The New York Daily News has an interesting piece today where they talk about how, with the exception of Kelly Bensimon that all the Real Housewives of New York are holding out for more money before they will agree to shoot another season. Kelly has already signed on and so I say keep her. Forget everyone else. Last season they were paid about $10K for the entire run. It is a pittance for a real actor but they are not real actors. Plus I am sure they made a significant amount more than that by appearing at events and hosting things. The problem with those gigs is they actually require some modicum of effort and work and why do that when someone will just pay you to follow them around.
I remember back in the day when Law & Order had finished its first season and they started replacing all the main characters. I was pissed but watched anyway. You know what? It was still a pretty good show. I don't know about you, but I am guessing that in New York there are plenty of "Real Housewives" who would love a chance to be on television for a few months and get their 15 minutes and will be happy with whatever they are paid. The Real World has managed to shuttle casts and cities for 20+ years and no one seems to mind. You will always have your favorite years or cities or people, but if you have good editing and good personalities it doesn't matter who you put on the air.
I think part of the problem we have seen with some of these reality stars is that after the first couple of seasons they think of themselves as actors or stars rather than people who were no different than anyone else and just got picked by a producer when others didn't. There are plenty of people around and I think the more producers do switch up casts the better it will be for all of us. These reality stars we can't stand seeing will not get the traction or staying power to really force themselves upon us. It will be like a Bachelor winner or loser who is only viable until the next season starts.
I know you will miss your favorites, but you can find new people to love or hate and the good thing is once their season is over, their time in the public eye will for the most part also be over. Unless of course they do some type of reunion competition shows. That could be fun.
These women need to get over themselves. They are not all that and a bag of chips.
ReplyDeleteSorry but I hate ALL reality TV shows so not a watcher
ReplyDeleteI don't watch the show, and I'd almost agree...but 10k for the run IS a pretty low number. If I was OK with the possibility of being replaced, I'd probably hold out too.
ReplyDeleteI agree. All these people are so vapid that they get boring very quickly anyway. Much as I loved New Jersey, I don't know if a second season with the same people would be anywhere near as good. They've started doing promos for 2nd season Atlanta, and every time I see one I think "oh no, not these morons again." Change things up!
ReplyDeleteI think the 1st Season was the season that they were paid 10K- the season with Kelly was the 2nd season- I have no idea how much they made. I really LOVE the whole point you made with their misguided self importance- they are not actors- and the thought that they are celebrities- UGH! I dont know why we buy into this vapid BS- there are people out there doing amazing things every day and our program options consist of spoiled idiots spending hours shopping and "socializing"..
ReplyDeleteSorry-
My favorite is referring to the show as "The Housewives Franchise"...Jill Zaaaarin doesn't like what Danielle, I mean Beverly, is doing to the "Housewives Braaaaaand"..
ReplyDeleteThey will pay for Bethenny. And, in my opinion, they should.
ReplyDeleteOk, I don't watch any of these 'housewives' shows, but it appears from what I read that some of them are not even wives - so what's the farking point?? Should it not just be called "Real women of X"?
ReplyDeleteI only agree that they should get more because of the money Bravo makes from the series. 10K sounds pretty cheap to me.
ReplyDeleteOh, for those who watched RHONJ, I drove my son to his college orientation in Wayne, NJ, and guess what I drove by on the way home? The Brownstone! I almost threw out mah neck! It's smaller in person...
That was for you, Mooshki.
I admit, I love the Real Hoeswife shows and have watched them all except Atlanta. $10K does seem like a really small number. Frankly, I am sad to see that Kelly signed on as I was hoping she would get run over while jogging in the middle of traffic.
ReplyDeleteThanks, mng! LOL
ReplyDeleteKelly is the only one I wouldn't miss. Just start up with a new local if they won't accept a reasonable deal. How about Dallas, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, St. Thomas?
ReplyDeleteit cracks me up because at the finale, they all told kelly she shouldn't come back. and here she is, the only one who's committed. i want all of them back. especially since that bitch is returning----yeah, i want them all.
ReplyDeleteAfter discovering that Jon and Kate plus Eight are making $75k per episode, I agree that these women should hold out for more money.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your observation that they think of themselves as actors who can demand higher salaries. I hope they take note of your warning that they are oh-so-disposable.
ReplyDelete(btw, I'm fairly certain each NYC housewife was making much more than $10K for season 2. The 10k number was from season 1, which only had 6 episodes.)
Mng: When you drove by the Brownstone and almost threw out your neck, did you happen to see any of the buhbee wives or their mob husbands?
ReplyDeleteThey should be doing it for charity! It's not like they need the money!
ReplyDeleteIf they used actual people that actually have to pay taxes and not loophole or 'base' in another Country. Then sure pay scale if they now list occupation as actor.
I've only seen NJ/OC so that may not apply to the others. But I did hear the the Countess was being divorced so her husband could marry a Princess (some title).
I am addicted to RHOanywhere! NJ is my fav so far. You're right Enty, the producers could easily switch out the Housewives in each city (one more season with the current NJ cast, please).
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could stomach one episode let alone an entire season of OC's Vicki Gunvalson...what a pig!