Kim Richards, Fresh From Rehab, Seems to Be Thriving

On Monday night’s episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, 47-year-old Kim Richards seemed like a sobbing, red-faced mess engaged in a series of strange activities—locking herself into the bathroom at The Sur opening, trilling about the thrill of reaching into her purse for a lipstick and discovering a vibrator, marveling over strange, dirty garbage left by previous passengers in her limo. But it sounds like the former child star has come a long way since that disturbing episode was shot. After Richards entered rehab for alleged prescription drug and alcohol abuse last December, a few media sources reported that she had checked out early. But Richards insists she completed the full 28-program,  despite reports to the contrary. Richards returned home and later popped up at the Weinstein Company’s Golden Globes after party on Sunday, where she said she was feeling “phenomenal.” Running out to parties when you’re just back from rehab may not be the best prescription for a sober future, but Kim had her big sister Kathy Hilton, by her side lately  instead of her more  little sister Kyle—which may make for less riveting reality TV  is surely better for everyone concerned.