around him and repeating after him that he wanted to wear a new shirt for morning breakfast and a different shirt for the evening dinner.

Meeting at a fashion show

In Season 1, Episode 3 of RHONY, Ramona met LuAnn for a fashion show. The show’s name was Alice + Olivia in wonderland. The models posed with the gorgeous fashion of Spring; these models were posing in front of various storefront props. However, Ramona found the show odd because these models did not ramp walk. On the other hand, LuAnn found the new concept interesting. LuAnn hoped Ramona Singer was not sad or demoralized for not winning the tennis match against Jill Zarin.

According to LuAnn, the parties of Olivia and Alice are super expensive as they are always brand-conscious and make sure to invite the right people and go on for the perfect arrangements. Most of their luxury clothes are eco-friendly and stylish; Stacy Bennet, the owner of Alice + Olivia, has a team who worked hard on that day to create the perfect show such that filthy rich people turn up to those places and see the clothes.

Alice + Olivia aims to make themselves representable enough so that people love their clothes and buy them. Ramona Singer loved the dress and found the white outfit perfect for LuAnn’s daughter Victoria but felt a bit embarrassed as all the models were young enough to be 25 years. Ramona told LuAnn that she wanted her daughter Avery Singer to give herself a shot at modeling. Ramona Singer is known to be making offensive remarks, and one of them was - modeling does not need brains.

Ramona realized the mess

LuAnn de Lesseps was taken aback; although Ramona did apologize to all the models around her, LuAnn did find it offensive. Ramona herself admitted that sometimes she says kinds of stuff that might hurt the feelings of other women around her. Ramona even mentioned that her former husband always mentioned zipping her mouth, as she sometimes digs a hole deeper than she intended to do it.

Ramona did feel embarrassed for letting LuAnn down, as she came to know from that comment of hers that LuAnn was a former model, and just because LuAnn did not have a successful career does not mean all models do not have brains. It was a controversial topic, keeping Kendell Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Bella Hadid - the top supermodels in the present fashion world. Even Kim Kardashian modeled during her younger days before she became a hit television personality and went on to be a billionaire.

Ramona Singer felt she had said more than she would have and wanted. However, she tried to make things right with Luana, as Ramona was on the verge of making friends with LuAnn by crushing her feelings. As clarified by LuAnn, modeling is not a brainless career and requires hard work. Nevertheless, it was a controversial topic, and millions of models worldwide exist, and some of them made super successful careers out of this job profile.

LuAnn was uncomfortable

Even though LuAnn had a good time with Ramona at the fashion show, their friendship weakened before forming as Ramona’s words hurt LuAnn. Ramona’s daughter Avery wanted to go into a career that Ramona found dumb back then and told it to a former model with whom she tried to strike a friendship. LuAnn was highly embarrassed and uncomfortable with Ramona during the whole fashion show as she made the rudest comment in the fashion world.

The RHONY showed Ramona Singer in Season 1, enjoying her time by partying with her girlfriends and making new friends. However, she is the longest-running housewife in the franchise, and she is known for making shouty comments and crossing the line with her cruel way of hurting the feelings of her friends throughout the thirteen seasons.

LuAnn de Lesseps talked in Season 1 of RHONY about their stress after returning from the vacation, especially if it was hectic and revolved around too many people. Alex was more stuck with Simon than she had been with her lip gloss in her lifetime. Alex was seen carrying Simon everywhere, which might be irritating for some people as not all of them can manage an odd man out in a group of ladies.

Jill and Ally on a fun ride

These real housewives of the Big Apple consider class and status as everything. In Season 1 of RHONY, Jill Zarin was seen taking her daughter Ally as her intern in her store Zarin Fabrics. The first day at the store was hilarious for Ally and Jill as they both had occupational hazards. Bobby and Jill always wanted their daughter Allyson to do an internship, so they decided to take her to their shop and get acquainted with the work environment.

In Season 1 of RHONY, Jill’s daughter, Allyson Zarin was fourteen years old; Jill instructed Allyson that she would work with Brad and Bobby and learn how a store works. Ally looked reluctant back then when Jill informed her that she had to work for twelve weeks, equal to three months. Jill explained to Ally that when Jill was 14 years old, she started working in Chinese takeout. So, it was not an easy way out there; nobody gave her paychecks, transferred money into her bank account, and never made her path easy.

Jill Zarin told the audience that she wanted her daughter to know how hard it was to maintain the lifestyle in New York City. Jill wanted Allyson to learn how to keep the money, which is seen in her current bank account. Jill introduced Brad as her gay best friend, her husband whom she can trust after Bobby. Brad worked with Jill for a long time and was an interior decorator who helped get people’s homes designed and customized as they wanted them from Zarin Fabrics.

The internship of Ally

Don, the receptionist of Zarin Fabrics, tried to get Ally acquainted with the telephone and the intercom, as Allyson’s first job was to take care of the intercom, while Don went on for an hour's lunch. Ally instructed Brad about the kind of work she wanted to do, but Brad reminded her that she was the intern and could not conduct it; instead, she had to take the instructions. Don sarcastically said back then to Ally that sitting in the receptionist chair; she needed to take the call on the first ring, or else Bobby would take her head.

Brad and Jill decide to prank Ally to check on her ability to take phone calls as Don watches over her simultaneously. Don further instructed Ally to follow the business card; if anyone wanted their address and someone called in to know about fabrics, she should direct them to 71. It looked hysterical as Ally fumbled through the buttons and could not keep up with the continuous phone rings. Ally was already done before she could even start.

Jill and Brad did have a good time pranking Allyson, but they made her realize it’s not an easy job to receive that phone call and attend to a potential customer who can be profitable for the future of Zarin Fabrics. Jill was just grateful that she did not have to lose any customers that day, as Brad and Jill covered up the one hour Don was out for lunch. But, the mother and the best friend did have a good old fun time with the little girl.

The most extended cast members of RHONY

Real Housewives of New York City had thirteen seasons with the main cast as Ramona Singer. LuAnn de Lesseps was the second main cast who appeared in all thirteen seasons, except for her being a guest in Season 6. LuAnn de Lesseps has mentioned that she does not feel guilty about being privileged; instead, she enjoys every moment of her luxury with her people. On the other hand, Ramona Singer wears her attitude on her sleeves.

Alex McCord only appears till Season 4 of RHONY because it was confusing who was the real housewife - she or Simon? Bethenny Frankel was there up to Season 4, then she took a break, came back in Season 7, and appeared up to Season 11. Jill Zarin appeared up to Season 4, but later on, the housewife went on a hiatus. She came back as a guest from Season 9 to Season 11. In Season 1, viewers saw that LuAnn got a new Westie Purebred puppy whose average cost was eighteen hundred dollars.

LuAnn’s first husband in Season 1 of RHONY was Count Alexandre, with whom she had three children. LuAnn’s eldest child is a daughter named Victoria, who was 12 years old in Season 1 of RHONY. Noel is the middle son of LuAnn, who was ten years old in Season 1. Rossana, the housekeeper of LuAnn, was not happy with taking care of the new member in the house. She was there to take care of the kids, but now she had to take care of an animal in the form of a new member.

Bethenny wanted to talk to Kelly

In Season 2 of RHONY, Kelly Killoren Bensimon joined the existing homemakers from the first season. However, it looked like Bethenny and Kelly Killoren Bensimon was not on the same page back then. Jill Zarin used to stay in a condo on the Upper East side of New York City, as shown in Season 2. Jill Zarin invited Kelly to her home and told her to turn up early, as Bethenny wanted to have a conversation with Kelly Bensimon.

Jill called it a charity meeting, but both Bethenny and Kelly could feel tension around them. Even though it was Jill Zarin’s house, Bethenny wanted some personal space with Kelly as she had some conversation to make with her. Previously Kelly told straight-cut on her face at a previous party that she did not like Bethanny and did not find her funny or charming, so they could not mingle.

Bethenny felt that Kelly was walking all over her back, which was hurtful. Bethenny Frankel wanted to clear the air as it was not healthy not to like someone you would meet on and often at different parties. Bethenny clarified to Kelly that she had seen her ten times previously, but she felt Kelly ignored her for good every time.

Kelly was reluctant towards Bethenny

Kelly, on the other hand, cleared the air and said to Bethenny that she always noticed her at various parties and greeted Bethenny at the events. Bethenny took Kelly’s indifference personally as she thought Kelly was being obstinate towards her. Kelly said that Bethenny was nothing more than any other thousand people she had come across in her day-to-day life. It’s just that Kelly never got the time to stop by and have a great conversation with her.

Kelly further conveyed that she was not interested in knowing Bethenny Frankel. But, that did not mean Kelly held some hard feelings against Bethenny. Moreover, Bethenny was hellbent on making Kelly Killoren Bensimon like her which was a bit odd. However, Kelly did apologize to Bethenny as the former realized that the latter one is rather sensitive. Kelly further said she did not intend to hurt Bethenny as she did not know her personally.

Kelly Killoren Bensimon looked lost with Bethenny Frankel as she did not know that someone could get so obsessed with one statement that they would hunt them down to have a conversation. Kelly clarified to Bethenny that she was making a mountain out of the molehill. However, it is valid that the viewers felt that Kelly Killoren Bensimon is more into gaslighting and did not acknowledge what she brings out of her mouth.

Kelly was not taking any blame

Kelly was on some other level who didn’t even remember what she said to Bethenny the last time they crossed roads. Instead, Kelly argued with Bethenny and said she talked about her boyfriend with Kelly while she was high, so Kelly shut her off. Not only did Kelly claim that back at a previous party, but Bethenny also attacked her in front of other homemakers so that she might have said something rude.

In Season 2 of RHONY, the viewers also saw that Ramona Singer invited Bethenny Frankel to accompany her to meet a new guy on the weekend. Bethenny wanted to know the details of the guy with whom Ramona was planning to meet. However, Ramona freaked out as Bethenny was on to the discreet elements regarding this new guy, and the former clarified to Bethenny that he was just a friend.

Ramona was not positively finding LuAnn’s approach towards her choice of dating and having fun with guys. Ramona thought LuAnn was too judgemental because Ramona likes to have fun with single men. Ramona also thought LuAnn married at a young age and her then-husband was an old guy. LuAnn pointed out back in Season 2 of RHONY to Ramona Singer that she had got a plan to meet as many men as possible so as not to get serious until she fell in love with one.

Ramona called LuAnn’s husband an old man

Ramona justified that Bethenny Frankel had been in a long relationship, and she needed to take a break and add some spice to her life by meeting new guys back then. Ramona even took the audacity to tell LuAnn in front of her daughter that Count Alexandre was twice her age, and that got on LuAnn’s nerves. It was true that Count Alexandre was fifteen years older than LuAnn, but that did not make him double her age.

However, it wasn't very respectful of Ramona Singer to find LuAnn’s husband an older man just because he was fifteen years older than LuAnn. LuAnn’s daughter, Victoria, who was 13 years old in Season 2 of RHONY, looked completely bummed when she saw Ramona Singer call her father an old man. Nevertheless, LuAnn did find Ramona’s judgment too incredible. LuAnn further clarified that she was twenty-seven when she married Alexandre, who was forty-two.