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ZAP2IT ON THE SCENE: REALITY ROCKS EXPO 2011
'Real Housewives of Orange County's' Alexis and Jim Bellino share 6 of their many relationship rules
Guess who was on the "Dating On Reality TV" panel at the Reality Rocks Expo in Los Angeles Saturday (April 9)?
They're not exactly dating, but they are carrying on a committed relationship on the marriage-killing Bravo series, "The Real Housewives of Orange County." Jim and Alexis Bellino talked about how they stay together amid the pressures and temptations of being reality stars.
According to the couple, they did six months of couples therapy before they even signed the contracts to join the show, which Jim calls "preventative maintenance."
"I think a lot of it is preventative maintenance and anticipating what's coming," he says. "I would never recommend anybody be on a reality show if you're in a marriage. I mean if you think about it, three of the four married couples on the housewives are now divorced. We're the only ones in the last few years who are married."
Apparently, the world of reality TV (and its fans) do love themselves a breakup.
"We wanted to make sure that our foundation was strong enough that it can handle being rocked by every possible thing you can have thrown at you," Alexis says. "And you do. Every temptation possible, every negativity possible, [Reality TV] wants to rip you apart. Not to mention that the producers would like that, because it makes the show's ratings much better. I think we just stayed strong and true and we let each other be each other and we're just trying to grow together through this instead of grow apart."
In fact, the couple says they went into "Real Housewives" with several rules in place to avoid temptation and keep their bond strong.
"We had a contract between us and our therapist before we even started the show," Jim explains. "And that was very important. We sat down and we wrote many rules."
Here are just six of the rules the couple shared while on the panel:
1) If one of them doesn't agree with something the producers have asked them to do, they won't do it.
2) They don't go to nightclubs without each other.
3) They won't go out with anyone of the opposite sex (unless the person is Alexis' gay assistant) without each other.
4) They don't respond to Facebook friend requests from people of the opposite sex.
5) They know each other's passwords on everything, including Facebook, Twitter and cell phones.
6) They won't go out on a "girls night out" or a "guys out night."
What do you think of Alexis and Jim's approach to marriage on reality TV?
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I looked for you at the gig, but alas you alluded me. The comments were interesting, but Tough Love's Steve Ward? At first I thought he was arrogant, but admit he grew on me. PS. My feet hurt. That was allot of walking!
Jim definitely does not trust Alexis, It is obvious he makes all of the rules, most women would NOT put up with giving out there passswords on EVERYTHING. Jim what is wrong? You don't trust Alexis! One day she will see the light and leave your controlling ***.
I think they are pathetic.. Esp alexis... She is so fake. Her *****, her hair, her personality, and esp her duck lips...She preaches her christianity, well I was always taught that if you were a true christian, you wouldn't have to tell everyone, they would just know by your grace.. and you really need to change your opening to your introduction.."You body is sinful" that a good christian for you.. you should be embarassed.
I think Alexis is F.O.S. (full of **it). A seriously unchristian person.
Seriously? They are both pathetic.....but he must love her - he gave her that nasty necklace of SEVEN carats of diamond chips - he only said it like 50 times - "It's seven carats" of diamond CHIPS - you can pick that crap up at Kay Jewelers at the mall......
I find them to be very creepy as a couple. They don't trust each other or themselves or they wouldn't have to have those silly "rules" (although I do agree with rule 1). I've been having girls' nights out for years & it hasn't affected my marriage one bit. I always go home to my husband. I don't share my passwords with my husband & I don't expect him to share those with me. We trust each other.
they both wrong.i wouldn't give my wife or gf my password.its ok for a guys to go out every once in a while.
How do you trust a guy who was indicted for fraud by the Feds (Operation Bullpen) or a booze hound of a woman who blatantly cheated on her first husband?
They are both as phony as a three-dollar bill, and their holier than thou attitudes are nauseating.
It's called transparency in marriage. And as far as Alexis looking her best for her husband well why shouldn't she? Plus, Jim may make rules but in the end I believe Alexis knows if the rule goes against her marriage and her beliefs she won't accept the rules.
The TV company should provide sick bags for viewers to watch these two, they are as fake as her *****.
A Christian who flaunts her body?
A couple who supposed to love and trust each other and not allowed to go anywhere on their own.
She is always bleating about how difficult it is with kids to deal with and being a mom and has two nannies in tow and what is even worse is she turns up to a party where the kids can swim, a chance to share an opportunity with them and she fetches the nannies.
As a previous post commented, this couple are seriously creepy.