The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Like the other Real Housewives series, the show offers a voyeuristic look at how these women negotiate having money and status while also trying to stay true to themselves and their relationships. Unfortunately, most of the stories being told -- from some of Teresa's well-meaning but gaudy makeup choices to the dynamics of the Manzo family (which leave you wondering whether the Sopranos are living next door) -- seem to be embedded in stereotypes about the Italian-American community. Meanwhile, while most of the featured women are educated and/or have some kind of professional experience, they're openly satisfied with living off the wealth of their current (or former) husbands.

The tight-knit nature of the show's community leads to a lot of tension with those who don't seem to "fit" into the well-established elite. While having "new" money doesn't seem to be an issue, some of the women's past and current relationships risk making them social outcasts. As a result, accusations fly and cat fights are a regular occurrence. Of course, it's exactly these moments of over-the-top drama -- along with the material excesses and obnoxious behavior -- that makes the Real Housewives shows the guilty pleasures that they are.