Let me be honest with you guys: watching "The Real Housewives of New York City" has become something of a chore for me. It's really nothing like its guilty pleasure guaranteed older sister "The Real Housewives of Orange County." That show was fun. Okay, the women had more money than taste and that showed through in every area of their lives, but they weren't...miserable. Out of all of the NYC "housewives" only Lu Ann seems even the tiniest bit happy.

Let's review last night's episode if you don't believe me. Alex sputtered in Italian like she was a dead Florentian trying to get Dante's attention - I'm thinking eighth circle - and then went on a tour of a preschool. Her husband Simon is even more nervous, twitchy, and eager to impress than she is. Watching the two of them makes me uncomfortable. Do they even know what they want out of "society"? Can't they just live in the moment a little?

Bethenny went to a fancy party and told a friend of her dad's that her dad is a big jerk. Then she got drunk with her happily married friend and bitched about her relationship. After that her boyfriend came over and she basically told him she wanted to move in with him and he shut her down. Ouch.

Then there's Ramona. Oh, Ramona. She is such an utter trainwreck. She went out to the bar with her friends and they got hit on by some old dorks who watched a couple episodes of "The Pick-Up Artist" and decided to run with it. Guys, the neg? You're doing it wrong. Ramona tried to pretend that none of this bothered her and it was painful to watch.

I take no pleasure in watching these people suffer. It's just...uncomfortable. I find myself hoping this show is completely fake like "The Hills." Am I alone in this? Do you guys have less sympathy for these ladies of leisure?

- Posted by Kate