real housewives of orange county-related stories
Posted Nov 16th 2009 5:07PM by Hemal Jhaveri
Filed under: OpEd
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.
Continue reading Finally, the Housewives get their comeuppance
Posted Sep 6th 2009 3:03PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd
Lately, I feel like I need a shower after watching an episode of any of the
Real Housewives on Bravo. The franchise is getting progressively trashier, which probably doesn't bother Bravo because the ratings have continued to boom.
This latest news might help
The Real Housewives of Orange County when it returns.
Reality star Lynne Curtin has been accused of stealing furniture from the house she'd been renting for the show. Not only that, but the homeowner is claiming Curtin also destroyed property before vacating.
That image is diametrically opposite of the one presented on the show. Curtin's home was never revealed to be a rental for starters. Her domestic situation was also seemingly secure and stable, with no problems with her husband and children.
Continue reading Real Orange County wife evicted and scandalized
Posted Jun 10th 2009 5:02PM by Eliot Glazer
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Other Reality Shows, OpEd, Video, Game Show, Reality-Free
If you're like me, then you're probably a mom. Although, I don't have children. In fact, I'm a quarter-century old dude built like an extra from a 1960's beach movie (that's not necessarily a compliment, especially if you think "compact" is a terrible description of body type, as I often do). However, when I'm at the gym, I seem to get along like gangbusters with all the mothers who take to the Stepper for a mindless lower-body workout in which one essentially climbs to nowhere.
In fact, every now and then, you'll catch me on the machine upwards of an hour, which is by no means an easy task when you have the attention span I do. But luckily, I've got plenty of friends to keep me going, and I don't even have to talk to them. Because they're inside the TV! (Sorry, moms!)
Continue reading Five shows to watch at the gym (if you know what's good for you)
Posted Feb 10th 2009 4:03PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, ABC has Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, followed by two new episodes of Scrubs and True Beauty.- CBS has a new NCIS at 8, then new episodes of The Mentalist and Without A Trace.
- FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Fringe.
- NBC has a new, two-hour of The Biggest Loser at 8, followed by a new Dateline.
- The CW has a new 90210 at 8, then a new Privileged.
- At 9, Food Network has a new Food Detectives.
- Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 9.
- At 10, TNT has a new Leverage.
- FX has a new Nip/Tuck at 10.
- There's a new Chopped on Food Network at 10.
- Travel Channel has a new Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern at 10.
- Also at 10: Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Orange County.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Charlie Brown, Fringe, Leverage, Real Housewives
Posted Jan 27th 2009 4:01PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
- At 8, ABC has a new Homeland Security USA, followed by two new episodes of Scrubs and a new Primetime: What Would You Do?
- CBS has a new NCIS at 8.
- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser at 8.
- FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Fringe.
- There's a new Nova on PBS at 8, then a new Frontline.
- BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 8.
- At 9, Lifetime has the movie Prayers For Bobby.
- History Channel has a new episode of The Universe at 9.
- Food Network has a new Food Detectives at 9.
- Also at 9: Sci-Fi has a new ECW.
- At 9:30, ESPN2 has more coverage of The Australian Open.
- At 10, TNT has a new Leverage.
- FX has a new Nip/Tuck at 10.
- Food Network has a new Chopped at 10.
- Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Orange County at 10.
- At 11, TBS has a new 10 Items or Less.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Last Restaurant Standing, ECW, Leverage
Posted Dec 30th 2008 4:01PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, ABC has Happy New Year, Charlie Brown, followed by Rudolph's Shiny New Year and new episodes of According To Jim and Eli Stone.- PBS has a new Nova at 8.
- ESPN has The Holiday Bowl at 8.
- Also at 8: BBC America has a new My Family.
- At 9, CBS has The 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors.
- There's a new ECW on Sci-Fi at 9.
- At 10, TNT has a new Leverage.
- Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Orange County at 10.
- At 10:30, Disney has a new Life with Derek.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk show listings.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Nova, Charlie Brown, Leverage
Posted Jun 26th 2008 3:24PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, Pickups and Renewals
Has Bravo gone to the well once too much? It sure seems that way. Hot on the success of
The Real Housewives of New York City, which was inspired by
The Real Housewives of Orange County,
Bravo is now rolling out The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Now, listen, I've watched the first two series; I admit that they are addictive. And they're convenient because Bravo re-airs them again and again, but come on! This is like Coffee-Mate coming up with all these flavored creamers. Do we really need so many creamers?
Continue reading Bravo conjures up more Housewives, this time from Atlanta
Posted Apr 22nd 2008 11:04AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Industry, OpEd, The Amazing Race, Survivor, Project Runway
Okay, I admit it. I like reality TV. Or maybe I should say unscripted TV. These days the parsing of the term "reality" has become as much a discussion as the genre itself. And don't kill me for calling it a genre. It is. It's here to stay. As long as producers can come up with ideas that make money and networks give them air time, reality/non-fiction/unscripted television is going to continue to proliferate the tube.
It's not with any great pride that I admit I'm hooked on reality shows -- some reality shows. My favorites include the high quality, classy shows, like
The Amazing Race and
Top Chef and
Project Runway, as well as trashy ones, i.e.
The Real Housewives of Orange County (and New York),
Hell's Kitchen and
Bridezillas. I like some of the competition-oriented shows, but that doesn't stop me from gazing in astonishment at the train wreck docu-series like
Hey Paula and
Being Bobby Brown. In fact, when I hear Kathy Griffin riffing on those shows -- her imitation of Whitney screaming "Bobby!" is classic -- I want to cry out, "Yes, yes, I watch that one, too."
Continue reading True confessions: I watch reality TV
Posted Feb 1st 2008 3:28PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming
I'm not into football, but I do watch the Super Bowl every single year. I watch it for the new expensive commercials (which we'll be covering here at TV Squad). But if you're the type of person who doesn't like the game or the commercials, here's what you can watch instead on Sunday (not just during the game at night but during the all-day pre-game show too). Puppies and Klingons and Beatles, oh my!
Continue reading What to watch on Sunday if you don't like football
Posted Jan 15th 2008 4:03PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight
At 8, FOX has the season premiere of American Idol. - CBS has a new NCIS at 8, then part 2 of Comanche Moon.
- ABC has a new Just For Laughs at 8.
- There's a new, two-hour Biggest Loser on NBC at 8.
- PBS has a new Nova at 8.
- CNN and FOX News has coverage of the Michigan Republican Primary all night.
- At 9, ABC has a new According To Jim.
- MSNBC has a Democratic Debate from Las Vegas at 9, then coverage of Michigan.
- At 10, ABC has a new Boston Legal.
- NBC has a new Law and Order: SVU at 10.
- Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Orange County at 10.
- Also at 10: FX has a new Nip/Tuck.
Check your local TV listings for more.
Note: after the jump, a special poll about our new format.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: American Idol, NCIS, Nip/Tuck
Posted Dec 11th 2007 4:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight
- At 8, NBC has a new Deal Or No Deal, then a new Biggest Loser.
- Cartoon Network has Billy & Mandy Save Christmas at 8.
- BBC America has the two-hour season premiere of Life on Mars at 8.
- At 8:30, ABC has Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too.
- At 9, CBS has two new episodes of Cane.
- Lifetime has the movie All She Wants For Christmas at 9.
- Hallmark has the movie Meet The Santas at 9.
- At 10, ABC has a new Boston Legal.
- There's a new Nip/Tuck on FX at 10.
- Discovery has a new Everest: Beyond the Limit at 10.
- ABC Family has The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus at 10.
- Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 10.
- Also at 10: Bravo has The Real Housewives of Orange County.
Check your local TV listings for more.
Posted Sep 1st 2007 7:40AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Industry, Programming, What To Watch Tonight
Ah, September. This means the horrible, horrible month of August and the summer in general are going away. Thank God.
Labor Day is the unofficial "last hurrah" for summer, and there are a bunch of special shows and marathons on this three day weekend. Here's the day by day breakdown.
Continue reading A guide to what's on Labor Day weekend
Posted May 29th 2007 5:05PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight
At 8, FOX has a new On The Lot, then the season finale of House. - At 10, ABC has the season finale of Boston Legal.
- At 9, PBS has a new Independent Lens.
- Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch at 9, followed by a new After The Catch.
- Food Network has a new Challenge at 9.
- Also at 9: Travel Channel has a new John Ratzenberger's Made In America.
- At 9:30, Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Orange County special.
- CBS has the Kimberly Dozier news special Flashpoint at 10.
- FX has a new episode of The Shield at 10.
- There's a new ECW on Sci-Fi at 10.
- HBO has a First Look at Ocean's 13 at 10.
Check your local TV listings for more.
Posted Jan 16th 2007 10:15AM by Kelly Woo
Filed under: Programming, American Idol, What To Watch Tonight
American Idol (8PM, Fox)
Just when you think 'American Idol' can't get any bigger, it does. The first season averaged 12.7 million viewers; last season averaged over 30 million. A whopping 36 million watched Taylor Hicks triumph over Katharine McPhee in the finale. Some people are predicting a drop this year, but most of 'em are envious executives at other networks. 'Idol' is a cultural juggernaut. Deal with it.
Check out AOL Television's extensive coverage of 'Idol.'
Continue reading What to Watch Tue., Jan. 16
Posted Apr 26th 2006 3:16PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Cable, Programming, OpEd
Have you ever noticed that Bravo plugs
their shows during commercial breaks at an almost unheard of pace? I'll be sitting there watching
Celebrity Poker
Showdown or a movie or whatever, and there will be 7 or 8 commercials for
The Real Housewives of Orange
County in
one hour. God, I hate that.
Or the worst thing: you're watching
Top Chef,
perhaps the repeat from the night before or the week before, and during the episode they'll be a preview of the next
episode, and that gives away who does/doesn't go home in the episode that you're actually watching! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
They should change their slogan to "Bravo. Watch What Happens Before You Want To Know."
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