The contract negotiation of the year has finally ended. It sounds like were talking about a professional athlete, and make no mistake, the skill level is subjectively the same. After several worrying weeks, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fans can now rest soundly knowing Kathy Hilton will return to RHOBH season 12. TMZ confirms the negotiations have ended and the fan favorite is set to start filming after the holidays as a ‘friend of’ the housewives.
For those who were hoping Kathy would perhaps hold a diamond this year, not to fear: her ‘friend of’ status will ensure frequent appearances on the show as long-time housewife Kyle Richard’s sister. The ‘friend of’ role is also perfectly suited to Kathy’s characteristically disconnected and quirky contribution to the housewives dynamic. We wouldn’t want her any other way.
As RHOBH viewers know, Erika Jayne’s legal issues dominated season 11 of the franchise, leaving little room for the other ladies, Kathy included, to have any sort of storyline at all. Despite this lack of airtime, viewers appreciated the refreshingly light comedic relief Kathy brought to the heaviness at times.
Due to her family’s somewhat intimidating hotel mogul reputation we weren’t sure what to expect, and this is part of Kathy’s charm. Despite the grandeur and austerity of her family’s hotel legacy, she is surprisingly relatable and even silly at times, making her one of the most joyful additions to RHOBH to date.
As a resounding and undeniable first season hit, Kathy requested a raise, and according to production sources, refused to film until she was satisfied with the dollar amount. A woman who knows her worth, just another reason to love her- get that paycheck Kathy!
While Kathy was noticeably absent from the start of RHOBH filming Kyle, brushed it off explaining she was busy with Paris Hilton’s November wedding. When questioned herself, Kathy gave the same reasoning and added at the time that she enjoyed filming housewives. These positive comments had us hopeful… We were confident Bravo and Kathy would work it out.
Now that the contracts have been settled, we hope next season will lend some more airtime to our favorite ‘friend of’ in Beverly Hills. Here’s to another season of oscillating fans, making Kyle pee-cry and pondering the identity of Hunky Dory.
TELL US- ARE YOU GLAD KATHY WILL BE BACK NEXT SEASON? DO YOU THINK KATHY IS DESERVING OF A RAISE?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]