The Real Housewives of New York City: One Shrew Too Many or New Guilty Pleasure?

Posted by Jacci Lewis Categories: Prime Time, Reality, Bravo, Cable/Satellite, Editorial, News

I remember once a media professor at the University of Washington asked our class the simple but loaded question: Why do you watch TV? The class’ answer seemed to boil down to two main reasons: we watch television because we aspire to be what we see or because what we see makes us feel better about our own lives.

This memory popped into my head as I watched a mini-marathon of Bravo TV’s newest ‘docu-reality’ series the The Real Housewives of New York City. What I can’t yet decide is which category of reason for watching TV this show falls into. I’m pretty sure it is the latter.

After shame watching three seasons of the The Real Housewives of Orange County, I expected the NYC ladies to be more of the same cliche of spoiled, self-indulgent, wasteful and shameless cougars albeit a bit less tan, with sleeker hair and a much less appealing accent. And while they are to an extent all of those things, much like New York City itself, these women do seem more worldly and educated than their Southern California counterparts. It is also clear that despite Bravo’s spin-off name for this show, these women are not housewives at all. In fact, it appears they spend very little time, if any, at home.

Click to continue reading The Real Housewives of New York City: One Shrew Too Many or New Guilty Pleasure?

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More Un-‘Real Housewives’ to Come

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, Bravo, Cable

If you’re anything like me, you were absolutely sickened by last night’s episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County.  (Yes - every woman should have a nice 40th, but did Tamra really “deserve” a $40,000 Rolex for her birthday?)  But Tuesday’s airing really didn’t differ from the previous episodes—nor will it keep me from watching again.

Sensing my need to know these women better, Bravo has chosen to branch out.  (Now that Jeana and her husband are finally kaput, the awkwardness level has decreased a bit.)  Hoping to tap into a new set of neuroses - while surviving the writers strike - the cable channel will be taking it the other coast.  That’s right.  We’ll soon be introduced to the The Real Housewives of New York City!  In other words, expect to see more furs (less fake tans), more drivers (less convertibles) and more Broadway openings (the same amount of drunken outings).

The socialites featured in this Housewives spinoff will include a businesswoman, a former model/actress and a countess.  I’m also hoping this installment will include the overworked nannies that are so lacking in the O.C. version (and the hours the mistresses spend writing ‘To Do Lists’ for the help).

Expect more head-shaking entertainment when The Real Housewives of New York City debuts on March 4.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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