5 Bravo Shows With Fading ApplauseNovember 04, 2011
Bravo
Media savant T Tara Turk goes deep inside cable TV to reveal Video On Demand's Hidden Gems so even the busiest of our readers can get the most out of On Demand TV. Tell Tara what VOD shows you think deserves her attention.
5 Bravo Shows With Fading Applause
T. Tara Takes Bravo To Task
Remember when Bravo was the leading channel for interesting reality television that didn’t make your brain ooze out a mixture of Botox, hair extensions and drunk interviewing? Remember when it was the home of Project Runway and some fairly interesting decorating shows? Remember the early days of Top Chef? Remember the time, when we fell in love, Bravo? Do you remember?
Well, much like the most recent Kardashian split, our 72 days are up with some shows. No longer looking for interesting and original programming, Bravo looks like it’s out to clone the clones of its most popular shows and we all know what happens when you photocopy a photocopy several times...unreadable. Here are some shows that are super blurry around the edges and can afford to be chucked into the recycling bin:
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
I’m sorry but after a possible suicide, some domestic violence allegations, even more Botox, a messy divorce with Frasier, some tres tragique hair extensions and the addition of the ex Mrs. Cibrian, this show has become a hot pot of melted Barbie plastic. Not only are most of these women not interesting (Mrs. Malouf seems strangely not part of a show she’s part of), they seem like they need therapists instead of a camera. In this economy, its hard to watch the camera follow some rich mean spirited bubble chicks yell at each other. We lost the DC Housewives (ironically right before the real drama happened with Mrs. Salahi running off with the singer from Journey) so maybe it’s time to wipe 9021-ugh off the map too.
Fashion Hunters
Ideally this show about a consignment show in New York should be a hit. It’s got bargained Chanel, Lauren Bacall luggage, very very mild shop drama and is set in one of the greatest consignment cities in the world. But the title is misleading. The not really memorable staff of this shop don’t really hunt for anything - people come to them and they try to pick all the good stuff for themselves. These are not the New York fashionistas who have a reputation of being hardworking, savvy and up on their hustle game. These are their boring cousins.
The Millionaire Matchmaker
Has anyone on this show worked out? Are we hearing more about Patty than we are about the clients? Sorry but the formula is getting a bit stale here - people with lots of money are having a hard time finding other people who live up to their ridiculous standards. Patty yells, rolls her eyes, guides, directs and gets frustrated with every show and since the clients don’t ever seem to be so interesting that we need to chat about them over the water cooler the next day, why watch at all?
Mad Fashion
Bravo, I know the wounds are still fresh after losing Project Runway to Lifetime but Chris March is not going to fill the void. March, a Project Runway alum, is known for his out there designs and his childlike chuckle. But that chuckle, those designs, celebrity client of the week, potential fashion disaster and expected resolution will not be enough to draw the Runway fans back to Bravo. It’s just mad boring.
Watch What Happens Live
No, Andy, I won’t. It makes me uncomfortable to watch what happens live when you drink, invite random celebrities to sit in with the Bravo “stars” and hear them answer basement party questions.
There are so many other shows doing what Bravo did but better - HGTV Selling New York shows real estate that will make you want to rob a bank for it, Lifetime is still showing its gratitude for Project Runway, the Food Network is declaring war on Top Chef by revamping Iron Chef (complete with some Bravo regular foodies - drama!), VH1 is getting raunchier and crazier “wives’ for its shows and America is still declaring its love for obviously contrived but fun matchmaking shows like The Bachelor and Sweet Home Alabama.
Perhaps the applause is dying down for Bravo?
T. Tara Turk is a novelist/playwright/screenwriter, living in LA with her boyfriend and dog - all three successful TV addicts. You can find her at www.ttaraturk.com or follow her on Twitter @ttaraturk.
