I'd much rather see Rhonda go than Iyanla.

After the first season, I'd've preferred seeing Rhonda go to seeing Rana Walker go.

I think Rhonda's way, way off-task in terms of the life-coaching. She brings the drama, and that's unfortunately, part of the show -- probably more so than any of the "supporting one another" or "achieving our goals" stuff. In my opinion, Rana and Iyanla have been much better about balancing the coaching with the entertainment. They haven't been perfect, but Rhonda seems to go for the dramatic, the confrontational, the overplayed emotional stuff much quicker than she delves into her life coach bag o' tricks.

I think all three of them (IV, Rhonda, Rana... and Dr Stan) are all awesome individuals and hope they all return for the next season!

I also think they should put this show on at night, I think they would get good ratings. Even if they put it on between 7 and 8 pm instead of stupid game shows like Wheel of Fortune I think they would get strong viewership.

I would really hate to see this show go off of the air. It is probably the most helpful show on TV these days... we all get so much out of watching it.

Just my two cents.

sweet23. Have you verified this information with an outside source (like an internet search)? Thanks

I couldn't find anything w/ google search but I heard IV announced this durning an interview on ny radio

I did a google search as well and couldn't find anything. Do you happen to know what radio show, or radio station? That might help us find it.

I can't say my source, but it's from a hg of last yr.
She stated that Iyanla wanted out of her contract for this season, and the show would not let her.
So it sounds like the contract is only for two seasons.

She stated when probed that Rhonda and Iyanla did not get along at all. She had no doubts about that.

I've noticed we barely see Katz this yr, and instead way too much of Iyanla, so maybe she fought for more air time, since she couldn't get out of her contract. donno Do know she wanted out this yr but was bound by contract. In my view all she did last yr was look like a mad priestess, and this yr, she only does half the time. She does contradict herself every other statement and is either down to earth, or some off the wall theatrical PTL preacher.

LAST EDITED ON 11-18-05 AT 07:14 AM (EST)

Not trying to be mean here but your first post said you about this from another board and now from the radio.

Either way it doesn't suprise me that she is leaving. When Oprah tried to set her up with her own tv show, before setting up Dr. Phil, IV and Oprha had a major falling out.

Maybe Oprah knew then what we are just finding out....IV is a kook who needs her own LC to start over.

And I feel the same about Rhonda. I feel both need a major break from the show and for new LC's to enter the house.

Edited to add:

I wonder why Dr. Stan ever came back back in reading the other psots looks like it might ahve been a two year contract. I think he sn't shown much because He asked for that, not that IV wants more air time. I feel he knew last year he had made a mistake and is now trying to keep a low profile.

I read from one post that she announced it on a ny radio station and i read from another post that there was an article about it.

I saw it also on Starting Over talk, I wouldnt believe anything posted at that site, i think its a rumor started there to boost membership

Oprah and Iyanla had the falling out because Iyanla took up an offer from Barbara Walters to host her own daytime show. Barbara wanted in on a peice of the talk show pie. So Barbara set up Iyanla and Iyanla was doing the talk show. Then Barbara wanted to start changing things about Iyanla; the way she looked, dressed, etc. One day Iyanla was in her dressing room dissing Barbara and Iyanla called her a B!tch. Iyanla still had her mic on and Barbara heard what she called her. Barbara let the show die and Iyanla's talk show left the air.
(Iyanla talks about this time in her book, yesterday I cried).

I like Iyanla as a LC, but I would imagine she could be a fire cracker to be around. I have the impression she doesn't take criticm from others with the same grace that she hands it out.

Starting Over wanted Iyanla for season one however her daughter was dying of cancer (she passed away in December of that year, near Christmas as I recall). Iyanla was taking care of her and did not have the time to do SO, that is why Rana was there.

As for not being back next season, I too have either heard or read it but for the life of me can't find where.

I hope she does not go, but she has so much in her life going on with her Inner Visions, motivational speaking, and being a life coach to those already through the SO house that I would imagine she has a very full plate.

I would think Rhonda would be the same, so pressed for time. It would be hard for me to think of SO without those two LC's in there. I think they do a tremendous job. I can only imagine the huge chunk of time and mental investment it takes to be a LC to these women.

>Starting Over wanted Iyanla for season
>one however her daughter was
>dying of cancer (she passed
>away in December of that
>year, near Christmas as I
>recall). Iyanla was taking
>care of her and did
>not have the time to
>do SO, that is why
>Rana was there.
>
>As for not being back next
>season, I too have either
>heard or read it but
>for the life of me
>can't find where.
>
>I hope she does not go,
>but she has so much
>in her life going on
>with her Inner Visions, motivational
>speaking, and being a life
>coach to those already through
>the SO house that I
>would imagine she has a
>very full plate.
>
>I would think Rhonda would be
>the same, so pressed for
>time. It would
>be hard for me to
>think of SO without those
>two LC's in there.
>I think they do a
>tremendous job. I
>can only imagine the huge
>chunk of time and mental
>investment it takes to be
>a LC to these women.
>

I know that Iyanla's daughter died but where did you get the information that they wanted Iyanla for season 1? I read online that Rana did not return becuase she was dismissed for becoming too emotionally involved when Josie left The S.O. house for Jonothan and was unable to relocate to the west coast for season 2.

There is a website that tells all about IV and it quotes her on this. She was asked to do season 1 but didn't because of the illness of her daughter.

I imagine that Iyanla stays. It was verified that she was not there first season becasue of her daughter. She adds something to the show that makes it watchable. I will say that I have been watching reruns of season one and to compare Iyanla and Rana hads down Iyanla is the better life coach. I can not believe some of the stuff Rana did.
If she does not return I can not imagine the show would be as effective.

The sooner she goes the better - that woman is a nut-case and needs some therapy of her own. I only hope she isn't causing more harm than good (considering I don't see her accomplishing much 'good')

LAST EDITED ON 11-24-05 AT 01:35 AM (EST)

I did a Learning Annex course with her in the Summer and she said that this was her last season. When asked why, she said "it's not my show". She runs a women's course in the midwest (or somewhere between NY and CA) and keeps very active furthering her passion. She makes a huge difference in people's lives. I will miss her.

>I did a Learning Annex course
>with her in the Summer
>and she said that this
>was her last season.
>When asked why, she said
>"it's not my show".
>She runs a women's course
>in the midwest (or somewhere
>between NY and CA) and
>keeps very active furthering her
>passion. He makes a
>huge difference in people's lives.
> I will miss her.
>

Now that makes more sense.....course she is right, it isn't her show, it's good ole Rhonda's.

Rhonda had, maybe still does, a show call Help Me, Rhonda in England and that is what Starting Ovee is based on.

Well, I love Iyanla, and if anyone gets any firm info on where we can continue to see her if/when she leaves SO, please post it! I don't care what show she's on, I just don't want to stop seeing her.

I don't know about her returning, but it was stated on the SO home page (and now I can't find it) that for her to stay for this season which was mandated by her contract, the SO producers neogiated with her - something on the website said "we told her what we needed and she told us what she needed" - actually didn't sound like they were nice about it. :0

For me personally, I think IV is best as a motivational speaker. The segments of the show where she talks in the confessional are very insightful. She really knows what these women's problems are -- her weakness though is working with the same woman for months at a time... to me it's clear she gets bored with their problems and just wants to b*tch slap them!

YIPPEEEE!!! Do I have such luck?? No more "How you livin'" crap. Bring back Rana the only good LC. Rhonda will not get along with anyone so why not Rana?

I knew Iyanla's daughter had passed away as a result of cancer, but I can't remember anything other than Iyanla saying that she zipped the body bag (as a mother, that absolutely broke my heart).

I was under the impression that this had happened years ago, not less than two years ago. That woman, God bless her, is still grieving.

Things are making more sense to me now.

Iyanla had a baby that was placed in foster care and died while in foster care. That was her first baby and I beleive a baby boy. Then she had three other children, 2 girls and a boy.
Her daughter that passed away several years ago was in her early thirties and had at least one child of her own, possibly more.

Iyanla tells all about her life in her book, 'Yesterday I Cried', and it is a very powerful book. She lived through some things that would have killed a lesser person. If you get a chance read it, you won't want to put it down.

>Iyanla had a baby that was
>placed in foster care and
>died while in foster care.
> That was her first
>baby and I beleive a
>baby boy. Then
>she had three other children,
>2 girls and a boy.
>
>Her daughter that passed away several
>years ago was in her
>early thirties and had at
>least one child of her
>own, possibly more.
>
>Iyanla tells all about her life
>in her book, 'Yesterday I
>Cried', and it is a
>very powerful book. She
>lived through some things that
>would have killed a lesser
>person. If you
>get a chance read it,
>you won't want to put
>it down.

Does she tell of her long time affair wih a married guy in this book of her life story? (She does go on to marry him years later-tis her present hubby).

Just curious if she tells all or only the parts that would pull in the sympathy from its readers.

It sems both Rhonda and IV are *selective* about their lfe story, only telling the parts that would make them look ike victims.

Yes she details it all.....as she might say warts and all. She speaks of her affair with the married man and their eventual marriage. Her abusive marriage. Her molestation. Her children and her sons drug abuse.

I found this book to be very riveting. To see where Iyanla (originally named Rhonda) started life and to see where she is today should make anyone realize they can acheive their dream.

Her life certainly was not peaches and cream, and while I have lived through some horrific stuff in my life she has me beat hands down. I found her book very inspiring.

Iyanla seems to have a very strong personality. You either figure out how to get along with her or your never going to like her. She doesnt seem like the type of person whos gonna change herself for anyone.
Ive also read the book "Yesterday I cried" The things she went thru in her life. wow.. what a life. Maybe thats why she can see thru alot of the ladies? i dont know. I look at her diffrently now. There are some things she does, i dont get.. but somehow theres a message in all of them. They dont show them doing the whole excerise. they only show parts of it. all thanks to editing, they might feel if the excerise is taking to much time or they dont believe its going work out on the time they have, they may cut it all together. If we saw the entire thing unedited we may have diffrent opinions on the housemates. She and Rhonda must live close by or maybe they live in the guest house? maybe they are hiding in the house somewhere? maybe they are on speed dial? the hg seem to pick up the phone and somehow Ronda or Iyanla answers? do they tape their phone conversations too?
I also noticed one thing, at the end of the show during the credits, i noticed they had SCRIPT consultants? i thought this was supposed to be unscripted? i guess parts of it has to be planned, camera angles and lighting.. do they wear microphones or have them planted around the house? Sooo many questions lol
Anyway i have mixed feelings about this show. im curious about the show, its interesting to watch women from all walks of life living under one roof. part of me wants another season, but another part of me thinks this season should be written off as a big mess.. its like watching real World Sorority. ughhh

1/ keep the honesty and intergrity the house is meant to be. if the houseguests dont want to do the excerises.. give them the boot.. thats why season one was successful.
2/ Get people who really want to be in the house, please no more hollywood startlet wannabes.
3/ how about doing background checks? If the person has a problem Rhonda and Iyanla dont think they can handle or dont want to handle DONT CAST THEM! ( I.E. TJ/ Denise it was too obvious Ronda was very impatient with both of them)
4/ The variety of Ages were great. i like seeing somein their twenties.. i think its a good life lesson to live with other people in a house..
5/ How about calling the houseguests on what they did or said to to other houseguests? do they not watch dailies? ask them how thats gonna help them by backstabbing someone else?
I guess all these suggestions will be ignored by the producers after all they want DRAMA. for the ratings.. but First season was great. it was meaningful. All the women were real. There was someone there everyone could relate to. I loved Maureen and Lori. Maureen reminded me of a co worker i had. She was the funniest coolest co worker. she had a tough exterior, but she had a good heart deep down. Lori seemed like once she shed the geek image, she seemed really cool. id love to talk to her. to me she was someone that you could talk to and get the real truth. She really grew and blossomed. Cassie1 was just like me, a college student struggling to grow up, raising herself. I did NOT like Nyanza. ughh... Andy was alright. i dont remember the other lady..
Season 2? hmm BORING. until denise came on. lol Honestly she kept my interest.

>>Iyanla had a baby that was
>>placed in foster care and
>>died while in foster care.
>> That was her first
>>baby and I beleive a
>>baby boy. Then
>>she had three other children,
>>2 girls and a boy.
>>
>>Her daughter that passed away several
>>years ago was in her
>>early thirties and had at
>>least one child of her
>>own, possibly more.
>>
>>Iyanla tells all about her life
>>in her book, 'Yesterday I
>>Cried', and it is a
>>very powerful book. She
>>lived through some things that
>>would have killed a lesser
>>person. If you
>>get a chance read it,
>>you won't want to put
>>it down.
>
>
>
>
>Does she tell of her long
>time affair wih a married
>guy in this book of
>her life story?
>(She does go on to
>marry him years later-tis her
>present hubby).
>
>Just curious if she tells all
>or only the parts that
>would pull in the sympathy
>from its readers.
>
>
>It sems both Rhonda and IV
>are *selective* about their lfe
>story, only telling the parts
>that would make them look
>ike victims.

Interesting that Towanda didn't seem to have an issue with IV being 'the other woman' like she did with Sommer. Maybe because Sommer wasn't a celeb. and Towanda was only there to further her career. She should have used some of her sister's money to do that instead of taking up precious space in the House.

LAST EDITED ON 12-05-05 AT 08:33 PM (EST)

I have to agree with alyse73.. that "how you be livin???" and "Miss" so-in-so drive me up the wall!!!! I am also getting sick of IV and Rhonda and their coaching strategies. Rhonda is too Hollywood and devoid of any emotions and IV obviously wants to be the star. It seemed like she made it her show last year and even more so this year. Just get rid of IV and Rhonda. If I don't hear, "how you be livin again," I will be a happy camper!!! I have an idea... BRING BACK RANA!!!

What!!? No more "BE a nice day....??"

Icouldn't agree with you more I miss Rana as well
Loo