Reality TV has changed the game when it comes to television in recent years. From the start of Keeping up with the Kardashians back in 2007 to the D’Amelio family now having their own Hulu show, pop culture has quickly been evolving.
The Real Housewives franchise on Bravo has become one of the most popular reality television franchises on cable television. With the start of the Real Housewives of Orange County back in 2006, the franchise has quickly been able to capture the attention of viewers nationwide. Other than their success in the states, the franchise has also gone global with shows like the Real Housewives of Dubai airing back in September of 2022. There have also been revivals of the franchise such as that of the Real Housewives of Miami on Peacock in 2021.
The Real Housewives has had an immense impact on society, whether it was through parodies on SNL or the simple phrase of calling an angry group of women “Real Housewives.” But the franchise is not just about rich women who yell at one another. The shows allow viewers to see how the top two percent of America lives, while also getting an inside look of family life, female friendships, financial struggles, legal struggles, and more. We see women like Erika Jayne from Beverly Hills pursue her dreams of being a singer to Teresa Giudice from New Jersey famously say that she “gave birth on the show, went to prison on the show, got divroced on the show and got married on the show.” We see the complicated lives of these women play out in extremely entertaining ways.
Now of course, the fun of reality TV are the ridiculous and hilarious fights and moments that the personalities get into, and Real Housewives has no shortage of them. We wanted to recreate our favorite moments from The Real Housewives franchise, and this is what we came up with.
I brought the bunny.
-Kim Richards
On Beverly Hills, when Kim Richards returns the bunny that fellow Housewife, Lisa Rinna, gave her to give to her grandson, jaws were dropped in a ridiculous and melodramatic affair.
I have to go…he has internal bleeding.
-Jen Shah
On Salt Lake City, when Jen Shah was given a tip that the NYPD Feds were after her, she pulled out all of the acting skills she had to convince the other housewives that her husband was in the hospital with internal bleeding and she needed to leave, only she was fleeing from the cops and would later be arrested for fraud.
Why would you bring a lie on this platform, if you know it’s a lie.
-Dr. Wendy Osefo
On Potomac, Dr. Wendy Osefo, should never be questioned, and if she is, then you better be ready for her to pull out the receipts proving you wrong as seen her in the season six reunion.
I cooked. I cleaned. I made it nice!
-Dorinda Medley
On New York, Dorinda Medley made everything in her Berkshires home nice but her fellow housewives did not appreciatie all of the hardwork that she put in, throwing her into a fit.
I’m not sure what I’ve done to you, but I’ll take a pinot grigio.
-Stassi Schroeder
On the Beverly Hills spinoff Vanderpump Rules, waitress Scheana Shay tries to remain professional while serving her boss Lisa Vanderpump and her former coworker and enemy, Stassi Schroeder, but Stassi is not letting it be an easy serve.
I’m Gone With The Wind fabulous.
-Kenya Moore
On Atlanta, one should never accuse Kenya Moore of not being fabulous or chic, because she will always show you how fabulous she is and always will be.
Clip! Clip! Clip!
-Dorinda Medley
On New York, another Dorinda classic is when she is tired of hearing people say things she doesn’t want to hear, she she throws her arm to the side, shushing them with an iconic catchphrase.
You’re a slut pig!
-Kim Richards
On Beverly Hills, sisters Kyle and Kim Richards are fed up with fellow housewife, Brandi Glanville, at gamenight. After drug accusations fly from Glanville’s mouth, the two sisters have had enough.
You were engaged nineteen times!
-Teresa Giudice
On New Jersey, it is wise not to get on Teresa Giudice’s bad side or tell her a conflicting story because you might end up with your dinner table flipped, food everywhere, and broken wine glasses all over the floor.
You never go after my husband!
-Lisa Rinna
I’ve had enough of you, you beast!
-Kim Richards
On Beverly Hills, there is no shortages of dinner parties from Hell, and this one in Amsterdam takes the cake. With Kim Richards in the hotseat, she throws nasty words towards fellow housewife Eileen Davidson, with Yolanda Hadid attempting to cool the tensions. She then moves to Lisa Rinna where she throws out accusations about Rinna’s husband Harry Hamlin, to which Rinna responds with getting in Richard’s face and shattering a wine glass everywhere.
I’m going to see my husband, who I’d rather spend time with than you.
-Lisa Vanderpump
On Beverly Hills, the Queen of the city is Lisa Vanderpump, and you should never cross her. Don’t start rumors about her and your relationship with her will be golden. Unless you buy into the rumors to which she will ditch you on the side of the road to go hang out with her husband, Ken.
No you don’t!
Taylor Armstrong
And finally, another classic from Beverly Hills, is the memed moment from Taylor Armstrong and Kyle Richards as Armstrong breaks down trying to defend herself from people being nasty to her.
These moments are just some of the iconic ones that have occurred in the Real Housewives franchise, but they are not the only reality TV that is still booming today.
Netflix and Hulu have also started to understand America’s obsession with reality TV by releasing new hits like Selling Sunset, The Kardashians, and Love Island. E’s! Keeping up with the Kardashians franchise is by date one of the most successful reality television shows of its times with its 20 seasons and 4 spinoffs. The E! network concluded the series in 2021 but Hulu quickly continued the family’s television tradition by premiering The Kardashians in 2022. The Kardashians have single-handedly changed the way reality television operates and how people in these shows have new brand representation now. We are looking forward to seeing how reality television will continue to grow and change over the next decade.
Now tell us, what are your favorite reality shows?
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STYLISTS: Cameron Crews
PHOTOGRAPHER: Cameron Crews
MODELS: Brooke Tang, Paige Hill, Isa Cardoso, Jai-Li Powell, Mary Talton, Calla Walker, Eleanor Slyman, Isabela Latorre, and Callie Burnette
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