There’s nothing more addictive than watching overly dramatic older women constantly fight. I would like to think that these women argue so much because the cameras are rolling, but I don’t think that’s the case. The executives at Bravo have brilliantly cast women who love to argue, are stubborn and are usually the “top dog” in their circle of friendships. If you place these types of women together, drama will always ensue, and that’s the beauty of the Real Housewives franchise. There are currently five series in the franchise, including the Real Housewives of Atlanta, Orange County, New York, Beverly Hills, and New Jersey. Here they are, ranked in order of addictiveness.
Number One: The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Cast: NeNe Leakes, Porsha Stewart, Kandi Burruss, Kenya Moore, Cynthia Bailey, Claudia Jordan, and Phaedra Parks. The Real Housewives of Atlanta is not only the top-rated show of all the housewives series, but it is also the highest-rated series on the Bravo network. The most notable cast member is NeNe Leakes, and she has managed to build a pretty respectable acting career outside of the reality television circuit. Leakes, just like the rest of the cast, has no problem saying how she feels, and she never shies away from confronting whoever she has an issue with. These women are head-strong, humorous, and you never know what you’re going to see each week. The cast members are also very fashionable – especially Leakes and her outlandish wigs.
Number Two: The Real Housewives of New York. Cast: Bethenny Frankel, LuAnn de Lesseps, Carole Radziwill, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, Dorinda Medley, Kristen Taekman, and Heather Thomson. The return of Bethenny Frankel has made the New York series very entertaining this season. Frankel wasted no time letting it be known that she is the “alpha female,” and the other women better take heed. However, if you think any of these women bowed down to Frankel, you better think twice. This season has become so addictive because the constant bickering between Frankel and Heather Thomson is really entertaining. Once you add Singer and Morgan’s bizarre antics to the equation, watching the New York spinoff is equivalent to driving past a car accident: you just can’t help but watch it.
Number Three: The Real Housewives of Orange County. Cast: Vicki Gunvalson, Tamra Judge, Heather Dubrow, Shannon Beador, Meghan King Edwards, and Lizzie Rovsek. Orange County, California is supposed to be representative of class and wealth, but I guess some of these women didn’t get the “class” memo. I will admit the women this season have conducted themselves with a lot more class than the previous seasons, but there are still moments of backstabbing, lies, and unnecessary arguments. There are just some things between a husband and wife that shouldn’t be made public, like Shannon Beader’s husband having an affair. The whole ordeal is being played out on television, and it’s really hard not to tune in each week. Divorce and reality television are becoming synonymous, but let’s hope Beader and her husband can restore their rocky marriage.
Number Four: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Cast: Lisa Vanderpump, Yolanda Foster, Kyle Richards, Lisa Rinna, Eileen Davidson, Kim Richards, and Brandi Glanville. I’m not sure how this upcoming season will pan out, now that Kim Richards and Brandi Glanville will no longer be on the show. I have a feeling both women will make appearances on the series, unless the Bravo executives have had enough of their antics. Kim Richards was just arrested for shoplifting at Target; she was reportedly released on $5,000 bail. Richards was also arrested in April for trespassing, battery of a police officer, and resisting arrest. She has struggled with alcoholism for years, and she was reportedly intoxicated when the alleged assault on the officer occurred. Kim Richard’s behavior was so bizzare last season, and things really boiled over when she and Lisa Rinna got into a screaming match while in Amsterdam. Brandi Glanville kept us all on the edge of our seats, mainly because her behavior was so unpredictable. When she slapped Lisa Vanderpump last season, it was both shocking and disturbing.
Number Five: The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Cast: Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, Amber Marchese, Kathy Walkie, Teresa Aprea, and Nicole Napolitano. The biggest star on the New Jersey series is Teresa Giudice, who is currently serving time (15 months) in prison for fraud. Her husband Joe will also go to prison for fraud, where he will serve 41 months. The reality television star is suing her bankruptcy attorney for negligence. Giudice believes he gave her terrible advice in regards to her fraud case, and that’s the reason why she is in prison. There were reports that Giudice would get out of prison before December 2015, but it now seems she will serve all of her 15-month sentence. She is expected to be released in early 2016. Last season was so addictive because of a rumor involving the twins’ (Teresa Aprea and Nicole Napolitano) mother and Teresa’s husband. In fact, Teresa’s husband was accused of having an affair with his wife’s mother. The ugly rumor was vehemently denied by all parties, but it made for some very intense television viewing.