It has been a big year for DC and reality television.
Real World DC happened. Top Chef DC is happening. DC Cupcakes just got (somehow) renewed for second season. And now, the final jewel in the reality crown has landed: The Real Housewives mothership landed in DC and premiered yesterday.
Before I say anything else, I should note that I watched the original OC Housewives with mild amusement, I felt the NYC women were pretty much the definition of brassy and unclassy (to a point where I could not watch it) so when the even (intentionally, since BRAVO production team are no fools) more brassy and unclassy Atlanta and New Jersey series arrived, I didn't dare watch them for fear of causing harm to both myself and my television set.
The DC cast (which, as we are all aware by now, does not actually live in DC proper and we could have all sorts of discussions on that topic to kick things off with) is a combination of names you've definitely heard, names that wanted to be heard and a wild card or two thrown in, but definitely has potential.
I took a deep breath yesterday at 9 and watched 45 minutes+commercials of (past, present and future) Presidential name dropping, McLean estate shots, trophy everythings and Paul Wharton; and you know what? It was not too horrible (being prepared for the worst always helps).
The cast this season includes: Mary Amons (co-founder of Labels for Love and District Sample Sale), Lynda Erkiletian (who runs T.H.E Artist Agency which is who supplies models for all the charity fashion shows and whatever else passes for high-end fashion events around here), Michaele Salahi (at this point- no introduction needed, which, I think, was her goal), Cat Ommanney (who seems fun but is on here to hawk her book) and Stacie Scott Turner, the token educated African American lady. Unlike some of the previous seasons of Housewives, all these women seem to be genuinely well off (some a little more eager to show it off than others, of course)
There is a bevvy of children (very young and totally grown up, all of whom still seem to live at their parents' homes way past the traditional college graduating age), dogs, and a promising supporting cast of handsome (African and African American) men who will probably be the reason to watch this season to begin with (incl. Paul Wharton and his ongoing hair changes and Ebong Eka as Lynda's much, much younger boyfriend whom you may remember as one of the people who interviewed me on that faithful episode of The District dish) and a general racial disconent underline which may prove fun to watch in a city that is so hung up on political correctness.
Examples include:
- Mary drunkenly suggesting that "our hair salons need to become integrated" during her birthday dinner to a mortified looking Stacy and Ted Gibson, who is (guess what?) also black and a (guess what?) hair stylist.
- Cat announcing she things she hates Tyra Banks and doing an impression of her which while accurate is also mortifying to Stacy
- Can announcing that George W. Bush is a class act, and that Obama she's not sure about yet (cut to Stacy who says "She doesn't like Obama OR Tyra Banks, AND THEY BOTH HAPPEN TO BE BLACK")
- Paul Wharton's white girl hair envy
- Lynda's obvious coveting of everything chocolate colored and with muscles (from her boyfriend to the models she does castings for in what appears to be her rec room in the basement)
- when they showed "real DC" (which Stacy announced as "Chocolate City" for the masses of Americans at home) they cut to a shot of Busboys & Poets and Ben's Chilli Bowl hiting a total cliche home run so hard it almost made me want to stand up and cheer
- Other stuff
(photo from NightlifePRDC's Flickr)
The other possibilities of discontent include: general dislike for the percieved social-climber Michaele (who is a hugger and, frankly, just sort of milking it for what it's worth without any pretense, which makes her unexpectedly likable), one or all of the children fucking (pardon my French) something up pretty royally, pets not getting along and Cat just stepping on everyone's well appointed toesies.
It was still, imo, a lot classier than most other Housewife series which may prove to be a blessing or a curse of the show.
And yes, I'll watch next week.
HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?
Previously in I Heart DC:
- 2/13: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
- 2/13: 101 Reasons To Love DC-Part 1
- 2/10: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/9: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/8: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/8: Perfect Date Outfits + Outings
- 2/7: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
- 2/6: DC News You Can Maybe Use:
- 2/2: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
- 2/1: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
God loves a cheerful giver.
A wonderful write-up homie. But please refrain from referring to the token Buppie as an African-American. Ain't nothing African about her!
"and Ted Bellamy, who is also black and a hair stylist."
I think you mean Ted Gibson.
correcting (keeping track of names during the first episode of anything is h.a.r.d.)
Ebong seems pretty genial on TV but he is an absolute terror on the court, in the best sense of the word. Did not know he was such a scenester, just have watched him mash basketballs down peoples throats at Balance Gym. This show looks like it would be painful to watch, you deserve a medal.
Hilarious, It's blacker than i ever thought which is hot, being 50% of that persuasion. The question did they really sit at Ben's during this series? Or will this all just be G-town spots i can't afford where they hang?
Really? Really? Classy? This must be satire. Getting drunk and unleashing racial tirades or not having the ability to socially interact with people from another background is now CLASS? TOKEN? Paul Wharton's white girl hair envy? Svetlana please STFU and stick to the trustafarian hipster bs.
pretty sure you completely misread this whole post. oh well.
Y