‘Housewives’ look saggy in the ratings
Michael Lavine/Bravo The “Real Housewives of New York” (from l.) Heather Thomson, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, Kristen Taekman, Carole Radziwill and Aviva Drescher. The drama on the “Real Housewives of New York” is carrying over into the cast members’ real lives, as falling ratings are prompting the knives to come out, a source accurate to the show tells us.
“There’s paranoia because they all think they’re going to be fired,” our insider says.
We hear Bravo has informed the ladies that this week’s episode of the reality series drew just 1.2 million viewers, a low for the show.
“That’s the lowest since the very first episode of the very first season, when they were introducing the show to America,” says our tipster.
The only one who isn’t shaking in her boots is Ramona Singer. We’re told Singer wasn’t on the most recent episode because she was traveling in Africa when it was filmed.
“Ramona was off on a trip, so now she thinks the ratings are low because the show was lacking her presence,” sniffs our source.
“She believes she is the star of the show.”
Robin Marchant/Getty Images Enlarge 
caryn leigh photography Enlarge
Celebrity stylist Amanda Sanders (r.) is slated to become a full-time cast member in act of kindness of new Housewife Kristen Taekman (l.).
Offscreen, Carole Radziwill and Heather Thomson remain BFFs. They are united against Aviva Drescher in a catfight over who has the best prose chops. Radziwill has penned two books, while Drescher recently released “Leggy Blonde: A Chronicle.” “Aviva looks at the show like a job. It’s fun and useful, but she has her husband and kids and a splendid life and could care less about the drama,” says our source.
Meanwhile, celebrity stylist Amanda Sanders, slated to become a full-time cast member, was pushed into a tiny role on the series by Bravo execs in act of kindness of new Housewife Kristen Taekman.
We’ve learned that the other Housewives ganged up to shaft Sanders and rooted for Taekman to get a larger role, even though Sanders had a contract with Bravo to star on the series.
“Watching Kristen is like watching paint dry,” one insider says. “Carole kept calling Amanda
‘Mindy.’ Heather went after Amanda and wanted her off the air because she’s best friends with Kristen. It was that ‘Mean Girls’ gang-up mentality.”
Another source says Sanders was “appalling” on camera, bullying her way into scenes she shouldn’t have been in. We hear she is not in any more episodes because she inserted herself into the incorrect scenes.
As for the low ratings, a Bravo insider says they were expected. “The show was off the air for 15 months, so it’s impressive this many people tuned back in. The network is confident the audience will continue to build.”
