Cali 'Housewives' Hit Hard by Recession

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Dec 18th 2009 07:21AM

Peculiar things have been happening this season on 'The Real Housewives of Orange County.' Gretchen Rossi had a garage sale, Jeana Keough went shopping with her daughter at H&M and Tamra Barney is now doing her own housework. What? This is a dramatic turn from season three when Barney's husband gave her a diamond Rolex for her 40th birthday and Vicky Gunvalson debated over buying a yacht (she decided against it).

"All of them have been very much affected by the economic situation," explains the show's executive producer, Douglas Ross.

This means the downsizing we're seeing on camera is not just for show. A number of the cast members were involved in real estate that's been on a downslide the past two years. And this season, we'll see Lynne Curtin's family get evicted from their Laguna Beach home.

"We try to treat it as gently but as honestly as we can," Ross says. "We happened to have been there with our cameras ... as part of our normal schedule when they were served the eviction notice. It's one of those great reality TV moments that happened to be caught because we were in the right place at the right time."

Money is a sensitive subject and some people - even reality TV stars - may not want to expose their financial struggles to millions of people. But the housewives don't seem to mind sharing - they even fancy themselves as an inspiration to others in similar situations.

"It helps people across the nation because they realize it's not just them," says Keough.

Barney says the exposure is just her being honest.

"I'm pretty open. ... There's not too much I'll hide. It was difficult for my husband ... but the world's in this place right now and I think people are going to relate to it," she says.

So far it looks like Barney is right. Ratings for the fifth season have been strong and average about 2 million viewers an episode.

This could partly be due to the popularity of the "Real Housewives" franchise in general, which has taken off thanks to over-the-top versions of wig-pulling, table flipping and incredulous statements from women in Atlanta, New Jersey and New York, like, "I'm up here, you're down here." Their actions make viewers ask, "Are they for real?"

Perhaps this season we're finally getting the answer: Yes, they are.

While "The Real Housewives" are compensated for appearing on the show, Keough says it's not enough to support a family. "It's so minimal. It's not enough to make your house payments. It's more like a location fee to keep your house clean."

Keough only filmed three episodes of season 5 and then opted out of the rest - she said she wanted to focus on her real estate career and her family.

Not all the Orange County ladies are having a hard time paying their bills, though. Self-professed workaholic Gunvalson says her insurance business is doing better than ever. And she proudly reveals she's 42 and on target to retire comfortably at age 55.

"When I first started (on the show), I was working out of the house with two employees and now I have a huge office with 10 employees, 700 agents out in the field," she says.

Then there's new cast member Alexis Bellino, 32, who has three children and two nannies. On a recent episode, her husband gave her a 7 carat diamond necklace, just because.

This season, there have been some inconsistencies to the ladies' money woes. Curtin allowed herself to be filmed getting a face lift while her daughter got a nose job. Her husband, Frank, acknowledged the cost of the procedures on camera but said his family's happiness was more important.

Despite the eviction, Lynne Curtin says her finances are improving and predicts her family will be able to build a house next year.

"My husband is a builder in Southern California. It's not like he doesn't try. He's not sitting at home watching TV. He is going out and making an effort. ... I've been married for 20 years. ... We've had the high life we've had the low life. It's just reality."

Tags: the real housewives of orange county, TheRealHousewivesOfOrangeCounty

Comments

(32)

Sunday 20 December

By CAJIVA

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Dean you get an epic pass from me. I been wanting to say this all along but didn't know how. You worded it perfectly. Also I love how god fearing Alexis and her husband are.

Monday 04 January

By Denise

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Thank you! My point exactly. It was a girl's weekend, and if the other three women wanted to bring their husbands, they should have declined Vicki's invitation!

I'm horrified that I am watching this drivel. It's like a bad car accident, you can't look away.

Friday 18 December

By patrick

You know whats funny?? I was married to a woman just like them for 10 years.Lost my business last february and of course the wife too. Now I have a new business but no wife thanks god the money is all mine.

By Real Housewive of Wise County

OMG! OMG! When you have an HD TV you can see very clear. They need to get Vickie and Tamera off the show! It was bad enough that when I flipped channels I had to see that UGLY Laurie's on HD. They need some people that are not so superficial and are actually are decent to look at. Not some OLD LADIES that think they are hot! GROSS ME OUT! PUT A PAPER BAG OVER YALL"S HEAD!

By linda

HANG IN THERE LADIES IT WILL GET BETTER. I HOPE!!! YOUR NOT THE ONLY ONES HAVING TROUBLE THERE ARE A LOT OF US. SO BE HAPPY. WOW VICKY IS 42 OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday 19 December

By shadowdew

VICKI 42? YEAH RIGHT. WHO,S SHE kidding . every time these women are on they're boozing it up. i wish they would all end up under a bridge in a cardboard box.

By Jenny

If you look at any other publications, she's listed as being 47 or 48. That's more like it. If she's 42, then it's been a very, very rough 42 years.

By randi

Real? Fake hair, botox, fake teeth, noses, boobs, lipo, not all are housewives, it's white trash on steroids. (with insecure husbands) Loser show.

By Kevin quinn

Bad Vicki!!!! NO MORE BOTOX You could use a nose job though. It's the first thing that I see whenever I'm channel surfing. It's like you can see up it when you see her straight on. How doe's if feel to be ragged on now. Can you take your own medicine?????????

Friday 05 February

these girls are just down out mean, they threw Vickie under the bus I did not think it was justified. to be friends with these ladies you need to where a bullet proff vest.

Monday 20 September

By Sis

None of these women are friends. Vicki and Tamara sided so they could go after Gretchen. Gretchen doesn't care what anyne says and will play with who she wants to. Slade is creepy. Lynne is nuts and so is her husband who doesn't say no. The daughters are so spoiled. If they had jobs maybe they could quit crying.GAG

Vicki says what she thinks and runs when they go after her. Now that is funny. Her skin looks so old and if she says one more time she works I will throw up. We all work and she is such a witch. I hope she leaves the show but doubt it.

Alexis is married to one ugly man and no the guys should have stayed home. I agree it was a girlsweekend. I think it is hysterical when they talk like they are big ole christians.
I love watching all the housewives. They are so lucky to live so well and none of them appreciate it unless they are tossing it in others faces.

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