Bravo's The Real Housewives of .... Degradation of the human experience or guilty pleasure?

So, my wife loves "The Real Housewives of .... " name the city and she probably watches it. I can't understand what it is about these shows that keeps people coming back for more. Is it the drama, which is obviously self created, or the need to watch people spend ridiculous amounts of money on crap the rest of us will never have?

I honestly can't stand a single one of them, I think they are contributing to people in America thinking that everything should be handed to them and not working for the things they want or need.

Just wondering how the rest of you feel. Some of my wife's friends love these shows and even some of their husbands get hooked. What do you think... are these shows a guilty pleasure or should they be driven off of television?

 

these tv shows are the cancer on society imo.

people get off on them as if they are living through someone else. it seems like one of the lowest forms of entertainment possible.

now as i type this i don't see how it's much different than sports tbh.

 

How do some of them go through bankruptcy proceedings yet continue to live lavish lifestyles and piss away money like there's no tomorrow?
I don't see anything on these "reality" shows that even vaguely resembles reality.

 

I have never watched those shows and truthfully never wanted to. They are not reality shows at all but rather scripted and poor material.

 

I'll take "worthless entertainment for $1000", Alex.

I would rather suffer through a Barak Obama speech than ever watch that nonsense. Unless they have a special episode where they are overrun by walkers and are "almost" saved by Rick and some of his crew. Especially if we see Daryl use his crossbow.

 

worst. shows. ever.

 

Uhm...Then how do you know they are "rather scripted and poor material." Reminds me:
A couple of decades back, a little show on ABC called "Soap" was protested, boycotts against its sponsors were called for and yet no one had seen a single minute of it when the hollering started. Just sayin'...
The only one I have even a passing interest in is the Atlanta version. Certain things are pretty well known re: how do they live lavishly despite the money problems. The homes are rented for the shows. The participants get paid pretty handsomely as well but I have noticed that there is a revolving door with them.
As far as scripting, I think it's like Survivor, Big Brother, et al, in that it's situational placement coupled with editing.
Watching these bitches be so incredibly petty, self-absorbed, spoiled and catty is a real upper for me-I feel miles superior.

 

In answer to your question, my daughter attempted to watch the show once while I was in the kitchen. I made her change the channel.

 

Soap ngdawg - the true story of the Tates and the Campbells wasnt it? Now that was far more entertaining. Perhaps they will increase ratings if they have a TLC match between the housewives of different citys. Big Brother, we were emptily promised, was over due to poor figures. It is shite. I would rather they aired old movies, like 'The Ghost and Mrs Muir' or 'Blythe Spirit' - movies that go with tea and crumpets toasted in front of an open fire on a toasting fork, all soaked in melted butter.
The housewives realy do seem to be married to their houses and/or other property. Seems a show about how greedy people can be, and how many shades of spray tan are realy out there. How to get ahead on your back.

 

The Ghost and Mrs Muir is one of my favourites. Hard to wrong with the lovely Gene Tierney and outstanding Rex Harrison.

 

Those were the days when stars were stars werent they Speed - now anyone who flashes their knickers is a star it seems. I sometimes wonder, was the world then a more innocent place - despite wars and stuff, maybe there was just more of a sense of decorum. She was a looker wasnt she - Mrs Muir.

 

Gene was drop dead gorgeous in her youth. Right up there with Dorothy Lamour and Lillian Gish in their prime.

 

Those shows reduce everyone to the lowest common denominator...very sad, but it seems for many people it's like watching a train wreck - just can't take your eyes off it. You just need to see how bad it's going to get.