Big Rich Texas Season One Finale

Season One of Big Rich Texas is officially over.  Like any good "reality" show, there has been laughter and tears, cat fights and bear hugs, friendships formed and relationships torn apart. The girls gave us a lot to talk about over the last 8 episodes and it all culminated in a finale watching party hosted by Bonnie and Whitney on Sunday, October 2 at the Drama Room. 

A gay bar was an interesting place to hold a party for a show called Big Rich Texas, a show that revolved around life at a Country Club. But, that's Bon and Whitney for you. They sneer at protocol and thumb their nose at social expectations. It's part of their charm, so I can't say I was surprised.

This choice of venue prompted Dena Miller (who was originally cast on the show but bailed prior to filming) to post on Facebook, "I would love to plan your events in the future. I imagine red carpet class events for a show called Big Rich Texas with a cast of elite country clubbing socialites with much media in attendance. It was a fun party, but not what is to be expected. Would help if Style would actually host the events for you all like Bravo does Tara's show (Most Eligible Dallas). Something to be negotiated, perhaps?" Meow.

In attendance were fellow Mother/Daughter cast duos: Melissa and Maddie Poe and Connie and Grace Dieb.  When I asked Melissa if Pamela Martin-Duarte was coming, she said, "Ummm, no. In fact, Bonnie has told the club that she is NOT to be allowed in. She is banned from this event."  Really?!  There has been a lot of drama and accusation between Pam and Bonnie on the show. Honestly, I though they were playing it up for drama and ratings.  Apparently not.

During the commercial breaks, there was entertainment from drag queen, Dallas Sheraton.  Bon started the party by sashaying up to the dance floor with a handful of dollar bills for Dallas.  Not to be outdone, Grace and Whitney took their turns in a dance-off style performance as Dallas lip synced to Lady Gaga's "Born This Way".  Gotta love a good Drag Queen...

Click here to see lots more photos on Facebook

While all of the ladies have given Style their verbal wishes to return for Season Two, no one has actually signed a contract. Like I reported recently, they were definitely not compensated well for their time this season and now that they have proven themselves in the ratings, the ladies will be looking for some love... Pony up, Style Network! Let's keep our fingers crossed that it all works out.

The network has already cast one new Mother/Daughter duo to keep it fresh for next season  My sources tell me that they are from Grapevine, but I do not know exactly WHO it is.  As soon as I can figure it out... you will be the next to know!

Filming for Season Two begins in just a few weeks, so stay tuned!!

Big Rich Texas: Blinging for Charity

Fans of Big Rich Texas had the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with many of the cast members this past Sunday at a signing at Uptown Consignment - an upscale resale store owned by cast member, Connie Dieb.  For $35, you could purchase a blinged out Big Rich Texas Tee (as seen on Pam below) and have it autographed by the cast.  All proceeds from the sale of these shirts and a portion of sales from the store, went to benefit the Austin Street Centre.  I couldn't resist the opportunity to chat up the ladies about what's been happening on the show this season and get their thoughts on a Season 2...

Pamela Martin-Duarte, Connie Dieb, Grace Dieb, Maddie Poe and Melissa Poe

I was talking to Melissa Poe about Fashion's Night Out when a woman came up and said, "I just love your character on the show!". To which Melissa smiled and said "Thank you" and talked with her for a bit about the season. After the woman walked away, I asked Melissa and Pamela Martin (who had walked up on the conversation), "Is to weird to have someone say they like your "character"? I mean, you're playing yourself on the show - even though you are kind of acting and it's not really 100% you. Right?"

Melissa and Pam both agreed that it is a bit strange to be putting yourself out there when you are given scenarios to work with and a direction to aim for with each scene. They are being themselves, but sometimes they say things they wouldn't normally say or do things they wouldn't normally do because the Producers want the scene to go a certain way or for them to play up a certain dynamic.  Make sense? It can be confusing. Even to them!

Click here to see photos from this event on Facebook

Pam's probably the one who is most different from her TV persona. I have a great affinity for strong willed, ball-busting women to don't take any smack off people - but are very genteel about their approach. Think Steele Magnolias. That's Pam. She told me she's been watching old episodes of "Dallas" and using J.R. Ewing as the inspiration for her character.  She has a great sense of humor about the whole thing and said, "If you don't come into this (TV world) knowing who you are, you can get lost or confused pretty quick."

She was very excited to tell me that she is about to send off her second novel to her Publisher for release in the Spring. If you follow the show, you already know that she published her debut novel earlier this year. A political conspiracy thriller called "Hard Whispers".  This new book will be the second in the trilogy. 

Since Pamela and Hannah were cast right before they started filming, they weren't a part of the promotional photo shoot for the show. Hence their absence from this photo. I like that Pamela signed the bull. Sort of fitting...

Casting has already begun for Season Two of Big Rich Texas, so of course, I had to ask who had plans to return.  Connie, Melissa and Pam all raised their hands and said they were more than willing to return IF they could come to terms on their contract. And you know what that means.

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!  

You know how Ashton Kutcher just got signed to replace Charlie Sheen in Two and a Half Men for $700,000 an episode? You hear these things and you think that everyone on a TV gets paid oodles of moola. Well, you would be mistaken. It's not polite to talk about money, so I'm not going to say exactly how much they are getting paid, but you know that $700,000 figure I just told you about? Well, take off 2 decimal points and divide by half. Now, divide by half again and you know what ballpark they are playing in. With no gas, car or clothing allowance.

So, you can understand how, after a season of proven ratings, the ladies are looking for some love from the Style Network.  I hope that they all find the love they are looking for.  Because the Country Club just won't be the same with out them!   You can catch Big Rich Texas on the Style Network every Sunday at 9 PM.

About Austin Street Centre

The Centre's primary purpose for existence is to offer emergency shelter and related services to the homeless person in a compassionate Christian community, so that the person in need might be better able to make responsible choices and changes in their lives. The Centre has a particular ministry of caring for those who suffer from various physical and mental disabilities, unable to care for themselves, with few or no available alternatives. This includes 24-hour shelter care for those persons recovering from serious illness or injury.

Big Rich Texas: Weigh in on Episode Two

Last night's episode of Big Rich Texas was all about the beauty pageant circuit: Leslie is a pageant coach and one of her star pupils is her god-daughter, Kalyn.   Maddie and Grace decided they wanted a shot at a crown and decided to let Leslie teach them how to sparkle and shine on the pageant stage.

One of the first things Leslie instructed the girls to do was to lose 5 pounds.  Grace's Mom, Connie, mouthed to Melissa, "She can do it." Melissa, on the other hand, visibly recoiled at the idea.  The rest of the episode revolved around the three girls preparation of the event and their diet.

I knew this theme would strike a chord with female viewers, so I asked Melissa this morning how she felt about the episode.

Melissa and Maddie Poe

Q: I knew the topic of weight would be a hot topic among female viewers of this show. You were clearly uncomfortable with Leslie's suggestion that Maddie "lose 5 pounds" so that she would "look her best" for the pageant. How do you feel about the episode?


A:  "Overall, I'm very happy with Episode 2. As a society there's constant pressure our entire adult lives to look good, lose weight, etc, and then to have Leslie suggest to Maddie and the other girls to lost 5 lbs for a pageant was ridiculous.

Our teenagers shouldn't have to start at an early age being body-conscious...they'll learn those pressures soon enough in college. I never wanted Maddie to enter the pageant because that's not her, but she seemed excited to do it with Grace and Kalyn. So I gave in and let Maddie have that experience exactly the way she was without losing any weight. A few days before the pageant I could tell Maddie was having 2nd thoughts about it and I told her she didn't have to do the pageant but she seemed resigned to it. Once we arrived to the hotel on the day of the pageant, I was horrified at the ridiculousness of it....it was a joke of a pageant.   It felt like I was in a scene of another reality show called Toddlers & Tiaras which is a vulgar display of moms living vicariously through their little girls. (I'm with ya there, Melissa. I had the same thought!)

As the pageant day unfolded Maddie was even more set on leaving the pageant...she just didn't want to hurt Leslie's feelings. Once Maddie said the words 'I don't want to do this' I jumped on that opportunity to tell Leslie we would not be competing."

Q: Leslie gave you a lot of flak for not finishing to something you had committed to.  How do you respond to being called a quitter?

A: "I think, and would hope that any mom would support their child's feelings/decisions and have their back no matter what. Two lessons were learned in this episode: a)  For me, I learned that I know my daughter best and should never allowed her do the pageant because she is not a "pageant" girl and never will be. b) Maddie learned that she has the right to say no/change her mind even at the expense of disappointing an adult. Maddie felt good walking away from this episode because she remained true to herself.

What are your thoughts on this week's episode? Was it okay for Leslie to tell the girls that they could all stand to lose 5 pounds? Was it okay for Melissa to let Maddie bail on the competition after she had committed to it? Chime in!

Big Rich Texas: Red Carpet Party and Episode One Recap

There was not one, but two, premier parties tonight to celebrate the debut of Big Rich Texas on the Style Network.  I made The Office my first stop to catch up with Dr. Bonnie Blossman and her daughter, Whitney Whatley, along with Melissa and Maddie Poe.


  (left) Dr. Bonnie Blossman with daughter Whitney Whatley (right) Melisa and Maddie Poe
About halfway through the show, I made a mad dash across town to end the night with Connie Dieb at Komali, who opted to skip out on the large public party in lieu of a smaller, more intimate gathering with family and close friends.

Camille Umland, Abraham Salum with Connie Dieb

Click here to see photos from these events on Facebook

First off, let me just clue you in to a little something that you might not know. "Reality TV" is not always so real.  These shows are not exactly scripted, but not exactly spontaneous and unrehearsed. Big Rich Texas is no exception.  Most of the comments I get on posts about reality TV shows are talking about the cast being fake.  Well, duh! It's not that they are being fake, so much as they aren't being entirely real...

So, when you watch this show - enjoy it for what it is and what the producers want to portray: a good cat-fighting, back-stabbing, one-upping day at the country club between strangers pretending to be best friends. You'll like the show a whole lot more.

The very first scene is Leslie and Kalyn driving to the country club. Leslie says, "Anyone who is any body belongs to this club." Connie follows that up by saying, "It is the social place of Dallas."  The club they are referring to is Woodhaven  and I would be willing to bet my house that none of them are really members. Why? Because it's in Fort Worth! No person who lives in Dallas is hanging out at a Country Club in Ft. Worth which is a 45-minute drive on a good day.  No way. (Please refer to point made in previous paragraph about reality TV being fake.)

If you haven't figured it out yet, they were setting the stage for the premise of this whole show/season, which is about a group of Mothers and their daughters that will revolve around their life at this "elite" country club. 

Favorite lines from Episode One:

• "Keep your balls in your pants, Enrique!" yells Pam to a tennis Pro on the next court after Bonnie & Whitney lob several balls on her court and interrupt her game with Melissa.

• "I pulled out the dead husband card... that works every time." Leslie tells the camera about her attempt to sweeten up the Country Club's owner when they discuss her Membership request.

• "I like making people feel uncomfortable," pouts Whitney to the camera about having to mingle with the "snooty people" at the Club. "I do too!" interjects her Mom, Dr. Bonnie. Well, now we know why Whitney has 15 tattoos.  One of which (her favorite) is the word "See-U-Next-Tuesday" as Maddie so sweetly referred to it on the top of her foot. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

• "Bless her little heart".  The ladies teach Leslie how to insult someone the Southern way.  This phrase is now stuck in my head and you will be hearing me use it a lot on this blog - probably with regards to this show.

• "When I envisioned having the sex talk with Maddie," says Melissa to the camera, "I envisioned birds and bees. Not purple penises" talking about Maddie's visit to the OB-GYN and being taught how to put on a condom by her doctor.

• "If I can get that vile tattoo off her foot - I can deal with some luscious lips on my baby girl," says Bonnie about her offer of giving Whitney lip injections in exchange for having her vulgar tattoo removed.  

• "I don't know whether to greet you or dance under you," shrieks Pam to Bonnie about her hatred of her Nicole Miller dress. Personally, I liked it.

 So, let's dish.  Who did you love and who do you already hate? Are you Team Bonnie or Team Pam? Let the games begin!!  You can watch Big Rich Texas every Sunday on the Style Network.

Follow the Cast of Big Rich Texas

Set your DVR's!!  The Style Network's new show Dallas Divas and Daughters, Season 2 Big Rich Texas will air this Sunday. Here's how you can Tweet, Follow, Fan, Like, interact or just follow along to learn more about the new "stars" of this new docu-drama:

Big Rich Texas

Website

Official Facebook Fan Page

Twitter

Bonnie a.k.a Dr. Bon Blossman

Website

Facebook Fan Page

Twitter
YouTube 

Whitney Whatley
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter
Website 

Connie Dieb
Facebook Fan Page
Uptown Consignment Website

Grace Dieb
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

 Leslie Birkland
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

Kalyn Braun
Facebook Profile
Twitter

Pamela Martin Duarte
Facebook Profile
Twitter

 Hannah Gelbart Martin
Facebook Profile
Twitter

Melissa Poe
Website
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

Maddie Poe
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

"Team Melissa and Maddie" on Facebook

I've created a Twitter Cast List that you can follow to filter all of their tweets into one convenient stream. I have to warn you though... Bonnie is really the only one who utilizes Twitter and even she is not very prolific on the site.

Get Ready for Big Rich Texas on the Style Network!

We are about to be hit with a bevvy of new "reality" shows filmed here in Dallas.  The first one out of the gate will be Dallas Divas and Daughters, Season 2  Big Rich Texas.

Earlier this year, I brought you the news about this new docu-series.  Since that first post, there have been changes to the original cast.  

The cast of Season Two was initially told that the premise of this season would be a "Mother/Daughter show to showcase different parenting styles" and that it would be "completely different from last season's show" - hence the change of title - but it appears that the producers pulled a fast one and once they started filming it became apparent this was not the case.  It looks like this season will be just like Dallas Divas and Daughters, Season One, focusing on the interaction of the women, with little focus on their daughters, much less their parenting abilities.

I hear the cast was brought together before they started filming to meet each other and at the end of the day were told they were not allowed to exchange phone numbers or emails.  The producers wanted ZERO interaction off-camera from the cast.  But wait, the show makes it look like they are all friends who already know each other...

Are we really shocked to learn that reality TV is not always so real?  Hmmmm.





Seems a few of the ladies were upset about the lack of "reality" in this show and bailed completely or asked to have their roles lessened to make them less visible. 

So where's the shake-up?  Seems "Queen Bee" Dena and her daughter, Jade couldn't get outta this cast fast enough.  Southern Belles Paula, her daughter Shanelle and mom Althean also made a hasty retreat.  This left the show's producers scrambling for replacement families. And WOW!!!  Did they ever get a great replacement. Looks like they talked my favorite duo from DDD/Season One, Pamela Martin-Duarte and her daughter, Hannah, into coming back for more abuse screen time.  I know nothing about Leslie and Kayln. Will have to dig around...

Here's your final cast:

Bonnie

Bonnie has a PhD and three novels to her credit.  She was born into Dallas money but rejected the rules of a high-society lifestyle early on. Now a self-made millionaire, she wants back in, but she still wants to do things her way – along with her rebellious daughter Whitney.  They are quite a team, shopping and undergoing mother-daughter plastic surgery together.

Melissa

Former model Melissa is approaching 40 and hoping to get back on the catwalk.  15 year-old daughter Maddie is determined to have a say in her mother’s life including who she dates, and will do anything to get her way.  It’s a battle of wills between this mother-daughter duo as Maddie constantly tests her mother’s limits.

Connie

Recently divorced Connie is out to prove herself as an independent business owner with her designer consignment boutique business.  Her daughter Grace, a trendsetter and rule breaker, is determined to become the head cheerleader on one of the nation’s most prestigious high school cheerleading squads.  This pair likes to consider themselves more as best friends rather than mother and daughter.

Leslie

Leslie is Connie's cousin and a jet-setting pageant coach. She owns homes across the country but has recently moved to Dallas to take on the pageant capital by storm and launch the pageant career of her goddaughter, Kalyn.

Leslie is an unabashed, undeniable cougar, having dated the much younger Anthony Dorsett Jr., and an even younger golf pro at the club named AJ (who I am told isn't really even a golf pro, but was just cast for the show) . These aren't exactly the lessons Leslie wants to teach Kalyn, who has her own issues fitting in with the Texas elite.

Pamela

Married to a gorgeous, successful husband and mother to two beautiful daughters, Pamela calls it like she sees it...and calls it bluntly. She is an accomplished author, chairwoman of the Luxury Marketing Council and the epitome of southern class. Her connections and influence make her a center of power at the club, and she's determined to ensure her daughter Hannah follows in her footsteps.

After finishing her first year at college, Hannah is home for the summer and Pamela has decided to make Hannah her assistant. What better way to increase her daughter's profile in society - and keep a watchful eye on her. This duo should be familiar to Style viewers as they were last seen on the network's series Dallas Divas & Daughters.

"Big Rich Texas" begins airing Sunday, July 17 at 9:00pm ET/PT on The Style Network.

Cast of "Big Rich Texas" Stomp the Runway for Uptown Consignment

The older I get, the more I find myself turning into my Mother. A prime example of this fact, is that I cannot bear to pay retail for anything.  I am always on the prowl for a bargain and resale shopping is a great way find fantastic treasures at affordable prices.

One of my favorite fashion haunts is Uptown Consignment. Run by sisters Connie Dieb and Camille Umland, this little boutique is a gem of a store with fabulous finds.  They specialize in upscale lables and Estate Sale finds. They are all about quality over quantity making the store a pleasure to peruse.

 (top left) Photographer Beau Bumpas and Cynthia Smoot  (top right) Lisa Petty and Jim Duran

(botom) Eric Oliver, Jr., Cathy Vieth and Juan Lerma

The store celebrated it's one year anniversary by holding a runway show this past Thursday night. Grey skies caused a last minute venue switch from an outdoor rooftop show to an indoor venue downtown. Eric Oliver, Jr and Juan Lerma of Amrel Revilo Productions, who were producing the show, didn't even break a sweat with this left-field pitch. They were calm and collected when I saw them backstage, and just plain giddy to be a part of this exciting show.

 Big Rich Texas Cast (Moms): Melissa, Bonnie and Leslie

I thought they were all a-flutter becasue this was their second show as a company... but no! The real reason for all the back-stage drama was that the models for the runway show were none other than the cast of the Style Network's new reality show, Big Rich Texas. Otherwise known as Dallas Divas and Daughters, Season 2. The network hasn't determined what they are calling it.  Stylist Sam Saladino did an amazing job narrating the runway show with lively commentary about each outfit and it's model.

  Big Rich Texas Cast (Daughters): Maddie, Whitney and Grace

Click to peruse photos from this event on Facebook

Style reporter for The Feast, Lisa Petty looked redonkulous in a form-fitting Versace dress (on loan from Uptown Consignment) and Chic and Cheap blogger, Dora Chu and I had a lively conversation over whose outfit was a better bargain. She looked very chic in a Prada dress scored at Uptown Consignment, but I definitely had the better bargain with my $8 dress scored at the recent Rummage Roundup held by the Dallas Junior League.  So, we each won the argument on different points.  She had the better label, I had the better price point.

Congrats to Connie and Camille on their first birthday. Here's hoping for many fruitful years of bargain-hunting to come!

Uptown Consignment  |  4152 Cole Ave. at Fitzhugh  |  Dallas  |  75204

Get ready for cat fights and drama: "Big Rich Texas" has begun filming

Get ready folks... the reality TV train is steaming down the track full speed ahead. Dallas is about to get busy.

The Style Network recently announced a new Dallas reality show to their Fall line-up.  Gear up for Big Rich Texas – a one-hour docu-series with 10 episodes that will take viewers on the inside of the elite Dallas social scene following five rich and competitive mothers and their spoiled daughters. ("competitive" means there will be lots of "Oh no she did'unt" drama!)

"In addition to the one-of-a-kind personalities and 24/7 drama, what separates this series from the bunch is the unique focus on the mother-daughter relationships that fuel their lives,” says Salaam Coleman Smith, president, The Style Network.

Wait... this is the same network that aired Dallas Divas and Daughters which was a total disaster.  Do they really think by taking the same format and changing the show's title, it will fair better?  Interesting.

Style claims "the cast of "Big Rich Texas" is a Who's Who of Dallas’ elite inner circle". Uh-huh.

Queen Bee Dena is a former L.A. rock groupie who married into Texas money.  Her husband’s family struck it rich in Dallas real estate, and Dena is always bound and determined to be noticed among Dallas society.  Her daughter, Jade, claims to hate the country club lifestyle, but seems to enjoy the perks.  Dena and Jade have a complicated relationship, made even more so by Jade’s desire to forge her own identity outside of her mother’s demanding expectations.

Bonnie has a PhD and three novels to her credit.  She was born into Dallas money but rejected the rules of a high-society lifestyle early on. Now a self-made millionaire, she wants back in, but she still wants to do things her way – along with her rebellious daughter Whitney.  They are quite a team, shopping and undergoing mother-daughter plastic surgery together.

Southern Belles Paula, her daughter Shanelle and mom Althean represent three generations of Dallas society with three completely different points of view on practically everything.  Mom of five Paula sees herself as the perfect homemaker and mother, 16 year-old daughter Shanelle is going through her rebellious stage and at 65 years young, sexy grandma Althean is a self-made woman, the founder of an all-girls school and Dallas royalty.

Former model Melissa is approaching 40 and hoping to get back on the catwalk.  15 year-old daughter Maddie is determined to have a say in her mother’s life including who she dates, and will do anything to get her way.  It’s a battle of wills between this mother-daughter duo as Maddie constantly tests her mother’s limits.

Recently divorced Connie is out to prove herself as an independent business owner with her designer consignment boutique business.  Her daughter Grace, a trendsetter and rule breaker, is determined to become the head cheerleader on one of the nation’s most prestigious high school cheerleading squads.  This pair likes to consider themselves more as best friends rather than mother and daughter.

So, can you figure out who any of these families are by reading their names and descriptions? If so, let me know!  Filming began April 26.  Look for Big Rich Texas to premiere this July.