Real Housewives of DC Series Premiere

Bravo

Let's face it. Out of the five Real Housewives seasons to date, The Real Housewives of DC (Bravo, Thursday, 9 p.m. ET) is the guiltiest pleasure yet. Who among us won't be tuning in, at least partly, to gawk at Michaele Salahi, who made worldwide headlines several months ago as half of that notorious state-dinner-crashing couple? But by giving her our TV viewing attention, aren't we tacitly approving her fame-whoring ways?

What she did (sneaking through security to enter a White House party) wasn't that objectionable, we might rationalize. No one got hurt, anyway. But where do you draw the line when it comes to giving fame addicts what they want? Would you tune in to Real Housewives of DC because it co-starred, say, the mother who helped orchestrate last October's Balloon Boy hoax? For many of us, the answer might well be yes. And in that scenario, the guilt might outweigh the pleasure.

Ironically, though, promos from the Real Housewives of DC suggest that its central focus (i.e. greatest source of drama) isn't Salahi, but Cat Ommanney. This British interior designer moved to DC two years ago after marrying her well-off photojournalist husband, Charles. Not only does Ommanney appear to be a major instigator of ill will among the wives, but she's already known for her loose lips with the British tabloids. Four years ago, when she was in between marriages, she claimed to share a kiss with the then-21-year-old Prince Harry after a night of partying in a bar.

Guilty or not, this season is poised to be a fascinating source of pleasure.

Do you feel guilty for giving Michaele Salahi the attention she craves?

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