RHONY star Countess LuAnn de Lesseps works for free to prove worth to BravoTV

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and her beau Jacques Azoulay

(photo credit:  Countess LuAnn de Lesseps via Facebook)

All of the employment and finance blogs advise that if you are out of work, one of the best things to do is to volunteer in the industry you would like to work in.  Apparently that goes for show business veterans also.  According to a story in Radar Online today, Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY) star Countess LuAnn de Lesseps is not getting paid for being on the show this season.

The height of de Lesseps’ popularity on the show peaked around 2010.  She was the toast of the town with her book on etiquette “Class with the Countess”.  And at almost every high society party she attended the guests would beg her to sing her hit single “Money Can’t Buy You Class”.  But over the last few years things began to change.  (Continue reading full story here.)

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' reunion part 3, episode 25; recap and review

The ladies of RHOA, minus Porsha on the far right, had a 

fiery reunion part III last night.

(photo credit:  Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

Last night was the explosive reunion part three of BravoTV’s hit show ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ (RHOA).  Fortunately, this time no actual physical violence erupted.  Here are some of the highlights.  Andy Cohen spent a huge chunk of time going back and forth between NeNe and Kenya regarding the tainted three-way friendship that went left when Margo entered the pictured.  At one point Cohen had both of his fingers in his ears (a la toddlers) when NeNe and Kenya were screeching over his head. 

About the only thing these two women have in common is, as Andy said, (Read full story)

Steve Harvey blasts Mimi Faust sex tape; tells her to act like a lady

Mimi Faust sex tape drawing negative backlash from big stars

(photo credit:  Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)

Mimi Faust was considered by many to be one of the closest things to a role model out of all of the ladies on VH1’s hit reality show Love and Hip Hop Atlanta (LHHATL).  She was portrayed as a struggling single mother who drew sympathy from viewers when she tearfully told philandering Stevie J (the father of her only child) that “you have hurt me to my core.”  That was before she sold a video sex tape, filmed with on and off again boyfriend Nikko Smith, to Vivid Entertainment for $100K.

Faust’s rival for Stevie J’s affections, who is now his wife, Joseline Hernandez was among the first of Faust’s LHHATL cast mates to respond to the tape.  Every season Faust would deride Hernandez for her promiscuous behavior.  Hernandez, an admitted former stripper turned singer, couldn’t hide her glee at the latest turn of events.  She took to Twitter making all kinds of comments about the much older Faust’s tape, even calling it “granny porn”.

Now Faust is drawing attention, but not the kind she wanted.  She is getting recognition from people who could further her career, but may now have no interest in doing so.  Radio and talk show host Steve Harvey aired his thoughts on the situation and he was not on Faust’s side.  Harvey is the author of relationship books Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man (which was later adapted into a hit movie) and Straight Talk, No Chaser. 

Harvey opened up on The Steve Harvey Morning Show this week about the sex tape situation.  He let Faust have it for being a mother and doing something that will be a part of the legacy she will leave her daughter.  He says that money, while important, is not worth your image, reputation, and brand.  He says God gave women a precious jewel that should be cherished and not splayed about for the entire world to see.  You can listen to Harvey’s frank and sincere open letter to Faust here.

Grieving hip-hop star shot multiple times; nephew charged with attempted murder

Benzino, 48, is recovering after being shot multiple times by his own nephew.

(photo credit:  TMZ.com)

So much for naysayers who believe all reality TV drama is scripted phoniness.  Too much of the madness is real.  Sadly, the unbelievable happened Saturday in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta” star Benzino (real name Raymond Scott) was shot multiple times as he was on the way to his mother’s funeral.

Benzino, 48, is one of the former owners of Source Magazine, a colorful hip-hop monthly that prides itself on dishing the latest rap, music, celebrity and political news.  Since 2012 he has been, and is currently, one of the stars of Mona Scott’s breakout southern reality show Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, which chronicles the lives, loves, ups and downs of a group of newcomers (as well as trying-to-make-a-comeback rap stars) whose lives heavily revolve around the rap/hip-hop music industry.

The grieving Benzino, who had recently posted a message on Instagram saying he didn’t know how he would go on after losing his mom, was driving in his mother’s funeral procession when his very own nephew, 36-year-old Gai Scott, pulled up alongside the vehicle  Benzino was in and brutally fired shots, hitting his uncle Benzino.  Benzino managed to get out of the car and a passerby rushed him to the hospital where he is recovering.

The rest of the family proceeded to the church and laid Mary Scott to rest without further incident.  Benzino later said that he had a bad feeling about going to the funeral due to growing family tensions.  He paid his respects to his mother at a wake the night before and believes that she stepped in and saved him, and he is just glad to be alive.

Gai Scott has been taken into custody and charged with attempted murder.