"Basketball Wives" Sink to a New Low

   VH1's "Basketball Wives" is, in my opinion, the worst, of the worst, of the worst of the current crop of reality shows. Let me warn you in advance, this blog is not politically correct so if you are a fan of the show, feel free to leave now.

The Beginning of the Madness

   I never watched the "Real World." My first experience with reality TV started what, maybe eight years ago, with "The Bachelor." It was cute, corny, not believable and the person hurt the most was the girl or guy who didn't get selected at the end. Since that time, many reality dating and relationship programs have come gone. How about the couples who plunked down on an island with strangers in order to get into trouble? Or, how about the show in which the guys had their moms pick the girl? And there was another one in which the parents (who needed counseling, if you ask me) picked dates for their children. Remember that one? On top of being stupid, "Flavor of Love" was a raunchy and very cheap imitation of "The Bachelor." And the list goes on and on, but VH1's "Basketball Wives" redefines low, bad, embarrassing, cheap and sad.

Good Intentions Gone Horribly Wrong

   This season of "Basketball Wives," as did the premier, if you don't know--and I can understand how you wouldn't--chronicles the "wives" of former and current basketball players. One of the executive producers is the ex-wife of Shaquille O'Neal and she has said she wants people to understand what basketball wives go through...Okay.

Problem #1--There aren't too many wives on the show. There are girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, wanna be girlfriends, soon to be ex-wives, etc.

The executive producer has indicated that she has been friends with several of the women and they support each other. Yikes! Are you kidding?

Problem #2--Catfights are more than plentiful among the "friends," nevermind the enemies.  About those catfights, she is quoted in a recent interview as saying that, "It's all realistic. If you get a group of ladies and you stick them together almost every day for three to four months, you are going to have some catfights."  Indeed.

Miss O'Neal has commented on the show promoting the strengths of these women and their abilities.

Problem no. #3--Only 1 person seems to have a job; well, no, I take that back, there's a dancer and a couple of people are supposed to be developing lines of something... Working is clearly less of a priority because that would interfere with the lunches, dinners, and drinking that they do often.

Okay, Not Hurting for Cash, But...

   Let me be clear: If they aren't working because they have ready cash available, more power to them. I don't begrudge anyone living well. What really galls me, however, is the way in which these women carry themselves, numerous sexual partners, obscenity-laced conversations, outright brawling, and a total lack of regard for the sterotypes they are perpetuating, which, in my opinion, do nothing more than harm the image of African-American women, of which I am one.  

   Just about everything on this show is exactly what I don't want my nieces to become or to aspire to. Now hold on--I know I can turn the television off and I know what my girls watch, to some extent, could have been controlled when they were younger (they are 18 and 19 now)--not everything--but some of it. I just can't help but wonder where is the value in this type of programming. There is one cast member in particular who gives new meaning to over-the-top! And this person is a mom...Is the behavior she displays really something to pass on? Is this something to be proud of? And if so, what does this say about the rest of us?

   And here's the richest irony: The wives/girlfriends are upset about the way other women behave towards their husbands/boyfriends.  I think the audience is supposed to take their side. 

The Reunion Circus

   If you missed the "Reunion Show," another staple from "The Bachelor," you missed a doozy of non epic proportions. It was awful, embarrassing, ridiculous, foul, and ugly. Host John Salley, an ex-baller, lost control of the room pretty early and never really regained it. A few more of the ex girlfriends who had fallen out of the good graces of the key group showed up to chit chat and that didn't sit well with some of the regulars. Two of the cast members provided much of the drama with the usual neck twisting, hair flying and weird hand gestures. That over-the-top cast member pulled out the really heavy-duty cuss words, while another, in language that would rival an 8th grader, demonstrated and explained how she talked on the cell phone. And the executive producer sat still, trying to look "above it all"; until the end, when she expressed a desire for the show to come back again, and again and again. Well, at least some advertisers (along with the cast members) made some money. I guess that's all that mattered.

Images Still Matter

   Listen, I'm old school. It wasn't that long ago that African Americans were largely relegated to the sidelines of television production. But, when given a chance to take the helm, for the most part, those executive directors and producers delivered with programs that were inspiring and solidified the premise that we could compete and make money--and no, they weren't pristine all the time but--and here's where "Basketball Wives" fails miserably--there was a display of sensitivity regarding the images put forth. And if those images didn't comply, there was an outcry for correction. Where is the outcry now? I wonder if the cast members of "Basketball Wives" were pleased when they saw themselves. Would they want their families to gather around the table to watch?

The High Cost of Drama  

   On balance, there is nothing of quality here: Designer dresses, beautifully made-up faces, stylish hair, earrings the size of hula hoops, and exclusively sold high heels can't make up for what's lacking in content, decency and heart. One of the executive producers, however, would probably disagree. In a recent interview, O'Neal has said that reality programs without drama are not watched and suggested that a "Little House on the Prairie" type reality show would be less appealing. I have a strong hunch that 50 years from now reruns of "Little House on the Prairie" will still be available. As for VH1's "Basketball Wives," not so much. It is truly a regression of the worst order.