While rumors flew all season that many of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” were broke, they did their best to keep the situation under wraps and downplay the home downsizing they were having to do. The women of Orange County, perhaps realizing that they need to up the dramatic ante, were more than vocal about their financial woes in last night’s season premiere episode. The worst off seemed to be Jeanna Keough, who you know as the brunette, square-faced former Playmate. A real estate agent who was once rolling in dough, Jeanna is now struggling to make ends meet, especially as she divorces her hubby. Not only does she reveal that she is moving into a much smaller house, she also gets a lecture on spending from teenage son Colton. “It’s weird to be in a place where you have to think before making a purchase,” she said. Awww, poor baby. But seriously, times are so tough for her that she’s leaving the show.

Given the drama of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and the deer-in-headlights-spectacle of “Orange County,” the NYC version is the most tepid and ho-hum of Bravo’s franchise. That’s not to say, however, that some of their cast members aren’t as heinous. While I kind of respect damaged and opinionated Bethenny, adore blabbermouth Jill, and find Alex&Simon’s (they’re one entity, you know) nerdy pretentiousness entertaining, Ramona and LuAnn drive me about as crazy as Sheree and Vicki. Ramona is one marble away from the insane asylum and LuAnn lost any chance with me when she chastised Bethenny for introducing her to a lowly commoner by her first name. Mental case versus classist bitch, who to hate more?! Last night I made up my mind—C(o)untess LuAnn de Lesseps, you are THE WORST.

Last night’s episode of “The Real Housewives Of Orange County” was epic. Gretchen Rossi, the new bitch on the block (she’s the one with the Kenny Rogers lookalike for a fiance), got wasted, just wasted, at a dinner party and totally hit on Tamra’s son Ryan. Watching people get this trashed makes me kind of uncomfortable, in that I know I have been this drunk at points in my life and have probably been just as embarrassing to be around (though I have never, ever hit on anyone underage, I swear). Anyway, the episode ended with Gretchen and Ryan in the bathroom, potentially, maybe, about to get it on. Can’t wait for next week!

Sadly, the first season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” will come to an end after the reunion episode this Tuesday. These women were by far the most entertaining of the Bravo “Real Housewives” franchise because they didn’t keep up appearances for the camera, but let the true drama fly. I’m the only loser at The Frisky that watched every season of this franchise, so I decided to compare the Atlanta housewives with the Orange County and New York housewives. I do have to say that the first season of “Orange County” was entertaining because it was a new concept. I didn’t enjoy “New York” as much because it really exemplified the theory of two New Yorks, one for the haves and a completely different one for the have-nots. My comparisons, as I recall, after the jump.