According to reports, Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, and Kelly Bensimon will not be returning for the next season of Real Housewives of New York City. Original castmates LuAnn de Lesseps and Ramona Singer will be allowed to soldier on without them, along with newish addition Sonja Morgan. The fate of Cindy Barshop is not exactly clear, though it's not looking very good for her, either. (Or, as she told the Huffington Post, "Nothing is 100 [percent] decided yet, it could go either way.") The axed ladies will be replaced a trio of presumably realer, as-yet-unidentified wives, though they could be invited back if the new gals prove themselves to be insufficiently interesting to Bravo's viewers. Finally, the show's first real New York story.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/09/layoffs_hit_real_housewives_of.html?mid=partnerfeed

"Real Housewives" Jill Zarin and Alex McCord Deny They've Been Fired
by Catherine Lawson
posted Sep 16th 2011


It's been a drama-filled year off-screen for the various branches of the "Real Housewives" franchise and now the focus has shifted to the New York cast.

Yesterday we heard of a casting bloodbath, with "Housewives" Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon, Alex McCord and Cindy Barshop all being pink-slipped.

Now Zarin and McCord have come forward to deny that they've been axed.





McCord told 'The Hollywood Reporter', "At this stage, I have not been fired. My casting is still in limbo and I expect to hear within the next week."



A rep for Zarin told 'THR', "Jill is still in discussions with Bravo for Season 5 and no final decisions have been made."





Sources also told 'THR' that the veteran cast members -- plus newcomer Cindy Barshop -- are on the bubble, with their status on the show listed as "undefined" right now.

"There has been no change in their casting status on the show other than the fact that it went public."





There's been no official word yet from Bravo on the casting situation. Stay tuned for updates.

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/09/16/real-housewives-jill-zarin-and-alex-mccord-deny-theyve-been-f/

Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, Kelly Bensimon Officially Axed From "Real Housewives"
by Catherine Lawson
posted Sep 18th 2011


Reports last week of a casting bloodbath at "The Real Housewives of New York City" have been confirmed.

A Bravo source told 'People' that Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon, Alex McCord and Cindy Barshop have all been axed.

http://www.aoltv.com/2011/09/18/jill-zarin-alex-mccord-kelly-bensimon-axed-from-rhony/