Start spreading the news: E! reports a major housecleaning is underway for the "Real Housewives of New York."

Apparently on the way out for the Bravo show's fifth season: Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon and Alex McCord. Also at loose ends: Cindy Barshop and unsanctioned housewife Simon Van Kempen. Still on: Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan and LuAnn (the Countess) de Lesseps.

The why, according to E!:

But E! says Bravo is hedging its bets and wants to see whether the new women have chemistry before officially cutting people loose.