The Real Housewives of OC has worked the recession into the show, featuring the downsizing of gifts, retail hangouts and home help.
“All of them have been very much affected by the economic situation,” said the show’s executive producer, Douglas Ross, of the housewives.
Now quite a few of the reality cast will allow their financial challenges to be exposed. Lynne Curtin’s family, for one, will be evicted from their Laguna Beach home.
Ross said: “We try to treat it as gently but as honestly as we can. We happened to have been there with our cameras – as part of our normal schedule when they were served the eviction notice. It’s one of those great reality TV moments that happened to be caught because we were in the right place at the right time.”
The housewives don’t seem to mind having their financial issues aired, seeing it as a way to comfort others.
Housewife Jenna Keough said: “It helps people across the nation because they realise it’s not just them.”
Just how a real housewife can continue on the show without a house remains to be seen.