Yes, I've only really watched the early series of New York and New Jersey.... today is just seems the franchise's bread & butter is McMansions and arguments regardless of setting. The early days of New York were great TV, just wealthy (but not obscenely flashy) women with their brownstones and businesses living what most of us would think of that wealthy NY fantasy to be. The biggest drama back then was Ramona not blinking as she walked down the catwalk lol.
From what I remember, most of the original cast bar Jill and Alex ended up suffering relationship issues/divorce and just became reality tv stars. Alex moved to Australia, and she and her husband went to university and changed careers.