'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)

Thursday 05 August

By Charlie

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If these women were that crucial to the show then they can negotiate for a better deal. If they are not worth it to Bravo, then Bravo won't pay what the women want. These women have no negotiating position.

Wednesday 04 August

By marcbarc

Can ya'll shout out WANABES about these B**tch's...get lives will ya and not the celebrity kind.

By LisaT

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They think they are being used. OMG!! Are they serious. If it was not for Bravo they'd be nothing and not even known. They'd just be another rich person. I say Bravo should cancel the show just to show these women who are boss.

By glenn blackwell

I agree, they are being used and it is unfair to bind them to the contract.

They still have their rich husbands, beautiful homes and social life. To be enjoyed without being prostituted by BRAVO, for some BS "non-reality" show.

BRAVO, go back to being an arts and entertainment channel again.
Get away from the staged situation shows for idiots.

By caljenna

Who do you suppose pays for all the parties these women throw? I highly doubt the ladies do...

By TweetMaxine

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Rob....the housewives do GET PAID for the reunion. The reunion shows are configured as separate episodes, Episode 18, Episode 19 and so on. Contractually, the Housewives must be paid at the same per/episode salary rate as a normal non-reunion show.

Also there are big REIMBURSEMENTS. All the Housewives file EXPENSE claims. For example: Teresa's "home video" of the baptism landed her a huge (thousand-dollar) reimbursement for giving Bravo permission to air that footage. Food and travel expenses are ALWAY reimbursed, and believe me these reimbursements add up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and again, that's apart from their normal salary.

By Tammy

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I love the housewifes....I look forward to seeing them all week. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

By ziggy

Too bad 4 you, people supporting this crap just add to the problem.

By Jim

I hate to hear about anyone working on TV and not getting paid for it. Have you ladies considered joining AFTRA? The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists would help protect your rights on and off the set and be sure you are being treated more fairly. Nothing look strong union representation, especially in this biz.

First of all: The only person who was screaming & hollering & causing a DISTURBANCE at Project Runway was JACQUELINE. All the others were grateful for the extra Camera-time, particularly Lauri & Gretchen. Jacqueline has absolutely nothing going on in her life, no paying side projects, so any time Bravo asks her to do anything promotional....she puts up a big fight. It's a wonder they can ever get her to leave the house. Lazy Jacqueline.

The big scoop is the BRAVO Housewife Book, with ONLY Gretchen on the cover. None of the other Housewives (except for Lynne Curtin..who doesn't even know it's Gretchen's body on cover) is willing to promote that book...not even for money!

By Brenda

LOL all these ladies seem to think that because they are on a Reality show they are either:
a.) Singers
b.) Clothes/Jewelery Designers
c.) Authors

The show is called Real Housewives. Some women are terminally normal. Sorry gals. Just be blessed for what your getting.

By Tom

Over Paid Under Talented.

By tish

to have your lives open like that .pay them what they are worth !
they sould not be havin hard times like that.

By Jeff

These women are tired of being used? Awwwwww, poor babies! Have they never watched a reality show or even just SOME TV? I swear, some of these reality stars are dumber than a bag of rocks!

By ej

They should be paid. The advertiser pay their fees. The star attractors should get paid. This is Capitalism. Make them pay you if they use your image to get rating!!! Somebody, somewhere is making money!!!

By RITA GORTH

OMG - these women - if it wasn't for BRAVO - no one would hear (or would they even HAVE) their crappy songs, read their books, see their faces on the covers of magazines, know who they are - they should be PAYING BRAVO for making them stars just for living their lives !! ?? I LOVE the Real Housewives shows, however - have to say - love reality TV even though the reality of it evades me!! RITA

By Blue Kentucky Girl

Grown women sitting around harping over a small slight or what someone else is doing in their private life? Who watches this stuff? What possible difference will it make in their lives if someone moves, gets a divorce or secures a recording contract? David Sarnoff's description of television as "a vast wasteland" still rings true today.
Blue Kentucky Girl

By Mike

Oh no! How will they pay for their "lifts and tucks ?

By Barbara

TV doesn't pay anyone--especially it's bit players who can easily be replaced. Just ask any reporter or anchor in a small market.

By cbrats1

I say ... if the "ladies" are that upset about it ...QUIT...I watch all of The Housewifes ... I think the shows are funny and not so "real"..I feel better about myself with every episode. It's like watching Saturday morning cartoons..haha..goofy characters fighting and pulling hair. Where would the "ladies" be without Bravo's exposure? No books...no TV apperances...Bravo has made all of them sudo-celebrities. Maybe the "ladies" should pay Bravo? So put your money where your FILTHY mouths are "ladies" if you are so upset...leave the show...with the exception of Teresa none of you need the money. If you stay pool your money to get Danielle & Kim G some serious mental help.

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