Dorothy "Dott" Emerson

Dott is a little different from Ellie. Both ladies are shallow and obsessed with the latest fashions, their looks and the latest gossip, but Dott seems to be a little more down to earth ---- seemingly more interested with those things because seeing Ellie happy gives her so much pleasure. Her life is a little bit more reality based. She runs a thriving publishing house (which she received in her divorce settlement) and has a 17 year old son Brendan who --- despite not getting as much of her attention as he should --- seems to be fairly mature.

Her values are actually pretty good considering the lifelong influence from her very shallow mother, Alice Morgan-DuPont-Sutton-Cushing-Ferruke. Alice believes in marriage as a way of furthering herself financially, and she basically used her household staff to raise Dott. The relationship between the two is rather interesting ---- both barreling each other with insults and seeing who can get the last dig in. At one point in the series, Dott falls head over heels and accepts a marriage proposal. Having been married seven times herself, Alice seems to find it more ludicrous that Dott is in love than that she is getting married. Deep down, Dott loves her mother --- and Brendan too --- even if she doesn't always show it.

Dott is a very loyal and wonderful friend to Ellie, but can't do one of the things spoiled Ellie wants her most to do --- kick out Val. But, Dott also feels a loyalty to frumpish old friend Val because she was the one who convinced her to keep her baby when she was pregnant with Brendan. Because of this, she is unable to refuse Val when she comes to her for help and a place to stay --- despite how it tortures Ellie. Dott just kind of stands back and lets the fur fly. Of course, after all the scenes she has witnessed involving Ellie, a few cat fights don't even phase her.

Take a good look at Dott. She is always absolutely gorgeous. Her style of dress may not be as over-the-top as Ellie's, but her look is classy and sharp. She is definitely influenced by Ellie and her theatrics, but doesn't have all the pills and vices that Ellie seems to need to survive. As a matter of fact, her only real vice seems to be Ellie.