'Real Housewives of Orange County': Mother knows best

If the color-reading psychic dude from this episode had been around when I was younger, I never would have believed him if he said I'd be mildly obsessed with a show about a gaggle of wealthy (and tan) housewives.

On to the show ...

The episode mostly centered on the minor riff between Lynne and Gretchen. Basically, Ms. Gaudy Cuff-maker (aka Mama Bear) was peeved that Gretchen took Alexa shopping and, in the process, tried to have a therapy session. So Lynne and Gretchen took their dogs for a stroll to discuss the issue. And then they talked about it on the phone. And then they talked about it (again) over dinner. And, as always, Slade had to weasel his way into the situation. Why? Because it's what he does. Apparently he's an expert on the complexities of being a teenage girl. Glad Lynne finally said it: "he's a poser." I just wish she and husband Frank wouldn't have sat idly as Slade offered his expert opinion. 

But let's not give him too much thought. 

With the Florida trip over, a less-bitter Vicki decides to host a slumber party in an effort to bond with the ladies. I'm trying to play the game here. I understand this is a show. And I understand that, in order for it to work, these gals have to seem like they somewhat interact. But these forced get-togethers are causing me to suspend my disbelief more than I would watching an admitted scripted docu-series. 

But then I snapped out of it when I saw that Alexis, my favorite pious housewife, brought jello shots. Of course she did. Of course.  But I think I was more surprised that she was actually given permission by her husband to venture out into the world for a long period of time without him ... and then she revealed she wouldn't be sleeping over because, among other things, Jim doesn't know where the bowls are or how to change a diaper. Of. Course. 

When Alexis mentioned earlier in the episode that she basically feels the need to be "perfect all the time" when her husband is around, I saw a glimpse of her frustration with this marriage situation. There are hints of her desire to let loose -- you could hear it when she talked about the fun she had at Tamra's wig party. But her obsession with being perfect is stifling all that. Hopefully she'll listen to that color-reading psychic Doug, er, Dude, er, DOUGALL and have a "slob" dinner night.

But back to the slumber party ... When I heard that the ladies were going to toilet paper ex-housewife Jeana's house, I got even more excited! Finally, someone who'll say what I'm thinking! Nope. All we got was exterior shots of her house. And, really, was there a point to toilet-papering Jeana's house if her gardener is likely the one to have to clean it? Poor Jorge. 

And in this episode, tension between Tamra and Simon, though still present, is a bit muted. It's sad to hear her talk about how divorce can be avoided if they talk things out knowing that, since the season stopped filming, Simon has filed for a divorce (if you tune-in to "Watch What Happens," you got a bit more scoop about the situation from the housewife). But things this week dealt more with Ryan ... at the end of the episode he apologizes to Simon for using his car or something else I care nothing about. And Simon commends Ryan, saying, "the first step to becoming a man is realizing we all make mistakes and owning up to them ..." -- and that's when I switched channels to MTV's "Jersey Shore." Sure, there was only about one minute left, but still. I did it on principle. Between Slade and Simon, my tolerance for ridiculousness is waning.

Wait. That doesn't explain my viewing of "Jersey Shore" then, huh? 

So what did you think of the episode? Was Lynne overreacting to Gretchen's attempt to bond with Alexa? And are you excited about the return of "The Real Housewives of New York City"?

-- Yvonne Villarreal

Photo: Gretchen Rossi. Creit: Bravo

Comments

[jos san fran]

was she overreacting? NO, would you let a gold digging slut give your daughter advice? I think not. Why didn't she talk to lynn with her concerns? Like a normal person?

[jos san fran]

and to bring that trash talking woman slade into it, just shows gretchen isn't faking her stupid act, it's real.

[Kathy]

I don't think that Lynn has a real clue what is going on with her kids. I actually think that Gretchen was trying to do something nice for her daughter (although she might have gone about it the wrong way!) and Lynn got defensive because she knows that she has parenting issues. We've seen some of the things that her daughters have pulled over on her, and we've heard them talk about the same kinds of things. It makes you wonder what sort of things go on that they don't show to the cameras.

I don't really care much for Gretchen's lifestyle, and agree that she isn't a much better role model, but I do think that her heart was in the right place, even if her brain wasn't functioning properly.

On another matter, my husband caught a few minutes of the show (normally he runs far, far away from it) and decided that I was no longer allowed to go shopping or to any activity without taking our 15 month old son because he doesn't change diapers or deal with children when they are cranky. Yeah, we are still laughing about that. Sad, really sad.

[Susan Mendez]

I feel like Lynn should not have gotten so offended, she should be glad that someone cares enough to listen. Its just sad that her daughter felt like she had to turn the situation around to make her Mom feel better.

[Valerie]

It appears to me that Lynne took Gretchen's actions with Alexa and made them personal. Gretchen did not give Alexa advice or tell Lynne how she should or shouldn't parent. Gretchen did not even give her opinion about Lynne's parenting style. It appears to me that Gretchen was truly trying to help Alexa by letter her know that she has someone to talk to if she feels she cannot talk to her parents and teenagers are not going to tell their parents everything. I beleive Gretchen was making a genuine effort to reach out to a teenager that was showing signs of depression/loneliness. What in world could Gretchen possibly gain or advance for herself by reaching out to Alexa other then letting a teenager know they have support?

[TanyaC]

It is RIFT, not RIFF. Does anyone proofread anymore? Have the editors all been fired?

[playsindirt]

Lynn is a moron. I applaud Gretchen for stepping in to counsel Lynn's daughter. Lynn and her husband seemed really insulted but they missed the material issue - their daughter is telling anyone who will listen that she's essentially depressed and her mother ignores her. She's a walking cry for help. Lynn is more concerned with recovering from her lastest plastic surgery than what her children are doing. Didn't the oldest go to a high school for troubled teens and now she's a college drop-out and unemployed? And haven't both been drunk on the show? Lynn wants to be their friend and not their parent. She needs to wake up and smell the coffee before it's too late.

[Gail]

I think Lynn spend so much time thinking she's perfect and her kids are perfect that she's not realistic. It appeared all Gretchen was trying to do was offer a friend for her daughter other than a parent. I as a mother would kiss someone who had offered to do that for my kids when they were growing up. I had a non-parental friend when I was a teenager and I don't believe I could have made it without her. If Lynn would open her mind she might just find this would be the best thing in the world for her daughter!

[Jill]

I don't think Gretchen did anything wrong because she asked Lynn's permission to talk to her daughter and Gretchen had good intentions and did not say anything wrong.

She never put down or insulted Lynn's parenting but just offered support and she tried to be a good friend.

A lot of teenagers are trying to break away and separate from their parents and as a result, they don't talk to them but will talk to another adult so she was just trying to be that other adult and she was trying to help.

Yes, she is a user and she probably used Jeff for his money, that's clear and she's using Slate for emotional support and she will leave him when she meets a richer, younger guy.

But, she did nothing wrong by trying to be there for Lynne's daughter and she does not need Lynn for a friend if Lynn is going to give her drauma for that.

[OCGirl]

yeah, didn't Gretchen get permission to talk to Lynne's daughter (from Lynne) in the first place. Lynne told Gretchen to go ahead and then when her daughter complained about it, she acted like she had no idea about it. wut?

but anyway i'm not fan of Gretchen being a role model for anything (except how to end up in the internet trashbin). her and Slade are well-matched in that respect but he is for sure gonna bring down her ill-gotten "empire."

loved the "psychic."

[Patti]

yes she was over reacting, Lynn is not the greatest mother , she puts to much importance in her looks, yes keep youself up but to get all that work done in this economy when her husband really did not want her to and to include her daughter was sending the wrong message to her kids.Her kids run wild as it is, drinking smoking staying out late,Gretchen can see what they are doing and was trying to help. Lynn is in denile about her kids.

[etjele]

Lynne was totally overreacting and on top of that, not making any sense. She agreed to let Alexa go shopping with Gretchen. If she was so worried about Gretchen's influence on her daughter, she never should have OK'd the outing to begin with. I think Lynne is on drugs--she never stopped taking them after her plastic surgery. She is acting differently this season than she has in the past.

[karen]

lynne knew about the talk before gretchen took the brat out. then lynne acts all surprised like she knew nothing about it. WTF?? and gretchen and slade, while not my favorite people, were only trying to point out to frank and lynne that teen girls do NOT tell their parents all. the brat child is on the road to a DUI before she's legally old enough to drink! gretchen did nothing wrong. lynne and frank have on blinders. very sad.

[Rosita]

I think Gretchen is a sweet person with a good heart. I do believe she loved Jeff and Jeff loved her! She even maintains a relationship with his children and they love her! The other housewives are jealous because they have never experienced the love and devotion that Gretchen and Jeff did. Let the malicious lies and hateful comments go already. Gretchen, as usual, tried to do something nice, and the witches of OC turned it into fodder for more gossip and putting Gretchen down. Lynne is a space-cadet! Gretchen called her specifically to ask her if it would be okay to take her daughter out shopping and perhaps talk to her hoping that she might open up to her. Lynne agreed and even said "good luck". Gretchen did not give Alexa any advice -- only an open invitation letting her know that she (Gretchen) would be there for her if she ever needed to talk with someone. Lynne may be a parent but that doesn't necessarily make you "in tune" with your kids. Alexa is constantly saying how she's depressed, she feels like nobody listens to her, that she doesn't matter, that her mother only cares about the other daughter, blah, blah, blah. She even said that to the therapist who Lynne invited to their home to speak with them! Lynne is just choosing to ignore and deny there's anything to really worry about. Hopefully, she's right. But I see a pregnancy scare, suicide attempt, or drug/alcohol problem in that kid's future if Lynne doesn't wake up from her stupor and Frank gets a reality check.

[LuckyL]

What is Lynn's problem? She needs to get over herself. Gretchen was just trying to help and offer an ear for Alexa. Alexa lied to her mother and acted like Gretchen was trying to make her look bad to make herself look good. Lynn and her family have too much money, that they don't deserve, and are selfish, self absorbed petty MEAN PEOPLE!

[Judy in Omaha]

I thought I had dreamed up the fact that Gretchen did ask Lynne for permission to talk to her daughter! Finally, I read Jill's post and I am not dreaming! Gretchen was acting like a friend and not trying to ruin a mother-daughter relationship. Their relationship is already sliding downhill. Lynne needs to get her head on straight and open her eyes before Alexa does something really stupid, like OD on pills and alcohol. We've seen her drunk before. As far as Slade,While he was correct in some of his remarks, he shouldn't have spoken, it's not his business. He seems to stick his nose where it doesn't belong. Gretchen should have reminded Lynne that they had talked and Lynne ok'd her talk with Alexa. By the way, who was Gretchen with before Jeff? We saw her on "Ground Breakers" HGTV several years ago landscapping a huge yard.

How can you spend thousands on plastic surgery when you're behind on your mortgage or rent? Jena was smart to leave the OC and consentrate on her business.

[kristina]

I am blown away how Lynne reacted. Especially since Gretchen called her first to ask her if she could take her daughter out shopping and to let her know that she was going to try to "talk" to her and see if she would open up to her? Lynne was fine with that and even told Gretchen to call her and give her the scoop or to see if she had made any headway with her??? WTF? This was totally blown out of proportion and LYNNE is not a good mother anyway! She always appears high as a kite---allows her daughter to drink and just says "kids will be kids"???? R U KIDDING ME??? NOt that Gretchen knows all and I don't even really like Gretchen but I think Lynne acted like a total IDIOT!! especially when she knew what Gretchen was trying to do? She must have gotten some "tainted" mary-jane that night and totally forgot about her phone call with Gretchen!!! STUPID!!

[RealityBitesW/Venom]

Warning: IF YOU LIKE ANY OF THESE WOMEN (except for possibly Vicki) DON'T READ THIS - it'll just piss you off.

These women are all ... well - just REALLY sad - it's just a week by week question of who is more awful. The only likable people to me are Donn and though frequently annoying, Vicki. Yet somehow I do watch, even if it's just with half an ear to what I've DVR'd. I should spend my time on more productive pursuits, but hey... I can get some raw aggression out - completely guilt free and much deserved by the targets... as they just seem to be begging for it - so here goes:

Lynn, though one of the more likable ones, is a self absorbed flake and her daughter as portrayed on this at least seems to need some help - though what teenager doesn't? When it comes to Gretchen extending her 'ear', I had to side with Lynn even if her concern seemed to be more about how Gretchen made HER feel, versus how it made her daughter feel.

Gretchen, while sometimes on the surface seems sweet enough, would not be a go to person I'd select to counsel my daughter. If she were truly concerned she would have extended a hand away from the cameras - I would have been mortified as a teenager to have someone approach me while on camera like that - I read that as self serving on Gretchen's part.

Slade should worry about his own parenting skills. His tough love message as a 'friend' to Lynn... there simply are no words.

Tamra - She is insensitive to others, entitled, and yet somehow I feel for her predicament - torn between Simon and Ryan and even more sadly sometimes Vicki. Both Simon and Ryan are a**es - Ryan has made a point to drive a wedge in their relationship and Simon comes across as a control freak. At the end of the day Ryan is her son and so that's how Ryan plays it and that just alienates Simon even more. Well done Ryan - looks like you're winning this one. Hope you feel good about that. Now that you've knocked Simon out, you do realize she's your problem now, right? At least until there is a suitable replacement. If you're smart, you'll be nice to the next one. I know - not nice.

Alexis - OC is filled with these supposed Christians. Spare me. I've never heard a group of people use the word 'blessed' more often when it comes to monetary wealth - as if God somehow favors them.

Jeanna was smart to get out. I hope Vicki comes to the same conclusion and continues to build her relationship with Donn.

I have to scratch my head anytime I read comments expressing admiration or thanking these ladies for being roles models - honestly? Is the bar that low?

[Melissa D]

Lynne DID give Gretchen permission to speak with her daughter. She KNEW what Gretchen's intentions were and basically gave her blessing. Gretchen did NOTHING WRONG. She did not forces advice on Alexis nor did she bad mouth Lynne. She simply let her know that if she wanted to talk she would be available. I believe that Gretchen is not necessarily always real but in this case I believe she was being real and that her concern comes from a real place in her heart. I applaud Gretchen and Lynne needs a reality check. She needs to get off of her high horse. She always needs to not have any more plastic surgery - that really makes HER look fake and plastic.

[Eli Bulle]

Yes, Lynn was inappropriately defensive. Gretchen told Lynn what she was up to in the first place and Lynn replied "That's sweet." Not only that, but Alexa totally broke down and admitted she needed someone to talk to. I think that more came of the situation due to Lynn's reaction and Alexa's changing the story. Gretchen just wanted to take Alexa shopping and let her know she was there for her. It was Lynn whom made such a big deal of the situation Lynn is insecure about her parenting skills and doesn’t realize it’s not in her daughters’ best interest for her to be just another friend. Those kids will have many “friends” come and go in their lives; they need the one and only mother they’ve got to be a mother. Also, if Lynn thought Gretchen was such a moral threat to her daughter, she shouldn’t have agreed to let Alexa go shopping alone with Gretchen in the first place.