The Real Housewives franchise has had their fair share of "friend of's" who have fit in so seamlessly with the cast's dynamic that they get upgraded to full-time cast members. We saw this with Angie Katsanevas from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Marlo Hampton from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and, of course, Sutton Stracke from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. This past season of RHOBH, we saw Sutton take on a friend of her own — Jennifer Tilly.
Jennifer is an actress, best known for her role as Tiffany Valentine in the Child's Play franchise. She was married to Sam Simon, the co-developer of the hit sitcom series The Simpsons. Jennifer has delivered an energy unlike anything we've ever seen before on RHOBH. She avoided the drama, delivered an infectious sense of humor, and brought us into her life of true luxury. With Garcelle Beauvais making her RHOBH exit, there's a diamond up for grabs — and I think Jennifer is the perfect person to snag it.
Jennifer Tilly's Positive Energy Is Infectious
Although Jennifer came onto the show as Sutton's friend, she quickly became friends with the whole RHOBH cast. Her kind-hearted spirit and ability to relate to the ladies has made her one of the most watchable parts of the show. On the cast's trip to Oceanside, Dorit Kemsley opened up about her ongoing separation from her husband Paul "PK" Kemsley, and Erika Jayne became vulnerable about her struggles in her divorce from Tom Girardi. Jennifer sympathized with both the ladies, and related to the lasting stress divorce causes.
Regardless of her bestie Sutton's differences with Dorit, she never joined in on Sutton's attacks. She was able to be kind to Dorit, and at the same time wholeheartedly support Sutton. Jennifer never got involved in any of the drama, and instead, simply watched from the sidelines. She was able to put preconceived notions aside and have a good time with all the ladies. Her positive and uplifting energy is infectious. Whenever I see her on screen, I laugh with her. I want to see more women like Jennifer on Real Housewives.
Jennifer Tilly's Sense of Humor Is Unmatched
If Jennifer's kind-hearted spirit wasn't enough to win you over, her sense of humor sure is. A housewife has never made me laugh more than Jennifer. Her humor really tends to shine in her confessionals. In Oceanside, Kyle and Dorit got into a spat with each other at the dinner table. Jennifer, who was sitting right beside Dorit, was only concerned about her food. In her confessional, she says "I am just hoping it'll die down soon so I can have my dinner." The confessional cuts to Jennifer at the table, who says "food tastes better when you eat it with your hands." Her out-of-pocket comment made for the most perfectly timed comedic relief.
At Bozoma’s Saint John's spa day, Kyle dramatically storms off set after showing the ladies her texts with Dorit's husband. After Kyle leaves, the ladies debrief about what just went down. Jennifer doesn't really have much to contribute to the conversation, so instead she hilariously blurts out, “I wonder if there’s any delicious coffee in the kitchen.” Although she doesn't get involved in the drama, she makes up for it by dissolving the tension with a little laughter. I can't watch the ladies attack each other, and gossip about one another non-stop. There needs to be fun, lighthearted moments — and that's what Jennifer can bring more of into the series as a full-time cast member.
Jennifer Tilly Lives A Life of Luxury — But She Isn't Pretentious
Although the ongoing complaint surrounding The Real Housewives franchise is that many of the women cast aren't actually all that wealthy, we have to remember that most of the ones who are have the personality to show for it. Lisa Vanderpump from RHOBH, and Heather Dubrow from RHOC, are just two examples of some of the richer housewives that tend to carry a superiority complex. Jennifer is the best of both worlds. She lives a life of luxury — but she isn't pretentious.
In her divorce settlement, Jennifer received a portion of The Simpsons. That wealth, which really is the gift that keeps on giving, in combination with her acting and professional poker winnings, makes her, to put it bluntly, crazy rich. This past season we saw Jennifer's eccentric and expensive sense of style, including her iconic Louis Vuitton boat bag, and her lavish parties, including her caftans and caviar lunch. Although none of this is foreign to Real Housewives, what is, is her demeanor. She doesn't rub her wealth in the ladies' faces, or act like she's better than everyone else just because her wallet is bigger (unlike Sutton).
Jennifer Tilly is a personality unlike any we've ever seen in the Real Housewives franchise. Between her infectious positive energy, her great sense of humor, and her luxurious but humble lifestyle, Jennifer has been one of the most watchable housewives on RHOBH. I want to see more of Jennifer, which is exactly why she needs to become a full-time fixture on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
