Jill Zarin: RHONY 'Enjoyable' Without Bethenny

Jill Zarin's friendship with Bethenny Frankel went down in flames on the last season of Real Housewives of New York.

What's the group dynamic nowadays -- with newcomer Cindy Barshop in and Frankel out?

The sixth season (premiering April 7) is "my favorite," Zarin told Us Magazine during a visit to the NYC headquarters with her sister, radio personality Lisa Wexler.

"Living through it was the most enjoyable season," Zarin. (Frankel now stars in her own Bravo series, Bethenny Ever After; waxing salon entrepreneur Barshop joins show vets Zarin, Sonja Morgan, Luann de Lesseps, Kelly Bensimon, Ramona Singer and Alex McCord.)

"I don't think Bethenny ever really fit into the group," Zarin tells Us. "She's found herself on her own show -- her own island. She self-admittedly doesn't like people [besides her husband Jason Hoppy and daughter Bryn, 10 months.]."

Credit: Us Magazine

If This Season Is Boring, No One Told RHONY

Worried that this season of Real Housewives of New York City won't be as juicy as years past? Consider your fears allayed, young Housewives fan, because Jill Zarin herself says, "It's the best season. By far, the best season we've ever done."

We talked to all the NYC Housewives about what's to come when the new episodes premiere, and they promise it's going to be a big year for everybody in the cast—but especially possibly engaged LuAnn de Lesseps, who says, "[I'm] working on my next song during the season…and my romance...I feel really lucky, and it's really going in a great direction."

Credit: E! Online (Jennifer Arrow)

Real Housewives of NY Premiere Date Finally Set

Get ready for more Big Apple drama, Housewives fans!

After a sudden schedule switcheroo in February that bumped the Real Housewives of New York City's fourth season premiere in favor of the Real Housewives of Miami's debut, the New York women finally have a premiere date.

Come April 7, Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, LuAnn de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Kelly Bensimon, Sonja Morgan and newcomer Cindy Barshop will be back on the air, the network announced via their BravoTV.com The Dish blog Monday.

"From the gang's glamorous jaunt to Morocco, to our already-favorite dig "thug in a cocktail dress" (delivered by the ultimate messenger, Alex McCord), to the Countess finding love again, the new season will definitely be worth the wait," the Bravo blog post read.

Brooklyn-based cast member McCord agrees, and tells Us Magazine fans should clear their calendars for Thursday nights.

"I think this is definitely the best season so far," McCord tells Us. "[But] there was no way they were going to get [editing] done in time."

The Real Housewives of New York City premieres April 7 at 10 p.m. (EST) on Bravo.

Credit: Us Magazine

Jill Zarin Doubts Her Friendship With Bethenny

Jill Zarin is having serious doubts her long-defunct friendship with former Real Housewives of New York City co-star Bethenny Frankel was ever real and tells Rob Shuter it was just a "TV romance" that went bad. Real bad.

"The truth is, I don't even remember being friends with her anymore," Jill tells him on his HDNet show. "You know, when I see her picture and when I see her on TV, I don't even remember our relationship. Which kinda says something."

The pair's friendship went down in flames during the third season of the hit show, with numerous on-air blowups leading to a full scale feud between the two. It probably didn't help that Jill accidentally broke the news of the birth of Bethenny's baby last year on Twitter.

But after many attempts to patch things up, it's pretty clear things are kaput for good for these ex-BFF's and Jill tells me she's fine with it because they didn't exactly have long history. "People thought we came into the show with that romance," she said. "We didn't. We fell in love on TV and we got a divorce on TV."

Now a year later, she's not even sure she and the Bethenny Ever After star were chums to begin with! "It was real! Well, I thought the friendship was real. Clearly, it was not."

Credit: Pop Eater (Rob Shuter)

Jill Zarin Visits FOX Studios' Good Day NY

Jill Zarin was all smiles as she left FOX studios earlier this morning, March 2, 2011. The Real Housewives of New York star was there taping a segment for Good Day NY (see video below).

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by Bauer Griffin

Kelly Bensimon Supports Jill At Book Signing

Jill Zarin, Gloria Kamen and Lisa Wexler promoted their book 'Secrets of a Jewish Mother' at Borders Columbus Circle on March 1, 2011 in New York City. Fellow Real Housewives of New York star Kelly Bensimon was on hand hand as well.

Credit: Getty Images

Bethenny Frankel Talks Marriage, Reality Show

Last night marked the second season premiere of Bethenny Frankel's spinoff Bethenny Ever After, so to promote the big event Bethenny participated in a media call to address baby Bryn, the Real Housewives marriage curse, why she decided to come back for Season 2 and, of course, Jill Zarin.

What was behind your decision to keep doing the show? One would imagine it gets increasingly more difficult to have a camera crew following you around your home as you add a family and more people to your immediate lives.

Bethenny: Well, it gets more difficult and, without getting into the details of my relationship with Bravo, I have a commitment. It's not like you get to be like, I want to do one season and then, you've spent all this money on advertising and crew and all of that and we're done. [But] will I be doing this forever? No.

You've mentioned how you feel the obligation to allow the cameras to film your natural daily life. But is there anything that you and Jason have drawn the line at?

Bethenny: You know, it's not that I want them to be in here every time I go to the bathroom. It's that if he and I in general have had the same argument six times over about marriage or money or life or in-laws or something, at some point I want to let the cameras catch that because I just hate when you watch these shows and someone's, like, broken up with their boyfriend and you see them laying there in full makeup pretending that they're sad. I just want it to be real and if we're going to do this at all and we're going to portray our relationship I want people to get the whole picture.

As you know, a lot of Real Housewives marriages have broken up and you've seen it on the show. Was there at all a concern over kind of that Housewives curse?

Bethenny: I mean listen, the Housewives could ruin a lot of things. I'm very happy that I'm not on the Housewives anymore because it's just a whole different place. But my show, I'm an executive producer. I'm involved in decisions -- nothing gets shot if I don't know it's getting shot. And if Jason and I became unhappy as a result of the show or there were problems we wouldn't do it.

Jason was on a season of Real Housewives of New York. Were there problems then?

Bethenny: Listen, my boyfriend first season did not want to be on the show, did not think it was a good idea, had no interest in it. Jason and I could never have stayed on the Housewives together. He's like 'I don't like these women. I don't like what this represents. It's nonsense and it's just catty and it's' -- you know, he hated it.

Were there any moments shooting this season where you were thinking, I wish the cameras weren't here? Like when Bryn's changing or crying?

Bethenny: No, because then it wouldn't be real and it wouldn't be a good show. No, not at all. Especially with her, no, she's just a nice, easy kid. But no, it's just been great. I don't regret anything because could you imagine if I just kept out everything that was embarrassing or my breakdown on my birthday or me uncomfortable with Jason's parents or whatever, then it'd be a terrible show.

As far as your relationships with the other Housewives, has Jill Zarin met Bryn?

Bethenny: No, Jill has not met Bryn, no. That's not even a hard one, that's an easy one.

Credit: Televsion Without Pity (Mindy Monez)

Jill Zarin's Skweez Couture Launch At RdV

The Meatpacking District was Housewife central last night thanks to Jill Zarin, who launched her Skweez Couture line at club RdV. A bevy of Real Housewives of New York City cast members came out to support her plus one Jersey Housewife - Dina Manzo.

"The inspiration was myself and my daughter," explains Jill regarding her new shape wear line. "We couldn't really find something sexy and comfortable that fit all our needs. I've been in the upholstery business for 20 years—before I retired—and I went back into the business with my partner Greg to try out hosiery. Together we formed an incredible collection of 25 looks, from leggings to corsets to bodysuits, everything, and it comes in five skin-tones, plus black, so it really covers the gamut of all ethnicities."

Credit: Racked (Fawnia Soo Hoo)

Jill Zarin Walks The Runway For Zang Toi Fall '11

Jill Zarin of the Real Housewives of New York walked the runway for designer Zang Toi at his fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Studio at Lincoln Center on February 13, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by Jemal Countess/Getty Images North America

Jill & Bobby Zarin: Betsey Johnson Fall 2011

Jill Zarin and Bobby Zarin of the Real Housewives of New York attended the Betsey Johnson Fall 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theatre at Lincoln Center on February 14, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images North America

Alex McCord: "We Go to the Brink of Insanity!"

The Real Housewives are about to get real ugly.

Real Housewives of New York City star Alex McCord says this season viewers will see some extreme craziness go down—even with Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin's fighting done—because all is not rosy between the seasoned Housewives and new castmember Cindy Barshop.

"Oh, it's not one epic fight, it is 100 fights," McCord told us. "We're comfortable enough with each other now that it's no holds barred. I did not know Cindy before. You'll have to see what happens with her and everyone."

And where does her husband, Simon, fit in to all of this?

Simon says he's still pressing buttons, annoying the other wives—including Barshop—and, as usual, tagging along with his wife for this season.

"On Cindy all I can say it's really hard to come into a mature cast that has been around each other for four years," he told us today at the Cynthia Steffe show at Lincoln Center. "It takes a while to work out how to avoid the drama."

Alex says one incident reaches such madness that "you can't make up what happens."

"People go all the way to the brink of insanity and back and there and back again," she told us.

Bravo honcho and Watch What Happens host Andy Cohen also weighed in on the Housewives rumors from the front row at the Diane Von Fürstenberg show today. He assures us rumors of the show being pushed back because of problems with a boring plot are not true.

"It's great, it's an amazing season, we just wrapped three weeks ago, we really wanted to get it perfect and we had Miami sitting on the shelf," he told E! News. "It's great, we all love it. Bethenny and Jill had their own drama. What's interesting about the premiere is the dust is still settling on that feud so it's interesting to see how these women are picking it back up."

Credit: Marianne Garvey for E! Online

'Real Housewives Of New York' Valentine’s Day!

It’s sure going to be one beautiful Valentine’s Day for the gals of the cast of the Real Housewives of New York City! Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan, Kelly Bensimon, Alex McCord, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and Jill Zarin all share their plans for the special day with Hollywood Life exclusively!

Here’s what they’re all up to:

Ramona Singer: “I actually celebrated Valentine’s Day early with my husband Mario,” Ramona says. “I gave Mario a present. We got a double massage for two hours last weekend at the Equinox in a private room and shared a bottle of champagne. Because Valentine’s is on Monday, we are going out on Saturday night with four other couples for dinner. On Monday we are taking our daughter Avery (because she is the other woman in Mario’s life) to a nice dinner.”

Sonja Morgan: “I’m going to get my guy some red hot and white cashmere socks, and three long stems roses,” Sonja notes. “The rest I’ll leave up to your imagination.”

Kelly Bensimon: “My valentines are my two girls,” Kelly gushes. “I like to surprise them with some fun sweeties. Sea wants chocolates. Teddy wants gummy bears. Fortunately I love both!”

Alex McCord: “With Simon and I, every day is Valentine’s Day,” Alex rubs it in. “So we don’t do anything special on V-day. But now that our kids are getting older, they are starting to share Valentines with their friends at school. We sit at the table and go over the cards with the kids. We also had a romantic night on Feb. 10 (that was not V-Day related) where we cooked each other a big meal after the boys went to bed. Neither of us are big on the commercial V-day thing.”

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps: “I’m being surprised — it’s killing me,” LuAnn shares with us. “LuAnn is being ’surprised’ for Valentine’s Day by her boyfriend, Jacques,” confirms her rep. “She has no idea what the plans are! And then next weekend, she is taking her daughter Victoria for a girls’ weekend out in Miami.”

Jill Zarin: “Jill plans on spending a romantic evening at home with her husband Bobby and modeling the new lace design of her Skweez Couture shapewear,” Jill’s rep tells us. “Bobby always starts Valentine’s early by sending flowers a few days prior. The first bouquet of 500 imported french red roses arrived on Feb. 11.”

Credit: Lindsey DiMattina for Hollywood Life

Jill Zarin Attends The QVC 25 To Watch Party

Real Housewives of New York star Jill Zarin attended the QVC 25 to watch party at 229 West 43rd Street on February 11, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by Ben Hider/Getty Images North America

Ramona Singer Explains RHONY Show Delay

The Real Housewives of New York star Ramona Singer tells E! News that there is "no truth" to reports that the Bravo hit's new-season premiere was pushed back because it was boring and needed major retooling. She also says this season's better without her real-life pal and former castmate, Bethenny Frankel.

"No truth to it," she says of the reports the show is being overhauled due to a lack of drama.

"How could it be boring? Am I boring? I could never be. It really is everyone's scheduling. Everyone has different schedules and things going on and we are working on it."

Singer, speaking to us today at Lincoln Center during New York's Fashion Week, goes on to suggest that the upcoming edition is "the best one yet."

"Oh my gosh, this is the best season ever, because there's no evil drama," Singer says. "People ask will the show be good without Bethenny on it, but I think the show will be better because she made it too dark. She and [BFF-turned-nemesis] Jill Zarin made it too dark with the fighting."

Singer says she knows there has to be some drama to keep viewers interested, and it's certainly not all lollipops and satchels of gold among the current castmembers—it's just a different, softer dynamic.

"I'm not saying there's not going to be fighting, but we make up at the end of the day. We all get along, but at the end of the day we can all drink Ramona Pinot Grigio together."

And Singer promises it's going to air.

"I'm telling you, I know, I filmed it," she says. "This is the best season yet. We're in Morocco and it's better than Sex and the City."

Credit: Marianne Garvey for E! Online

Jill Zarin: Macy's Bar III Pop-Up Shop Launch

Jill Zarin of the Real Housewives of New York attends the launch party for Macy's Bar III Pop-Up Shop at 156 Fifth Ave on February 9, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Wire Image

Kelly Bensimon & Jill Zarin: Knicks Bowl 12

Kelly Bensimon and Jill Zarin attended the Knicks Bowl 12 at the Chelsea Piers bowling lanes on February 7, 2011 in New York City. Also pictured, Amare Stoudemire.

Credit: Getty Images