TVSquad

I hate when people refer to themselves in the third person, so when Teresa annoucnes "I'm just being myself. Being Teresa!" in the first clip below, it make me grit my teeth. But that's a very minor thing compared to everything else that seems to happen in tonight's season finale of Real Housewives of New Jersey, including yelling, talk of oral sex, table flipping, and pushing and shoving. What a classy group this is.

This is a rather confusing story. Or maybe all of this heat is getting to me and there's obvious point here I'm missing.

Nielsen Media surveyed 82,000 18-49 year-olds (a rather hefty sample), and 75% of the respondents say that Bravo is the most engaging network. Yup, the network of reality shows (is there anything else on the network these days?) holds the attention of that key demographic more than any other channel, network or cable, including runner-up CBS (which got 74%), ABC (73%), The CW (71%), NBC (70%), and FOX (69%).

Interesting piece in New York mag about what happens to reality show stars after they appear on TV. Top Chef winner Ilan Hall split with his girlfriend. Project Runway finalist Wendy Pepper changed her look and left her husband. And Project Runway winner Jay McCarroll is homeless.

For some reason, McCarroll blames this on fame and the show.

McCarroll had a hard time after winning the competition. He found out that The Weinstein Company owned 10% of whatever he created if he took the $100,000 prize. He didn't take the money, and now he's broke and doesn't really do anything for the network anymore, which hurts his images and brand (the clause is no longer in the show's contract). McCarroll doesn't even have a permanent home: "I haven't been living anywhere for two years...I sleep at other people's houses. I sleep here [a studio] if I'm drunk."

How often does this kind of opportunity come along? Beginning Wednesday, January 17th, Bravo viewers will be able to bitch and moan directly to the network's Senior Vice President of Production and Programming Andy Cohen via "Watch What Happens," a live-streaming online program. Each week Andy and a handful of Bravo's reality stars will dish with fans on "what the hell happened." "Jeffrey, neck tattoo? Talk to me." "Mike, did you really think the whole John Belushi persona would take you far in the world of haute cuisine?"