Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Defend Season Premiere

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Lisa Vanderpump, Kyle Richards and Adrienne Maloof took to Today Tuesday morning to defend the show's Monday night premiere, which was mostly slammed by critics.

Critics pointed out that the show, once gossipy fun, could not be after Russell Armstrong's suicide. Many had called for Season Two to be scrapped entirely.

In its review of the premiere, The Los Angeles Times called the show "a creepy necro-party game ... how can we now watch and think of anything else [other than Russell's suicide]?"

But the trio told Ann Curry that Russell's estranged wife, Taylor (right, in the premiere), was "supportive of the series being shown." Said Richards:

"She [Taylor] thought that they handled it respectfully, and in light of the situation she was pleased with the outcome. ... We shot this six months ago and I think Bravo has tried to handle it as responsibly and respectfully as possible. ... But the show is not just about them [Taylor and Russell] -- it's about six women and their lives. Yes, they are a part of it, but there's also so much going on in the show."

Vanderpump addressed comments her husband, Ken, made in the premiere; he called therapy "weak" after Taylor revealed she and Russell were in therapy. See Lisa's defense and more from The Times' scathing review after the jump.