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The Real Housewives of Orange County (Bravo)

common sense media says

Part trash, part social study. Iffy for teens.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this reality series follows the lives of insanely rich people who place immense value on physical beauty and material possessions. While the show focuses on a group of adult women who have breast implants, get Botox shots, and pose for Playboy, we also see teens who spend thousands of dollars on school shopping, get new luxury vehicles at the drop of a hat, and shoot rabbits for fun. But beneath the superficial lives are real people who struggle with childrearing, self-esteem, and finding purpose.

Positive messages: Wealth, physical beauty, prestige, and power are the main themes of the show. Family and hard work are also themes (even though they often get lost in the shuffle).
Positive role models: The cast places great importance material wealth, looking perfect, and maintaining an image.
Violence: Rabbit hunting with guns, but no blood.
Sex: Provocative clothing, women in underwear and tiny bathing suits, sexy dancing, talk of "getting some."
Language: Some minor cursing, like "hell" and "damn." Stronger language is rare and bleeped.
Consumerism: Luxury brands are everywhere -- Mercedes, BMW, Louis Vuitton, etc.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Lots of drinking. Jo is clearly alcohol dependent. On a Mexican vacation, parents do shots with their teens. One child discusses his use of drugs in a remorseful way -- he eventually goes to juvenile hall.

More on The Real Housewives of Orange County

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about a variety of different issues. What's appealing about the lifestyles portrayed in the series? What's missing from these people's lives? What kinds of experiences and challenges do the rich share with the rest of us? What would be the hardest part about living like these people? The easiest? If you could pick one thing in their lives to have in your own, what would it be? Sometimes cast members discuss their lives before they came to Orange County -- what do their stories reveal about them and how their newfound culture has changed them?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Capitalizing on the nation's fascination with reality shows and California decadence -- as portrayed on The O.C. and Desperate Housewives -- Bravo has created THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY, a captivating reality series about the lives of five women who live with their families in an exclusive gated community in Southern California. The five women aren't all housewives in the strictest sense of the word (some work outside the home), but they do rule their homes and manage the lives of their children, all while surrounded by stratospheric wealth. Cameras follow the women and their family members throughout most of their daily life, with occasional one-on-one interviews interspersed with the day-to-day action.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The Real Housewives of Orange County is a mix of voyeuristic trash and compelling sociological study. Watching these women live lifestyles that many would envy, viewers see both the superficiality of their experience and their shared humanity. Watching the show could be a sobering experience for teens who think that money really could buy happiness.

Kim is the proto-typical soccer mom with an executive husband who works for a Fortune 200 company. She shuttles her two kids to their various activities while wearing designer clothes that show off her hard-earned slender figure and her generous bust (thanks, breast implants!). Jeana is a successful real estate agent with three children. She's married to a former major league baseball player, and her two sons are expected to follow in their father's footsteps. Jo is the youngest of the group at 24. She's engaged to a wealthy executive who tries to control her youthful proclivities and corral her into playing stepmom to his children. The other two women, Vicki and Lauri, are equally compelling and repulsive.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: Bravo
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Bravo

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15

Most useful reviews by all members

drama_1414
teen, 18 years old
 
I love this show
the show is really good. It makes me want to be succesful and make money. Though I do not agree with the way they drown there kids with money other than theat i love this show!!!! :)

Artsy
teen, 15 years old
 
I'm probably too young to watch this.
I'll admit, I have watched this. I lost what could have been a very important half-hour of my life. There are a list of problems with this TV show: #1: Most of them aren't even housewives. #2: The ones who have children drown them with money and material things so they don't have to bother with them. #3: How are they REAL housewives? They don't cook, clean, or even care for their children. When I ask my parents why they watch this, they shrug and just laugh at the women on the show.

 
Good for most ages
Yes, they are rich, but that doesn't mean that they aren't good people.

 
TV teaches your ki
If you want your kids to act like theyre 13 for the rest of their lives and think that being "super rich, and fake" is the greatest thing in the world, this is the show to watch!! Because we dont have enough plastic surgery freaks, or narcissistic bimbos walking aroung. So please let your kids watch and maybe someday (cross your fingers) they'll turn out just like them! yayyy!!

 
A Hot OC Mess!
I am embarrassed that I got hooked on this season. It is like a plastic surgery filled train wreck that I can't stop watching. My 16 year old niece loves it, but recognizes and discusses how shallow the lives are of these women.

 
Humorous to watch
This show is good if you are looking for mindless tv.

Q_T
adult
 
Vulgar at best
Sad, sad, SAD social commentary. What happened to these women?

ddue2be
adult
 
Its an entertaining teen show.
It definatly has some real world subjects, a good show for kids 12+ but absolutely not under 10.

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