Revisiting Kelly Bensimon's Playboy Shoot from Season 3 of 'RHONY'
“Are you showing it all?” “No, I’m not showing it all. I’m a mother of two.”
In times as divisive as these, I like to keep up with the latest headlines (“Tyra Banks Says She'll Clean Up Crumbs in Bed and on the Ground by Eating Them Days Later”), Google Image search “Morgan Spector” and spend time with my old friends, namely the ladies of The Real Housewives of New York Season 3, as gleaming a gold standard as you get from the storied franchise. There was one particular multi-episode arc that really engrossed me during my recent rewatch, one that I really think highlights a level of out of touch-ness that was a key ingredient in the show’s initial success — and one I desperately miss.
We’re at Luann’s house in the Hamptons, about to put the steaks on the grill for a Labor Day BBQ, when Kelly arrives with some breaking news. “I need to talk to you and Jill about something,” she says, moments after stepping outside. “There’s something I really wanna tell you. It’s really important.” Luann asks if it can wait until after lunch. “Something’s happening tomorrow. I just want you guys to know about it beforehand,” Kelly pleads. Luann asks if it’s press stuff again, referring to Kelly’s arrest and misdemeanor assault charge after she was accused of punching her then-fiancé in the face. “Um, yeah, kinda,” Kelly says. “Oh, no,” Luann responds. “It’s gotta be something bad,” Jill, who joins the ladies, muses in a talking head.
The three step away from the nearby teens so that Kelly can share the news that simply could not wait until after lunch.
“I just want you to know that I am so incredibly true and incredibly genuine and I want what’s happening tomorrow… I want you guys to know exactly beforehand, before anyone else.”
Suspenseful music plays as the ladies brave for the reveal. Then:
“I was asked by Playboy to be their 40th anniversary cover and 10-page story.”
Jill asks if she’s showing it all.
“No, I’m not showing it all. I’m a mother of two.”
She then clarifies that it’s not exactly a cover, but rather a cover try. “Have you told your kids?” Jill asks. Not yet. “I don’t want to be judgemental,” Jill says moments later in a talking head. “But if you asked me, ‘Would I do it in the shoes she's walking in?’, the answer would have been no.” Luann then goes and grabs a former issue of Playgirl that she was featured on the cover of. “Mom, this is going to get cold,” her teenage son tells her, referring to the steaks. And thus begins a multi-scene plot, a gripping one, culminating in Kelly’s Playboy shoot. Allow me to walk you through the rest, will ya?