Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
The Real Housewives returns for 17th season
According to Bravo, there are 3 million viewers out there hooked on The Real Housewives of Orange County. I have no idea why. Maybe it’s like watching a train wreck.
More likely, the series and its many spawn satisfy our innate desire for safe and socially acceptable television voyeurism. We get to dabble in the lives of the rich and famous and either wistfully wish we could be them, or make fun of them without repercussions.
What’s the appeal of all these shows? An article in Psychology Today asked whether “the superficial shenanigans of these privileged, Botoxed divas kill brain neurons,” but concluded that it’s human nature “to peek into the lifestyles of the rich and famous for being famous” because “being a part of this privileged altered universe is much more fun than our daily routine of bills and laundry.”
Those viewer numbers are enough for Bravo to bring the ladies back for Season 17 at 8 p.m. Monday. Settle back and enjoy the angst, cat fights, tears, laughter and a couple of new cast members.
This season, “two feisty new housewives,” Emily Simpson and Gina Kirschenheiter (friends of Tamra Judge), join Tamra, Vicki Gunvalson, Shannon Beador and Kelly Dodd.
Gone from Season 12 are Peggy Sulahian, Lydia McLaughlin (again) and, most notably, Meghan King Edmonds, who gave birth to twin boys on June 15 and, citing the “emotional toll” of the series, wisely decided to bail out after three seasons.
Gina, originally from Long Island, N.Y., is the mother of three children under the age of 5 and has lived in Orange County for three years. Her husband is working and living in Los Angeles during the week, “which causes her to re-evaluate what she wants and needs in her marriage.”
Emily comes from Ohio, was born poor and worked hard to become a lawyer, parttime party-planner, wife and mother. She couldn’t carry her own children, so Emily’s sister served as a surrogate for all three kids of Emily and her husband, Shane. In addition, Emily is stepmother to two stepdaughters from Shane’s previous marriage.
Bravo tells us, “Now focusing on mending the toxic relationships in her life, Emily hopes that she can find true friendships with the ladies.”
It seems everyone is working on mending relationships, but “it will take more than a hug to repair the rumors, betrayal and damage done over the years.”
As the season begins, Shannon and Kelly are newly single and have both moved into new homes, trying to navigate the post-divorce dating world, raise their daughters and establish their own careers.
Vicki and boyfriend Steve Lodge are doing fine, but “she’s ready to take their relationship to the next level.”
For those out of the know, The Real Housewives of Orange County was inspired by the ABC comedy/drama Desperate Housewives (20042012) and premiered in 2006. It is the mothership of a huge franchise that has included The Real Housewives of New York City; … of Atlanta; … of New Jersey; … of D.C.; … of Beverly Hills; … of Miami; … of Potomac and … of Dallas.
We won’t even bother with the short-term spin-offs or the many housewives who’ve been on The Apprentice.
No matter which city the housewives inhabit, the formula is pretty much the same: The housewives are all affluent and living relatively glamorous lives and are dealing with pesky first-world problems.
This season, Bravo says, “the housewives always come to whoop it up, and there will be no shortage of wild parties and vacations, including a girls’ trip to Jamaica, along the way.” ■ Robin Williams. HBO will premiere a two-hour documentary, Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind, at 7 p.m. Monday. It’ll make you smile and make you sad.
Told largely through Williams’ own words, the special covers the comedic genius from his childhood in Chicago, through the early comedy days in San Francisco, Los Angeles in the late ’70s, to his suicide at age 63 on Aug. 11, 2014. It was after his death that the world discovered Williams had been suffering from Lewy body dementia, which contributes to depression, anxiety and paranoia.
Directed by Marina Zenovich, the film explores Williams’ creative process and features in-depth interviews with those who knew him best, including Billy Crystal, Eric Idle, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Mork & Mindy co-star Pam Dawber and his son, Zak Williams.
“Robin Williams was my closest friend,” Crystal said at the film’s Hollywood premiere, “and I will cherish the time I got to spend with him for the rest of my life. This documentary gives you a glimpse into who he was at home, as a father. I’m glad we’re able to share these intimate moments of quiet.”