The McCord van Kempens Go For A Walk

Real Housewives of New York City star Alex McCord and her husband Simon Van Kempen take their sons Francois and Johan for a walk in New York City on May 7, 2011.

Credit: Zimbio

Photos by PacificCoastNews.com

The McCord van Kempens: "Design On A Dime"

Simon Van Kempen and Alex McCord attend 7th Annual Housing Works Design on a Dime charity shopping event at Metropolitan Pavilion on May 5, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Wire Image

Alex McCord: Use Your Head Shop For A Cause

Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen attended the Use Your Head, Shop For A Cause benefit at 262 Mott Street on May 4, 2011 in New York City. She donated the dress she wore to Sonja's cocktail party.

Credit: Wire Image

Alex McCord Sounds Off On 'NYC Housewives'

Whether she's calling Sonja Morgan a "thug in a cocktail dress" or dressing down Jill Zarin for being a phony, the usually reserved Alex McCord has been killing us with her newfound chutzpah on Real Housewives of New York City. And she's no less cheeky when it comes to fielding our questions about life as a Housewife.

TV Guide Magazine: Gotta say, you are sassy this season!
McCord: [Laughs] I've always been empowered. It's just that now you're seeing it on TV.

TV Guide Magazine: Do you think your friendship with former Housewife Bethenny Frankel changed you?
McCord: My metamorphosis, if you want to call it that, had nothing to do with anything other than my being fed up. In the real world, it might be enough to think someone's an idiot. But on reality TV, you sort of have to beat them over the head with it. Otherwise, they don't know.

TV Guide Magazine: And who is the biggest idiot you have to deal with on the show?
McCord: I can't tell you! That's a spoiler!

TV Guide Magazine: Has it gotten old, always being filmed?
McCord: The more I do this, the more fun it's becoming. One thing that I think makes New York special is that we still have four original cast members left. What that means is whether we like each other or not, we have a shared history of four years. We know where each other's buttons are and how to push them. That makes for magical TV. All you have to do is get us in a room and turn the cameras on.

TV Guide Magazine: So after four years, would you consider any of your fellow cast mates real friends?
McCord: [Laughs] Some yes, some no. The entire group is one dysfunctional sorority. It's Kappa Kappa Housewives.

The Real Housewives of New York City airs Thursdays at 10/9c on Bravo.

Credit: TV Guide (Damian Holbrook)

The McCord van Kempens Want Gay Marriage

Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen are adamantly in favor of same-sex marriage, which will come up in the new season of Real Housewives of New York, particularly at a marital equality rally they appeared at along with other notables.

On the phone yesterday, the duo filled me in on their viewpoints.

Simon van Kempen: On a show like Real Housewives, we have a broad audience. We tend to stay away from issues because they're interested in us because we're crazy and wear red leather pants.

Alex McCord: They don't want us to be Sean Penn. But this is civil rights! This is a cause that we feel passionate about. The number one thing is it's not fair! My best friend from college shot a playdate with us on the show. I've been with him as his life was changed when got married in Vermont, and then again in Massachusetts when they moved there. One of the things that broke my heart is he'd gotten a dream job offer, but it was in a state he couldn't move to because his husband wouldn't have gotten health benefits and so on!

Simon: I came to the states almost 10 years ago for a three-week business trip. I met Alex. Fortunately for me, the Alex I met was Alexandra, not Alexander. I moved to the states and eventually got my U.S. citizenship. But if it was Alexander, our love would have been screwed. It's ridiculous that in 2011, there are people split up who can't live their lives because of the government!

Credit: The Village Voice (Michael Musto)