Real Housewives

Kim Richards was either a hopeless, pill-popping alcoholic the entire last season of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" or she was sober and doing better than ever ... depending on who you talk to on the cast and production crew.

Several sources involved in the production of the show tell TMZ ... Kim's protestations last season that she was sober were laughable.

We're told veteran cast members Kyle Richards, Lisa Vanderpump and Yolanda Foster learned to just look the other way to avoid confrontation, it was only new cast members Lisa Rinna and Eileen Davidson who dared to confront Kim.

The sources say Kim would never drink where anyone could see her ... she'd appear sober but then disappear in the restroom and emerge ... well, not sober.

But other sources connected to the show say Kim did better controlling her addiction last season than she has in years.

The most interesting cast member when it comes to Kim is Brandi Glanville. Sources in both camps say Brandi sides with them. If true, Brandi is playing both sides, which would be shocking, right?

Kim's sobriety became an issue during the dog biting incident. We're told Kim's camp sent a dog trainer to Kim's house to assess the situation, but the trainer found that Kim was such a mess, he had to help put her to bed.

Kim was arrested Thursday for public drunkeness and battery on a cop in Beverly Hills.

If you don't see Kim Richards on the next season of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" it'll be because of her drunken arrest earlier this week ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to production tell us producers feel Kim's substance abuse issues make her a liability. There are insurance issues with the show, and serious concerns that if something happens to Kim, Bravo could be on the hook for keeping her on such a contentious, demanding show.

We're told a decision has not been made, but the alarm has been sounded and there's serious discussion about giving Kim the ax.

Here's where there's a split. Some production sources says Kim's substance abuse problem has been in full bloom all season. Several members of the cast and crew say they've watched Kim present a public picture of sobriety, but when the cameras are off she goes off the rails.

But other production sources tell us Kim actually did better this season in the sobriety department than she's done in years. They also think it's hypocritical for producers to turn their back on Kim now ... they say if she was such a problem she shouldn't have been exploited all year.

Kim Richards just broke from stress when she was arrested early Thursday at the swanky Beverly Hills Hotel.

Sources very close to Kim as well as sources connected with "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" tell TMZ, she was unable to cope with some pretty terrible things going on in her life.

-- Her ex-husband Monty, who still lives with her, is dying of stage 4 cancer.

-- Her son Chad was released from UCLA Medical Center hours before the meltdown.

-- She's under financial stress. Contrary to reports, she's getting no money for child support.

-- Kim is trying to plan her daughter Brooke's official wedding.

But the real trigger ... we're told earlier in the evening, Kim went to Brooke's house, where they watched the 3-part reunion. Kim had put it off because it was too upsetting, but she had to binge watch in order to fulfill her obligation to blog about the shows. And reliving what went down crushed her.

We're told Kim has been deeply upset over Lisa Vanderpump and Lisa Rinna. Kim believes Vanderpump had intentionally driven a wedge between her and sister Kyle. On the show, Vanderpump urged them to reconcile, but Kim claims off camera Vanderpump told Kyle that Kim didn't want her at Brooke's wedding ... which infuriated Kyle and deeply hurt Kim.

Our sources say the cumulative stress was too much for Kim to bear. We're told she left Brooke's house and ended up alone at the Polo Lounge at the Bev Hills Hotel. It's unclear what if anything she drank there, but Kim has told friends a group of people at a table invited her to sit at around 1:30 AM, but the maitre d' wasn't having it and ordered Kim out.

As we reported, the hotel people say Kim got belligerent, wouldn't leave the restaurant, ended up in the bathroom where cops dragged her out. She was booked for public drunkenness, resisting arrest, trespass and battery on a cop.

Kim Richards was arrested at the Beverly Hills Hotel early Thursday morning -- after allegedly going on a drunken rampage and kicking a police officer ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us ... Richards had been hanging out at the famous Polo Lounge inside the hotel and was asked to leave because she was too hammered and being "unruly."

We're told Richards went to a bathroom and refused to come out. Cops were called to the scene and we're told they had to "drag her out" of the bathroom.

Richards -- who has struggled with substance abuse in the past -- was reportedly belligerent, slurring her speech and reeked of booze.

We're told Kim was taken to a nearby jail -- where she allegedly kicked a police officer.

She's been charged with trespass, resisting arrest, battery on a police officer and drunk in public.

Cops issued a citation to Richards -- and she was later released.

Richards' sobriety was called into question on the recent "Real Housewives" reunion special -- when Lisa Rinna suggested that Kim was on something during a car ride earlier in the season.

Kim had admitted that she had taken a pain pill -- but was adamant she had not fallen off the wagon.

Brandi Glanville's nipple was never supposed to make an appearance on the season finale of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" ... so says the network.

Our production sources tell us their people QC'd the video and never saw areola ... they swear. It's a little weird, since Kim Richards called it out earlier in the scene saying, "Before you go any further, your nipple is hanging out."

Our sources say there were hours of footage for the scene, and it just ... well, you know, slipped by.

We're told Bravo is re-editing the scene for re-runs, and as you know, they run endlessly.

Bravo is pushing the line for basic cable, because Brandi Glanville's nipple made air.

It happened on the season finale of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" Tuesday night. Brandi got into it with a few of the girls, and then Kim Richards crowed, "Before you go any further, your nipple is hanging out."

This clearly wasn't a mistake, since the show was edited and Kim's remark was right there for the editors.

Tiki Barber is no Joe Giudice ... telling TMZ Sports he and his wife are NOT going to sign on for the next season of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" ... despite reports to the contrary.

The former NY Giants running back and his wife Traci Lynn Johnson were leaving The Palm in NYC when we asked about rumblings that Traci Lynn was in talks to replace Teresa Giudice ... since she's currently locked up.

But the couple shot down that rumor faster than Teresa could flip a table -- telling TMZ Sports, "Don't believe everything you read."

NeNe Leakes ain't the next Joan Rivers yet ... but she's acting like she's got that "Fashion Police" cash by snagging a $2.1 mil Georgia estate.

According to our real estate sources ... NeNe plunked down $750k on the 9,511 sq. ft., 6 bed, 7 bath villa nestled in the swank gated Sugarloaf Country Club.

Apparently, between "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," her appearances and her HSN clothing line, she's doing more than fine ... and now, when she's not brushing up on fashion, she can hit the links and work on her swing.

But we know who she'd really like to practice her swing on ... looking at you Cynthia.

Kyle Richards is calling BS on some people in the TMZ newsroom who believe the whole wine-glass throwing scene on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" was fake.

Kyle and hubby Mauricio were leaving Mr. Chow in Bev Hills when our photog asked if it was one of those breakaway glasses ... because we thought the whole thing was staged.

Kyle was pretty convincing it was the real deal when her Lisa Rinna hurled the glass at her sister Kim.

Kyle and Kim Richards are sisters at war ... and it's way more personal than just a vicious dog attack.

There has been radio silence between the two -- with the exception of a brief encounter after a "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" reunion show -- since Kim's dog attacked Kyle's daughter in November.

We're told Kyle is furious Kim hasn't 86'd her pit bull -- which has a long rap sheet and tore into 18-year-old Alexia's hand.

But it goes deeper than puncture marks. Kim feels betrayed by her sis because she feels fellow housewife Brandi Glanville has been more attentive to her struggles with substance abuse than Kyle.

What galls Kyle is that she feels Kim is an ingrate ... Kyle says she and Mauricio have been a driving force all along in trying to keep Kim sober, and she feels Kim is using them as scapegoats to deflect responsibility for her addiction problems.

Our "Housewives" sources say nothing is permanent, but they give a reconciliation little hope.

Kyle Richards cops to being a total coward when the now-legendary fight between Kim Richards and Lisa Rinna broke out -- and that's because she says it was 100% legit ... shattered glass and all.

The "Real Housewives" star was leaving Mr. Chow when she told our photog the brawl was NOT fake drama ... despite speculation it was all choreographed.

Kyle explained why she ran for the hills -- instead of jumping to her sister's aid -- which led us to the most important question: Could she take Lisa in a fight?

Place your wagers ... then watch the clip.

Kim Richards is great at creating drama on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" -- and even better at creating stories ... TMZ has learned.

If you missed it ... Richards accused fellow cast member Lisa Rinna of hiding a family secret involving her husband Harry Hamlin -- prompting Lisa to do the whole shout, threaten, and shatter a glass thing the 'Housewives' do so well.

Fans have been speculating wildly about what dirt Kim has on Hamlin -- but we've learned she made the whole thing up just to get under Rinna's skin.

Production sources tell us the issue will be brought up again on the reunion episode -- and Kim will admit she created the whole story.

Fake or not ... it made for great TV.

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Aprea has been slapped with a huge laundry bill -- her employees claim she shorted their checks and made 'em pay to clean their own uniforms.

According to court docs ... a former bartender and server at Aprea's NYC restaurant Angelo's of Mulberry St. says Aprea and her husband would only pay them for 7 hours -- even though they routinely worked 10 hour shifts. They also claim they paid out-of-pocket to wash their unis ... but NY law requires employers to pony up.

It's gotta sting ... Aprea famously told Teresa Giudice -- serving 15-months for fraud -- "karma's a bitch" ... but now she's the one facing a class action suit.

The employees' attorney -- David Gottlieb -- is demanding the Apreas shell out up to $2500 per worker for unpaid wages and overtime, uniform cleaning costs, plus an unspecified amount of damages.

Bravo, Karma.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star NeNe Leakes says it doesn't matter they're all on a reality show -- if Kenya Moore and Claudia Jordan don't zip their lips she'll sue.

Both Moore and Jordan got warned by Leake's lawyers Tuesday to stop damaging her brand with smack talk. NeNe's pissed at Jordan for calling her bipolar and, even worse, sporting bad veneers. Her beef with Moore is unclear.

Two things strike us. It's a little "pot calling the kettle black" because NeNe's been known to go after other cast members ... por ejemplo saying Claudia was such a tramp "her clit has left her body."

And you gotta wonder what producers think about their stars setting limits on the drama.

Ain't nothin' like an original ... Jeana Keough is coming back to "The Real Housewives of Orange County" -- but she'll be a part-time cast member ... for now.

Jeana's been shouting from the rooftops about her return to the show she left in 2009 -- but production sources tell TMZ her camera time will be limited to start the season. We're told Bravo execs want to see if fans are still into Jeana ... before they go all in.

Of course, 'Housewives' fans remember Jeana for her epic fight with Tamra Barney -- one of the greatest in reality TV history -- and we're told things might get dicey again between them this season.

Just a hunch, but a rematch would probably cement a full-time role for Jeana. When it comes to the 'Housewives' ... if it bleeds it leads.

Glanville reiterated the scentiment multiple times ... and Krupa went ballistic about it last month.

If Joanna wins the suit -- filed by her attorney Ray Rafool -- she'll finally force Brandi to pay up ... but the move isn't without risk. Krupa's lady parts will now be up for discussion in open court.