'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 patty

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lol housewives stars dont think so

By Pebbles Family

Boo friggin' hoo! How much do we have to pay these old, spoiled, ugly hags to go away?

By lea

OK they are NOT stars, but they are "working" and BRAVO is making money off of them. They do deserve to be paid for their time. I just do not actually understand how it is that they don't have better contracts that outline what their responsibilities are going to be for the season. They need better lawyers going forward!!!

Friday 06 August

By Cheryl

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Bravo has transformed these women into reality "Stars." They should be paid for their time. Most of them have real careers and real businesses. They should be paid for their time. All except that nut, Danielle, from NJ Housewives. She is a real, troubled looser. I can't figure out what she does other than cause trouble - well, I suppose Bravo should pay her for the drama she brings to the show. I will admit I watch NJ just to see how badly she'll get dogged each episode. LOL

Thursday 05 August

By tammyjean34

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I agree they need better lawyers and management. Are all of the family members getting paid too? I mean if you are putting all of my kids on the air and my husband and my personal parties, which lets face it, we like seeing for one reason or another, then they should be paid for it. Try not paying a camera man for the reunion show, think he'd show up?

By Charlie

Because there are hundreds, thousands of idiot but rich women who would love to be in this kind of show. It's all supply and demand. Does any one of them make the show. They can just replace one snot for another, make some noise, and it wouldn't be any different.

By catalogsplus

There is a clear choice. If you don't like how much your employer pays, find another job. Duh. It's not like any of the 'Housewives' are skilled actors who are indispensible.

By aerofanz

Without these stupid shows no one would ever know who they were. Sadly we do know who they are and they sicken me.

By Tina

OMG! Can anyone define housewife. I have been a housewife for 23 years and lounging around with girl friends and going on vacations is not in my job description. REAL housewives clean, make breakfast, lunch and dinner, do dishes, and walk our own dogs, make trips to the doctor and the vet, dry cleaners, car pools, plan our own parties, and never have time for ourselves. These ladies are NOT housewives!

By theresa

They to make a show about real housewives, my eeryday life would be more entertianing and it would be real not set up.

By Kim

Well said Tina!!!! "BRAVO" to you;)

By babyb

Well said!!!

By auntd

AMEN Sista!!!!

By ray

I agree totally. They're nothing but spoiled women, used to getting everything they want.

By Tajudeen

God bless you and your family for knowing and doing what a realhouse wive and mother should do for her family. People like you are the one that should be on TV. Not the bimbos they have on those shows.
Women like you make me believe that their is hope for our society. Because without women like you, I think our society is going to the gutters. May God allow you to live long to enjoy the fruit of your labor - raising your children. Amen.

By DEE

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I think that Bravo needs to give up more money... Bravo is making it back in ratings and exposure

By G. Roberts

LETS BE REAL, THESE WOMEN ARE NOT "HOUSEWIVES" THEY ARE RICH SPOILED WOMEN. BRAVO AND THE VIEWERS GET A REAL KICK OUT OF WATCHING THEM FIGHT, CRY AND THEN MAKE UP. I AM SURE THAT THE MONEY MADE ON THE SHOW MEANS NOTHING TO THEM. THEY ALL HAVE RICH HUSBANDS AND THEY THEMSELVES HAVE "JOBS" WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE "COUNTESS", WHO REALLY CAN'T SING VERY GOOD, DON'T SEE THAT GOING VERY FAR. CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS SERIES TO BE CANCELLED.

By Ellen

The SO CALLED COUNTESS Singing...are you kidding me? They all need to go home and take care of their children who will for sure all be in therapy by the time they are 16!!!

By MAGOOS

Another gaggle of self important no talents who think they are worth more money. If they are tired of being "used" by Bravo, let them quit and go away. Perhaps America is already getting well tired of them.

By N2

LIKE THEM OR NOT, THEY ARE RIGHT. TV IS A BUSINESS AND THE STARS AND WRITERS ARE THE DRAW. OF COURSE THEY SHOULD BE PISSED AND THEY SHOULD BE PAID A "RASONABLE" AMOUNT OF MONEY.

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