By Jill Serjeant
LOS ANGELES |
Thu Oct 7, 2010 4:46pm EDT
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - New York had its countess, New Jersey brought cat fights, Washington DC showcased the White House gate-crashers, but for sheer opulence and star power, the upcoming "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" takes top billing.
"Each city has its own identity, and Beverly Hills brings a different level of glamour and sophistication. The lifestyle is incredible here -- it's something you haven't seen before," said Lisa Vanderpump, one of the six affluent women taking part in the sixth edition of the popular reality TV series.
"It is fabulous to see all these glossy houses, but you soon realize that all that glitters is not gold," Vanderpump, the owner of several celebrity restaurants, told reporters on Thursday.
"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" make its debut on October 14 on cable channel Bravo, bringing A-list celebrities like Kelsey Grammer and Paris Hilton to the franchise's familiar mix of drama, tears and ladies who lunch.
The cast includes former Disney child stars and sisters Kim and Kyle Richards -- both aunts to celebrity socialite Hilton -- and Camille Grammer, the estranged wife of "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer.
Occupying other multimillion dollar mansions are Adrienne Maloof, whose family owns the Palms Casino resort in Las Vegas and the Sacramento Kings basketball team, and Taylor Armstrong, whose prime concern appears to be holding onto her venture capitalist husband by holding onto her looks.
But the retinues of personal trainers, tiny dogs, 'round-the-clock nannies, shimmering pools and private jets are only part of the appeal of the new series.
Conflict, humiliation and screaming -- especially between sisters Kyle and Kim Richards -- play a major role, along with a few celebrity faces "popping in and out", the cast said.
"It was very overwhelming and emotional for me," Kim Richards said on Thursday. The show was "the most fun I've had with my sister, but also the most conflict we have ever experienced in our lives...It's not going to repair itself quickly. I was shocked at some of the things she had to say, and she felt the same. It was an eye opener."
"There are moments when I thought, I wish people didn't see that," she added.
"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" premieres a week after the final episode of "The Real Housewives of DC", whose cast featured Michaele and Tareq Salahi -- the Washington couple who made world headlines in 2009 for entering a White House state banquet without an official invitation.
(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
