Bravo: The friendships on RHOBH are surface level due to acting

A difference in location leads to a difference in friendships and connections for various Bravo franchises, but why is that the case?

Last week, we posed the question of whether or not established actresses fit in on their respective Real Housewives franchises.  The most recent season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is a good example of why this does not work.  The area of Beverly Hills tends to create a certain kind of person.  When all of these Bravo-employed actresses get together for a filmed event, they are “on.”  They aren’t actually connecting with one another or having a meaningful conversation, they are simply acting as such.

Kyle Richards noted that she was having a hard time connecting with Garcelle Beauvais even though they had spent time together.  Garcelle said it was too surface level.  In a non-group setting, it was probably hard for them to connect without the group dynamic.  Kyle seems to thrive in group settings where she can pick and choose who she speaks with.  When she’s one-on-one with someone, it probably gets too real too fast and Kyle puts on her act.

If you tune in to The Real Housewives of New York, the ladies are not acting.  Sonja Morgan is consistently acting a fool, in addition to newcomer Leah McSweeney this season.  When the RHONY women come together for solo scenes, it comes off as a normal, friendly, interaction.  Ramona Singer and Dorinda Medley meet up to walk through the park, Leah brings Luann de Lesseps into her home for snacks and judgment.  The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ladies don’t want that vulnerability on camera.  They just act like they are friends with someone – they aren’t actually making that connection.

You could argue that all of the franchises and housewives are acting, sure.  You could also argue that real friendships are formed on the other franchises and Beverly Hills only breeds contempt.

And though it seems to be a requirement to have some skeletons in your closet before you go on television, the RHOBH ladies seem to have the most to lose.  Beverly Hills is all about looks and appearances, not necessarily about having things – just making it look like you have things.

If that means they have to make it ’til they make it, then so be it.  Kyle will pretend to be friends with anyone because that’s on her internal script for the day.  But that’s also why RHOBH is widely considered the most “fake” of all of the franchises…

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will be back Wednesday at 9 PM on Bravo!