Kelly Bensimon wants to clear the air: she was just doing her job as a reality TV star.

For three seasons, the author, jewelry designer and former model duked it out with her Real Housewives of New York cast mates, including Bethenny Frankel. One of their epic showdowns still stands as one of the series’ highest-rated episodes.

“We were cast mates on a television show, I have absolutely no issues with her,” Bensimon told Celebuzz on Saturday at the 2013 Kettleball Kickboxing Fitness Gala in New York City.

“They asked me to blast her . . . I got paid, and I did. That doesn’t mean I don’t like her, it’s just like, that’s what you do.”

Bensimon also opened up about Frankel’s recent divorce from Jason Hoppy.

“I obviously empathize with everyone that’s going through a horrible time, especially a divorce,” she said.

“It’s a very, very difficult time.”

The Rockford, Ill. native also gave her opinion on reality TV and what she had to fight for on Housewives.

“Coming to New York was such a big dream for me, and I really didn’t like how they were shattering these dreams on how awesome New York was. I was very proactive about making it clear that New York is an amazing city and women are not like [The Real Housewives] in New York.”

For more of our exclusive chat with Kelly Bensimon, check out the video, above. Do you have a favorite Housewife from the New York series? Weigh in below.

It’s been a while since Alex McCord and her husband Simon Van Kempen were ousted from Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York, but the drama between them and some of their former castmates continues.

In 2011, Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon and McCord got the axe from the Bravo docu-series. Since their unceremonious departure from the show, McCord and Van Kempen — who can currently be seen trying to fix their marriage on VH1′s Couples Therapy — have kept in touch with some of the other Real Housewives stars.

“I talk to Ramona [Singer] very regularly,” McCord told Celebuzz. “I talk to Sonja [Morgan].” McCord is not on speaking terms, however, with fellow ousted housewife Zarin — but her husband is. After production wrapped, Van Kempen extended the olive branch to his former reality TV nemesis.

“Simon and Jill talk,” she said. “Jill and I e-mail back and forth,” Van Kempen added. “There’s a lot of things she said about me over the years. It’s all water over the bridge.”

“I wish her the absolute best,” added McCord.

McCord isn’t quite done with the Real Housewives franchise yet, however. This season, she was offered a job to cover the Bravo series for RumorFix, and while she initially was unsure of her decision to do so, she now credits her recaps with helping her move on from the franchise.

“After the re-cast, I was going to completely cut the cord and completely separate myself from Housewives,” she told Celebuzz. “However, the good folks at RumorFix offered me a job covering it. It’s been a great healing process.”

Despite not being a regular viewer anymore, even Van Kempen has begun to pick up on the production’s editing tricks — and he believes viewers can as well.

“Watching this season, you can now see, like, ‘Oh, I know what they did here,’” said van Kempen. “When Aviva [Drescher] arrives in St. Barts,  it was daylight, and when they arrive at the house, it was dark. And that’s why they kept them waiting, so Romana and Sonja could get sloshed at the hotel.”

“It those conceits that we always see as former castmates, but the viewers are seeing it now,” he concluded.

Couples Therapy airs Wednesdays at 10PM ET on VH1. Below, McCord and Van Kempen dish on their Couples Therapy castmate Courtney Stodden. 

Alex McCord and her husband Simon van Kempen, former stars of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York City, are used to arguing in front of a camera, but now they seem to be in agreement on screen. The pair have checked into VH1′s Couples Therapy for the reality series’ second season.

Four years of constant drama on RHONY led the reality TV couple to the brink of separation, so when VH1 offered them a spot on their hit couples-counseling show, the duo decided to take the plunge back into the world of reality television. McCord and van Kempen say they were pleasantly surprised, however, by their experience this time around.

“The Housewives franchise, as well as lot of reality TV shows, are called docudramas, but in a lot of ways, they are doctored dramas or they’re surreality. They are not reality anymore,” van Kempen explained to Celebuzz. With [Couples Therapy], you film 24/7 for 21 days, you put five couples in a house and things are bound to happen. There are no storyline producers running around… It was refreshing.”

Read on for more on why the pair thinks Couples Therapy is more real than most reality TV.

“The Housewives franchise as a whole has been incredibly successful, but people are starting to see-through the conceit,” continued van Kempen.

McCord told us she believes that audiences are craving more authentic shows like Couples Therapy. ”As this reality TV phenomenon has grown and morphed, people have a taste for real, actual reality,” she said. ”This show was 24/7, there were hidden cameras everywhere, and you just existed. There were no engineered setups, there was no alcohol…”

Van Kempen added, “We lived in a dry house for 21 days. So if there’s anything being said or if anyone is falling over, it’s not because they’re drunk, it’s because they’ve reacted that way. Alcohol fuels a lot of these reality TV dramas, but this one, the drama is not alcohol-induced.”

Couples Therapy Season 2 premieres Wednesday at 10 PM on VH1.

Alex McCord’s line of bath towels and linens, which she conveniently brought to the set of the VH1 series, hits Groupon the same day. Keep an eye on Celebuzz for more of our video interview with McCord and van Kempen.

Welcome to the premiere episode of Celebuzz’s The B-Cap where we discuss the hottest moments on TV this week. From water cooler moments to sneak peak video clips to TV analysis and interviews, we have you covered on all fronts when it comes to the small screen.

Hosted by Senior TV Editor Jethro Nededog and Michelle Marie, the episode is sure to please any television viewer.

What can you expect to see in our first episode? 

First, we discuss the shocking finale of ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars as we learn the identity of Maya’s (Bianca Lawson) killer and the new member of the “A” team. Did anyone see that twist coming?! Absolute insanity.

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo breaks records by beating the Republican National Convention in the ratings game with its huge reveal.

With the Emmys around the corner, we take a deep look into the race for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Who’s it going to be? Don Cheadle, Louis C. K., Alec Baldwin, Jim Parsons, Jon Cryer, or Larry David? Find out who we think is a lock for the award.

And for you Gleeks who are anxious for Season 4 of Glee to start on Thursday, we have your info on Finn (Cory Monteith) and Rachel (Lea Michele) as well as your introduction to newbie Dean Geyer. We also have a sneak peek at the one and only Ms. Britney Spears’ introduction on FOX’s The X Factor.

Lastly, we have Bravo’s The Real Housewife of New York’s Sonja Morgan discussing that dramatic trip to the Caribbean.

So get to going and watch the entire premiere episode of The B-Cap above.

What was your favorite TV moment this week? Sound off in the comments below!

Now this is how you work a one-piece!

At age 44, single lady Kelly Bensimon is still strutting her stuff, as was seen this weekend when she stepped out in a scantily-clad grey swimsuit at at TAO in Las Vegas, where all eyes were on her long, long, legs.

Between the dinners with her girlfriends and sexy photo ops, the former Real Housewives of New York City star cooled off in a cabana in the City of Sin while signing copies of her latest book I Can Make You Hot for fans, all the while tweeting up a storm.

“Its gonna be fun tonight in Vegas. Whos ready?” she wrote at the start of her weekend.

Bensimon was also spotted sipping on Hpnotiq cocktails and jumping in the DJ booth to dance to DJ Lema’s music while showing off her fit physique.

Thank you @hypnotiq @taobeach @lavo @MIKESNEDEGAR for an amazing weekend. #vegas yfrog.com/kht7uqeij

— Kelly K. Bensimon (@kellybensimon) July 1, 2012

Summer is the time to show some skin, and no body does that better than celebrities. For more bikini bodies check out the video below:

Real Housewives of Orange County star Gretchen Rossi writes exclusively for Celebuzz about the new season of her cross country rival, the Real Housewives of New York.

THE Real Housewives of New York debuted last week with three new cast members and I must admit, it was hard to get used to new faces on my screen. It’s like when your favorite soap opera brings in a new person to play your favorite character. It just never seems to feel right at first.

But put simply, the jury is still out on the women. Why?

I think it’s because it will take a minute or two before I, for one, can get used to the new gals. Then, once I adapt, I am sure I won’t be able to live without them.

The past few weeks we’ve been getting to know these new women and how they operate their families, love lives and careers. I find it very intriguing how vastly different each of their lives are.

It’s very funny to see the difference in how Aviva and Heather handle their children and teach them, as they showed at the two different dinner scenarios. I do agree with Aviva when she says it’s not good to spoil a child, even if their circumstances are hard — because then they become accustomed to it. It can cause issues when they are older.

I appreciate Aviva’s sophistication and Heather’s work ethic, however out of all the newbies I would say I am the most intrigued by Carole. She seems to have so many different sides to her — from her work experience and her past, to her current relationship status. Very interesting to hear how Carole feels about having a long distance relationship.

Do you think that kind of relationship is healthy? Would you allow your man be with you, and then knowingly agree to allow him to have hook-ups while on the road untill he sees you next? I used to think that could be fun, but I have changed my tune on that.

On another note, I’m in love with the song he was playing in the car that he wrote for her, how extremely romantic! Carole has left me curious and wanting to find out more.

The Luann / Ramona fight seems like it is only going to get worse, and anytime a “truce” is made we all know in Housewife land that means disaster is waiting to occur! I am still confused as to who threatened who because I was distracted by Ramona’s crazy head shake, eye rolling, and flipping of the hands the whole time while talking on the park bench.

I have meet Luann and Ramona both and they both seem like very lovely women, so to see them in such turmoil is never fun. I’m curious whose side you guys are on, and who you think will break the “truce” first?

Sonya literally makes me laugh out loud. She is a whole bunch of crazy, but in a good way. I just sit there waiting what is going to come out of her mouth next. She is all turned on by a man who is talking about her water drip! So much so that she wants to cook for him with her toaster oven. It makes me wonder, does Sonya know she sounds like a wack-a-doodle sometimes? Honestly though, I have met her and sincerely think she is a hoot and adore her free spirit.

There was no better way to end this second episode then dancing with Drag Queens! I’m curious to hear who you are most excited to get to know better out of the newbies?

Don’t forget to enjoy life and laugh till it hurts! Till next week!

xoxo Gretchen Christine

After weeks of rumors, it’s official: Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City is losing over half its cast. Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon, Cindy Barshop and Alex McCord will not be returning for the 5th season. In an official statement, a Bravo spokesperson said:

“Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan and LuAnn De Lesseps will be returning for season five of The Real Housewives of New York City. We’ve had a fabulous run with all the ladies and appreciate them sharing their lives with our viewers. It is a friendly departure among the other ladies and we continue to have on-going discussions with them.”

Well, it’s only a matter of time before one of the ousted ladies lands her own spin-off. Which housewife would you most likely tune into each week? Vote in the poll.

Last week, news hit that the gals were axed from the hit reality show. The Huffington Post first reported that “the women were directly contacted by Bravo… they had no idea the pink slips were headed their way.” Ouch!

LuAnn, who is one of the original cast members, told the press that three new ladies will be added to the cast. We can’t wait to see if they’ll be able to fill the other ladies’ shoes. Will you be watching the new season? Tell us in the comments.

Sonja Tremont-Morgan, one of the new stars of Real Housewives of New York, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday in Manhattan.

The 46-year-old socialite listed $19.8 million in debt and $13.5 million in assets on her bankruptcy petition.

Sonja blamed her financial woes on a recent legal battle with Hannibal Pictures, Inc. over a failed movie project with John Travolta. Sonja claims that John demanded too much from her production company, Sonja Productions, and she was unable to meet his requests.

The film, Fast Flash to Bang Time, stopped production in 2006 and Hannibal Pictures filed a lawsuit against Sonja Productions in California and won a $7 million judgment. Sonja claims she was poorly represented during the case and claims she has filed an appeal.

Sonja also blames some of her financial woes on her painful (and unresolved) divorce with her husband, an alleged descendant of J.P. Morgan tycoon John Adams.

Watch Sonja introduce herself to the Real Housewives of New York below.

Sonja has also had her fair share of legal woes in the past few months – in June, Sonja was arrested for drunk driving in Long Island, NY.

Sonja isn’t the first member of the Housewives franchise to file bankruptcy, New Jersey star Teresa Giudice and her husband famously filed for bankruptcy earlier this year after bragging about their wealth to Bravo cameras.

The New York cast of Housewives is currently filming their fourth season.

Are you surprised by Sonja’s bankruptcy filing? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Nearly two years after the Sex and the City foursome traveled to the exotic land of Morocco, reality TV’s own New Yorkers flew to the same locale for some fun in the sun.

The Real Housewives of New York are taking a mini vacation to Morocco before the holiday season gets underway. But don’t worry – the cameras are going with them! RadarOnline reporters spotted Kelly Bensimon, Jill Zarin and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps checking in at the Air Moroc terminal at JFK Airport Nov. 11.

Producers wouldn’t say much about the housewife excursion other than Alex McCord, Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan and Cindy Barshop will be joining the rest of the ladies. 

And we thought the housewives weren’t into knock-offs!

Already spoofed by hilarious little kids, the larger-than-life ladies of the Real Housewives franchise are about to get the full Saturday Night Live treatment.

Bravo master of ceremonies Andy Cohen reveals on his blog that he is playing himself in a Housewives skit airing during Monday night’s Women of SNL special. Joining him on the glossy set replica of the first explosive Jersey reunion is an all-star roster of SNL ladies past and present, including Tina Fey, Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, Cheri Oteri, and Kristin Wiig. As Andy says in his blog post: “OMG.”

Though it’s a bit of a challenge to identify the big-haired, nipped-and-tucked housewives at this juncture, it looks like Dratch is playing mama bear Caroline Manzo, Fey is portraying ditzy vixen Kelly Bensimon and Wiig might be taking on White House party crasher-turned-DC Housewife Michaele Salahi.

Fans will get to see the sure-to-be hilarious skit on the Women of SNL special airing November 1.

Have an idea about who’s playing who? Leave them in the comments.

Photo Source: Bravo

Say cheese, Cookie! Bethenny Frankel mugged for the camera with her adorable pup Cookie while filming her TV show in New York.

Bethenny and her Lhasa mix doggy shared smooches and enjoyed a crisp fall day in New York. Later, Bethenny met up with her assistant Julie Plak. Bethenny is currently filming the second season of her Bethenny Getting Married spin-off from The Real Housewives of New York.

Check out more photos and coo over Cookie in the comments.

Move over Bethenny Frankel: There’s a new Real Housewife of New York preparing to peddle an alcoholic beverage.

In what will come as no shock at all to fans of the Bravo series, Ramona Singer will launch a line of her favorite wine, pinot grigio, in January 2011. After breaking this delicious news, Luxist also treats fans to a sneak peek at the classy label for Ramona’s sweet nectar.

Ramona’s penchant for pinot has been a recurring theme on RHONY, with pregnant Bethenny estimating that Singer sipped approximately “46 pinot grigios” during a now-infamous girls’ trip to St. Thomas.

Check out a grigioed Ramona dancing the night away here:

Now, for the very reasonable price of $14.99, wine aficionados and/or Ramona acolytes will be able to down her drink of choice. If we’re using Ramona’s grigio-soaked “bachelorette” as a primer, this wine will be best paired with dancing at the Fat Turtle, and plenty of crazy companions. Ramona Singer jewelry optional.

Will you sample Ramona’s new vino? Give us your opinion in the comments.

Watch out Real Housewives of New Jersey: Ramona Singer is proving that the Jersey girls aren’t the only ones with a boatload of behind-the-scenes drama.

The Real Housewives of New York star reportedly punched a producer while taping a scene for her hit Bravo show. According to Us Weekly, the star was “furious” and she “lost her mind” while filming.

“[Ramona] was furious and felt like the producers were ganging up on her,” a source tells Us, “She got herself worked up over filming this scene and one thing led to another, and she punched a producer.”

The source adds that the cast and crew were supposed to be filming in Ramona’s NYC apartment all day but had to cut things short once Ramona decked the crew member.

The RHONY cast is currently in their first month of filming for their upcoming fourth season. Ramona has been with the show all four seasons. On the show, Ramona has earned a reputation as a firecracker, but never to the point of violence.

What do you think of Ramona’s alleged punch-out? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

It’s official: Bethenny Frankel is no longer a part of Real Housewives of New York.

The reality star opened up to Us Weekly about her decision to leave the show:

Last season was scary and painful. It took all of the joy out of it. My gut’s saying not to be part of this cast.

Rumors started floating around last week that Bethenny wouldn’t be joining the cast of RHONY when they began filming the fourth season of their hit show on September 20.

Luckily for Bethenny, she has already found success outside of the Real Housewives franchise: Her new reality show on Bravo, Bethenny Getting Married, had the highest rated debut for a new Bravo show. Hopefully we will be seeing more of Bethenny on her spinoff show but there has been no official word on a second season.

Bethenny quickly became a fan favorite on RHONY for her sarcastic remarks and lovable personality. However, the third season of the show focused on the intense feud between Bethenny and her co-stars Kelly Bensimon and former BFF Jill Zarin.

Watch clips of Bethenny and Jill’s feud from last season below.

No word on if all of the other New York Housewives have signed on for a fourth season.

Are you sad to see Bethenny go? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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BUZZINGS: More Celeb Goodness

• Win a Luxury Gift Bag — Socialite Life

• Get Mary-Kate Olsen’s Style — BuzzNet

• Slash Is Getting Divorced — Superficial

Fans of Real Housewives of New York may be sad to hear that star Bethenny Frankel will reportedly not be joining the show for its upcoming season.

While rumors are swirling about Bethenny’s fate on the show, a rep tells Celebuzz that they do not have an official comment on the state of casting at this time:

We have not made any announcement about another season of [RHONY] so there is no comment at this time.

According to the Daily News, Bethenny was not asked to return for the fourth season of the hit Bravo show. Meanwhile, her co-stars Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon, LuAnn de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Alex McCord, and show newbie Sonja Morgan were reportedly all offered a chance to come back. No word on which ladies will take Bravo up on their offer.

Bethenny already has her own successful spin-off on Bravo, so it is possible that the network didn’t ask her to return to RHONY because they wanted her to focus on her new solo show. The reality mommy mentioned in June that she “didn’t know” if she would return to the show since she was enjoying the success of her new spin-off.

Do you think Bethenny is really leaving RHONY or is she just getting more time for Bethenny Gets Married? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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BUZZINGS: More Celeb Goodness

• RJ Berger Exclusive Interviews — BuzzNet

• Surprise Lindsay Lohan Ruling Soon? — WonderWall

• The Ultimate F-Bomb Playlist — Idolator

The stars of the Real Housewives franchises claim that being a Bravo reality star isn’t a ritzy walk in the park.

PopEater’s Rob Shuter reports that the reality stars are grumbling about their treatment by Bravo. According to inside sources, the ladies claim that they are underpaid (most of the stars get $3,000 per episode), overworked, and being used like “slave labor” by Bravo’s programming executives.

According to some of the ladies, they don’t get paid to appear on the reunion specials. Some casts – like The Real Housewives of Atlanta – have threatened to be boring during the reunion special as payback for not getting paid by Bravo. As the housewives from New Jersey head into filming for their reunion special, they are allegedly starting to threaten Bravo with blandness as well:

Working for [Bravo] is like slave labor. They might be able to make us show up, but if they want us to put on a show they better pony up the cash.

Do you think the Real Housewives stars deserve to be paid more? Or are they easily replaceable? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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BUZZINGS: More Celeb Goodness

• Are the ‘Twilight’ Books Bulletproof? — BuzzFeed

• Ashley Greene Moving to NY — Socialite Life

• Scoop on Alicia Keys’ Wedding — PopEater

Ever wonder what the secret to Bethenny Frankel‘s fashion success is? Today’s your lucky day!

The Real Housewives of New York and Bethenny Getting Married? star graciously threw open her closet door to reveal the bits of wardrobe that keep her looking stylish on every occasion, from a sparkly “pop star” dress that’s guaranteed to dazzle, to a sexy black “vamp” number that’s perfect for a trip to Vegas, to a “hot for teacher” ensemble for when it’s time to geek out.

Allow Bethenny to give you the grand fashion tour in the video below. And for even more crucial fashion ideas, make sure to pop into Vogue Eyewear’s virtual closet.

Bad news for Real Housewives of New York fans: Bethenny Frankel is thinking about leaving the show.

While doing press for her new show, Bethenny Getting Married, the SkinnyGirl chef and snark-castic reality star revealed that she might not be returning to the show and, if she does, it would only be for a minor role:

I don’t know [if I would return to the show], I really don’t know. If I were in a lesser role maybe, or if I was in it not that much. But really, it’s enough. What else is there to do? It’s the top of the party and I may as well leave. The only reason I would do it would be just to comment. It got heightened this season and my show is so refreshing compared to that.

We’ll definitely miss Bethenny’s sarcastic voice of reason on the show but we guess we can see how she might be too busy with her new show to deal with the insanity of Real Housewives.

After seducing our ears with her smash hit single, “Money Can’t Buy You Class,” Real Housewives of New York star turned chanteuse, Countess LuAnn, has finally released the music video for the song.

The video features an almost unrecognizable Countess teaching hot young men how to be gentlemen in what looks like the basement of a gay nightclub. The video features the Countess getting tied into a corset in a velvet-covered room, putting on lip gloss, hanging out at a club in a tube dress, and laying in a bed with pouty-faced male models . In short, it is a visual triumph of class and elegance.

Has anyone checked to make sure that the Countess isn’t actually a drag queen? The over-the-top song and video remind us a lot of RuPaul fabulous music career.

Watch the video below.

• Brittany Murphy‘s widower, Simon Monjack was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Sunday night. The cause of death is still being investigated. He was 40. (PopEater)

• Vampire Diaries dreamboat Ian Somerhalder is helping to solve BP oil spill with his handsomeness. You have to love a good looking man with a big, caring heart. (Wonderwall)

• Red alert! Paula Abdul is returning to American Idol for Simon Cowell‘s sendoff episode. Wow, the team at Idol must really hate Simon, huh? (Hollywood Life)

• Remember Real Housewives of New York star Kelly Bensimon‘s crazy breakdown on her show Thursday? Kelly denies that there was a problem and calls it a “breakthrough.” Uh, does she watch the show? (Huffington Post)

• In odd news: gay icon Dolly Parton lost a Dolly look-a-like contest to a drag queen in Santa Monica. (Starpulse)