Bethenny getting married recap

From Monsters and Critics.

By: Krystin Rader/reality TV junkie.

In Bravo’s first spinoff of the “Real Housewives” franchise, we follow Bethenny Frankel on her journey into motherhood and marriage in “Bethenny, Getting Married?”


Bethenny is finally getting everything she has ever dreamed of: a booming career, a baby, and a loving relationship to boot.

The show begins with Bethenny walking in a star-studded charity fashion show during New York Fashion Week. Bethenny looks fabulous, flaunting her six-month pregnant belly with a surprisingly chipper attitude (at least in comparison to her Real Housewives persona).

Much like Bethenny’s personality, we see that her life is just as chaotic, abrupt, and scattered. She is constantly on the go and trying to accomplish a multitude of things at once.

First on the ‘to-do’ list is a search for a new intern to assist in her ever expanding empire. The criteria for the interns offer comedic
value on their own. At the top of the list is the applicant’s compatibility with dogs and babies. Oh, and a speciality in wedding planning won’t hurt.

Bethenny clearly doesn’t prescribe to the formal school of job interviewing. She rapid fires questions to the potential candidates, asking random questions from their food tastes to their feelings about “inappropriate behavior and lewd language.”

Finally, the standout candidate, Max, scores extra points for his background knowledge about Frankel and compatibility with Cookie, Frankel’s beloved furry companion.

Bethenny and Jason discuss future plans over dinner. Over the schizophrenic course of their conversation, the couple jumps topics from wedding size, the birth of their child, potential additional children, and Bethenny’s appointment with a ‘shrink’. Jason expresses his opinions regarding couples that go to counseling together, stating that “if you’re a couple and you need to go to counseling, it’s over.”

Bethenny visits her therapist for the first time in a preemptive move to handle her ever changing life. She admits to the challenges that she faces in balancing her career and personal life. We get a glimpse into Bethenny’s childhood as she describes the vast differences between the way she and Jason grew up.

We find out that Bethenny’s childhood is anything but ideal, having left her home for boarding school at the age of 14. She depicts her youth as being a veritable “circus” having been exposed to race tracks, gambling, drinking, and nightclubs from an early age.

Her therapist asks her to delve into the pain of her relationship with her father. She discusses her father’s early dismissal and rejection of her and attributing it to her inabilities to maintain an intimate relationship.

Bethenny and Jason’s personalities clash as they discuss the upcoming housewarming party. Jason, in true extrovert fashion, wants his long time friends to stay with them for the weekend of the housewarming party.

This is less than ideal for Bethenny who is clearly uncomfortable at dealing with large groups of people.

The couple quickly shifts gears and moves out of their argument as they choose their wedding bands. All seems to be well as they pick out bands that are true to form: Bethenny chooses a blingy, over-the-top band, while Jason chooses a solid, classic one.

As Bethenny and crew prepare for the housewarming party, Jason calls with news that his flight is delayed and he won't make it back in time. After a momentary panic, Bethenny rallies and goes on to host a fun party.

Even Real Housewife of New York, Alex McCord and her husband, Simon, make a cameo.

This first installment of "Bethenny, Getting Married?" is a promising addition to reality TV.