Real Housewives of New York

Andy Cohen just might give politics a shot ... especially if he's successful in his mission to get NY State to legalize paid surrogacy, and we got him taking his campaign to the streets.

The 'Watch What Happens Live' host was leaving the Sirius building Wednesday in NYC when he got amped up about the proposed bill, and delivered a message directly to Gloria Steinem. She's been opposed to the measure, but Andy urged the famous feminist she needs to take a closer look at the language of the bill.

He added ... he has surrogacy to thank for the birth of his son, Benjamin, in February. He had to go through the process in California because it's still illegal in New York.

So now, he's fighting for NY couples to have the same options he had ... without having to travel cross country. When you see the video, Andy definitely has the look and feel of a stumping candidate.

We asked him, point blank, about throwing his hat in a political ring -- watch, he does NOT say no.

Luann de Lesseps is still pissing off judges and her probation officer, but her real-life problems are NOT jeopardizing her reality TV future with 'Housewives' -- at least, not yet.

Sources close to the "Real Housewives of New York" production tell TMZ ... Luann's position and security on the show are as strong as ever, despite the fact she continues to run into trouble while on probation for her drunken arrest case from 17 months ago.

As we reported ... she's already violated the terms of probation at least twice ... once for failing to prove she was going to AA meetings, and more recently for downing a couple mimosas.

After her most recent violation, she was slapped with newer, even stricter terms.

Our sources are clear though -- Luann's job is not on the line, and higher-ups haven't even discussed the possibility of firing her ... despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Fact is, Luann is great for TV right now because the fallout from her arrest offers up juicy drama and an interesting narrative for viewers. Translation ... ratings, baby!!!

One other thing our sources say should be taken into account ... some of the other 'RHONY' cast members have gotten wasted on-camera before, and have endured plenty of public embarrassment -- and they're still there.

Luann de Lesseps felt the cold steel of handcuffs Thursday, but she's NOT going back to jail for violating her probation by downing a couple of mimosas.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star went before a Florida judge and during the hearing they put her in cuffs ... but the State's Attorney for Palm Beach County State tells TMZ ... she was not taken to jail ... contrary to several reports.

As we've reported ... Luann recently told her probation officer she had "2 glasses of mimosas after a performance" in Chicago. That's a major no-no because she's supposed to stay away from booze for a whole year under the plea deal she struck in her drunken arrest case.

We're told the court didn't believe she was taking her probation seriously -- so the judge ordered additional probation conditions for Luann. They include keeping a breathalyzer in her car, weekly telephone counseling, monthly in-person meetings with a psychiatrist and taking the prescription drug Antabuse ... which treats alcoholism.

Luann de Lesseps admitted to downing 2 mimosas ... and that's landed her a date in court with a judge.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star told her probation officer last week she drank "2 glasses of mimosas after a performance" in Chicago ... according to docs obtained by TMZ. That, of course, is a HUGE no-no because she's supposed to lay off booze for a year under the plea deal in her 2017 Christmas Eve bust.

The probation officer presented Luann with 2 solutions -- immediately enroll in outpatient treatment for the failed sobriety test or submit to wearing an ankle monitor. According to the NY Post, Luann refused both ... saying her schedule's too busy for treatment, and the ankle monitor was too intrusive.

As a result, she's now due in court on May 23 for a probation violation hearing.

Not coincidentally, we think, Luann was accused back in February of not taking her probation seriously.

Lee Radziwill, the sister of Jackie Kennedy who was a world famous socialite ... has died.

Radziwill -- whose daughter-in-law, Carole Radziwill, is a cast member on "Real Housewives of New York" -- died Friday at her home in New York City.

Jackie and Lee were the most famous sisters in the world in the early '60s. She went by Princess Lee Radziwill. The title was bestowed when she married Polish aristocrat, Prince Stanislaw Albrecht Radziwill.

The joke in the U.S. for years was that Lee wasn't really a princess, or if she was no one knew the country associated with the title. Gilda Radner famously mused as Roseanne Rosannadanna on 'SNL' that no one knew what she was princess of.

Lee circulated in high society, with friends that included Truman Capote, Rudolf Nureyev and Andy Warhol.

Lee and Jackie were extremely competitive growing up, and Lee often said it was hard for her to measure up to the future First Lady. She recounted in her autobiography her dad favored Jackie, adding, "That was very clear to me but I didn't resent it because I understood he had reason to."

Lee was married 3 times. Her third husband was film director Herbert Ross.

Lee had 2 children.

She was 85.

Luann de Lesseps is getting a wake-up call from her probation officer, because the PO says she's not keeping up with the terms of her probation from her drunken arrest case ... TMZ has learned.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Luann is failing to prove she's been attending the required 2 AA meetings per week ... and she's not complying with taking random sobriety tests.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star is not being punished for blowing off parts of her probation, but she's essentially being told to get it together, or else. In the docs, her PO says she's been under supervision for 6 months and has failed to comply with the conditions.

As we reported ... Luann is on probation after striking a sweet plea deal. She has to knock out 50 hours of community service by August 28 ... and, according to the docs, she's halfway through, having completed 25 hours.

As we reported, Luann was arrested on Christmas Eve in 2017 for attacking police during her bust. There's video of Luann telling a cop she'd kill him if he kept touching her.

Kelly Bensimon is one smoking hot mom -- the former model and 'Real Housewives of New York' star hit the beach to prove her hotness is still on point.

Seriously, 50-year-old Kelly went peak MILF when she slipped her rockin' bod into a couple of sexy swimsuits from Melissa Odabash and turned up the heat for a Miami photo shoot.

Check out the gallery ... Kelly wasn't afraid to get down in the sand and the surf. She also did her best "Baywatch" from a lifeguard tower.

If Harry Dubin's looking at these pics ... he's gotta be pissed Kelly's not on his lengthy list of 'RHONY' hookups. Sorry, bro.

The only person NOT hyped about this is Father Time.

Ramona Singer and Harry Dubin are just friends -- friends who had one drunken makeout sesh -- but we're told they're definitely not banging ... not at this point.

Sources close to the kissing pals tell TMZ ... the 'RHONY' star and Dubin are not dating or even going the "friends with benefits" route. Despite the fact they were inhaling each other's faces Friday night in NYC, we're told there was nothing Biblical about how the night ended.

Translation: no nookie.

Our sources say Ramona and Harry were just talking and flirting and maybe definitely had too much to drink ... which led to the passionate kiss. We're told both are happily still single though.

As you 'Housewives' fans know ... Harry's got a long history with the 'Housewives' -- he's divorced from Aviva Drescher and is a former flame of Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps.

We probably shoulda put a graphic warning on this ... but yeah, that's Ramona Singer heading down the well-beaten 'Housewives' path to Big Apple bachelor Harry Dubin's lips.

We got these shots of Ramona and Harry devouring each other's faces in NYC. We're told the booze-fueled makeout sesh went down around midnight Friday at Pomona restaurant in Midtown.

The 'RHONY' star -- clearly single and ready to mingle -- hooked up with Harry in a lounge area of the hot spot, locking lips most of the night ... according to witnesses.

We're told Tinsley Mortimer was also there, but wasn't engaging in any softcore PDA like this.

Ya gotta hand it to Harry ... the dude must have something going on, having now hooked up with nearly a handful of 'Housewives' -- from his ex-wife Aviva Drescher to former flames Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps.

Might be time to expand your dating pool, bro.

Jill Zarin's return to "The Real Housewives of New York City" will touch on the new man in her life and her relationships with other cast members ... but her story's only getting part-time shine.

Production sources tell TMZ ... Jill's role on the upcoming season of 'RHONY' that of contributor -- not a regular -- as a "friend" to full-time 'housewives' like Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan and Tinsley Mortimer.

We're told Jill's filmed episodes for Season 11 in which she divulges details about how she's found happiness with her new boyfriend, Gary Brody, following the death of her husband Bobby earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. Jill appeared briefly in Season 10 when the cast attended the funeral.

Our sources say it's unclear how much the show will touch on Jill's life in the aftermath of Bobby's death or her new rug line business, Jill Zarin Rugs Collection, but will definitely cover her relationship with Brody ... who she started dating a couple months ago.

We're told the 2 have known each other longer, but bonded over tennis and things got serious quickly -- they're already living together in Manhattan.

As for Zarin's "friend" status with the cast ... we're told it doesn't apply to Bethenny Frankel, with whom she had a notorious falling out years ago. Our sources say the women are cordial, though still not close enough to hang out.

As we reported, Frankel dealt with a tragic loss of her own recently ... when her boyfriend died of a suspected OD. It's highly likely 'RHONY' will cover that incident.

The new season is expected to premiere in Spring 2019. We reached out to Bravo ... so far, no word back.

Luann de Lesseps is making a strong comeback to close out 2018 ... nearly a year after spiraling out of control and getting arrested in Florida.

We've learned Luann recently celebrated more than 100 days of being clean and sober, and it's triggered a positive domino effect in her personal life. She's returned as a regular for an all-new season of 'Housewives,' and is already shooting scenes.

We're told she missed the reunion episode taping back in July, but only because she'd checked into rehab.

That was her second time in rehab since her Palm Beach arrest on Christmas Eve 2017 ... for allegedly attacking a cop during a drunken rampage. She eventually struck a sweet plea deal.

Luann tells us, "I take my sobriety very seriously and continue taking it one day at a time. Every step forward is a means toward a better life for me and my family."

On the family front, we told you her ex-husband and kids had sued her for breaking her divorce deal -- but we're told she's patching things up with them and working on an amicable resolution.

Luann's also been traveling around the country with her cabaret show, and recently launched a jewelry line that was filmed for an episode of 'RHONY' at SuperJeweler in Manhattan.

Bethenny Frankel has a new man in her life -- a couple months after her BF, Dennis Shields, died of an apparent overdose.

TMZ obtained these shots of Bethenny holding hands Sunday with a mystery man in Boston -- and on Monday morning there was even more PDA ... as in a full make-out session near Boston College.

It's unclear who he is or what they're doing in Beantown but, based on the grip they've got on each other ... it's looking serious.

As we reported ... Bethenny's on-again, off-again BF, Dennis, was found dead of a suspected overdose nearly 60 days ago at his Trump Tower apartment. She said her final goodbyes a few days after Dennis died.

Luann de Lesseps is no longer facing hard time ... because a judge just put the ol' stamp of approval on the plea deal in her drunken arrest case.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star dodged a felony charge and will stay out of jail. We broke the story, she agreed to plead guilty to battery, trespassing and disorderly intoxication for the Palm Beach County arrest. She just needed the judge's John Hancock.

As part of the plea deal, Luann has to knock out 50 hours of community service and attend 2 AA meetings a week in her home state of New York. She also can't use drugs or alcohol, and must submit to random testing during one year of probation.

As we reported ... Luann was arrested on Christmas Eve for attacking a cop during her bust. There's video of Luann telling an officer she'd kill him if he continued to touch her.

The felony charge Luann was originally facing, resisting an officer with violence, was reduced to battery as part of the deal.

Bethenny Frankel's late boyfriend, Dennis Shields, was able to utter a few words to EMTs and police before he died -- and they paint a clearer picture of how he passed.

Sources say Dennis told the responding EMTs and cops he'd taken some of his prescribed oxycodone as well as Vicodin and a sleeping pill ... all to ease the pain from a back injury.

Doctors warn that opioids should never be taken with sleeping pills or other sedatives. Opioids slow respiratory function and sleeping pills do the same. The two combined can have a dangerous, synergistic effect that could result in death.

As we reported, Dennis' assistant had administered 2 doses of Narcan before authorities arrived. They administered an additional dose of Narcan, but Dennis could not be saved.

Our law enforcement sources say police also found numerous prescription bottles scattered throughout his apartment ... although no illicit drugs nor drug paraphernalia were uncovered.

Bethenny attended Dennis' funeral service earlier this week and dissolved in tears. She paid tribute to both Dennis and her deceased dog, Cookie, on IG.

10:07 AM PT -- Bethenny just posted a photo of Dennis lying beside her dog, Cookie, with a farewell message to both, saying ... "Rest In Peace my sweet babies who gave me endless unconditional love." Cookie died late last year after suffering a major seizure.

Bethenny Frankel was extremely emotional Monday during a final goodbye to her boyfriend, who died Friday of an overdose.

Dennis Shields was found dead in his apartment in Trump Tower from an apparent oxycodone OD. Law enforcement sources told us Dennis took an unknown quantity of oxy Thursday night which he had prescribed to him. He woke up Friday feeling ill and asked his housekeeper to go to the pharmacy and buy Narcan -- which counters the effects of opioids. When the housekeeper returned home, Dennis was beyond help.

Bethenny Frankel's on-again, off-again boyfriend, Dennis Shields, was found dead Friday of a suspected overdose ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they got a call just after 9 AM for an unresponsive male. Upon arriving at Shields' Trump Tower apartment, they learned his assistant had administered Narcan but was unsuccessful in reviving him.

Our sources say they believe Shields OD'd on oxycodone ... but an autopsy is pending.

Frankel and Shields met nearly 30 years ago but didn't start dating until 2016. The relationship had many splits and makeups.

The New York Post first reported the death.