How Do You Like Them Apples?

As a long-time fan of the Real Housewives franchise, I must confess that I’m finding myself torn between the allure of the new circle burgers and my nostalgic craving for the square ones. I miss the days when we had our beloved OGs like Dorinda stirring up drama in their square-burger world. But alas, we can’t turn back time, and it seems Bravo is serving us a different dish this season.

Daily, I find it increasingly difficult to defend my decision to stay on a particular social media platform, which I’ll only refer to as Twitter, since I prefer its original form. However, fans of the Housewives series who are loyal to the original version are making my online interactions more challenging. Yes, I’m referring to the supporters of the RHONY reboot. Some argue it doesn’t deliver enough, others think the new cast members won’t live up to the legendary OG group, some jest that Bravo is pressuring fan accounts to post favorable content, and some are calling for the dismissal of the Bravo executives who greenlit the reboot. Even Mary Cosby openly told Andy Cohen that the reboot puts her to sleep!

Although many might disagree with me, I find that RHONY is quite enjoyable these days. This could be because I understand Bravo’s efforts to restore the franchise from its transformation over 13 seasons. In some sense, RHONY 2.0 harks back to a more traditional style that I find appealing: The women appear to be striving for success rather than getting entangled in messy situations. Recall how teenage Avery Singer used to discuss her mother’s missteps? Now, we see Jenna Lyons showcasing designer dresses she wore while socializing with the Obamas. Ramona would never identify with that (given her political leanings). Even price tags are back on screen, as evidenced by Sai de Silva’s $117,000 Range Rover.

Jenna, Erin, and Ubah would not have fit in on the original Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY). They’re not the type to tolerate being yelled at by a group of middle-aged, possibly intoxicated women. Jessel, Brynn, and Sai might have been open to it, but even they likely wouldn’t have meshed well with the original cast. Instead, these ladies are more likely found at upscale clubs like Zero Bond and Casa Cipriani, rather than the usual haunts like Beautique. Sonja Morgan sells her clothes at Century 21, while Jenna’s lashes can be found on Goop, Ubah’s hot sauce is one of Oprah’s favorites, and Brynn frequently criticizes Rebecca Minkoff for selling her bags at Nordstrom Rack. Much like the Jeffersons moving to a better neighborhood, the new RHONY is transitioning from the traditional Upper East Side to the trendier downtown area. Sai, similar to Alex McCord, resides in Brooklyn and is trying to navigate family life in today’s economy, but her townhouse could easily swallow Alex and Simon’s residence whole.

In the five boroughs, there may have been numerous women ready for fierce rivalries and humiliation in hopes of joining Andy’s elite circle, but that’s not what was presented. It appears they sought out women who would only appear on reality TV if it could help erase the negative connotations associated with it. Consider how upset Erin might be if people learned she soiled a Colombian villa floor. Or how much effort Ubah would exert to keep us from seeing footage of her stumbling into a bush while drunk. The rebooted RHONY is not about raw confrontations and public humiliation. Instead, it’s focusing on subtle conflicts: Jessel complaining about an unattractive gift, Sai getting angry because Brynn said something off-limits, Ubah and Erin having a disagreement over a prank that went awry.

In earlier seasons of “Real Housewives of New York” (RHONY), disagreements were more subdued compared to later seasons; the most dramatic incident in the first season occurred when Bethenny Frankel failed to introduce Countess LuAnn (as she was then known) to a driver as “Mrs. de Lesseps.” Now, this show has been running for a long time and needs to constantly escalate its chaos to keep viewers interested. For instance, Luann started with concerns about her title, moved on to having an affair with a pirate, marrying someone who had been dated by others, getting arrested, and becoming a cabaret star. Initially, Ramona left the first reunion due to Alex taking nude photos, but as time went on, she urinated on different surfaces, discussed her sexual preferences, behaved so badly that she ruined a Jewish holiday gathering, and even contributed to the cancellation of the entire show.

The reason for a reboot of RHONY was due to its need to return to its original state, where it could regain some elegance. Instead of Ramona hosting a party with her 50 closest friends in a basement bar she received as a complimentary venue after taking Dorinda Medley and Sonja to the party planner’s office in Long Island, Erin is organizing an anniversary celebration at the luxurious Hall des Lumières. Although it may have been dull, let me tell you, it certainly looked extravagant.

While Bravo hasn’t been offering the same type of dramatic storylines as before, such as Erika Jayne’s scandal or Kyle Richards’ breakup, it feels odd for some fans because they’re accustomed to these sensational events. It’s like visiting a fast-food restaurant expecting square burgers but finding round ones instead. However, just as round burgers can have their charm in a sea of square ones, there’s room for new storylines in the current reality TV landscape.

The fact that the original cast members agreed to be on RHONY before fully understanding the implications doesn’t mean there aren’t concerns with the latest version of the show. The new cast members have expressed interest and went through casting, but they are cautious about associating with any negative connotations that being a Real Housewife might bring, fearing it could harm their personal image. To attract these women, it seems like the production company is making adjustments to limit the exposure of their real lives for closer scrutiny. However, this new season feels more like a carefully curated social media profile, raising some significant warnings for me regarding authenticity.

Initially, I was excited to learn that Jenna had a girlfriend who wouldn’t be returning for the second season of her show, but then in the season premiere, her long-lost mother mysteriously appeared instead! Yet, despite getting engaged, it seems we won’t get any insight into the wedding as she’s keeping things under wraps. Ubah Hassan has shared that her boyfriend will remain off-screen this season, though she’s been chattering about him nonstop. She could pen a novel as vast as ‘War and Peace,’ but without visual confirmation, it feels incomplete to fans.

I have concerns that the entire season might devolve into a situation similar to Erin’s in the confessionals: tantalizing us with intriguing moments while holding back due to privacy concerns. It’s not necessary for the women of RHONY to be as explicit as their counterparts on other franchises for it to be entertaining, but there should be a comfort level with having the camera present. The Housewives certainly deserve privacy and boundaries, but they should also be pushed a bit; I believe we’d appreciate these women and their show more if they were willing to embrace a bit of messiness, to let us scrutinize them a little more. Knowing that Erin enjoys mushrooms would make her more interesting. Admittedly, it might even make me like her (though that’s doubtful). However, we’ll never know. What we will know is that there may be an even better show hidden within, if only the women could momentarily forget about the cameras and their public images. If Bravo wants to persuade viewers to try something more refined than they’re accustomed to, it must also encourage the women to dip into the muck a bit and connect with fans at our familiar level.

2024-10-21 16:54

How Do You Like Them Apples?

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