Bethenny Frankel Previews 'Real Housewives of New York City's' Explosive Season Premiere

It may be a cliché, but it's also completely true of the drama that unfolds in tonight's third season premiere of 'The Real Housewives of New York City' versus the hijinks of seasons past: You ain't seen nothing yet.

The opening moments of the premiere (11PM ET, Bravo) lull us into thinking housewives Ramona, Jill and Countess LuAnn are getting along, as they set sail on a little yachting excursion in the Hamptons, but we don't even make it half an hour into the episode before LuAnn starts a fight with Ramona about an allegedly rude exchange with Ramona's hubby, Mario.

We chatted with Bethenny Frankel this week about the new season, the new feuds and the new additions to her life, namely her fiancée Jason and baby-to-be; her upcoming 'Real Housewives' spin-off, 'Bethenny Gets Married'; and her thriving career as an author and cocktail entrepreneur.It may be a cliché, but it's also completely true of the drama that unfolds in tonight's third season premiere of 'The Real Housewives of New York City' versus the hijinks of seasons past: You ain't seen nothing yet.

The opening moments of the premiere (11PM ET, Bravo) lull us into thinking housewives Ramona, Jill and Countess LuAnn are getting along, as they set sail on a little yachting excursion in the Hamptons, but we don't even make it half an hour into the episode before LuAnn starts a fight with Ramona about an allegedly rude exchange with Ramona's hubby, Mario.

We chatted with Bethenny Frankel this week about the new season, the new feuds and the new additions to her life, namely her fiancée Jason and baby-to-be; her upcoming 'Real Housewives' spin-off, 'Bethenny Gets Married'; and her thriving career as an author and cocktail entrepreneur.

Bethenny confirms that season three outdoes previous seasons, especially when it comes to her relationship with fellow 'Housewives' star Kelly.

In the premiere, we also find out that Jill has had a major falling out with former BFF Bethenny, that Bethenny has a hot new boyfriend and that LuAnn is still harboring a grudge against Bethenny that stems from last season's surfing adventure. Suffice it to say that a meeting between those last two turns so heated that Bethenny refers to LuAnn a "dumb drag queen."

And all this drama comes without even an appearance by the show's most controversial couple, Alex and Simon!

And for post-premiere scoop, watch the Andy Cohen-hosted 'Watch What Happens' tonight (midnight, Bravo), where Bethenny will make a guest appearance and dish more details on the deliciously outrageous 'RHNYC' shenanigans that await us this season.

I've seen the first episode, and it's like the drama in 10 episodes of any other season all rolled into the premiere.
Oh, and it just gets better. Aside from the Martha Stewart ('Apprentice') project, it's the most toxic, stressful, most difficult thing I've ever done.



That must have been extra stressful with you being pregnant then ...
It was not good. You'll see that on the show. I was freaked out about the baby, very nervous about the whole thing. It was not good at the beginning, for sure.

When are you due?
June. Only three months away.

The most surprising thing in the premiere is the state of your friendship with Jill. Does that situation improve as the season goes on?
It doesn't get better. It really doesn't get better. It unfolds so viewers actually understand what's going on; in the premiere, they don't really know what the story is, so it continues to unfold. Even still, not all of it can come out on the TV show. Well, it could, but it didn't all come out on the show. People are trying to protect their image, and stuff like that. But, you know, [viewers] get an idea and form their own opinions.

Did the rift with Jill stem from what we saw last season, with Jill being so upset about the signage at her benefit party?
No, nothing to do with that.

We also get a little preview, at the end of the premiere, that suggests there's another major blow up between you and Kelly?
Oh my God, last season was nothing compared to this season. And I know, that says a lot.

With everything that's going on with the other cast members, it almost seems like Alex and Simon will be the "normal" ones this year.
(Laughing). Almost, though wait for the rest of the season.

What's your biggest moment on the show in season three?
Wow, well, I'm pregnant, I get engaged, I get into a moment with another cast member (Kelly) that makes that one from last year look like nothing. The craziest moment comes at the end of the season, and it's kinda teased in the little preview at the end of the premiere. It's with Kelly, and it comes at the end of the season, when we're all away on vacation. It's off the rails.

How much of your relationship with (fiancée) Jason will we see unfolding this season?
A good amount. You'll see what happened, and it kind of illustrates where I am in my life, trying to balance a relationship, a book tour, a pregnancy, a career, a margarita launch and trying to deal with five lunatics on the show, besides myself.

From what we get to know about him in the premiere, Jason seems like a pretty down-to-earth guy. How does he feel about being on reality TV?
He's very down-to-earth. But he'll do it for me. On 'Bethenny's Getting Married,' he was a little more apt to do it, but he's a little embarrassed with the 'Housewives,' he's not thrilled to be on it, I'll be honest with you. But he's doing it for me, and, because I've kind of made a commitment to my fans to be open and honest about what's going on in my life. That's the way it's worked for me so far, so you can't just leave them hanging now. People want to know, can you really have it all, am I going to find a boyfriend, is it going to work out, so it's all there. And he understands all that.

Are you already filming your spin-off series?
Yes, I've started filming 'Bethenny Gets Married,' which has been great. It covers all my plans to get married and all that fun stuff while I'm also six months pregnant.

Do you have a wedding date set, then?
We do, but we're not saying when.

Will it be a big wedding?
Not huge, no. It is coming soon, though.

Will the planning of the wedding and everything be shown on the series?
Yes, everything that's going on in my life will be shown on the series. The foreshadowing of it will be shown on 'Real Housewives,' which I think is going to be the greatest season ever.

Congratulations on being a New York Times bestseller! And I didn't realize that, since 'Naturally Thin,' you've already written another book?
Oh yes, thank you. Yes, 'The Skinnygirl Dish,' which is also a New York Times bestseller.

And you have an exercise book coming soon, too?
I have a DVD called 'Body by Bethenny,' and then I actually have in my hands right now the manuscript for 'A Place of Yes,' which is about getting what you want out of life and business, and I just finished writing 'Naturally Fit Pregnancy,' so I'm definitely busy.

How has your pregnancy been, how are you feeling? Being healthy and fit to begin with must have put you in a good place to start?
I think so. I mean, I'm right in between the person who's obsessed and doesn't want to gain a pound while pregnant and the person who is on a complete rampage and a binge at the opposite end of the spectrum, gaining 80 pounds while pregnant. I'm kind of in the middle, which is what the book is about. But in the beginning, I was just very moody and grouchy, and very emotional. I was very emotional ... the hormones were crazy. But it wasn't about getting sick or anything like that. It was just bad moods. And then, it just turned, and I've been feeling great. I mean, I love it. I've been trying to do yoga, and be a human being, and it's been great

You mentioned the Skinnygirl margarita, which launched last fall, how's that going?
It's great, a great product, and it's flying off shelves. We're also going to be launching cosmos and mojitos this summer. People don't even call me by my name anymore, they just call me Skinnygirl.

Nothing wrong with that. And congratulations on all the business successes, the engagement, the baby ... you really are having it all.
Oh, thank you. It's a juggling act. You throw it up in the air and see where it goes. That's what ['Bethenny Gets Married'] is about.