Bravo TV press release:
NEW YORK — January 5, 2006 — First there was “Peyton Place”…then “Dallas”… and now “Desperate Housewives.” America loves those deliciously soapy looks behind the curtains of seemingly perfect worlds. This spring, Bravo will premiere “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” a new one-hour docu-series which provides exclusive access to five families who live in one of the wealthiest planned communities in the country. The seven-episode series focuses on five real-life housewives living in a protected Southern California enclave, exposing the excitement, extravagance and everyday drama that exists in their unscripted and unrehearsed lives. “The Real Housewives of Orange County” premieres Tuesday, March 21, 2006 (10:00 – 11:00 p.m. ET/PT). The announcement was made today by Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo.
“Bravo continues to innovate in the reality TV genre with this riveting series exploring the complicated daily lives of five privileged women and their families,” said Zalaznick. “From Peyton Place to Desperate Housewives, viewers have been riveted by the fictionalized versions of such lifestyles on television. Now, here is a series that depicts real-life 'desperate' housewives with an authentic look at their compelling day-to-day drama.”
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” will follow five sophisticated women and their families who lead glamorous lives in a picturesque Southern California gated community where the average home has a $1.6 million price tag and residents include CEOs and retired professional athletes. Orange County “housewives” Kimberly, Jeana, Vicki, Lauri and Jo are used to the good life and will do everything they can to hang on to it. The women each have their own personal story to share, and they've granted Bravo an all-access pass into their lives, families, friendships, careers, and homes. From diamond parties to Botox sessions to the stress of having a high-powered career, the women take viewers along for the ride and into their real-life dramas that show how life isn't always perfect behind the gates. Just what lies beneath the surface of this “perfect” community?
The women mostly live the good life, but also represent the modern-day version of the “happy housewife,” which today includes juggling the challenges of a stressful career with a busy family life. These women are sexy, sophisticated, and know how to turn heads, set trends, and keep up appearances in one of the most stylish communities in the country.
Kimberly Bryant is 40-something and has two kids with executive husband Scott. She's the classic 'Trophy Wife,' thanks to her plastic surgeon and husband's money, but also incredibly articulate and hard-working.
Jeana Keough is a former Playboy Playmate and actress who is now a 40-something wife of former major league baseball star, Matt Keough. A 19-year resident of her gated community and mother of three teenagers, Jeana also sells real estate “for fun” and the insider gossip.
Vicki Gunvalson is a successful, self-made, 40-something woman to be reckoned with. She's a lucrative insurance broker, devout Christian, and is married for the second time. She also has two teenagers and is feeling the affects of the looming empty-nest ahead as her youngest gets ready to leave for college.
Lauri Waring is 40-something and works as an insurance broker for Vicki Gunvalson. Recently divorced and forced to downsize her lifestyle, Lauri is a single mom with three kids (one just released from juvenile hall), struggling to regain her status in the community.
Jo De La Rosa is the 20-something “newbie” to the community, recently engaged to one of the divorced dads in the community, Slade Smiley. Confident and sexy, Jo is trying to figure out her place in this strange new world.
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” is produced by Kaufman Films and Dunlop Entertainment, and was created by series executive producer Scott Dunlop. Kevin Kaufman, Dave Rupel (“Big Brother 2,” “Temptation Island,” “The Real World: London”) and Patrick Moses are also executive producers.
Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, entertainment and pop culture with original programming, acclaimed off-network dramas, comedy and music specials, movies and by showing a whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 79 million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities, shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the creative process and making influential and inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes “Inside the Actors Studio,” “Project Runway,” “Celebrity Poker Showdown,” and “Blow Out” as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, “Queer Eye.” The network's latest hits include “Being Bobby Brown” and “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.”
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been a NBC Cable Network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980.For more information visit www.bravotv.com .
