Results tagged “bravo”

We haven't been paying much attention to the NYC Prep kids on Bravo's reality show... yet it's still not surprising that one of them, Sebastian Oppenheim, has some scandalous photos that just leaked to Perez Hilton. Blowing right past the standard sexually-driven teen star photos that usually surface, this guy went straight for anti-Semitism—"cruising around in a town car with his buddy, wasting time and tape by making swastikas and fake Hitler mustaches." Classy. Chuck Bass would never pull this sh*t. [via NY Mag]

Reality television will soon confront its latest victim: art. Bravo is now casting for "The Untitled Art Project," which brings Sarah Jessica Parker and her production company, Pretty Matches, together with the Emmy-nominated Magical Elves ("Top Chef," "Project Runway") and Eli Holzman, to produce an hour long creative competition series among contemporary artists. It's just like how all the great artists were discovered. There will be thirteen total aspiring artists competing for a gallery show, money, and more. Each episode will have the artists creating "unique pieces highlighting art's role in everyday life" in everything from sculpture to photography. Get your portfolio together and your beret perfectly situation atop your head, the NYC casting call is July 18th and 19th at White Columns.

Bravo's alleged boyfriend-beating "housewife" is at it again. Page Six now reports that Kelly Bensimon allegedly stole an idea for a jewelry piece from a former Elle Accessories co-worker, Celeste Greenberg. The story goes like this: Greenberg procured a vintage owl pendant for then editor-in-chief Bensimon to wear for photo shoots, and together they promptly made a deal to manufacture a replica of the design. Trouble is, those verbal agreements are always so tricky. Greenberg is now filing a lawsuit that claims Bensimon "cut Greenberg out and went ahead and manufactured the pendant on her own," which she currently sells for $325 and has been happily hawking the piece during her Real Housewives screen time.

The Real Houswives of New York's Kelly Bensimon proves once again that she's a terrible person. On the heels of allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, she's now lashing out verbally in Harper's Bazaar. Page Six has an excerpt from the interview, where she calls her co-star Bethenny inauthentic, and asks: "Will she ever sit next to Lauren duPont?" Burn? (We don't know who that person is.) She then pats herself on the back for being authentic because she's "the ambassador for wool." What? This is so confusing! You don't need a crazy-talk translator to understand the following, however—when asked why she even agreed to be on the show, she declared, "I wanted to put my name up there. I was like, it's not enough for New York to know me. I wanted the rest of America to know me. I have a great life." America, if you're ready for more, you can get the full interview here.

The new Bravo housewives were unmasked earlier this week as the network aired a preview of The Real Housewives of New Jersey (watch it here). It was all very mafia mini-mall chic, to say the least. The big cameo this week was by none other than former NYC police commissioner Bernard Kerik! He now lives in Housewife territory in Franklin Lakes, N.J, and went uncredited for his scene, where he was training an attack dog in the yard of the show's Manzo family. The NY Times points out that "Mr. Manzo’s father, who weighed 350 pounds but was known as Tiny, ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Paterson before buying the Brownstone [catering hall] in the 1970s. In 1983, he was found dead in the trunk of his Lincoln Continental with four bullet wounds to his chest. The crime was never solved." Kerik actually held a fundraiser in December at the Manzo's catering hall to raise money for his legal defense as he fights a federal indictment on corruption, tax evasion and perjury charges. He'll be getting ready for his real close-up when he faces trial this October.

Talk about a hot mess, the Project Runway powers-that-be barely made it work but word is that the show will finally be able to hit airwaves again. Earlier this year the finalists for the yet-to-be-aired season weren't even allowed to show their faces at their own Fashion Week shows because of the legal battle, but now it's being reported that "the long and bitter litigation over the hit reality series came to an end Wednesday when the Weinstein Company, which owns the show, agreed to pay NBC Universal a settlement fee, acknowledging it had improperly sold the show to a competitive network without giving NBC a right to match the offer." This past September NBC successfully prevented Lifetime from airing the show, and now the Weinstein Company will pay NBC a fee for the right to move the show to Lifetime. Expect the new season to air this summer, and according to their deal, there's five more years to come!

Kelly Bensimon, the 40-year old former model, socialite, scribe of some bikini book, and one of the unmarried Real Housewives on the Bravo reality show is giving herself a new title: victim. The NY Post reports that she claimed to be innocent at a pretrial hearing yesterday regarding the beating she allegedly gave her ex-boyfriend Nick Stefanov earlier this month in her SoHo digs. Her lawyer told the paper, "The guy wouldn't leave her apartment. He pushed and shoved her, then he calls the police. You're entitled to push him out of your apartment [if he doesn't voluntarily leave]." Bensimon claims she's received threatening emails from the ex, one saying "I'm going to make your life misery." Meanwhile, Stefanov wants the order of protection extended. If convicted of the misdemeanor third-degree assault charges, Bensimon could face a year behind bars. Maybe she can be cellmates with the other alleged Bravo boyfriend beater Kenley.

If you love to hate the Real Housewives of New York, how will you feel about The Real Housewives of New Jersey? It's really happening, people. Word is that the newest cast includes a former cosmetologist, a stay-at-home mom, and ladies who love to shop, get spa treatments and spend time at The Shore. And during the tough economic times, isn't it comforting to know that one of them "prides herself as one of the first female American Express Black card members in New Jersey." Just think of all the polyblend one can buy with that baby! Find out more about the latest recession busters here, and set those DVRs for May 12th.

Incase you had already forgotten about the Real Housewives of New York City, the newest one, Kelly Bensimon, is fighting her way to headlines! The NY Post reports that the "6-foot-tall, 40-year-old former model, horse fancier and one-time marathon runner got into a fight last week with her boyfriend, 30-year-old Nick Stefanov, and clocked him, giving him a black eye and opening a blood-gushing gash on his left cheek." Stefanov fled and reported the beating to the 5th Precinct, landing Bensimon with a misdemeanor third-degree assault and a March 31st court date (she's currently denying the charges). The two recently engaged lovebirds now have a restraining order that prevents them from contacting each other, but Stefanov seems to want to get back together with the "housewife" even though she's been physically abusive in the past—he did say, "My injuries are worse than Rihanna's - and Chris Brown was charged with two felonies."

Last night was the finale of Top Chef New York. The final cheftesants standing were Stefan (aka the European), Carla (aka the chef with love), and Hosea (aka the chef who really hated Stefan), and they were tasked to create a three-course meal—not including the last minute twist, of course. Some thoughts about the finale and season overall below (spoilers are after the jump):

Does NYC's prep school set live up to the antics of the Gossip Girl characters? Even with a reality show following some of the rich kids around, we'll probably never know (which is fine, right?). The NY Post is reporting that Bravo is set to film a new series "that'll give an up-close and personal look at the lives of the latest hottest teens on the planet - New York City's private school kids." The format is allegedly going to be like that of the Real Kids of Orange County webisodes (which features the Real Housewives spawn). Couple that with the fact that no self-respecting Yale-bound preppy would go on basic cable to flaunt their lifestyle, and you pretty much have a show about Real Housewife Jill Zarin's daughter Ally (unsubstantiated!), who has been soaking up the spotlight since before mommy's television show even started airing. No word on if filming has started yet, but the show is expected to air later this year (but don't expect any real-life Chuck Bass's or OMFG-inducing moments). XOXO, etc!

Arguably the most hated housewives of the Real Housewives series are returning to the small screen tonight—and now that we're all tightening the pursestrings their livin' large lifestyle will be sure to evoke even more hatred! Housewife Jill Zarin told the Post, "You're gonna see some [expensive] toys come out, unfortunately. We filmed the show before the recession happened." But has the "cougar of conspicuous consumption" changed her ways to fit the economic downturn? She says that these days she's cooking at home with Fresh Direct groceries, has noticed a drop in sales at her Allen Street emporium Zarin's Fabric Warehouse and her and the hubby sold their East Hampton home over a year ago. Plus she told Fox: "What was hard for me was giving up my live-in maid five days a week." It's like one step away from a breadline over there. Meanwhile, the folks over at EW wonder if viewers will tune in or drop out, in an article titled: "Critic to The Real Housewives of New York City: drop dead."

Last night Top Chef celebrated the holiday season, and even though the episode was filmed sometime in July (check out the cheftestants summertime gear)—Christmas miracles were abound! Or at least forced down viewer's throats like Sous-Vide Duck with avocado foam.

Last night the 2nd episode of Top Chef New York aired, beginning with an oh-so-NY-themed Quick Fire challenge: Hot Dogs! After Padma declares that New Yorkers spend $100M a year consuming the "dish," the cheftestants were put up against the Top Dog (heh) in New York, Angelina D'Angelo (from Dominick's hot dog truck in Queens) and had 45 minutes to cook up their own recipes (which season 4 cast-off Spike says is enough time "to build a cart").

Top Chef aired its season 5 premiere last night, and believe it or not, this is the first time Padma & Co. have filmed an entire season in New York City. Right now there are too many cheftestants at the starting line, so it's a little difficult for any to stand apart when the first half of the episode merely showed (spoiler alert!) them chopping apples. But there are two emerging factions: Team Rainbow (the LGBT folks) and the Euros (Italian guy, Finland guy).

     

The big Top Chef Truck rolled into Union Square this morning for the last stop on their 20-city tour, with Season Four's rejected cheftenstants Richard Blais and Andrew D'Ambrosi on board to give cooking demonstrations in the kitchen housed within a 48-foot tractor trailer. The two day event, which continues into tomorrow, gives fans of Top Chef an experience that Knight Rider nerds would surely kill for.

Surely you're aware by now that the next season of reality cooking show Top Chef was filmed right here in New York. It premieres next month, and to crank up the enthusiasm, Bravo is displaying some serious marketing flair. This week Top Chef: The Tour, a 20-city barn burner featuring a customized 18-wheeler semi-truck, rolls into town, promising "the ultimate culinary experience" with cooking demonstrations and tastings hosted by former cheftestants.

       

Last night Project Runway ran its season 5 finale, also the last season to be aired on Bravo (next time around it'll be over at Lifetime). The three contestants left standing were Kenley, Korto and Leanne (though Joe and Jerrell also got to show collections). The spoilers are after the jump incase you haven't watched it yet, but from what you saw or what you are seeing now: who do you think deserved to win?

Kenley Collins is one of the designers competing in the season's Project Runway. Hailing from Florida, she now lives and designs in New York, where she's been working on her own line in a small boutique, as well as freelancing and teaching. She recently told us about the show, her fellow designers and what trends appear to be back in New York.

The NY Sun dedicates a whopping 1000+ words to recent Project Runway victor Christian Siriano moving from his tiny East Village apartment all the way across the bridge to Williamsburg.

While current Top Chef contestants battle it out in Chicago, the series prepares for its next round of the culinary contest/reality show. Bravo has announced its casting call for the 5th season (New York's open call is May 11th at the Culinary Institute of America in Astor Center):

Chefs with a passion for food, creativity, a thorough knowledge of cooking techniques and trends and oodles of charisma are what we're looking for. We want both self-taught cooks and those who have trained at top culinary schools.

How will Lifetime transition from "woman in distress seeks revenge" movies to "hot tranny mess" is beyond us, but The NY Times reports that NBC Universal, Bravo's parent company, has lost their precious “Project Runway" to the "femme-centric" (per Variety) network.

Like it or not The Real Housewives of New York are getting air time every Tuesday, and each week they invite the rest of New York (and the world) into a little bubble they call home. Touring private schools for their French-speaking children, toting their kids off to auditions, getting away to the Hamptons and presumbably being "fabulous" at whatever else fills their social schedule.

Even though there wasn't a "villain" along the lines of Santino Rice or a favorite like Michael Knight, the fourth season of Project Runway has been pretty captivating with some very lovely work. Tonight, the three remaining designers' Bryant Park Fashion Week face-off will be shown and a winner announced.

Earlier this year Bravo announced their "Real Housewives" series would be moving from Orange County to The Big Apple. The show premieres tonight, and critics have already gone sour on it.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a crime scene/hanging at East 13th St. and Shore Parkway in Brooklyn, a child mauled by a dog in the area of 91-43 Gold Rd. in Queens, and a possible escaped prisoner on Wards Island across from Manhattan.
• Asbestos removal at the Carroll St. F and G line station appears to be a non-issue. Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn received a note saying that air levels were fine and removal is not scheduled for the immediate future.
• The New York Aquarium's sharks at Coney Island are moving on up. They're upgrading their modest 90,000 cubic foot tank to a $67 million waterfront palace.
• The City is pursuing criminal charges against an 82-year-old buildings engineer for what they claim was perjury. A $.99 store whose designs he ok'd caught fire and rotten timbers allegedly resulted in the deaths of two firefighters.
• Did the Hell's Angels plan a 'Bay of Hogs' Long Island beachfront attack that ended in embarrassing failure during the 1960s? Apparently, after the Rolling Stones' concert at Altamont, some Hells Angels tried sailing to Mick Jagger's estate to kill him, but hit rough seas and fell overboard.
• The box office at Yankee Stadium opened this morning at 10 a.m., as the organization began selling tickets to games at the Bronx Bombers' final season in the House that Ruth Built, and that we mostly paid for when it was renovated.
• Bravo to Shannon O'Hanlon, the 9-year-old 4th grader from Queens who won yesterday's Fay Wray Scream-A-Like Contest at Film Forum in Manhattan. The contest was part of a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the original King Kong film.

Fox’s New Amsterdam (Tuesday, 9:00 p.m., WNYW 5) sounds like a mashup of Pocahontas and Forever Knight, but with out the animation or the vampires. The story for this new series starts in 1642 when a Dutch soldier (Danish import Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) saves a Native American girl and is given the gift/curse of immortality and not ageing until he finds his true love. Fast forward to today and that soldier is now NYPD homicide detective John Amsterdam, who now has to deal with a new partner (British import Zuleikha Robinson).

Are you ready to meet the Real Housewives of New York City? Bravo is spinning off their Orange County-based reality show with a look into the lives of some select East Coast ladies. The show will air March 4th, and The Daily News reports that the "stars" will be Bethenny Frankel, LuAnn de Lesseps (that's Countess, to you), Ramona Singer and Jill Zarin of the Upper East Side and Alex McCord of Cobble Hill. We're glad they branched out of the UES and threw a Brooklynite in there (though we wish it was a Park Slope mom); at 34 she's the youngest of them all.

To plug the giant hole in the network’s schedule this Sunday, caused by the WGA not giving a waiver to Dick Clark Productions for the Golden Globe Awards, NBC has handed the whole thing over to its news division.