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Wonderfully Awful: Desperate for the Real Housewives
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a blogumn by Robin Rosenzweig
I am a big television fan, and have been for years. My two – yes, two – TiVos are always busy keeping track of the shows I follow. Before that miraculous piece of technology was invented, I used 2-3 VCRs to ensure I didn’t miss a moment of my favorite shows. With the advent of TV on DVD, I can even follow premium cable shows I don’t normally get to watch (I’m looking at you, Dexter!). I really can’t get enough of really great, high-quality television shows.
Oh, and I also love the Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo. Yeah, I said it.
If memory serves, The Real Housewives of Orange County was conceived as a way to capitalize on the wild success of Desperate Housewives a few years back. The show generally focuses on five ultra-rich women and their families. These women are generally very self-obsessed, have very spoiled children, and are very tan and botoxed. Most have augmented breasts, and I suspect some have had other various plastic surgeries (usually as evidenced in old photos that appear on the show periodically and show the women in a former, now relatively unrecognizable state). Through the show we have met Vicki, an insurance titan who considers herself to be classy and sophisticated, though she is not above downing well product-placed cans of Coors Light at wild houseboat parties in Lake Havasu. This season we have the inclusion of new “housewife” Gretchen, who first appeared on the show as the apparent gold digging fiancée of a much older man battling leukemia. And although I do still think her original intentions were of a gold-digging nature, she has been shown spending a great deal of time focusing her energy on the care of her increasingly ill fiancé. As a result, despite my better judgment, it turns out I have found her to be rather likeable.
Unfortunately, I missed out on the show’s first spinoff – The Real Housewives of New York City. But I did get into the second spinoff – The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
With rare exception and perhaps due to location, these women have the distinction of mostly being athletes’ wives or ex-wives. They are rolling in money that their husbands have earned, and use this money to either start clothing lines (whether or not they know a lick about fashion), or start charitable foundations – not because they necessarily care about the issue they’re supporting – but more because it seems to be what the athlete’s wife is supposed to do. One Atlanta cast member, Kim, even had the ill-conceived desire to become a country singer, and we followed her as she collaborated with famous producer (and “close, personal friend”) Dallas Austin as she worked toward achieving her dream. It was hard to tell if Dallas Austin was really a friend, or if he was looking to do a little self-promotion, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him as Kim warbled her way through the process, and refused to accept any constructive criticism along the way. To put it bluntly, money can buy a lot of things, but musical talent is not among them.
So are The Real Housewives lowering my IQ with every viewing? I don’t doubt it. But at the same time, I continue to be endlessly fascinated, so I will keep watching. Additionally, Bravo makes things easy by airing marathons pretty much every other day. So I can keep up without burdening either of my TiVos with even a minute of these shows, saving plenty of room for the good stuff.
Am I the only person not watching thse shows. Some of my most intelligent friends love it — especially Atlanta, and I can't sit through 5 minutes. I seriously don't understand….
seriously! i think some of these marketers are genius because shows like this really do appeal to us smarty pants peeps. a whole group of my pals & i are nearly obsessed with Rock of Love. i don't normally watch the Real Housewives shows, but will catch on occasion. i think there's some sort of extreme lifestyle that we all are curious about that draws us in. i adore Kimora Lee Simmons' show, even though her way of life sorta makes me puke. but ya gotta admit, she is one entertaining drag queen!
Oh, I'm saving Rock of Love for another blog. But that's another one I watch pretty religiously.
With the Housewives, I think for me it has something to do with having a fascination with seeing how money so profoundly affects their lifestyles, and how location has a great deal to do with it, as well. I am nothing like these women (on RoL and The Real Housewives) and, god willing, will never be anything like these women. But following their extreme lifestyles – as Keldoo put it – can somehow keep me watching for hours. And I mean that literally during a marathon.
Am I the only person not watching thse shows. Some of my most intelligent friends love it — especially Atlanta, and I can't sit through 5 minutes. I seriously don't understand….
seriously! i think some of these marketers are genius because shows like this really do appeal to us smarty pants peeps. a whole group of my pals & i are nearly obsessed with Rock of Love. i don't normally watch the Real Housewives shows, but will catch on occasion. i think there's some sort of extreme lifestyle that we all are curious about that draws us in. i adore Kimora Lee Simmons' show, even though her way of life sorta makes me puke. but ya gotta admit, she is one entertaining drag queen!
Oh, I'm saving Rock of Love for another blog. But that's another one I watch pretty religiously.
With the Housewives, I think for me it has something to do with having a fascination with seeing how money so profoundly affects their lifestyles, and how location has a great deal to do with it, as well. I am nothing like these women (on RoL and The Real Housewives) and, god willing, will never be anything like these women. But following their extreme lifestyles – as Keldoo put it – can somehow keep me watching for hours. And I mean that literally during a marathon.
I watch this show every week and my friends give me constant crap about it. I guess I like it because it's a whole facet of womanhood that I'm completely out of touch with. If you watch the show, you know that these women aren't dumb, arguably ignorant, but not stupid by any stretch of the imagination. They just choose to exercise their power and cunning in a different way than I or any of my female friends do. Sure, they're bitchy and transparently shallow, but I find something fascinating about watching them operate. I feel the same way about The Girls Next Door.
I watch this show every week and my friends give me constant crap about it. I guess I like it because it's a whole facet of womanhood that I'm completely out of touch with. If you watch the show, you know that these women aren't dumb, arguably ignorant, but not stupid by any stretch of the imagination. They just choose to exercise their power and cunning in a different way than I or any of my female friends do. Sure, they're bitchy and transparently shallow, but I find something fascinating about watching them operate. I feel the same way about The Girls Next Door.
Against my will….i have gotten sucked into the Real Housewives. I actually find Gretchen kind of touching…like she's been caught unawares by her own possible humanity.
Against my will….i have gotten sucked into the Real Housewives. I actually find Gretchen kind of touching…like she's been caught unawares by her own possible humanity.
I love Housewives, but rarely get to watch it because my husband can't stand it. i didn't get into Atlanta, but have watched OC and NY. There is something so interesting about watching people with so much money (or at least so much spending power) lead these vapid lives. NY was so interesting because if focused on supposed NY socialites, including one couple who was desperately trying to ascend the ranks. Plus, that show has a Duchess.
Ernessa — start Tivo-ing now. It will make great viewing when Betty is up at all hours and you need something that doesn't take much energy.
I love Housewives, but rarely get to watch it because my husband can't stand it. i didn't get into Atlanta, but have watched OC and NY. There is something so interesting about watching people with so much money (or at least so much spending power) lead these vapid lives. NY was so interesting because if focused on supposed NY socialites, including one couple who was desperately trying to ascend the ranks. Plus, that show has a Duchess.
Ernessa — start Tivo-ing now. It will make great viewing when Betty is up at all hours and you need something that doesn't take much energy.