Real Housewives of Orange County: Gretchen's Tragedy, Glass Houses

Real Housewives, Orange County version:
Nice Guy Jeff Beitzel Passes Away
Who's Throwing Stones?



It's season four of Housewives with two new additions: 30-yr-old Gretchen Rossi and Lynne Curtain. Curtain replaced Lauri Waring Peterson after Peterson opted to drop out of the show when her son was arrested for drug possession.

The storyline surrounding Gretchen has her dealing with her boyfriend Jeff's bout with leukemia. Jeff Beitzel, who was fifty-four, passed away in September.

Beitzel served as Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Quantuam Fuel System Technologies. A mechanical enigineer, Beitzel worked for Ford Motor Co. until 1983. After leaving Ford, Beitzel founded several automotive companies prior to working for Quantuam.

Jeff Beitzel's three children from a former marriage were on the most recent episode. The kids, all in their teens, had flown in to be with their father while he was in the hospital. All three of Jeff's children wanted to be there with their father. They also spoke highly of Gretchen and how she had been by their father's side during the eight months since he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Last week Gretchen took some time off and spent a couple of days with her family at Bear Lake for the Fourth.

So far new Housewife Lynne has been in a shopping mode on the show with her two teenage daughters. The latest trip on episode 5 had Lynne plunking down $1800 for eight articles of clothing and looking to buy a BMW for her oldest daughter when she turned 18.

Lynne met Gretchen for lunch where Gretchen tried to get Lynne to tell how old she was. Lynne, who keeps in great shape with activities such as surfing and kick boxing, wouldn't tell Gretchen her age. On the first show featuring Lynne she admitted she was "obsessed" with "staying young" even though raising her two daughters, ages 16 and 18, have probably put a few gray hairs on her head.

On tonight's show, Lynne's oldest daughter, Raquel, turned 18. Lynne and her husband of 18 years, Frank, held a luncheon for Raquel where they presented her with a cute little silver BMW. Earlier, before the party, Raquel demanded her younger sister Alexa take off the white dress she had chosen to wear. Raquel wanted to wear the white one and for Alexa to wear a blue dress that Raquel was supposed to wear. Such is the drama of having teens, as Raquel pouted her way into getting the white dress while Alexa wore the blue one.

Alexa was in tears at the party after she met her boyfriend in the parking lot of the restaurant and her boyfriend told her the dress made her look like a "stripper". Lynne was shocked at his comment as it was her dress. And yes, the dress did look as though it belonged more on a stripper than a 16-yr-old girl.

What side is Tamra Barney showing this season?

Continue reading: Real Housewives of Orange County: Gretchen's Tragedy and Glass Houses

by LBG
Source: Real Housewives of Orange County: Gretchen's Tragedy and Glass Houses

Date My Ex: Jo and Slade, First Real Housewives of Orange County Spinoff

The Real Housewives of Orange County has its first spin-off: Date My Ex: Jo and Slade. The show debuted on Bravo, Monday, July 21.

The show, starring Jo De La Rosa and ex-boyfriend, Slade Smiley, touts itself as a "reality" show. While we get to follow Jo as she releases her first album and lives the single life in LA, we're not so sure how "realistic" the show's premise is: Jo will date several guys who, get this, have to live in Slade's house and undergo a Slade purview if they want to pursue the lovely ex-Housewive from Orange County.

Monday's night show was a trip down memory lane with clips of Jo and Slade from Real Housewives.

The "flashback" included snippets of Jo in a little French maid outfit, Slade mentioning the cost of their upcoming nuptials which never occurred: $100,000, Jo and Slade making out with Jo going topless (nice shot of Jo boob's), and Slade removing the license plate from Jo's car after they broke up.

Jo and Slade broke up and made up, several times. Jo was bored being a "housewife" even though she admitted she never cooked. Yet feather dusting in the little French Maid outfit with the 5 inch heels plus the stress of shopping can be exhausting, so we do give her points on that.

Jo was 12 years younger than Slade and destined to be his 3rd wife. When Jo came home and announced she had gotten a job, Slade threw a hissy fit. Slade was upset over her decision to get a job. We're not sure why, as Jo explained to Slade that she had grown "bored" staying at home. Slade, instead of congratulating her on getting a new job, became angry and then told Jo that she should know" he always "supported her". Financially, sure, but not so much emotionally, as the relationship seemed to be one of Slade controlling Jo while Jo enjoyed the perks until boredom seeped in.

Jo moved to LA with Slade not far behind. But not before Slade discovered Jo strumming a guitar. He ran out and found a record producer and got Jo an audition. Jo's album, Unscripted, will be released August 19. Oddly enough, the first single is "You Can't Control Me".


Read more of Real Housewives of Orange County: Date My Ex: Jo and Slade at DBKP.com


By LBG
Source - OC Register - Jo and Slade from "Housewives" give the inside scoop on their new reality show
Image - Reality on Bravo
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