By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Sunday, December 13, 2015
"The Real Housewives" producers know the biggest drama comes from either parties or trips.
After the Lake Lanier boat trip disaster, the show takes the ladies to Miami for the first time for a three-day trip.
Oddly, newbie Kim Fields creates drama not by confronting or kicking-dropping another lady but by simply missing her family.
This entire show has taken her out of her comfort zone. And taking a road trip? Unheard of. She says she hasn't been away from her family for more than an overnight trip up to this point.
"It's not that I want to go out of my social cocoon," she bemoans. "I miss Chris [her husband.]. I want to rise above this. But I really feel out of my element and it's really odd."
While the other ladies cavort about in racy outfits on a boat, she prefers to look appalled, read by herself and contact with her family via phone. So far, the only person on the cast she has really bonded with is Phaedra Parks.
When Kenya Moore decides to insert herself into the business between Sheree Whitfield and Cynthia Bailey's friend Tammy McCall Browning, Kim becomes flabbergasted.
Earlier, Kenya had overheard Tammy complain that she believed Sheree only married Tammy's friend Bob Whitfield (and Sheree's ex) because he was an NFL player. Kenya's interpretation: Sheree's a gold digger!
So she tells Sheree almost too gleefully that somehow this means Tammy does not like her. Sheree said Tammy has been nothing but nice to her. She also assumed Bob had slept with her. When Sheree and Tammy talk about this (courtesy of Kenya), Tammy denies she ever slept with Bob. Sheree has been so far removed from Bob now (seven years), she can't get herself as heated about this as Kenya.
As the silliness ground on, Kim finally pipes up: "How old are we? Are we grown ass women talking like this?"
She notes that there's a fine line between "information" and "instigation" without directing her criticism at anybody but clearly, Kenya feels the heat.
"Are you talking to me?" Kenya asks Kim.
Kim denies this, saying it was a general statement, but she is now in Kenya's crosshairs for daring to even sidelong "question" the "Queen."
Later that day, Kim's home sick feelings hit her hard. She begins to cry to Phaedra:
"I don't get it. I'm just standing there. This isn't me. I can't find myself here."
She connects so much of her happiness with her family: "So much work you do in a marriage, being able to enjoy the fruits of your labor, that's my sweet spot."
"I don't want to be here doing this with you guys," she whines to Phaedra. "No offense."
She picked the right person to complain to. Phaedra, despite her issues with her jailed husband Apollo Nida, is empathetic and says she wished she had that type of relationship. "I understand love and I understand loss," Phaedra says.
Later, Kim is clearly thankful of Phaedra's support:
"Phaedra put aside time to help a new friend missing her husband. That's a real grown woman. That's real friendship - even at a budding level."
Quotes of the night
Kenya, about Shamea Morton: "Porsha had the idea of sending Shimmy Cocopuff to get the house ready. Shamea, you is not smart. You is not kind. You is not important. You is the help!"
Phaedra, on Kenya: "Once a villain, always a villain... Kenya is not Glenda the Good Witch. She's the beep-beep."
Kenya, on Phaedra and Porsha Williams' showy outfits: "Did Phaedra and Porsha shop at the same slutty outlet store?"
Porsha, on Kim: "This home sick routine is wearing me out."
RATINGS
There are stories floating around saying "Real Housewives of Atlanta" ratings are way down but I only have seen overnight ratings, which no longer provide a full story. Last week's overnight rating of 2.98 million is actually comparable to the fifth episode season seven of 3.06 million. So I don't think things are bad at all for the durable Bravo show.
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