New York Housewives Want To Make You Sweat

The stars of Real Housewives of New York City get plenty of exercise shopping, pointing fingers, flipping their hair and catfighting. But sometimes, they've got to do a little bit more to really feel the burn.

Out promoting NBCUniversal's Healthy Step-a-Thon in Times Square, Kelly Bensimon, Jill Zarin, Ramona Singer, Alex McCord, Cindy Barshop and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps opened up about the workout and diet routines they follow to maintain their—love 'em or hate 'em—toned and slim selves.

"I do work out a lot compared to some people," LuAnn says, describing her Pilates-tennis-crosstraining routine.

And whether it's Ramona's attempt to work out in heels, Jill promoting her new line of shapewear or Cindy showing off her Jimmy Choo sneakers and emphasizing the importance of spray tans (instead of real ones) and drinking lots of water, all of the regimens sound about right for the Housewife in question.

"If I walk home, that'll be the best exercise ever, but I'll probably take a car service," laughed Jill.

"It's definitely bikini time, so it's not just about being fit, it's about looking hot," Kelly admitted.

Credit: E! Online (Natalie Finn)

Photos by Wire Image

McCord van Kempens: 'Judy Moody' Screening

Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen with their sons Francois and Johan attend the "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" screening at Museum of the Moving Image on May 21, 2011 in the Queens Borough of New York City.

Credit: Wire Image

McCord van Kempens: HomeGoods Opening

Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen attend the grand opening celebration of HomeGoods first Manhattan location at HomeGoods on May 19, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by Jason Kempin/Getty Images North America

The NY Housewives Cast Could Be Replaced

Look out Jill, Ramona, LuAnn, and Alex -- according to a new report, you're all on the chopping block.

Bravo executives were so overwhelmed with the success of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills -- their season finale was the highest-rated episodes in Housewives history -- they're looking at revamping the NYC franchise with all super-wealthy women with over-the-top lifestyles.

Producers believe that the hotel-sized mansions, stretch limos, diamonds, private jets, and record-setting divorce settlements that are part of the Bev Hills housewives' world, that made the show so appealing. They think the NYC show would perform better with that same feel.

So if you have Adrienne Maloof of Camille Grammer-size bank accounts, live in Manhattan, and have always wanted to be on reality TV, you may be in luck, reports The New York Post.

"We're always casting for new housewives in every city," a Bravo rep conceded to The Post. Would the cable net do a wholesale housecleaning and start the NYC show over with an entirely new cast? "We've never done that before," is all the rep would say.

Credit: Radar Online

The McCord van Kempens Go For A Walk

Real Housewives of New York City star Alex McCord and her husband Simon Van Kempen take their sons Francois and Johan for a walk in New York City on May 7, 2011.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by PacificCoastNews.com

The McCord van Kempens: "Design On A Dime"

Simon Van Kempen and Alex McCord attend 7th Annual Housing Works Design on a Dime charity shopping event at Metropolitan Pavilion on May 5, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Wire Image

Alex McCord: Use Your Head Shop For A Cause

Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen attended the Use Your Head, Shop For A Cause benefit at 262 Mott Street on May 4, 2011 in New York City. She donated the dress she wore to Sonja's cocktail party.

Credit: Wire Image

Alex McCord Sounds Off On 'NYC Housewives'

Whether she's calling Sonja Morgan a "thug in a cocktail dress" or dressing down Jill Zarin for being a phony, the usually reserved Alex McCord has been killing us with her newfound chutzpah on Real Housewives of New York City. And she's no less cheeky when it comes to fielding our questions about life as a Housewife.

TV Guide Magazine: Gotta say, you are sassy this season!
McCord: [Laughs] I've always been empowered. It's just that now you're seeing it on TV.

TV Guide Magazine: Do you think your friendship with former Housewife Bethenny Frankel changed you?
McCord: My metamorphosis, if you want to call it that, had nothing to do with anything other than my being fed up. In the real world, it might be enough to think someone's an idiot. But on reality TV, you sort of have to beat them over the head with it. Otherwise, they don't know.

TV Guide Magazine: And who is the biggest idiot you have to deal with on the show?
McCord: I can't tell you! That's a spoiler!

TV Guide Magazine: Has it gotten old, always being filmed?
McCord: The more I do this, the more fun it's becoming. One thing that I think makes New York special is that we still have four original cast members left. What that means is whether we like each other or not, we have a shared history of four years. We know where each other's buttons are and how to push them. That makes for magical TV. All you have to do is get us in a room and turn the cameras on.

TV Guide Magazine: So after four years, would you consider any of your fellow cast mates real friends?
McCord: [Laughs] Some yes, some no. The entire group is one dysfunctional sorority. It's Kappa Kappa Housewives.

The Real Housewives of New York City airs Thursdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

Credit: TV Guide (Damian Holbrook)

The McCord van Kempens Want Gay Marriage

Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen are adamantly in favor of same-sex marriage, which will come up in the new season of Real Housewives of New York, particularly at a marital equality rally they appeared at along with other notables.

On the phone yesterday, the duo filled me in on their viewpoints.

Simon van Kempen: On a show like Real Housewives, we have a broad audience. We tend to stay away from issues because they're interested in us because we're crazy and wear red leather pants.

Alex McCord: They don't want us to be Sean Penn. But this is civil rights! This is a cause that we feel passionate about. The number one thing is it's not fair! My best friend from college shot a playdate with us on the show. I've been with him as his life was changed when got married in Vermont, and then again in Massachusetts when they moved there. One of the things that broke my heart is he'd gotten a dream job offer, but it was in a state he couldn't move to because his husband wouldn't have gotten health benefits and so on!

Simon: I came to the states almost 10 years ago for a three-week business trip. I met Alex. Fortunately for me, the Alex I met was Alexandra, not Alexander. I moved to the states and eventually got my U.S. citizenship. But if it was Alexander, our love would have been screwed. It's ridiculous that in 2011, there are people split up who can't live their lives because of the government!

Credit: The Village Voice (Michael Musto)

Alex McCord Dishes On RHONY's New Season

When Bravo delayed the premiere of the fourth season of the Real Housewives of New York from February until April, it seemed producers were concerned with early reactions to the show. However, Housewife Alex McCord tells In Touch that such rumors were "started by gossip columnists" and that the upcoming season is full of drama.

"It's not about one Greek tragedy, because I know that viewers got kind of bored with that last time," Alex told In Touch at Cat Ommanney's Inbox Full book launch party on March 3. "It's a series of explosions, one after the other."

As for the newest addition to the cast, Housewife Cindy Barshop will have a tough time replacing fan favorite Bethenny Frankel.

"She is certainly not the same as Bethenny — neither better nor worse," she said. "Everyone brings their own thing, and she definitely brings something to the cast."

This season, Jill Zarin, Ramona Singer, LuAnn de Lesseps and Alex all return as members of the original cast, making the NYC Housewives the most consistent of all the spin-offs.

"We all go in deep with each other because we all have a history together now," Alex said. "We know where everybody's buttons are — and I think that this is our best season yet!"

Credit: In Touch Weekly

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

The McCord van Kempens At "Inbox Full" Party

Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen of the Real Housewives of New York attended Cat Ommanney's 'Inbox Full' book party at Ted Gibson Salon on March 3, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Getty Images