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I am not a huge fan of reality TV. As a writer, I think it's a lazy way to fill hours with the publicity-seeking, ratings-hawking folks willing to do a little bit of anything for their fifteen minutes of fame. That being said, from time to time I must admit to having been pulled into the train wreck. Last week, I decided to see what I've been missing and sat down to catch two shows.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta on Bravo: I did not watch Season 1. I was told it was to be a portrayal of bougie black women in Atlanta so my expectations were somewhat elevated… until I read the episode one synopsis:
Watch what happens as the second season promises to be filled with drama. Nene shows her "gay boyfriend" Dwight her new home, located in Lisa's neighborhood, and he gives her design tips. Sheree has also moved into a smaller home, after her husband failed to pay the mortgage on her former estate. After mending their friendships, Nene, Sheree, and Lisa celebrate the Birthday of Niecy Nash in downtown Atlanta. While celebrating, the three notice Kim's attendance and talk about her lies and their new attitude towards her. Nene was very offended by the fact that Kim walked past her and didn't say anything. Sheree also mentions Kim and their lost their friendship during the offseason. At home, Lisa and her husband talk of having another baby, as Lisa is getting a bit older; she is 38. Kim visits her long time psychic who tells her she will have a baby boy in the near future. New girl Kandi speaks of her singing career and a new phase in life, as she is engaged to long time friend A.J., who has six kids of his own. Her mother, however, does not approve of their marriage along with her daughter Riley, who doesn't believe she will be happy with all of her new brothers and sisters.
I joined a lot of people in watching the Season 2 premiere – 2.7 million. I also know that twitter-land seemed to enjoy it. I did not love it so much. There were far more wince-worthy moments than I expected; highlighted by Sheree going all "Angry Black Woman" on her flamboyant party planner Antoine. Le Sigh.
Hammertime on A&E: I will admit to having preconceived notions about this show. I was expecting some buffoonery on an epic scale. I watched a marathon of six episodes on A&E and was very pleasantly surprised.
Stanley Burrell (MC Hammer) now lives a more economically balanced life in Oakland, California with Stephanie, his wife and confidant of more than 23 years, and their family of six kids ranging in age from 4-21. In Hammertime, A&E takes an unprecedented look behind Burrell's larger-than-life personality and into his life as a devoted husband, father and business entrepreneur busy juggling childrearing responsibilities and daily household chores with speaking engagements, his own music label, an online website, and concert performances. Because when life hits hard, Hammer hits back.
Guess what I discovered? The Burrell family is bouge ya'll. Everyone's in school, the kids are getting braces, Stephanie and her two girls went off for a spa day and left Hammer in charge of the house. The Burrells vacationed in Hawaii, took the whole fam and renewed their wedding vows. They did an episode where Hammer moves his mother from Vegas back into a house a few miles away from his family. There is a hilarious moment where all the Hammer men pull out their gold Hammer pants and do a "Can't Touch this" dance-off. The whole thing was so very, very ordinary that I was entertained.
So surprise, surprise and shame on me. I made snap assumptions based on titles. Who knew the Real Housewives of Atlanta would be so much more hood than a rapper reality show. We live and we learn people. Bloom and grow.
Do you watch either of these shows and if so, what were your thoughts?
5 Bougie Thought(s):
I watch both shows. I did think the Hammer show was going to be wack. it is actually pretty good just like I thought Snoop Dogg show was as well. It is funny that we think rappers would live this real ghetto lifestyle but actually they are pretty normal and have normal women as wives. Not some ghetto girls just happy to be rich and show it.
As far as Real Housewives...they are giving our people what we want and that is "drama". it shows that no matter how much money you make or have in your life, drama can still be there. I don't know how black women look at it because I would think they would view it as a bad representation of them. Or they may view it as entertainment. I mean they took of the most sensible one and the one with no drama in DeShawn Snow and replaced her with a girl who in love with a man with "6 kids". So what does that say about their view of how they want the show to go? I'm just saying. I watch it and it is interesting and funny. Especially Kim when she sings.
Hammer has been there and done that.
There is no need for petense.
The women from "The Real Hoodrats of Atlanta" are still trying to make names for themselves.
They are really just acting in a way that they imagine successful people acting.
Having no real experience with that level of society, many mistakes are made.
This is why someone who looks only average is married to the POTUS.
Michelle developed (is developing) social skills to get her to that level (instead of being so concerned with appearence)
while the RHOA are struggling.
They'd never be able to get the true upper-crust ATL bouge types (the Youngs, Jacksons, etc.) to participate in a show like RHWoA. And frankly, they want the type of low-brow drama that those types probably would never indulge in anyway, so Bravo probably prefers the newly rich like NeNe, Kandi, and Lisa.
SMH (shaking my head), The Real Housewives of ATL are disgraceful. I'll be perfectly honestly, I am working toward my Bougie pass, so I still live in the heart of the hood and those women act worse then my neighbors (and my neighbors are hood rich at times). They are just full of backbiting, degradation, and no-class. Sadly, the drama is intriguing and I watch because it just reminds me of the sad excitement of the 'hood-rich'. I have yet to see Hammertime, but maybe between studies I will tune in. This I know when you get out the hood, leave the hood in the hood. But as the old addage goes, 'you can take the girl out the hood but you can't take the hood out the girl'.
TIny and Toya have more class than the women on RHWoA.
I can relate to the Burrell family as it reminds me of my own. Two parents, school, rainbow friends, family meals and, that one relative ... sadly, cousin Marv is charged with raping someone he met on Twitter.
http://www.nbcmiami.com/entertainment/celebrity/Twitter-Rape-Charges-Spark-Manhunt-for-MC-Hammer-Cousin-52099052.html
Both of these grown folk should have known better. That 40 year old woman should know not to invite a man she doesn't know into her hotel room. Conversely, he should not have assumed anything. This will be another "he-said, she-said" left for the jury or Hammer's check book to decide.
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