Is it wrong of me to be finally, justly, overjoyed at the financial ruin that has befallen the Real Housewives of Orange County? When the Bravo show first started, we were on the brink of a national recession. Now, a few seasons later, we're waist-deep in financial hardship, the likes of which has just hit the overly-tanned ladies of Coto. After seasons of watching the Housewives -- and pick any permutation you want here, from NYC to Atlanta -- gobble up jewels and homes and indulge in a kind of narcissism that many parents wouldn't even allow their toddlers, it's supremely gratifying to see the house of cards they built on credit come crashing down.
In the OC, Tamra and her husband Simon seem to have been hit the hardest by the economic downturn. In a scenario many will find all too familiar, they owe more on their home than it's worth, and Simon's "tequila business" isn't doing well. With very little money coming in, the couple is being forced to sell their home at a devastating loss.
But, I'm watching Tamra get choked up over having to sell her house and rather then feel a stab of sympathy for her and the family, all I can manage is a delicious sense of schadenfreude. Finally, after seasons of watching her fritter away money on $40,000 diamond watches, she's been forced to deal with the very real consequences of her financial irresponsibility. The only thought running through my head is a vicious, gleeful sense of satisfaction that she's been busted for her spendthrift ways.
I have slightly more sympathy for Jenna, who's had to sell a few of her fancy cars so she can keep her house, but even that barely registers. Unlike Tamara, she at least realizes her need to go out there and work hard.
Even before the recession was a hard fact of life, many of us, while not struggling in the same way we are now, still couldn't afford million dollar mansions, luxury SUV's and breast implants. The appeal of Housewives has shifted from the slightly aspirational and voyeuristic quality of the first season, when watching women with too much money and too much free time behave irrationally was all in good fun, to something darker and more nihilistic. Bravo's reality series isn't so much about celebrating the values of over-consumption and narcissism, but, now, with the recent turn of events, has dovetailed nicely into a warning sign about the pitfalls of such obscene decadence. People on Bravo, as Washington Post critic Hank Stuver pointed out, "one way or another, always get what's coming to them."
So, how does the recent turn of events make you feel viewers?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-16-2009 @ 6:09PM
Joyce N. said...
I have to admit, I sat and watched smugly thinking, ha, ha, biotch, how does it feel to be part of the real world? I hold no sympathy for her. The gluttonous witch actually wanted us to sympathize with her plight. Even her hubby looks a bit like he's finally realizing his trophy golddigger wife might not be worth the trouble. If she were really concerned, she'd get a job.
I applaud Jenna for leaving the show and trying to work things out for herself.
Vicky, on the other hand, sickens me more every week. Yes, she works her butt off, but at the expense of her family. And anything she does for anyone, it's expected that they MUST kiss her a** because she did so.
Guess golddigging doesn't pay so well, after all, especially if you spend the gold so fast that it runs out.
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11-17-2009 @ 9:00PM
Christina said...
I just want to say that Gretchen is the most gorgeous women I have ever seen in my life and the only real women on that show is Gretchen, Jena and Lynn as for Tamra what a Bleep and so not that pretty the only reason she hates Gretchen is because she knows she is way more gorgeous and can have anyone and anything she wants and as for Vikie one word Nasty. She is the most revolting person inside and out and has the most horrible voice I have ever heard in my life. Please someone do us all a favor and shut her up for good. How the heck she ever got a man is beyond me and it hunts me to this day. Those two are the most evil backstabbing ugly, nasty people I have ever seen in my life and I am ashamed to even be on the same planet as them. I am not a hateful person, but those to bring out the worst in me and anyone that can do that is a spawn of the devil himself or in this case herself... I love you Gretchen and keep on doing what your doing I love you and you really are a great person and don't you dare ever let anyone tell you different... Thank you for letting me share all that I had to get that out...
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11-17-2009 @ 9:03PM
Christina said...
All I can say about Tamra's problems is two little words: Instant karma! You did this to yourself by being so evil!
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11-19-2009 @ 6:31PM
shelly said...
it looks like others feel like i do about that big mouth tamera, she neeks to worry about herself not everyone else. i really miss tammy and her family on the show she was down to earth and didnt use money like it was toilet paper,she earned it and also had difficult times but made it through them, nit blowing every penny on glamor.
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11-20-2009 @ 1:25AM
shelly said...
well just got done watching and i can really say i will miss jeana, but at least she'll be out of all that drama and can now focus on her and her family. with all this stuff now going on with lynn and her getting booted out of their rented house their finally moving, but did anyone catch her reason why? well she said"our lease is up so it a perfect time to move and down size." yah right they got the boot b/c they were 12,000+ behind in rent. at least tamera is even being real(for he most part)about why they need to move. get real lynn dont hide it cause you just spent all that money on a face job and a nose job for your daughter.
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