A very warm welcome to Stacy Hood by CelebMagnet! Stacy will be providing you with recaps of RHOA all season long! Welcome to our writing staff girl!

The Belles of Bravo are back!

With the success of Kim Zolciak’s spin-off show Don’t Be Tardy for the Wedding and NeNe Leakes’ break out roles on Glee and The New Normal (which was recently given a full season pick up by NBC) this could be the last year on the show for some of our favorite ladies. If this is true, then they are going out with a bang. Here’s the run down recap of last night’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 5 premiere episode which aired November 4, 2012.
NeNe– Following the break-up of their marriage last season, NeNe’s ex-husband Greg is trying to get back into her good graces. Not surprising considering all of his ex-wife’s recent success. Greg’s renewed interest and his hot pursuit of his ex-wife amidst her burgeoning career looks to be a big part of her story line for the season, so we’ll see if NeNe gives her marriage a second try or leaves both Greg and the ATL for the bright lights of Hollywood.

Kandi- Last season Kandi found success in the most unlikely of places- a sex toy line called Bedroom Kandi. Now it looks like she’s also found love in the form of a producer on the show who she hooked up with last season during the trip to Africa. The two are close to celebrating their 1-year anniversary and are planning to move in together. Sounds promising. Stay tuned.

Kim- Her spin-off show Don’t Be Tardy for the Wedding was a hit this summer, and rumor has it that this could be her last season as a cast member on RHOA. But for now, Kim and her wig are back and living to good life in Atlanta. She and Kroy are expecting their second child together and are moving yet again- something about the house appraisal being under the asking price- I’m sure this will come up at the reunion; we all know the ladies love to talk about each others finances and/or lack thereof. Kim as also hired back her friend/assistant Sweetie whom she fired last season- I guess good help is hard to find.

Phaedra- The “bughetto” belle is back. Last season Phaedra started her funeral business. This season she is still studying mortuary science and is looking to “become the Vera Wang of funerals.” She wants to cater to not just people but “everything that can be buried.” Not only will Phaedra be sending your loved one off in style; she now will also send your pet into the afterlife with a fabulous funereal. We know Phaedra is the master of over the top ceremonies, who can forget the ballerinas at her baby shower and her coronation/birthday celebration where her 1 year old son was presented and held up like baby Sinba from the Lion King. Following a strange and uncomfortable visit with a local veterinarian, she is now the  “go to girl for her clients looking to celebrate the lives of their pets.”

Kenya- Former miss USA, Kenya Moore is new to the cast this season; she is replacing Sheree Whitfield, who was fired/quit last season. Kenya’s hair stylist Miss Lawrence introduced her into the scene. Lawrence styled Sheree’s hair as well, Looks like in addition to hair, Miss Lawrence does casting for Bravo on the side. During Kenya’s first 2 minutes on screen she describes herself as an “actor, producer, director, author and hustler.” She was living in LA for 18 years and came to Atlanta to be close to her family. Side note- she travels everywhere with a bodyguard. As Cynthia said- “for her to go anywhere with a bodyguard when no one knows who she is makes no sense.”

Cynthia- Not much has changed for Cynthia. She and her husband Peter are still fighting. She is is still working on starting her modeling agency. Cynthia has Kenya help her with judging her open casting call for Jet Magazine. Surprisingly it does not go well, and the two begin arguing. Cynthia’s boring demeanor + Kenya’s nasty attitude = drama.

LOL moment of the night- Ryan Murphy has a cameo on tonight’s episode. He is having dinner with NeNe. While at dinner and she brings up the fact that she knows Tyler Perry. She decides to try to call him while sitting at the table with Ryan. NeNe learns the hard way about trying to show off- it seems the phone number she has for Mr. Perry is no longer in service.  The look on Ryan Murphy’s face was priceless.

This was a good start to what looks to be a drama filled season.