More Money, More Problems
Monday, August 18, 2008 UPDATED: Rachel Zoe premieres September 9.
I'm WAY behind on my reality tv watching (back off! I have to compromise a little for the sake of my marriage, okay?), but last night I was able to catch up a bit. I watched the previews for both Real Housewives of Atlanta* and The Rachel Zoe Project. Here are my impressions:
1. The Real Housewives of Atlanta left me feeling completely empty on the inside, which was strange because I have an unusually high tolerance for really shitty tv. I'm wondering if the Real Housewives concept has played out? These women seem intent on nothing but escalating the spending and drama from previous seasons, and everything--including the personalities--is just crazy over-the-top excessive. Almost all of cast members are portraying themselves as exaggerated stereotypes: there's The White Trashy Barbie-Haired Lady Who's Dating a Rich Old Geezer, The Loud Flailing Black Lady, and The Black Diva Bitch Lady. (Deep question: if this is who they really are, then is it a stereotype?) The other two women are married to professional athletes and have waaaay too much money and over-decorated houses and this hurts my eyes. For a more in-depth and witty description of them, please go here.
I'm sorry Bravo, but I may not be able to get on board with this. I'll give it my best shot, but watching this show may not be in the best interests of my Chi.
Moving on . . .
2. I LOVE RACHEL ZOE.
I know! No one is more shocked than I! I had always thought she was just an anorexic sourpuss drug addict, but that is not AT ALL the impression I had last night.
While I've seen Rachel Zoe on Project Runway and in still photos (mostly on Perez and dlisted), I've never seen her in action. She's this teensy tiny person who is loaded down with hair and sunglasses and rings and fur and flowy outfits and she's pretty effing fabulous. She's passionate about her work in a very sweet and refreshing way; she handles stress without going apeshit (are you listening, Jeff Lewis?), and she has wrinkles (just like me!) (but they don't look bad on her because she's so freaking awesome). For the record, I am concerned about her weight and I reserve the right to counsel her on that.
I am jumpy with excitement for this show; stay tuned for a heads-up on when it airs.
Let's hear it: did you watch the preview shows? ( I know they aired about a month ago! Jesus!) What did you think?
*There's no mention of this show on Bravo's website, and my secret source tells me that it's because the show has been pushed back to October.
Reader Comments (22)
As an Atlantan, I just have to go ahead and disown the new Bravo show. I don't recognize my own hometown from the preview. Perhaps its because the show was NOT FILMED IN ATLANTA! Duluth, Alpharetta, Cumming are seperate cities well outside of Atlanta. Not that there is anything wrong with living in the exurbs, but as a City of Atlanta taxpayer, I am more than annoyed that these ladies are laying claim to my fair city while their tax money saved goes towards buying all things Escalade and leopard print.
P.S. Rachel Zoe rocks!
I 100% agree with you on Rachel Zoe. I expect to hate her, and I found myself glued to the television. I cannot wait for my weekly dose of Zoe fashion!
I'm another Rachel Zoe convert! I was not expecting to like her as much as I did. I'm looking forward to her show.
I don't think I'll be watching RH of Atlanta, but I am still holding out for the New Jersey edition because I think it would be effing hilarious if they featured a bunch of Carmela Sopranos since Bravo likes to do the stereotypical thing with their RH series.
I've been so so anti-Zoe, but yeah, I was converted by that preview. The show looks AWESOME. She seems to be equally ridiculous and dedicated; passionate about her work but a wreck in real life. Her assistants promise to be amazing to watch, too!
I think I'll take a pass on the Atlanta Housewives too--I will watch the NYC wives again though.
I've never heard of Rachel Zoe, but I'm intrigued! I be on the look-out for her show.
But seriously, I don't think I can watch either. Now, does that mean that I really won't watch them? Probably not.
I just can't see myself getting into the stupid drama that I see forthcoming with the Atlanta HW's.
And Rachel Zoe?
The only time I will be watching that mess is when I've had too many xanax and red wines and I can't get myself up off the couch to get to the remote.(translation: I will be watching it every chance I get)
Her lack of weight is a concern to me as well, and if memory serves...Nicole Richie fired Zoe's skinny ass because of her "unhealthy" ways...
So you know you are trouble when Nicole Richie thinks you are too skinny/unhealthy.
TOTALLY agree. i did not think i was going to like her. and you know what? ok, i did. BUT...she is not no, 35. if she's 35, i'm 20.
Wikipedia shows her turning 37 this fall? Hmmmm.
BA, I am so glad to hear that Atlanta is not all tacky McMansions and poofy -haired excessively rich women! (Strangely, that concept is quite attractive to me in a New Jersey setting).
We'll see how the season goes!
I adored that Rachel Zoe preview. It looks to be eye candy plus personal drama, totally my kind of show.
Have to agree...I liked R. Zoe better than I thought I would. I'm excited to see the designers she meets with and the places she goes (and not gonna lie, maybe some diet tips) almost more than her and her assistants, but they should be some good entertainment for sure.
I just need to second all of Brilliant Asylum's comments. We may need to start some sort of public awarness campaign as to what Atlanta is and is not. Probably going to be able to file that entire show under what it is not.
37? Is the that what we're calling over 50 now?
I think she looks 37 (my age, btw), just with a little sun damage. But I'm not hating, Rachel! I still love you!
totally agree love Zoe.
yes, she is 37 it's that she's so skinny there is no fat to fill her face out. She recently had some work done on the forehead...botox? maybe some filler too...it looks much improved.
yes, her weight is scary to me especially since she's so noteworthy now.
I had no idea there was a Real Housewives Atlanta! I need to stop working so much and start watching more TV again! Although, I did catch part of Rachel Zoe's show and can't wait for more. I love anything behind the scenes that involves beautiful clothes and crazy people! Bring it on!
I missed both previews! Where was I?! The Atlanta wives don't look anything like I imagined Atlanta to be....ESPECIALLY after reading the blogs of many fabulously knowledgeable and gracious women from Atlanta. I think the REAL housewives of Atlanta would not be caught dead in this line-up, but would be much to polite to say why.
Gotta catch that Zoe!
I missed both previews! Where was I?! The Atlanta wives don't look anything like I imagined Atlanta to be....ESPECIALLY after reading the blogs of many fabulously knowledgeable and gracious women from Atlanta. I think the REAL housewives of Atlanta would not be caught dead in this line-up, but would be much to polite to say why.
Gotta catch that Zoe!
Rachel Zoe was just featured in Harper's Bazaar - wearing padding to take her from a size 0 to a size 8. She loved the size 8 curves. And, refreshingly, she totally owned up to not eating enough, but chalked it up to more of a time issue than a body image issue.
oh good grief, who doesn't have time to eat? i'm going it right now---look how easy that is! it's because one cannot wear high end fashion if one is bigger than a stick. i think she looks like shit, which is refreshing to see on tv, actually. but i hate when too-skinny women come up with some stupid excuse, like "i don't have time" to eat. or "i eat all the time, i just have a fast metabolism" and you can see their ribs on their chest.
i dunno, her assistants screaming and crying just stress me out. we'll see if i can make it through this show...although, i was impressed that she didn't totally lose it when the dresses got wet (unlike her assitants...sheesh).
also, i wish i could have someone come to my house and do my makeup every morning!
I am so looking forward to this show, just add it to my HUGE Fall lineup.
"(Deep question: if this is who they really are, then is it a stereotype?)"
Hell yes, it's still a stereotype! Just because Bravo's casting directors were able to go out into Atlanta and find these women who fit these stereotypical roles, does not mean you're going to find a majority of women in those same demographics to be either the "loud, extroverted Black chick", the "white trash chick with a sugar daddy" or the inevitable stereotype: "the black bitch"... Come up with a stereotype and if you look hard enough/if it's what you're seeking to find, you'll find it. But it's still a stereotype.