I have been counting down until Real Housewives of New York returns ever since the initial trailer was released. I am interested to see how they all interact after some pretty dark story lines and heated reunion episodes last season.
In a recent interview, Dorinda Medley opened up about what to expect from the new season and new housewife, Tinsley Mortimer. She also talked about how RHONY has changed her life and revealed that she considered joining the cast at the very beginning.
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I always wondered why Dorinda joined the show so late in the game if she’s been longtime friends with Ramona Singer and Luann de Lesseps. She revealed that she was actually in talks to join the cast before it even became a part of the Real Housewives franchise. Speaking to Kate Casey on her Reality Life podcast, Dorinda said, “I was friends and am friends with a bunch of the girls. When they were starting it, it was called Moms of Manhattan.”
On why she did not join when the idea first came to her attention: “I wasn’t on it because I was a single mom and they were sort of floating it around to a bunch of people. I went on the couple of shows just as guest appearances, but it just didn’t fit into my life then because Hannah was at sort of a private school, I was a single mom.”
Dorinda also shared that she didn’t really get the appeal to the viewers. “To be honest with you it just didn’t make sense to me. I was like, ‘Why would people want to sit around watching us go to lunch?’ It was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
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Dorinda shared how Ramona convinced her to join the cast after the death of her husband: “When he passed, Ramona came up to me and was like, ‘I think Andy [Cohen] is interested. Would you be interested in just trying it out and doing it for a season? What are you going to do Dorinda?’ because Hannah had left for college. Ramona was an amazing anchor for me after Richard died. She was just there one hundred percent.”
She added, “Lu was like, ‘Come on just try it.’ So I just thought ‘Here we go. I’m going to change the paradigm again.’ And I just sort of threw my hat in the wind. It’s kind of funny. I was at Richard‘s grave on his birthday when they made me the offer. I thought, ‘Alright this is a sign. I’m going to give it a shot.'”
Even though she was hesitant about joining, Dorinda revealed that the show actually helped her a lot after her husband passed away. “The overall is that it’s been the most wonderful thing that happened because it forced me to get back out there. It forced me to have a schedule again, to move my life forward, to be with these women, to be exposed to a whole different life which now I enjoy.”
Of course, she was asked about her infamous boyfriend John Mahdessian. Pretty much everyone on this show has taken issue with John for some reason. It doesn’t bother Dorinda though. “It doesn’t matter what a thousand other people think. Nobody likes anything mean to be said about anybody you care for, but you know you just have to kind of take it with a grain of salt. To tell you the truth, I think it kind of makes your relationship stronger or destroys it.”
The controversy doesn’t seem to be a big deal to Dorinda. She explained that she likes to keep her romantic life and her social life separated. “I know people don’t believe this, but I see him two or three times a week. I really have tried desperately to keep my own life, keep my girlfriends. That’s one thing I didn’t do with Richard. I kind of became all about Richard which is what he needed. When that doesn’t work out, it’s hard to climb back a little bit.”
Dorinda even keeps John and her daughter Hannah separated. “It sort of is what it is. Now that Hannah has moved out, it’s less intensified.”
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Even though there were rumors that new girl Tinsley wasn’t cutting it, Dorinda says, “Tinsley came on. She’s fantastic. She’s interesting. I didn’t know Tinsley at all so it was interesting getting to know her.” The fans can judge for themselves when the show returns.
Last season was chock full of drama. Personally, I was living for it, but Dorinda admitted, “I think last year may have been a little bit dark.”
About next season, Dorinda said, “It was a slow start.” She added, “We still have our things, but it’s not dark. Last year, none of us could barely stand each other at the reunion. This year, we will probably all go out to dinner.” Let’s hope that doesn’t translate to boring. I’m all for my Real Housewives being friends, but I don’t want to watch a whole season of kumbaya.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT DORINDA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH JOHN? DID LAST SEASON GET TOO DARK OR DID YOU ENJOY IT?
[Photo Credit: Patrick Ecclesine/Bravo]
