From ‘WAGS’ to riches
As a point of reference for the new E! reality show “WAGS,” think “Real Housewives of the NFL.” Okay, so these “wives and girlfriends of sports stars,” aren’t all housewives, aren’t all in relationships with someone from the NFL, and definitely have some body parts that aren’t real. That just means they’re playing their reality-TV positions perfectly. “WAGS,” which has filmed eight hourlong episodes, looks at the world from the perspective of women who are involved with professional athletes. On the plus side, that means walking all of celebrity’s literal and figurative red carpets. You live your life in first class, taking private jets to the sweetest spots in the world. When Antonio Gates’ wife, Sasha, wants a bauble to mark their baby’s birth, she takes her girlfriends to the jewelry stores and picks up an $80,000 necklace. About five karats, for those keeping score. But much as we civilians will enjoy the luxury part, that’s not what “WAGS” is selling. “WAGS” is selling the darker side. It’s selling the constant suspicion that your highly desirable man could sample the chops in some other market. The pressure to always look better than the alternatives. The frustration of having to put your own life second. It’s selling the story of Ashley North, who has been in a relationship with NFL safety Dashon Goldsun for 11 years. They have a house and a 3-year-old. Every time she asks for a ring, he calls a timeout. Finally, to seal the drama deal, “WAGS” brings in Natalie and Olivia, fringe players in the highly structured WAGS world, but all-pro trash talkers. By the end of the first episode, some of our heroines are drunk and naked in Vegas. How can “WAGS” fail to score?