This is a joint promo for The Real Housewives of New Jersey (2009 – present) and The Real Housewives of Orange County (2006 – present). Both shows are part of the Real Housewives franchise, created and produced by the cable channel Bravo. The franchise has been incredibly successful, with spin-offs in several cities across the nation. Each follows the lives and friendships of wealthy housewives and professional women in urban and suburban locations.

discussion

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “housewife”? What adjectives come to mind? Does this representation fit with your image of a “housewife”?

How is social class communicated in this clip? What cues from the visuals or audio of the clip give us ideas about what social class these characters are in?

What strategies does Bravo use to make these shows exciting to watch? Think about casting, editing, narrative, etc.