Originally posted Monday, December 9, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Marlo Hampton is the longest running "friend" on "Real Housewives of Atlanta," going back to season four.
She has never gotten the coveted full-time "peach" perhaps due to her copious arrest record when she was younger or rumors she dates rich dudes who don't want to be on camera. Bravo has always been a bit fuzzy why it has kept her on the sidelines.
So Marlo’s primary function in past years has been to stir the pot, spread gossip about the main housewives and support them if need be.
But this season, a bit of her personal life finally popped up. She is taking care of two nephews as her own. Plus, tonight, she hosts a wig-line party, the type of function reserved for full-time housewives.
Everything seems just fine until Kenya Moore marches in with a "band" promoting her own "edging" product with samples. "Marlo is not known for good hair. She's not known for good wigs. She's not known for good edges," Kenya said. "She's bald-headed to the back of her skull so I'm not interested in supporting Marlo's wig line."
Marlo at first appears to take it all in stride. But not really.
Moments later, Marlo tries to get Kenya to go up to the mic with her and Kenya declines. So Marlo seeks security to boot Kenya out.
Kenya, of course, is nonplussed.
“That’s my thing. Don’t try to do me, boo. I have that down on lock,” she says.
Marlo’s seemingly deaf security dude did not boot Kenya.
Then Marlo tries to shame her to leave by having everyone chant: “No more Kenya Moore. We want you to go!”
I’ve seen a lot of “RHOA.” At least this is a new tact, however silly.
It also didn’t work and dies out quickly.
NeNe Leakes leaves in disgust. "This is not my life," she tells Yovanna Momplaisir. "Been there, done that."
Eventually, Kenya leaves on her own, chuckling over her own creativity, knowing full well the “RHOA” producers were pleased and would use this for an episode.
And they did.
In the end, it benefits both Kenya and her "Edges Hair Follicle Stimulator" ($17.99 on Amazon!) and Marlo's wig line. Free advertising!
MISC. NOTES
* The receipts? There is supposedly an audio of Cynthia Bailey badmouthing NeNe to a friend of NeNe's. Yovanna seems to be the culprit but she tells Cynthia it's not her. But Cynthia has been already pretty open in press interviews that NeNe is "toxic" to her so what does it matter?
* Communication issues: There was actually an interesting discussion between Todd Tucker and his 23-year-old daughter who feels he isn't supportive or attentive to her unless he is upset. He feels he wants his kids to be independent. But he admits to her he could do better.
* Editing choices: Two things I've noticed about the editing that differs from previous years: you hear more from the producers during the direct-to-camera comments. Also, the editors are playing more of what the ladies are ordering at the restaurants. That latter choice is almost distracting. Is it a way to keep the restaurants happy?
* Edging her way back in: And NeNe, who is estranged from all the regular housewives, makes her first attempt at reconciliation by going to Kandi. Kandi is game. They are clearly not going o be best buds but both women know: the show needs NeNe in the mix. NeNe keeps talking about her "spiritual advisor" who has made her a better person. In the promos, we finally meet said "spiritual advisor."
* Next week :The trailer also shows Dennis McKinley showing up at a therapy session with Porsha, discussion about Todd and his daughter and Kenya telling an attorney she has no pre-nup with Marc Daly. .
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