I didn’t watch Bravo’s Real Housewives set of programs until Real Housewives of Atlanta premiered last year. There was a lot of buzz in the urban community about these wives, so I had to see for myself the madness and the mayhem surrounding these divas from the Peachtree state. Like many others, I became entrenched in these women’s lives as they cursed each other out, fought, clawed, and pulled wigs. It was must see TV alright. After becoming a fan of RHOA, I began watching the other installments of the series, which included Orange County (the flagship), New York, and later, New Jersey.
Then I began to see a pattern here.
These are not real housewives at all.
They are poor representations of women who run their homes as well as juggle their careers. When I look at these so-called housewives (which many aren’t because they are not even married), I see that Bravo’s blatant attempt to pull us in is working. But instead of showing real housewives with real problems and issues and concerns, they’ve decided to make it into a soap opera entity with plenty of drama. As a mother of two myself who has a real story to tell, the Real Housewives franchise is a little disheartening.
There is such a thing as “entertainment purposes only”. And yes, I know money talks and so does commercial airtime. The more drama a “reality” show can have, the more dollars the network can make. I truly get it. But at the same time, we have to ask ourselves does everything have to have a sell-out factor? What is wrong with showing real women dealing with real issues when it comes to being married, parenting, and working on their careers and goals? Why isn’t there a show on television showing true images of this?
Would it not be a success for a network?
Real Housewives is a fail to me. There is so much more that could’ve been done with these programs, but alas, it’s not. So we can just laugh at others expense while the real “hero” in this debacle is the television network, who rakes in the dough.
I hear the latest installment of the D.C. housewives show a more realistic view of ‘A Cubicle Chick’, but because I’ve been tainted by so many of these “supposedly” real shows, I think I will pass. That is one party I don’t mind being tardy for.
What are your thoughts on the Real Housewives shows? Do you watch? And more importantly, why do you watch? Are we laughing AT these ladies and not WITH them? Sound off below.
Great point! I totally agree with you!
Thanks for reading. I would love to see more “real” housewives on television.
Like you I was pulled in when Bravo picked up the Atlanta wives, ex's and claimjumpers. When the second season of Atlanta took on the same script and omens of OC, it started to feel a bit soap opera-ish. Now as DC comes into play I find myself a bit bored and no longer imagine the life of a housewife.
Reality has lost its originality. I'm sure the real players in DC are not star struck with the happenings at the White House.
A part of me wants to see the D.C. edition but another part is so over it. I will watch the tweets when the show is on but that is about it. Thanks for commenting.
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i too did not watch the other installments, but i tuned in for the Atlanta show. i had my DVR set so i would never miss a episode. i totally agree with you. i was sucked in and then i was sucked into the VH1 hit Basketball Wives. it puzzled me as well as how most of the women on the show were not wives at all. i admit to being enthralled in these shows at one point, but i'm so totally over most of these so called "reality" shows. i just can't take them anymore, i feel i could be doing more productive things toward my goals and business. i may watch if i get some downtime or just need to veg out one day after i've been hard on work, but i will NOT be setting my DVR anymore to any of these shoes… i will watch Rachel Zoe and Project Runway though, lol.
I was late getting involved w/ the Housewives & once I started watching? I really didn’t feel as though I had missed out on anything. Like most “reality” shows the “Housewives” are about drama… These are simply “grown” (based on age solely) women looking for attention that they’re not receiving from their husband’s or lack of. *shrug*