As much as I loved The Real Housewives of New Jersey, I knew that I was loving it for all the wrong reasons. I'm New Jersey all the way: born here, went to college here, have lived here all my life. About ten percent of the people I've met fit the yelling, lunkheaded Jersey stereotypes we've seen on TV since The Sopranos; what I don't understand is where reality TV's recent fascination has been with the louder residents of the Garden State.
First it was Housewives. Then it was Cake Boss, where Buddy Valastro and his crew scream and gesture so much it's a wonder how their cakes don't collapse in the oven. Even TLC's relatively gentle Masters of Reception seemed to highlight the more "Jersey" aspects of my home state.
Now we have Jersey Shore, an MTV reality series premiering December 3. It documents goings on last summer in a shore house with the "hottest, tannest, craziest Guidos," according to this particularly annoying promo:
The Real Housewives of New Jersey-related stories
MTV's Jersey Shore: yet another chance to laugh at the Garden State
Continue reading MTV's Jersey Shore: yet another chance to laugh at the Garden State
Real Houswives table-flipper is losing home to foreclosure
If you can, imagine Fran Fine from The Nanny saying these words, "Oh my gawd..." because that's the voice in my head when I read that Real Housewives' Teresa Guidice is losing her New Jersey mansion to foreclosure. The table-flipping mother of four, who was shown moving into the palatial, marble-laden manse during the first season of Bravo's The Real Housewives of New Jersey, is behind in her mortgage and DLJ Mortgage Capital filed papers in Superior Court of New Jersey this week to begin foreclosure.
Continue reading Real Houswives table-flipper is losing home to foreclosure
Bethenny Frankel replaced on The Real Housewives of NYC
BF is nobody's BFF these days... or so it seems. Just days after Bravo announced that three reality stars were getting spinoffs of their own, one of them has made news again. Bethenny Frankel is out of The Real Housewives of New York York City and Sonja Morgan has been added. Now, this could be as simple as Bethenny is moving on to star in her own show as was announced. However, there are rumors that in the few episodes she's done for the new season of Real Housewives, Bethenny has been feuding with the other ladies.
Continue reading Bethenny Frankel replaced on The Real Housewives of NYC
Seven shows that need funny commentators more than American Idol
American Idol's choice of Ellen DeGeneres as a judge replacement threw everyone for a loop, even schlubs like me who don't watch the show. It's not that she's not talented, successful or funny. It's just an odd choice, putting a comedian on the show that takes its goal of crushing losers' dreams on live television so seriously. It would evoke the same reaction from me if they picked Andrew "Dice" Clay as the new judge, if the Diceman was talented, successful or funny.
And besides, why do they need humor and comedy on such an otherwise serious show? There are lots of humorless, vapid and downright boring shows that are crying out for comedic interjection.
Continue reading Seven shows that need funny commentators more than American Idol
The Real Housewives of NJ gets a second season
If I go to Hell after I die, I'm quite certain that part of my eternal punishment would be sitting in a room with all the Real Housewives of New Jersey for all eternity. Therefore the following piece of news is about as close to Hell on Earth as I can get: popular rumor has it that Bravo has renewed The Real Housewives of New Jersey for a second season.I was born and bred in New Jersey (those of you offering condolences can shut it right now. I like New Jersey). As a result of sharing my humble abode with someone of the female persuasion, I have been subjected to this program. I can personally attest that very few people in New Jersey actually act like these "housewives". If you're planning a vacation, please don't let the behaviors of these women put you off from visiting the Garden State.
However, to give credit, the program did lead to a funny sketch on Chelsea Lately. The video of that is after the jump.
Continue reading The Real Housewives of NJ gets a second season
Think the Real Housewives of Jersey is over? Fuggedaboudit!
The power of The Real Housewives of New Jersey is amazing to me. I normally can't stand the Real Housewives series. And, as a lifelong Jerseyan, the Sopranos-esque stereotypes of pampered Bergen County wives initially made me queasy. But dammit, the show hooked me and kept me watching the whole season; it even led me to write the hacky headline above. Why? Because this one had a plot.The story of the creepily over-Botoxed Danielle Staub and how the rest of the Housewives found out about her sordid past was the thread that kept even Bravo-except-for-Top-Chef-averse people like myself tuning in. Oh, and the fact that they teased the "Last Supper" finale all season (showing matriarch Caroline saying "we're thick as thieves" about a thousand times) also kept me watching. And the finale didn't disappoint: people turning on each other, tables getting tipped over, exceedingly mature children horrified at their parents' behavior... it was great.
But if you thought it was over, think again. As the New York Post reports and Bravo has been promoting, the cable net will air four more episodes.
Continue reading Think the Real Housewives of Jersey is over? Fuggedaboudit!
Bravo concocts The Real Housewives of D.C.
Remember that Barbra Streisand-Donna Summer disco duet, "Enough Is Enough"? That's what came to mind when I read that Bravo is planning another edition of The Real Housewives, this time D.C. Is there any end to Bravo's lack of innovation? Are there no new ideas out there that they have to spin out more housewives. How real they are remains debatable, if you ask me.Don't get me wrong. I've actually watched The Real Housewives of Orange County, as well as the New York City ladies and even the newest creation, those Jersey girls, The Real Housewives of New Jersey. The latter, in fact, are a hoot if you can get past the similarities to Carmela Soprano that imbue the entire series. I keep expecting Tony or Uncle Junior to pop up at one of their parties.
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
