Let me quickly set the stage. If you don't know who Rachel Zoe is, she is the ultimate designer of the stars -- really, the woman has made Nicole Richie, Jessica Alba, Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz and just about every other well-dressed celebrity the fashion icons they are today. The Rachel Zoe Project is Rachel's reality show, which began its fourth season last night. After the second season, her assistant Taylor left the company after a much-publicized betrayal on Taylor's part. After the third season, her assistant Brad left the company. (For fans of the show, I'm sure it was a huge shock last night to find out he wasn't what he seemed. A plague on your house, Brad Goreski!) And the fourth season is where we pick up.

I was pretty worried about the show without Brad -- while Rachel was the sort of nutty, fashion-crazed, workaholic boss, Brad was the comic relief; the sanity and audience to Rachel's neuroses. In a way, he made the show. Rachel considering having a baby all last season was always less exciting than anything Brad was doing or saying. And the two played off of each other so well.

But now it's just Rachel and her husband Rodger -- and the title sequence shows it -- once upon a time, it featured Taylor, Brad, Rachel and Rodger -- now it's just down to the latter two. There's hardly a need for the title sequence any more. So what exactly ended up taking Brad's place? And a baby makes three!

Well, not baby quite yet. We pick up with Rachel six months pregnant, and the tiniest six-month bump you've ever seen adds everything Brad did to the equation -- in particular, humor and perspective. Rachel does not know what it means to slow down -- to see her physically have to do so and learn to love what's happening to her adds a bit of heart to a once (and okay, still) superficial show. She is softened and humbled, and it's fun to see her challenged in a new way. But of course, that softness doesn't last for long: she's lovey dovey with Rodger one second -- finally living in the moment -- but they're fighting the next, and her clients are still her number one. Adding to the drama is a new assistant and Rachel's new fashion line; so just as the baby's coming, it's career make-or-break time.

Yes, you've got to take who she is and what she does for a career with a grain of salt -- she is a dramatic, fashion-obsessed stylist with catch phrases like "so major" and "bananas," and she and Rodger's fighting can be a bit grating. But the to-be baby boy is showing new sides of Rachel and amping up the pressure for the success of her line. Look -- if you can stand watching all of the Bravo Real Housewives and you enjoy fashion, you should be watching The Rachel Zoe Project. She's smarter and more interesting than all of those women, she's now a working mom, and the show is fast-paced and fun; it really is a look into what it's like to be a stylist -- and now there's a kid on the way. After the departure of two assistants that were key in bringing the show drama and humor, it didn't seem possible -- but this curveball of sorts has managed to make the show better than before.

Watch a preview of next week's episode here:

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