Rarely in television is there a franchise that ignites as much continuous watercooler conversation -- and controversy -- as Bravo's The Real Housewives. While many may not admit the show is on their must watch list, the ratings belie the fact that it often is. For countless different reasons not only is it watched, but also dissected and debated with intensity. To me, it is one of the most fun, complex, and addictive shows on TV (but I'm biased).
The Real Housewives series presents a slice of life amongst affluent women living large in a defined region of our country. When we decided to extend The Real Housewives franchise to Washington, DC, the country had just elected its first African-American President. In a time of great change for the country and DC, we were increasingly interested in exploring the nexus of politics, society and race among women and how, in Washington, the proximity of political power seemingly dictates where one fits within Beltway society.
Early last year we found five intriguing women whose relationships with each other, and with the city in which they live, were the perfect combination for this exploration. We tapped into the life force of Washington with the wife of a White House photographer; a Harvard-educated African American fundraiser; a born and raised Washingtonian whose grandfather Arthur Godfrey was a broadcasting legend; a successful entrepreneur; and a model and founder of D.C.'s America's Polo Club. We knew this was going to expose a different social commentary from our other Housewives series -- provocative and engaging in a whole new way. My fantasy was that our group of Housewives would disagree -- ok, maybe even fight -- about politics. This was to be a new breed of Housewives.
The great advantage to a docu-series, rather than a scripted drama or comedy, is the unexpected. The axiom 'truth is stranger than fiction' reigns supreme at Bravo. But therein lies the rub: you can't predict or prepare for the unknown. And that was the case in November, when late in our production cycle Michaele Salahi told producers that she and her husband Tareq had been invited to the White House State Dinner. The production crew filmed the Salahis' preparation and arrival at the White House gate, but left as the crew wasn't credentialed for the Dinner.
We learned the following day -- as did everyone else, including the other D.C. Housewives -- of the alleged "gate crashing" incident. At the core of the reaction was the question of whether or not the Salahis had been invited. But one of the by-products of the aftermath was continued false reporting that somehow the Salahis had used the State Dinner as a 'stunt' to be cast on the show. The fact is that by November we had been shooting the series with Michaele and the other women for months. In fact, we were a few weeks away from wrapping photography on the series. Any idea that attending the State Dinner was an audition to cement participation in the show is preposterous.
It is the job of the legal system to decide if and how the Salahis may have broken the law. But our decision to include them in the series speaks to a very basic programming mandate, which is to present real people as they exist within their universe. Meaning, we do not editorialize on their actions, how they raise their kids, live their lives, spend their money or treat their friends. We show them as they are, with awareness but without judgment. We let them be themselves, and let the audience draw their own conclusions, and -- like with real relationships -- sometimes the way people feel about a Housewife changes throughout the season. Whatever the feeling, we leave it to the viewer to decide. I think that's one of the reasons why people are so obsessed with not only the Housewives franchise, but virtually every other show on Bravo and why the shows are so compelling. Viewers tend to find something relatable, aspirational, comparable, and familiar, as they compare themselves or their lives to those onscreen. And, it frequently happens that the greatest satisfaction comes from simply being able to say, "I would never do that!"
We kept Michaele in the show because she has a compelling life story, distinct relationships with the other women, and most especially because she represents a very real example of the inextricably intertwined worlds of political connections with social hierarchy. To the people who might excoriate us and say we're making Michaele famous or glorifying what she did: 'here's what' -- we don't make shows to make people famous and as a corollary, we don't view being on a television show either as a reward or a punishment. That's up to the individuals who choose to do so and the people who choose to watch and react.
What happened at the White House plays out towards the end of our series, as it occurred towards the end of our production cycle. But the stories that unfold in the months before are as compelling -- if not more so. Michaele is one of the many characters whose lives intersect in the series and in real life; it would be unfair and unjust to the other women to say that the drama surrounding the Salahis is the focal point of the show; a lot happens, and it is riveting television.
So, before you judge this show, I hope you watch an episode. It is as distinctive from The Real Housewives of the OC, New York, Atlanta, and New Jersey as the geographic locations themselves. This series features the same great storytelling and strong women with an exceptionally raw and revealing narrative. We could not have possibly imagined what would happen next. We still can't.
Diana Butler Bass: The Real Housewives of Proverbs 31
But the DC one, with those disgusting grifters, is the final straw. I'm not even sure I can support this network by watching the one show I can stomach on it -- Top Chef. They should rename themselves The Jerry Springer Network. I feel like I need to take a shower from just watching their ads. Like I said: GROSS!
But allowing clear scam artists in the Salahis to have a continued spotlight is shameful. I think you have answered the question "how low is too low?"
excellent post extremly well said!
FANNED!
Unless you were really being serious about that whole trying to justify and defend these shows and these characters. In which case I can only apologize, but yet still somehow find it even funnier than before.
My name is Frustrated in PA and I am a Bravo a holic. Life is hard enough and I just want some escape, a laugh and some Top Chef. I rail against reality shows for the "dummying" down of America while I plop my behind in my recliner and obsessively watch the Housewives. I chastise the Jersey girls for their representation of Italian American women while I reflect on all the family members who remind me of the Jersey Housewives. I think Kelly needs therapy and Danielle is a possible schizophrenic.
I so cannot give you a "mazel" for casting the Salahis as I think they are worse than the Jersey Shore faux Italian oompa loompas and I don't think they should be rewarded for making a mockery of the White House security. Of course, I don't think Teresa should be rewarded for living a lavish lifestyle and then file bankruptcy for a "fresh start." Andy, I must part ways with the DC Housewives. The Salahis should have been arrested and the ridicule they brought on themselves and the White House, is just too much for me.
Michele Salahi and her husband should have been brought up on charges. Our president is more important than a television show. Regardless of how involved the Salahis were with the series before their stunt at the White House, the entire series should have been scrapped, or at least the Salahis deleted.
If Bravo thinks that holding our president up to ridicule, and possibly putting his life at risk is worth a little publicity for a television format (the housewives series) that has lost most of its appeal anyway, then you certainly don't need my viewership.
I will miss Top Chef immensely, but that's the breaks. I urge everyone to boycott Bravo until they come to their senses.
We last spoke when I interviewed you for a piece I did on Isaac for Variety. I came late to the Housewives party -- I started watching New York last season (but have been with New Jersey from the beginning). It is absolutely addictive television. (I bet you can not believe your good fortune with Jersey -- you couldn't script anything close to being that outlandish). Give your casting director a raise! My newest guilty pleasure is your show from the Bravo "Clubhouse.' There something about it that reminds me of Fernwood Tonight (and I mean that in the nicest possible way). The quasi-celeb-A-list mash ups are inspired (Ellen Barkin! Jerry Seinfeld!). I think you should make Ben, that precocious 13 year old Housewives superfan, your 'man on the street' correspondent. Ratings gold!
Here's an interesting piece about the money reality stars make - and whether they deserve it!
Interesting reading for anyone who loves these shows - or wants their own reality show!
Written by a reality TV producer so gives a real insider's perspective...
http://www.remotepatrolled.com/2010/06/reality-riches/
C'mon, Andy, you can spin the "especially raw" narrative on NJ or on the OC if you really want to but you and everyone knows, it's all about bargain basement characters you wouldn't want over for lunch.
Even half the husbands of the women on these shows are, or have been, in trouble with everything from alcoholism, to DUIs, to fraud and let's not mention their kids and what they support in rehab facilities.