A lot of people who watch the reality TV show "The Real Housewives" don’t believe there’s an ounce of reality in it at all. And why should they? It’s not every day that people travel on private jets, have an alter-ego named Erika Jayne, have their own line of Pinot Grigio, or bring psychics to their dinner parties. For all of its ridiculousness, however, "The Real Housewives" provides deep insight into the emotional lives of the women depicted in the show.
I’ve watched "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" for years, and in the past two years have caught up on "The Real Housewives of New York City." Some people dismiss these shows as worthless trash, not worthy of the intelligent viewer’s attention and time. Others who watch the show call it a “guilty pleasure,” and take pleasure in laughing at the Housewives’ sad and shallow lives. I’m not afraid to admit I might be in the minority, someone who sincerely and genuinely values the show and all of the women in it.
Those who have watched these shows for years can see the ups and downs in these women’s lives, through divorce, bankruptcy, book deals, and more. Sure, it may be easy to laugh at Ramona Singer’s constant drunken escapades and verbal attacks that come out of nowhere, but it’s heartbreaking to see her marriage fall apart after her husband of 20 years, Mario, cheated on her, especially when seasons before in Morocco a fortune teller told her that he was cheating. Divorce seems to be a common thread for the Real Housewives, and it’s tragic to see how each person is affected by it.
Watching other relationships struggle, like Kim and Kyle Richards’ recent drift apart after Kim got arrested for stealing $600 worth of toys from Target, and Jill Zarin and Bethenny Frankel’s feud is similarly tragic. Sonja Morgan went through a difficult time for a long period when she was going bankrupt trying to fight her divorce battle, and not even her failed toaster oven line could save her. However, Sonja’s persistently upbeat attitude and humor is inspiring to even the hardest of hearts.
That’s not to say that "The Real Housewives" is more sad than entertaining. It’s probably one of the most entertaining shows ever created, with endless quotability and drama. Even though I haven’t really seen other franchises besides "Beverly Hills" and "NYC "(I do need time to have a social life), I greatly respect "New Jersey’s" Teresa’s “prostitution whore!” and table flip, as well as "Atlanta’s" Sheree’s “Who gon’ check me boo?”.
If you want to insult someone in an interesting way, all you have to do is look to the Housewives for inspiration. If you’re mad at a friend, call her a “slut pig” and accuse her of doing crystal meth in the bathroom all night long. When you don’t like someone’s outfit, say “even Louis Vuitton makes mistakes.” When words won’t suffice? Throw your prosthetic leg across the table at a dinner party. When it comes to genuine insanity, I don’t think there can be a single moment in reality television history greater than “Scary Island” on "NYC," except for maybe the “Dinner Party from Hell” from "Beverly Hills."
"The Real Housewives" can teach viewers many things, like how money can’t buy you class, that being a functioning alcoholic is a wonderful thing, the importance of a good catchphrase, and the importance of being yourself and following your passions, whether they are Pomeranians with alopecia, lemons or $25,000 sunglasses. Most importantly, to the unbiased and open viewer, "The Real Housewives" teaches us to have empathy for those more fortunate than us.
Holla!
