You should unequivocally be tarred and feathered if you’re silly enough to tune in to the third iteration of a television show, like Bravo’s newest Housewives spin-off, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. How stupid does Bravo think we viewers are? It’s the same show with different faces and wrapping! But, um, I watched the premiere last night. And, erm, it was completely worth it.
Honestly, Atlanta is essentially the same as Orange County and New York City, but it’s fabulously ridiculous, so who cares, right? In true Housewives fashion, the newest ladies—DeShawn, Kim, NeNe (pictured), Lisa, and Shereé—are total she-beasts dripping in new money and all the things it can buy ‘em. Kim wrote a $68,763 check on the spot for a new Cadillac Escalade. "Do I know if that’s a fair price or not?" she questioned. "No. Am I driving off the lot in five minutes? Yes." J’adore her money-is-no-object attitude!
The twist in Atlanta is that there’s this whole sports-wives thing going on. Three of the ladies (DeShawn, Shereé, and Lisa) are married to—or divorced from—an NBA or NFL star. From the promos, it looks like there’s gonna be some throwing down about whether it’s better to be an basketballer’s wife or a footballer’s wife. For no reason other than the fact that I like football more, I’m on Team NFL! The other two ladies (NeNe and Kim) are with businessmen. Or as the ever-apt NeNe so correctly put it, "Atlanta is the black Hollywood."
Based on that appetizing first episode, here are the three things I’m looking forward to seeing more of this season:
1. Atlanta bling! Now, I know excessive wealth is a Housewives trademark,but holy smokes! DeShawn and Shereé have entire staffs that take careof all their needs. In the first five minutes, DeShawn said that shewas "in the process of interviewing key staff members." The key wordbeing "key." Then, I’m guessing, those "key" staff members—she mentioned an estatemanager, an executive housekeeper, a maid crew, a chef, a governess,and a nanny—will hire other lesser staff members. Don’twant to get bogged down with the riff-raff staff! I’m luuuurving theway they do things in Atlanta.
2. Lucy and Ethel, aka NeNe and Kim! Upon meeting thelarger-than-life pair, you can tell these two b-fris are going to getinto some major trouble. Wacky schemes seem like their jam. Last night,when Kim had to pick up her altered dress in a Shell gas stationparking lot, NeNe helped shield her with her coat while she changedright there. Now that’s friendship.
3. The brewing battle between NeNe and Shereé! Granted NeNe made a bigger deal out of the dust-up than she should have (hello, this isreality TV!), but Shereé did diss her by leaving her off the guest listfor her birthday party. Who knows if Shereé did itintentionally or not, but either way, it’sstroking what should be a rather grand battle between these two divas.Just because she seems completely insane, I’m on Team NeNe. Early in theepisode, she said, "I don’t keep up with the Joneses. I am theJoneses." That’s right. You tell ‘em, NeNe! Meanwhile, I can’t figureShereé out. Why exactly does she need all that staff? And a publicist?!What’s she got to publicize? Her impending divorce?
So, PopWatchers, don’t deny it—I know you watched, too! Who’s yourfavorite new housewife? Do you think Shereé actually intended for NeNeto be left off the party list? What are you looking forward to seeingmore of this season?
Comments (1-30) of 299 Add your comment
I SO watched this last night. i never watched the OC version, but I think these women even seemed to outdo the NY broads with their lavishness. The make up artists. The entourages. And for what? Really. Love it though and will keep watching. I love NeNe and Kim’s friendship already. DeShawn and Lisa seem the most grounded already. We shall see! Sheree is something else. Man, I want to go to Atlanta now.
Thank you Tanner! I so wholeheartedly agree. My sister and I watched and laughed our bum bums off at all the ridiculous excessiveness. Props to Bravo for consistently airing the most engaging/addicting/guiltiest of all guilty pleasure reality shows. Team NeNe for sure!
I had to laugh when DeShawn said she always knew she would “grow up to be somebody”- Lady, you aren’t somebody! You are married to a rich somebody! It didn’t seem like she did much of anything. I did enjoy NeNe, but Kim is irritating. Sheree is a little bit evil – and not in the fun way.
I also loved the show. I watched the OC version (didn’t like NY), but this takes the cake. One question: does anyone know why exactly Sheree needs staff members? DeShawn makes sense being married to an NBA star and having a house that’s 15,000+ square feet, but what does Sheree even do?
I caught a few minutes when the candidates went to thier talkinh points, so I will catch more this weekend.
I have to say, will Mandi have her niece watch this instead of ‘Sleeping Beauty’? I’m thinking these are the type of women she’s worried about.
I Loved it, My husband loved it! Can’t wait til next week. My favorite is NeNe. I do believe she was left off the list on purpose, it made for some good drama!
I’m glad that shameless money-mongering and self-inflating third-personisms is a trait that knows no color.
In other news: why didn’t my parents adorn me with the moniker “NeNe”? I would have at least preferred DeDe. Think of the arm-candy possibilities with that name. *Sigh*….
i don’t watch the hills, gossip girl, or any of the reality shows on VH1, so thank you for informing about this show. i need a completely vapid show in which to indulge in and mock foolish people on tv. this looks like an excellent choice and i’ll be tuning in.
This was ghettofabulous for sure. I cracked up when Deshawn said “I always knew I would grow up to be somebody” … as the other person said you married a “somebody”. Why does Sheree need an entourage, she doesn’t work!
My favorites are NeNe and Kim. Everybody else comes off as being phony, fake, posers!!
I LOVED IT! guilties pleasure of all! I think Lisa is so cute and real. I love Nene and Kims friendship….reminds me of my bff and I! ok, but please tell me why Sheree needs a publicist? she’s a nobody! does she even work?!
my favs are nene and kim. my other fav is lisa. i like nene and kim because they are thelma and louise. and they do seem to know that they came from nothing and now have something. i like honesty about wealth. people who pretend to have always had are delusional.
i also like lisa. bc yes, her husband is in the nfl, but she works her butt off–real estate, jewelry, kids clothing–she is out there with her guy making things happen.
don’t like deshawn or shree…deshawn has nothing wo eric. and unfortunately, she doesnt get that. sheree confuses me bc i think she thinks she is more fab than the rest of the world…but really, she’s more fake than the rest of the world…
plus, if my friend was “accidentially” left off my party guest list, i would have gone outside and said to her “girl, get your a$$ back in here…you know you are on the list”….
but shree didn’t do that…she kept partying…not really a friend.
I think the best character on this show is Kim’s hair. I mean who’s buying that its real?
Forgot to mention that. i was thinking the same thing. It looks like barbie hair from the top to the bottom. CRAZY! She’s hilarious though.
When Sheree said men are intimidated by successful women- I thought- is it success when you marry rich and now divorce richer?
I have no interest in this show (mainly because it’s not available where I live), but I couldn’t help but notice that Tanner used j’adore correctly this time! (See the latest Desperate Housewives recap) Good man, Tanner, looks like you learned something from your readers.
I can appreciate good tv, but I have issues with this. “I always knew I’d be somebody” aka somebodies wife and “He wants to be referred to as big daddy” aka somebody else’s husband.
The new money sheez is rather apparent when compared to the last 2 seasons. I had to google these women to see if they did anything else and YES they’re involved in wonderful charity work. I know the show is about glam…but I do hope the show reflects some substance behind all this bling.
How annoying was it that Kim had to be mysterious about “Big Papa”. Are we suppose to give a damn? And she doesn’t even tell her friends who he is? Is he married or what?
Jennifer Coolidge and New York should play Kim and NeNe in the movie version!
“Jennifer Coolidge and New York should play Kim and NeNe in the movie version!
” — Genius
I didn’t watch the previous installations because they didn’t feature a woman of color! Now Kim is the token White! I couldn’t believe the excessive lifestyles! Hey,I grew up with “Dynasty” in the 80’s for escapism,so this was hysterical! I,too,enjoyed Kim & NeNe’s friendship! I could see past Kim’s “extensions” or NeNe’s” natural womanhood” in front of her! What was up with NeNe’s son & his birthday cake? Slide the wax over & cut the freakin’ cake already!
Loved the love between Lisa & her husband. Eric Snow reminded me of my husband:practical with the pennies,but DeShawn was ridiculously materialistic! She’ree was so out of line at her party.She must’ve been blinded by the cameras or the purses! She could have difuse the situation by meeting NeNe by the door & letting her in. She didn’t because she didn’t want someone else stealing her thunder on her Birthday! My favorite so far: Lisa,but NeNe steals the show!
I don’t understand the need for so much excess. I know this show was taped before the “new depression” – I wonder if any of them are affected? I hate that our culture is still so wrapped up in the shallowness of material possessions. I am a fan of OC and NY. They had more substance than ATL. Luann (from NY) is probably cringing watching ATL. I don’t understand NeNe’s ghettoness but I guess it makes good reality TV. I couldn’t figure out what Sheree did that she needs an entourage (the money will run out). Lisa will have a breakdown, and DeShawn is a joke… an estate manager! LOL. The show is a guilty pleasure to show what NOT to do with your money.
Also, more money doesn’t have to mean 1000% density bad wigs…
I feel so shameless! I don’t usually watch “Reality” tv shows, but I just can’t resist the Real Housewives on Bravo. I love the “Real Atlanta Housewives” because they are so full of themselves. Why does Sheree need a “publicist”? and an “Entourage”? These women are so bad that they are funny! They do seem to have more money than the Orange County and NY Housewives. I look forward to each episode to see what they are buying and to hear the dribble that comes out of their mouths! I hope Kim’s Big Poppa never runs out of money.
My biggest issue with this version is that there isn’t one of these women who made their own money!!! All of the other seasons had women who made their own money. I know its the south but I mean really…
I’m a native Atlantan…and I do not live like these women. Not even close.
These women readily admit to being new money – and it’s obvious. Old money doesn’t wear fake hair. At least the women don’t.
And yes, the excess is here. The ghettofab-ness, it’s here, too. The endless lines of BMW’s and Escalades and the $1 million condos. I have always wondered what some of these people do for a living. Now I know – they married athletes.
This is by far the most classLESS show on Bravo. The fact that the ladies are pretty and rich does not diminish the fact that they MARRIED wealth. These golddiggers did not earn it like some sisters did – education and hard work. Well, some did earn it… Why are we celebrating these golddiggers? The white chick who thinks she’s black because she a rich brother’s ‘ho – Puhleeze!!! As for the four sisters, they DO NOT represent wealthy women of color. NO WAY, NO HOW, NOT TODAY…
I am so happy to see this post…..I absolutely love this show…I knew when they said ATL, I knew they were gonna bring it and they did. I am also happy to someone else admitting loving this show cause none of my friends will.
LOVE IT
Go Bravo, finally some great drama driven women. I loved it. My girlfriends and I were cracking up the whole time. Lisa is a go getter, Kim and NeNe are my FAVORITES, good friends are hard to find stick together.Deshawn needs a trainer not a chef and Sheree well..need I say more
Sheree looks like a man in drag. Sorry, but it’s true. They all seem fake and are posers. They DON”T EVEN LIVE in Atlanta. They live 45 minutes away where real estate is dirt cheap. With what they paid for their “15,000 sq ft mansions,” they wouldn’t be able to buy a decent 1300 sq foot house in the OC.
I love the show already but I agree sheree looks like a man and she is a tad bit from being ghetto but really trying hard to hold it back!
I truly think ignorance is where it is and money doesn’t buy classiness. I think Sheree’ knew NeNe was going to be competition, so why not leave her off the list.