"Real Housewives of New York" is getting a facelift. For Season 5, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps will be joined by Aviva Drescher, Heather Thomson and Carole Radziwill. The new trio replace former cast members Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, Kelly Bensimon and Cindy Barshop.
After fours seasons of drama, Turtle Time, trip meltdowns, dance songs and so much more, Aviva, cousin to "The Nanny's" Fran Drescher, said agreeing to the do the show wasn't the easiest decision.
Advertisement
"It was a very difficult decision to make, actually," Aviva told The Huffington Post on the red carpet of the 2012 TV Land Awards in April. "I don't want to pat myself on the back here, but it takes tremendous courage to go forward -- you're putting it all out there. Everyone knows the 'Housewives' get hung up by their toenails, I luckily only have five, so I can only get strung up by five. [Note: Aviva had her left leg amputated after a childhood accident and wears a prosthetic leg.] I think, ultimately, for me, it was a no risk, no reward kind of go forth with it. It really is a great platform to get a message out. It was a very, very difficult decision."
As with any cast shake up, there was some difficulty adjusting to the new faces, said Sonja -- who has been a part of "Real Housewives of New York" since Season 3. "Well, it was exhausting at first," she said. "You know, growing pains to incorporate three new people. It's always hard when you have one new person, but after we got in the swing of things, it was fine."
Sonja, who called her new castmates "fantastic," said she bonded with the new "Housewives" additions. "I'm the kind of person -- I meet people to like them, so anybody I meet, I bond instantly," she said. "In my heart, I'm kind of like Ramona. I'm a big mushy and love to love you right away, but once you like, cross me and I don't trust you anymore, then it's like 'OK.' The only difference is Ramona, she gets really upset and she doesn't let it go. Me? I'm sort of like, 'OK! Check. Done. Moving on.'"
Aviva said the veteran cast members were open to the three new castmembers. "There's definitely a lot of drama and you're definitely going to have to wait and see for all the drama, but I would say there was a warm welcome from all the oldies," she said.
Advertisement
On Season 5, the women of "Real Housewives of New York City" will hit the road once again, this time more than once. And like Scary Island and Morocco before it, the trips in Season 5 are filled with drama and yes, more meltdowns.
"It's horrible," Sonja said of the meltdown to come. "It's like, I don't even really believe it happened. It was on the trip, the last trip. I don't even believe it myself and I hope I never see anything like it again."
Sonja teased the epic moment led to her having one herself.
"I had a mini meltdown," she said. "Somebody had a huge meltdown and then I had a mini meltdown 'cause I couldn't believe I wanted to get to know them and trusted them and then I was like, 'Whoa!'"
The Season 3 trip to Scary Island gave viewers the wonderful term (and moment) known as "Turtle Time," and from a scene in the trailer, it looks like the new cast members meet Ramona and her pinot. "You were more drunk than I ever imagined myself in college," Aviva tells Ramona. When asked if she experienced "Turtle Time" during her time on the show, Aviva was happy to confirm.
"I have, I have. Yes, yes, yes," she said. "Tune in, tune in!"
"Real Housewives of New York City" returns Mon., June 4 at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
Real Housewives of New York City
Advertisement
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.