by Chandra Clewley

 

The loveable Jill Zarin from The Real Housewives of New York City seems to be the busiest housewife around! In Season 3 we will see her preparing daughter Allyson for college, helping her husband Bobby with their business Zarin Fabrics, writing a book with her sister and mother entitled: Secrets of A Jewish Mother that will be released April 15th, designing her own bedding line and becoming the spokesperson for Kodak. As if life isn’t busy enough, she still had time to speak with Reality Wanted about what to expect this season with new cast mates, old arguments, and buckets of tears! 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: What can we expect this season for you?

A. Jill: Well, I have a lot of fun but I have a lot of emotional breakdowns. I’m not as strong as people think I am, so it was rough. I can’t wait to see it, I’ll be honest. I remember living it, and thinking, “I can’t do this anymore.” I was crying all the time! It is very hard for me to separate the show from the real. 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: Do you think you have mastered it?

A. Jill: Honestly, no, I haven’t. I take it all personally and everything that you say to me and do to me, is real. I am very sensitive. You know how they say: You can dish it but you can’t take it? I might have written that. I can dish it, but I cannot take it. There is plenty this season.

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: On the previews, it looks like there is a blow out between you and Bethenny. Can you give us an idea of what is going on there?

A. Jill: In Episode 1, you will find out that Bobby was diagnosed with cancer during the off season. He is fine now, but at the time it was really horrific. That was sort of the straw that broke the camel’s back. It wasn’t just one thing. The rift between Bethenny and I, I will say, I am not that petty and I’m not that immature to let one thing come between me and a real friend, so you have to trust me when I say that it wasn’t one thing, it was 6-8 months of just stuff that accumulated. You have to watch to see what happens, things change and that is all in the first episode.

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: There has been a lot of arguing and drama in the last few seasons of the Real Housewives franchise. Do you think the New York City season will be similar?

A. Jill: Absolutely.

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: We have seen that there are two new women that are supposedly coming on the show. Can you give us some insight on that?

A. Jill: It’s true. They haven’t been introduced yet so you aren’t seeing them on the commercials yet. Or maybe they aren’t able to fit eight bodies, I don’t know…It’s a lot of people, it’s almost like “Can I remember everybody’s name?” 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: What challenges are different for the New York City housewives that the other housewives in different cities don’t have to deal with?

A. Jill:  There isn’t much of a difference with being moms and dealing with life. It’s just the back drop that is different. The show has changed a lot of these women’s lives.  I really like to see the first season of these shows. After the first season, we have all accomplished a lot of great things. For example, Bethenny wrote a book which she may not have done had she not had the show. I wrote a book, Secrets of A Jewish Mother, which I would have never written had I not had a show where people fell in love with Gloria and wanted to know what she had to say and would hold on to every word of advice. I have a line of bedding coming out this summer at a major retailer and I am the brand spokesperson for Kodak! Who else can say that? What an honor and a privilege! I’ll tell you something, I watch all of these shows. Personally, I think Gretchen (Rossi) is the most beautiful of all of them. I think she is just magnificent. I love her clothes, I love her hair. Every time I see her, I know she isn’t a rich girl, so I don’t know who is doing her makeup and styling her, but she looks gorgeous every time I see her. So, she is coming out with a cosmetic line and I can’t wait to try it. Vicki (Gunvalson) wrote a book, I bought it. I will always support the housewives. I bought NeNe (Leakes)’s book too. 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: Did you know all of the women from your show before the show?

A. Jill: I was sort of the first person that they brought on. It was pitched differently to me and was originally called Manhattan Moms. I am happy that it became a Real Housewives branded show, but I can’t say that we were happy at the time. We only had Orange County to compare and we didn’t feel l we were like them. Not in a bad way, just different.  Ramona is a friend of mine. I brought them Luann and I brought them Bethenny. What’s great is that we really did have relationships prior to being on air. I think that is what makes it better. I think that Orange County is different now than it was in the beginning because the women are TV friends. I mean, my stomach turns when I hear the new girl Alexis (Bellino) go after any of the girls, particularly Vicki, about her personality traits because she doesn’t know her! And they would never have been friends had she not been cast on the show. I mean obviously they don’t like each other. It’s hard for me to watch, I cringe, because it doesn’t feel real to me. Now, Tamra and Vicki became real friends so I like watching that, but I sort of want Jeana (Keough) back! I don’t like it when a show casts five strangers and calls them friends. 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: Did you know the two new girls on your show before Season 3?

A. Jill: I didn’t, but one of them I feel like, has been my friend forever. I feel a big kinship to her and that is the positive side of it, I am grateful that I have made a lifelong friend that I have a connection to.  So on that end I love it.  I think they are great girls and I think they are a great addition to the show. 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: On Bravotv.com there is a tour of your New York City apartment. How long have you lived in that apartment? What about the Hamptons house?

A. Jill: I have been here 9 years. This is our first apartment together. I don’t believe in sleepovers, so he had to marry me if he wanted me to sleepover! So he did and we bought this place together. I never thought I would stay here 9 years! I am dying to move and it is for sale. I want something a little bigger. It’s about 2000 square feet. We sold the house in the Hamptons about 2 years ago, we rented for 2 summers up there and this summer I don’t know what I am going to do. I keep going back and forth, do we buy, do we rent? Ally is doing a community service program in Thailand this summer so I might vacation there. Then I think we should just go on a cruise. I can’t make up my mind! 

 

Q. Chandra, Reality Wanted: What other shows do you watch on Bravo?

A. Jill: I am lovin’ Kell On Earth, Ally is begging me to go see her showroom. Shear Genius did this contest on my hair and I thought they were so obnoxious because they commented on a photo of me where my hair was glued to my head and I hated it anyway, and they kept saying “She needs movement!” I mean, you are looking at my hair in a photo! Of course there is no movement! I am not walking! I was so insulted. Watch What Happens is my favorite; I think Andy is brilliant, I think he should have a full time show. The Millionaire Matchmaker I beyond love. It gets better and better every single season. Kathy Griffin, love, brilliant! I think she has had a rough road this year because of what she did to Anderson Cooper. I heard she has been D-listed again, I guess that is why she did it, to get back on the D List. Million Dollar Listing, my husband Bobby loves. NYC Prep, I have no comment.  I love Tabitha, and I love Rachel Zoe and clearly I love ALL of the Housewives shows!

 

(Darn! I wanted her to say something about NYC Prep! Maybe next time…)

 

 

The Real Housewives of New York City will be airing on March 4th at 10/9c on Bravo.

 

The Real Housewives of Orange County will be airing this Thursday night at 10/9 c on Bravo.

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 

 

Follow Chandra at twitter.com/ChandraClewley

 

For more Real Housewives links, visit SirLinksALot.net