Did you ever have one of those nights where you lie in bed wide awake, watching the clock and knowing that as each minute passes you will be that much more tired in the morning? That was me, last night. And as we all know, watching the clock and actively trying to fall asleep only makes it worse. So at some point between “Why can’t I sleep?!?” and “I’m losing my mind!!!” I decided to just give up and watch TV. Of course, in the wee hours of the night, the choices are pretty limited, but then, at strange hours you are also more likely to make strange choices, so I found myself watching the reunion episode of “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” I don’t mean to offend anyone who regularly watches any of the Real Housewives shows- I just mean it was strange for me because I don’t watch them and had no idea what was going on. I know the shows are very popular and should check them out for real one of these days just to be in the loop.

So, there I was, in the middle of the night glued to an intense episode of an intense reality show with lots of screaming and crying, and I have to say that even though I hadn’t the foggiest idea what they were all yelling about, I continued watching. The gowns they wore, their hair and makeup, and the passion with which they argued and wildly gestured at one another were enough to keep me fascinated even if I didn’t understand what they were saying. This was real drama! If the real housewives of the other cities are like this, it’s no wonder there are so many versions of this series and that approximately two million 18-49 year-old women are hooked. “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” was the first of these series that Bravo debuted in 2006, and since then, there are Housewives shows that are set in New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, DC, and Miami. In case you wanted to know, Atlanta is the highest rated and most watched.

I wonder if there is a magic formula. The producers must do an excellent job on the glamour and drama angle of it, and I’m sure there has to be a little Peeping Tom in all of us. Why else would we be interested in the lives of total strangers? I  know there are more celebrity gossip magazines and websites than I can list, but those people are celebrities already- these women are unknown to their viewers before the shows start. And not to burst anyone’s reality TV bubble, but how much is really reality, anyway? The lives these women supposedly lead are way larger than real life and everything they do on the shows is so over the top. I hate to be the skeptic, but I can’t believe that none of it is scripted. Whatever- it works- Bravo is profiting, the viewers are entertained, the Housewives are famous. And it gave me something to think about. I just hope my writing today makes sense- I didn’t get much sleep last night.