Sunday, April 4, 2010

New York Housewife

Given that I have the truly original handle of "WendyNYC" over on AbsoluteWrite, I've had a few people ask me about the Real Housewives show. Ya' know. Since I live in New York and all. Did I know any of them? (No.) Are women in New York really like that? (No. Well, some.) Would I ever try out for the show? (NO. Nononono. And again, no.)

So what with all the interest, I thought I would outline a few differences between me and the RHONYC ladies.

First off, yep, we have a few similarities:

1. I live on the Upper East Side. I know, I know. Snobsville. Velvet headband city. What's the difference between an Upper East Sider and Upper West Sider? The Eastsider brags about the size of her closet and the Westsider brags about the size of her bookshelves.
I like my Carnegie Hill neighborhood okay, but if we didn't have kids, we'd probably be cool downtown loft people.

2. I spend time in the Hamptons. Quite a bit, actually. My parents live there.

3. I have attended a fashion show. Regular blog readers know how well that went.

4. I'm not originally from Manhattan. I don't think any of them are, either.


But there are some key differences, aside from the whole not-really-wanting-to-be-on-a-reality-show thing. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. I am, indeed, an actual housewife. Even though the term makes me want to don my pearls and vacuum the living room, I am not working outside of the home. I hawk neither baubles nor skinny margaritas, fabrics nor cosmetics I cook up in my tub. I write, obviously, but most of the time? Hausfrau, baby.

1. My friends (I have some! Really!) and I enjoy each other's company. If there is someone I don't care for, I choose to avoid her without making a huge stink.

2. When I am not invited to a party, I tend not to freak out about it. Sometimes people I know have different circles of friends. Shocking!

3. No one writes a script for what I say and do. I mean, really. The cameras just happen to be rolling when Bethenny calls Jill to make up and Countess Whoever just happens to be there at that exact moment so they can put her on speakerphone and laugh? Wow, lucky timing.

4. I stay home most nights and watch TV. Which they are clearly not doing. At least they aren't watching Bravo make asses of them.

So there you have it.

My husband gives me such trouble when I watch this show. Mostly I don't care and will watch anyway, but I have to admit, my interest has waned this season.

Do you have any crappy shows you watch?

17 comments:

sue laybourn said...

Real Housewives is my guilty pleasure.

So glad, and not surprised, you're not like that lot! lol!

That's all I'm confessing to at the moment. :)

JLC said...

Not much of a 'Reality Show' fan. However, I do have a guilty pleasure show that I watch every Wed. "Cougar Town" It is a blast to watch. :)

Robin said...

I really dislike reality TV. Every now and then I get sucked into Dancing With the Stars. It's rare, but it has been known to happen. I openly admit to watching more TV than I should, although I think several of my shows are going down this year: LOST (I knew about), 24 (just announced), and SUPERNATURAL (speculation), and I am wondering about SMALLVILLE. There may have been an announcement already and I just missed it. I suppose my guilty pleasure is GENERAL HOSPITAL. We've been getting it on since Luke and Laura met at the disco.... I don't see a break-up in sight.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Wendy, I'm very glad that you clarified all this. :)

WendyCinNYC said...

Sue--Mine, too. I don't typically watch reality shows, but I kind of like this one. I *especially* like the recaps on Gawker.

JLC--I haven't seen that one, but I've heard it's funny.

Robin--I've never watched an episode of LOST, and I feel like I'm missing out. I was too late to the game, much like with THE WIRE.

Melanie--I'm sure you were wondering if I was secretly a Countess or hiding my fabulousness in some way. Alas, no.

Lola Sharp said...

First time here (from Tawna's)...great blog.

Yeah, well, try living in NJ right about now! (I'm not from NJ, I just happen to be living in southern NJ for the last few years due to husbands job).

All my friends from other states CONSTANTLY ask me if I ever see Snookie (sp.?). They picture NJ like "Jersey Shore", which, I am proud to say I have never watched.

Am I fond of NJ? NO.
Do I hate it? No-ish.
But that show has made it a million times more embarrassing.

~Lola

WendyCinNYC said...

Lola--Oh no! I've never watched that show, but I have absorbed enough about it to understand your pain. My husband grew up in NJ (Philly area) and he hears all the "Joisey" jokes.

Cynthia Reese said...

The good thing about your particular guilty pleasure is that it at least gives us southerners a break.

Up until reality shows like that popped up, The South was probably considered the last exotic culture. At least, that's how it felt to me, whenever I would travel north.

I have actually been stopped by people who say, "I heard you talking. Such a darling accent. Say something. Say anything. I just want to hear it again."

Janna Leadbetter said...

What a great breakdown!

Crappy? Nah. Mine are all high-brow. :P

WendyCinNYC said...

Cynthia--Most of my relatives are from the South. Love the accent. I still have the slightest hint of Missouri twang, but only when I'm drinking.

Janna--Well, you *are* a high-brow kinda girl. :)

Captain and Crew said...

Can't say much about the show, but I am reading "Lies My Mother Never Told Me" by Kaylie Jones, daughter of James Jones, Great American writer of war fiction, and she references NY and the Hamptons quite a bit. I would love to get my Cali-ass over to the East side to see what the hub-bub is all about. Chicago is as far East as I've gotten. Btw, Ms. Jones writes a mean memoir! Highly recommend!

Allie said...

I saw part of an episode of the show while staying at a hotel once. One of the women was teaching another woman's housekeeper how to make a recipe. Both women were SO condescending to the housekeeper. It was AWFUL! They acted like they were being all chummy, but the tone of their voices - the way they talked to her like she was a child - it was disgusting. And they made her call them Ms. First Name. Like she was in daycare. Ick!

Mother Hen said...

Just started reading your blog from England, you sound very sensible and colourful.
Not a fan of staged reality but oddly enough, like wild reality-Trawlerman and a show Robson Green did on fishing all over the world.
Otherwise a true CSI and crime girl all the way in the tv world, my children are too.
Grew up in CT and spent many hours in NYC but have never lived there.

WendyCinNYC said...

Captain & Crew--The Hamptons can be very laid back-- if you know what to avoid. The off-season is amazing. Otherwise: crazy.

Allie--Oh yes, I remember that one. Rosie!

Mother Hen--Thank you! And welcome!

WendyCinNYC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Wendy, I won't think less of you for being a housewife, even an NYC housewife.

I may not think MORE of you, but certainly I won't think LESS.

(Ducks wine bottle chucked at head)

Kidding....

gucci-shoes-bags said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.