Real Housewives of New York City: Countess LuAnn Reuniting with Count; Show Renewed for Third Season; Hold-Out Over Money May Result in New Housewives

COUNTESS LuAnn de Lesseps, who split from husband Count Alex after the second season of “Real Housewives of New York City,” might be reconciling soon.

PageSix reported that the Count, who is not exactly swimming in money, rented a St. Tropez villa for 100,000 euros for the summer to impress his girlfriend, Ethiopian Princess Kemeria Abajobir Abajifar, who brought her two kids to play with the Lesseps’ kids, Victoria, 14, and Noel, 12. “Things did not work out,” reports a Riviera spy, who said the princess’ behavior seemed less than noble, “her manners leaving a lot to be desired. After one week Count Lesseps ordered everyone out of the house and is now trying to reconcile with, you guessed it, good old LuAnn from the good old US of A.” LuAnn’s rep confirmed, “It’s true Alex got rid of the girlfriend,” but added that LuAnn was in the South of France separately and not cohabiting with her husband. To be continued…..

Season 3 of the hit show has been renewed, but some ‘Housewives’ might not be back if they don’t get more cash

Announcing that the reality series will return in 2010, Bravo said it is “casting for additional housewives” amid reports about a salary dispute between the cable network and the six cast members: Alex McCord, Bethenny Frankel, Jill Zarin, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, LuAnn de Lesseps and Ramona Singer. Although each of the women has been asked back, only newest housewife Kelly Bensimon has signed on to appear next season. A network insider tells us the other ladies are dragging their feet over money and not all of the ladies have signed up to return to the hit Bravo show. Taping for the show begins in 2 weeks.

“The Housewives all want six-figure deals,” says our source. “They barely made 10 grand for the first season, and now are all a bit too big for their britches. They want the whole shebang: a clothing allowance, money for hair and makeup, a set raise and a promised amount of screen time.”

To be prepared in case anyone refuses to sign her contract (a network rep refused to comment on any contract negotiations), Bravo has quietly been interviewing at least 30 prospective cast members. One “Housewife” source tells us that the interviewees are single moms in their 30s who are as attractive and well-connected as socialite Bensimon.

Bensimon confirmed to pals over the weekend in the Hamptons that she’ll be returning to the show. The future is uncertain for fellow “Housewives” Bethenny Frankel, Jill Zarin, Ramona Singer, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and Alex McCord “We’re in discussions for next season,” McCord said recently. “Let’s put it this way: We’re headed to Australia to promote the show. And we wouldn’t be doing that if we weren’t ready for next season.”

MORNING COFFEE: Kelly Bensimon Would LOVE to Do Another Season of ‘Real Housewives’, T.R. Knight Not Returning to Grey’s Anatomy, Danny Boyle Flies to Mumbai to Meet with ‘Slumdog’ Child Stars

Kelly Bensimon has said in previous interview that being on the “Real Housewives of NYC” was like a version of the movie “Mean Girls” and rumor had it she wouldn’t return to the Bravo hit show. In fact, during the two-part reunion show it was revealed that she is the ‘housewife.’ So it comes as a surprise that the drama-packed Bensimon would love to give it another go.

“I think it would be really fun to come back for another season,” she told US magazine. “I really enjoyed all the women, I think they’re all so unique. I really enjoyed spending time with them and getting to know them.” She went on to say about her on-going feud with Bethenny Frankel: “Just because we had a moment doesn’t mean that moment continues. A moment has a beginning, a middle, an end – and it’s over. I’m like, ‘Next move.'”

So will she be back? Bravo is currently in negotiations with the six NYC housewives as a casting call is in process to look for a potential back-fill should someone not return. “I had a really great time doing it, and it’s just another adventure. Life is an adventure. You have two choices — you can sit or you can be in it. I like to be in it.”

Is Dr. George O’Malley Dead on Grey’s Anatomy

Multiple sources say that loveable T.R. Knight, who plays Dr. George O’Malley on Grey’s Anatomy, will not be returning next season. GASP! Although Knight’s departure wouldn’t come as a huge shock since there’s been rumors of unrest with the actor on the set, but Knight is still a fan favorite and it would be crushing to see him go. Not only was George flat lining at the end of the season finale, but the 36-year-old actor has said reportedly that he wanted off the hit ABC series. Knight is said to have become frustrated by his character’s lack of storyline and in December, he asked to be let out of his contract. 

Knight’s BFF, Katherine Heigl, is also awaiting her fate with the show. Shonda Rhimes began contemplating an early death for Dr. Izzie Stevens after Heigl took herself out of the running for last year’s Emmys because the writers failed to give her good enough material to work with. Like George, Izzie also flatlined at the end of the season finale.

Danny Boyle Flies to Mumbai to Meet with Slumdog Child Stars

The people behind “Slumdog Millionaire” met the film’s two impoverished child stars on Wednesday and reassured them they will soon have new homes as the father of one of the children stormed out, saying the filmmakers have not done enough to help. Rafiq Qureshi, Rubina’s father, said Boyle has not done enough. “It’s no big deal for them, this kind of money. It’s been five or six months we’ve been living in such difficulty. They should help us,” he said in an interview after he cut the meeting short in anger. “After the Oscars they forgot about us,” he added. “For two months we didn’t get any money.”

Rubina Ali, 9, and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, both lost their homes this month after city authorities demolished parts of their slum in Mumbai. Rubina has been staying with relatives and Azhar has been living in a makeshift shanty of tarps and blankets with his parents. “We’ve been trying for a long time to move them into legal accommodation,” director Danny Boyle told reporters. Relations between the filmmakers and the children’s families have grown tense since the phenomenal success of the film, which grossed more than $326 million. The filmmakers set up a trust aimed at ensuring the children get proper homes, a decent education, a monthly stipend and a nest egg when they finish high school. They have pledged to spend up to $100,000 to buy the two families new apartments and have donated $747,500 to a charity to help slum children across Mumbai.

Colson has described the trust as substantial, but will not tell anyone how much it contains, not even the children’s parents, for fear of making the youngsters vulnerable to exploitation.

“Real Housewives” Kelly Bensimon: More Off-Screen Drama

“Real Housewives of New York City” Kelly Bensimon can’t seem to stay out of trouble (and the press).

Page Six is reporting that former editor-in-chief of Elle Accessories is being sued by a colleague for poaching her idea. Celeste Greenberg, who worked for Bensimon at Elle Accessories, claims that after finding a vintage owl necklace which she presented to Kelly for a photo-shoot, the pair had agreed to collaborate on a line of owl inspired jewelry and split the profits. If you saw last weeks “Real Housewives” episode, you know that Kelly is producing her own line of jewelry with a focus on the owl. Now, Greenberg has filed a lawsuit claiming that Bensimon manufactured the owl pendant, as well as other owl related jewelry, for her own jewelry line, cutting Greenberg out.

Greenberg has stayed mum on the topic, but a rep for Bensimon told Page Six: “This girl used to work at Elle Accessories with Kelly. Kelly went out of her way to book her for freelance gigs. They went their separate ways. Now she’s coming after her because she needs money and Kelly’s name is in the press. There’s no validity to this. They never had an agreement about anything.”

Bensimon, a former model who was recently accused of giving her younger beau a black eye, has been labeled the villain of the hit TV series after a slew of arguments with cast-mate Bethenny Frankel.