'Real Housewives' Tired of Being 'Used' By Bravo

By Rob Shuter Posted Aug 4th 2010 08:33AM

If you think being the star of a hit TV series with millions of viewers will make you rich, think again. Just ask the ladies of Bravo's 'Real Housewives' franchise.

"All the ladies have had enough of being used by Bravo and plan to start fighting back," a friend of one 'Housewife' tells me. "They are pissed that they only get paid $3,000 to tape each episode and are furious that they get paid nothing to tape the reunion episode. It's two full days of their lives with no lunch breaks and no pay. Everyone on the set is getting a paycheck except the stars. How can that be right?"

And it's not just the reunion shows that Bravo has added to the ladies taping schedule with no extra pay. Last week, executives decided that in order to breathe new life into its troubled 'Project Runway' parrot, 'The Fashion Show,' the 'Housewives' from New Jersey should make an appearance.

"None of the housewives wanted to be on 'The Fashion Show,'" one insider tells me. "However, the network insisted they film all week for hours and hours, and to add insult to injury, they got nothing in return. Not even a thank you."

However, the ladies have decided to fight back. First, the 'Housewives of Atlanta' took a stand -- getting together before taping their reunion show and all agreeing not to fight unless they got paid. It didn't work for them, but the resulting snore-fest made Bravo change its mind when it came to taping the New York reunion.

"I don't think it's a coincidence that the New York ladies showed up to duke it out and then delivered," a source close to production tells me. "Tell me Bethenny dragged her ass to the filming days after giving birth for free. No way. Bravo got so much from them. They turned it into a three-episode special and got their highest ratings for the New York series ever. So paying those girls was well worth it."

Now, with the New Jersey reunion taping today and tomorrow in Atlantic City, let's hope Bravo opened up its checkbook, because as one Garden State 'Housewife' explains to me, "Working for them is like slave labor. They might be able to make us show up, but if they want us to put on a show they better pony up the cash."

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Tags: bravo, real housewives

Comments

(205)

Wednesday 04 August

By Butt Lovin Bear 401

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Maybe more people are just tired of hearing about them.

By New York

PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE ALL THESE UN-REAL HOUSEWIVES GO AWAY. HOW LOW CAN A TV STATION GO? ARE WE THAT HARD UP FOR TALENTED SHOW PRODUCERS. THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS AIR THEM AT 4AM.

Thursday 05 August

By almasearch

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Shows how "real" they really are when they're demanding to be paid to fight on the reunion. Same with the Danielle broad on the New Jersey show - I'd wager she's being paid to act the way she does and create all the drama. After all, it's the drama that attracts the viewers. So if/when one watches the show, they need to know it's not "real", just a quasi-version of the ABC Housewife show.

By lumibeans

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You can say that again!

By Dee St. Louis

Well written story, but the topic is yaaaaaaawwwwwn boring.
Do yourself a favor and tell your editor you would like to write stories about things people are interested in.
They actually pay those GOLD DIGGING FOULED MOUTH TRAMPS?
Who cares? Ho hummm

By TK

"Stars" Please...they are idiots would want attention any way they can get it! I can only hope if Project Runway is having problems...soon the "Housewives" will too. Please Boycott these shows...special the Washington women! Bravo setting up that crap at the White House was over the line! That cost taxpayers a lot of money for that BS

By mw

Boo-hoo cry me a river.

By Katherine

I agree! I can't believe they think they have talent. They have big hair, big boobs and foul mouths. New Jersey has a bad reputation already, why do they think their television presence will help?

By amiwright

Exactly

By jeff

nice,nice:) i wish i had thought of that its good to know im not the only one that feels this way

By Patricia

""Stars" Please...they are idiots would want attention any way they can get it! I can only hope if Project Runway is having problems...soon the "Housewives" will too."

Please learn to read. The story didn't say that "Project Runway" is having problems, it said that Bravo's "Project Runway" wanna-be, "The Fashion Show", is having problems.

By Liz

People with more money than God want more money.

This is now news.

By joan abin

I'm with you Liz. It seems the worse of our society (jersey shore etc.) is what sells today. Sad world we leave to our grandchildren.

By Andrea

Is it that people with more money want more money... or people who work want to get paid for it? There is a big *SS difference.

Friday 06 August

By Carolyn

EXACTLY and for the most part they get it BECAUSE MOST of the buying public is BRAIN DEAD. I can NOT believe I'm (and you & a FEW others, to FEW is the problem) ever notice this. Unfortunately until they do we will have to suffer with stupid shows, shoddy products etc.

By kelli

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i say pay them anything they want!!! these are the best shows on tv!! these girls make me look better and better every time they open their mouths!! lalalalove it!!!!!!

By Kristy

I think they should definitely get paid, that's ridiculouos. I would just bring my own food and eat it whils filming if they didn't give a food break.

By goatcars2

I think she's inked a new deal doing Shakespeare on the world stage. You can't keep talent like this dormant for long !!!!!!

LOL! Shakespeare who? I will not clap.

By kittys3mts

LOL!!!!!!!! I wish all this garbage would just GO AWAY! It's hard to find ANYTHING of value on these entertainment networks. Even the "news media" stations are full of it. Believe it or not, my husband and I gleen more newsworthy, insightful information on NHK (the Japanese news network) and Aljezeera!

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