Yay, NeNe!
Thanks to a four-hour flight to San Francisco this weekend, I got hooked on Bravo’s marathon of The Real Housewives of Atlanta! A few pearls of wisdom:
1. The affluent of Atlanta also feed their children microwavable “Gerber Graduates.” (Catch Lisa Wu Hartwell feeding her little one in Episode 7.) This observation alone soothes months of my own mommy guilt over not having the time, money, or energy to cook my daughter homemade, organic pureed baby food.
2. NeNe Leakes is awesome. According to Bravo’s online quiz, I’m a “Lisa” (which makes sense, given our common parenting skills) but I love NeNe’s sense of humor, surprising honesty, and willingness to reveal her vulnerabilities – and her other voluptuous gifts! – on camera.
I also couldn’t help but sympathize with her in the drama with Kim. Sure, NeNe was insensitive at times, but never mean-spirited. I’m still a little uneasy about the way the show glorifies the lives of such self-centered women and I realize that all reality TV is heavily edited, but NeNe offers all sorts of interesting perspectives on race, socio-economic status, and identity. She’s been the subject of some controversy since the show aired, but who cares? Her lovely “Big Hats” fundraiser more than makes up for it.
3. Music producer Dallas Austin should write a book about managing difficult people. Especially those who can’t see beyond their own arrogant, self-delusions. The way he dealt with Kim Zolciak, the chain-smoking blond who believed her tone-deaf voice was “a gift from God,” was marvelous to watch. He listened patiently, took her singing seriously, and never appeared to pass judgment as her utter lack of talent was slowly and horrifyingly revealed. It’s the kind of skill that only a parent or a teacher can appreciate. Plus I laughed so hard, I almost spilled my complementary airline peanuts.
Can’t wait until season 2!
