Reality on Bravo

The cast of The Real Housewives of New York City, Bethenny Frankel, Alex McCord, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, and Jill Zarin.

For a group of women who seem to think they’re on top of their game, the five cast members of The Real Housewives of New York City certainly are trying to be someone else — at least if tonight’s episode was any indication. Each week, I find these women more and more entertaining. It’s just almost too ridiculous for words. But I’ll try.

First you have Bethenny Frankel, my personal favorite, who wants to be some kind of Rachael Ray … only maybe without quite so much girl-next-door quality. It seems she’s trying to land a wedding ring, not because she loves her boyfriend, but because she’s at a point in her career where it seems best to be married. Of course, this may not really be the case … it could have just been the booze talking tonight.

Alex McCord, who spent much of her childhood growing up in Kansas, has struggled to find her place in the mainstream acting world. She and her husband, Simon, both are trying so hard to be anyone but themselves. Really, it appears Alex wants to be fellow Housewives castmate Jill Zarin … or at least have Jill’s connections. That way, at least her children would be guaranteed a spot in a top Manhattan school.

Speaking of Jill, she may be the most sure of herself and the most comfortable in her own skin. I think she probably looks at herself in the mirror and says things like, “Wow, I’m perfect.” She does, after all, only vacation in the hottest spots when hotel rooms cost $2,000 a night. She’d never only spend $300 … that would just be tacky. (Sorry, Jill.)

Countess (I can’t get enough of that) LuAnn de Lesseps proved tonight she wants to be her 23-year-old niece. Why? Because when you have a housekeeper at home to raise your own children, you can go downtown and watch hip bands with people half your age and not have to face the fact you really should grow up. This is, of course, why I watch this show — for the comedy.

And, finally, there’s Ramona Singer. I’m not exactly sure what’s she’s trying to prove, other than the fact she thinks celebrity is everything. She clearly wants to be her daughter. Her daughter, clearly, wants to be a regular kid. She doesn’t want to miss school so that her stage mom can be satisfied by having her working as a child actor. No, she wants to get an education … and clearly that’s wrong. Right Ramona?

Maybe I’m wrong about these uptown gals. This is, after all, reality television. And, if you know anything about the creative editing that can go on behind the scenes, these would could all be being cast in a completely different light than what it appears … of course, it’s pretty hard to choreograph this kind of jealousy.

Real Housewives of NYC, Ramona Singer, Bethenny Frankel, Alex McCord, LuAnn de Lesseps, Jill Zarin