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BH Producers

The Art of Storytelling

Showrunner Dave Ruppel talks about how it's the fun stuff, not the fights, that makes for an excellent series.

Dec 3, 2010

Welcome back, RHBH fans! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday, and that you are ready for more Beverly Hills fun.

First off, I want to answer a few questions from the last episode – part 2 of the NYC trip.

Many asked about the dress in the glass case in Adrienne Maloof's bedroom. It is indeed Adrienne's wedding dress. I know so many women who save their wedding dresses in a box out-of-sight. Kinda cool that Adrienne can keep hers out on display for her always to be able to see.

Lots of comments still not believing we didn’t shoot the initial Camille/Kyle dispute in Vegas. I can promise you that we didn't, and no one wishes we did more than Camille and Kyle. But for more in-depth discussion, please go back to my fifth blog, "Working Overtime," in which I discuss at great length why we weren't filming that day.

And finally, the posters--at least on my blog--seemed to be split about either a) loving the NYC drama, or b) feeling disappointed that these classy ladies also fight like all the other franchises.

So this week's blog is going to be about storytelling.

We came into RHBH determined to tell full and character-driven stories that weren't limited to cat-fights. True, conflict is an inherent part of any form of entertainment. From ancient Greek plays, to Shakespeare, to Mark Twain, to soap operas to yes, reality shows. Conflict = drama.

That said, there are many other ways to entertain an audience without watching people fight. And that's what this week's episode is all about. The humor. The glamour. Some romance. And yes, even a little drama.

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That's so sweet that you are defending Camille. How do you feel about her throwing you all under the bus, saying you are "portraying" as a villain and misrepresenting who she is?

Thank you for an episode that was diva drama free. Sure everyone likes drama but if the show were going to stay on the path of A Day in the Life of Queen Camille and Her Subjects, the channel would be changed soon.

This was the most enjoyable episode of the season because of the fun, the true family stories - both with issues, decisions, time together and laugh out loud moments.

Paul and Adrienne's anniversary was so fun to be a part of, especially when you see how much Paul put into making sure that the girl that can afford to get herself any gift she could want, was actually genuinely surprised by a gift she truly adored.

Mauricio and Kyle - what can you say, a very perfectly matched couple that hasn't let it all go to their head.

Lisa and Ken - Lisa went to so much trouble to set up the blind date for Kim. What a true friend trying to make it beautiful, warm and inviting and easy going to take the nerves off of a difficult situation.

Lisa & Ken, when your home sells, and you're looking for a change, come join us in our neck of the woods. Anyone would love to have you as neighbors.

Thank you producers for the best episode yet. The previews for next week seem to have someone rehashing the same old dead horse again but thank goodness the producers have seen that the viewers are growing weary of that story line.

Your blog provides very interesting insights. Always a pleasure to read. And yes, I will be shocked if I find myself feeling sympathetic towards Camille. I'm thinking it's not going to happen, though. She has already shown us who she is.

Love your blog and thanks so much for sharing such amazing insight and empathy!

I love this blog and your insight into what's going on in the background. I appreciate the objectivity and your slant on the women's personalities.

love your blog. So insightful.

LOVE this blog! Such a great idea to have production have their own blog to give viewers a real inside look at our fave beverly hills ladies. I can't imagine how incredible the mansion must have been to shoot in! Jaw dropping indeed. Loved the footage of the expanse of the home. It looked like a palace! The ladies were in fine shape yesterday. So fun to watch as always. I may be one of the minorities who doesn't mind a bit of drama here and there. But episodes like last night when it was all about glitz and glamour and over the top extravagance are such a great escape on a cold nyc thursday evening. Please keep these awesome insights coming! I read this every Friday morning!

This is by far my favorite blog- I love hearing about how things actually come into being! I have a question about the opening sequence. On other RH series, it shows the women and their husbands/children in the background. Why was this done differently for the RHOBH? Thanks! :)

I love the RH shows when they are more focused on the everyday life. It's fun seeing them go shopping and spending time with the people they are close to. That's the reason I watch, to see their world. Not for drama! I cannot stand when you have episodes of any of the RH series that is all focused on the negative. I love watching what they buy, wear, drive and their houses. Please keep showing more of that!

Totally agree with your fav moments- I loved the scene with Kim and Kyle and that ridiculous treatment (which I totally want to do btw) because it was such an endearing moment with the two of them. I also felt really bad for Taylor when she was at the doctor's office, then more badly when she told Russell and he was completely unsupportive and unhelpful, then even worse when she was talking to Kyle about her marriage and asked when Jyle and Mauricio started to become friends!?!?!?! Umm....geezus, not a good sign Lady. I felt so bad for her! My favorite part, though brief, was Lisa's prank on Cedric. I mean, that's just funny. And Cedric seems like a good sport. And you gotta pay rent somehow right? Best line of the evening: [Who knew under all that dynamite was such a short fuse] OH Lisa, how I adore you.

Thank you for making this episode drama free! That is why I LOVE this version of the series. I have enough drama in my own life. I watch the RHBH to escape all of that. I want to see the cast live the glamorous life, interact with their friends and family, play jokes, and go shopping. Please keep the drama to a minimum. You really don't need it with this one.

Camille really doesn't add anything to the show. She isn't even one of those people that viewers "love to hate", like Phaedra on RHOA. Phaedra comes off as status obsessed and a bit delusional, but her on screen antics are at least funny to watch. Camille, on the other hand, continues to make comments about the "status" of her husband and by association, herself. Does Camille realize that most of the people viewing this show probably make as much money in a month as she spends in one shopping trip? While obviously all of the ladies on the show are wealthy, Camille is the only one who seems to think that this money makes her better than others. Please lose Camille next season, it's gotten to the point where I literally change the channel each time she comes on screen. On a more positive note, Kyle and Lisa are my favorite housewives ever and the rest of the ladies are fun to watch too.

I really did enjoy this week's episode because it showed a lot of the women and their lives. It was fun to watch and amazing to see Mohammed's home! Just stunning. Watching Kim and Kyle is heartwarming. I was one of the people concerned that the season might be all about the misunderstanding between Camille and Kyle and although I know there will be more about it, I'm sure you will have more episodes like this one where we can just laugh and get a glimpse of these remarkable women. Nice job!

I have to say, I am a huge fan of every season of RH-excluding Atlanta, and Jersey-but this is my favorite BY FAR! I think the women are much more classy and respectable than the women in the other seasons. Jersey was nearly unbearable to watch. It is all the same: let's pick on Danielle (and no, I'm not sticking up for the woman, I hate her). Orange Co. and NYC have been my favorites throught their seasons, but I have to admit, Beverly Hills has won my top vote!

Thank you Bravo for adding these type blogs to the shows - i love love love having what feels like a "behind the scenes" look at what is going on. It adds to my conversations about the show with my friends after they air bc i can say "well i read on the blog, blah blah"

I"m enjoying the behind the scenes look as much as I love the show. Keep doing what youre doing!

Great show last night. It was such fun to have a glimpse of the ultra rich. Although my husband recognized Mohammad from business and gave my watching some sort of validity. It was nice to see everyone enjoying life instead of fighting or whining. Get real if you can't find happiness in this situation where can you? Reality is not much fun except on T.V.

Great blog - Love the backstory. Thanks to Bravo for making the effort to at least explain the drama. I think that no matter how privileged these women are, this season, we are all able to relate to their pain, as well as their joy. No matter how much or little we have, we are all equal inside.

When everyone has a mic on and they are all being filmed like at the dinner party, what happens when different conversations are going on in different areas at the same time. For example when Kyle and Mauricio were in the background talking to each other and Paul called them over. What about when Kim was talking to that man when she went missing. Do you have them turn off their mics if they leave the room?

You are a great blogger very entertaining and to the point. Keep up the good work. I think every show should have producers blog.

Beverly Hills is the most entertaining out of the Housewives franchise.

couldn't have said it better myself.

Hi, I have enjoyed your blog a lot - especially with all the side stories. My few questions for you are about Mohamad. After seeing his huge mansion and his charming demeanor, I can't help but think of him as a Gasby character - dashing, lonely and extremely intrigue. I so much love watching the party at his house and the sight of his 9' tall GF. What is his background? What is the source of his wealth? And what on earth does he do with that big pile of brick - does he have a big family/children? Pls pls provide some goodies on him. The other person that am curious about is Martin. What does he do? I love this show as it really gives us folks a glimpse at BH fancy lives.

I have to be honest Dave, I'm about over the housewives of BH!!

Please continue blogging every episode. This blog is the most entertaining of all the blogs. Did Mauricio sell Mohamed's mansion after the filming of the show?

Standing up for Camille was classy. I am not a fan of her behavior, yet I am impressed by your loyalty toward her. I stopped dating women when I was thirty five and switched to guys. When I see how these women behave, I am confident I made a good decision. I do wish that that at least once that requisite gay hanger-on in every HW series, could avoid wearing women's clothes. I get that a lot of gay men feel the need, but just once, I would like people to see that we are not all a charicature. If Cedric really wanted to dress up like a woman for the Roaring 20s party, then more power to him, but why can't the token gay guy on the series be a masculine man who suggests something worth emulating? I am not offended that any particular gay cast member is effeminate, but I am offended that all of them are. Believe it or not, not every gay man has some deep set desire to be a woman.