Gannett News Service
Kyle Richards dishes on 'Real Housewives'
Oh, those "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Last season, the glam Californians dealt with the suicide of Russell Armstrong, Kim Richards' substance-abuse issues and the arrival of trouble-making new housewife Brandi Glanville.
Things look equally buzzy for season three, which premieres Nov. 5. Former pals Adrienne Maloof and Lisa Vanderpump are not talking and Maloof is in the middle of a nasty split from hubby/plastic surgeon Paul Nassif.
"Obviously, nobody wants to be the center of the drama," says Kyle Richards, calling a few days before the premiere. "This season, it seems that Adrienne has more issues than we have, for the most part. But as a group, it affects all of us. These things can affect the friendships."
So, just whose side does Kyle fall on in the Great Vanderpump- Maloof War of 2012? You'll have to tune in to see.
"It's hard, because both girls want a sense of loyalty," Kyle says. "When you are friends with both, there are times when I can see one girl's point and the other one gets mad. I feel kind of stuck in the middle and it's not a fun place."
In past seasons, the Richards sisters were the focus of much of the drama. Both former kid actresses, Kim and Kyle ended the show's first season with an ugly battle in the back of a limo -- it's "RHOBH," so the setting made perfect sense. Kim's addiction issues came to light during the second season, and she went into rehab last December.
Kim "really wanted to come back and show herself getting her life back on track," Kyle says. "It's difficult sometimes, working with my sister, and obviously throwing alcoholism into the mix makes things a lot more intense and complicated."
With filming done for the third season -- save for those explosive reunion shows -- Kyle feels optimistic about how things will play out.
"I think this season should be easier for me than last season, just because of where Kim and I are right now," she says. "That's been a big relief for me."
Changes this year include the arrival of a new housewife in Yolanda H. Foster, an icy Scandinavian beauty who is married to musician David Foster. Is she fun?
"You'll have to make that decision yourself," Kyle demurs.
Camille Grammer bows out as a regular this season. Also gone is Dana Wilkey, an irritating "RHOBH" pal who rubbed viewers the wrong way last season. Kyle wasn't surprised by the public's overwhelming rejection.
"You can see when we're shooting the show how people are going to react," Kyle says. "When Dana said she had a $25,000 pair of sunglasses... well, either you're an idiot or a liar. Nobody is going to buy that, and if you do, you have some serious issues."
In her off-camera life, Kyle opened a designer boutique last month called Kyle by Alene Too that is just down the street from Vanderpump's Villa Blanca Restaurant. And while Kyle's kids don't seem too impressed by Mom's appearances in "The Watcher in the Woods" and "Halloween," 4-year-old Portia just caught Aunt Kim's role as (spoiler alert!) an alien preteen in 1975's "Escape to Witch Mountain."
"Now she's convinced my sister has psychic powers," Kyle laughs.