Whether you’re an out and proud fan, or you prefer to keep your reality-TV and soapie-watching obsessions secret, there’s something to be said for the addictive and oddly soothing qualities of some of the best worst TV shows. With that, we bring you our homage to guilty pleasure TV
We need to talk about: #RichKids Of Beverly Hills
At the beginning of the year, season one introduced us to real-life Beverly Hills BFFs Roxy Sowlaty, Dorothy Wang, Jonny Drubel, Morgan Stewart and her loyal boyfriend (now fiancé) Brendan Fitzpatrick. And oh, how the lols ensued. But if you missed out on E!’s latest addition to their reality-TV empire, fear not, because season one is currently re-running on the channel as we speak. In fact, if you flip over to E! right now, you’ll probably find yourself witnessing our favourite, Roxy, learn another valuable life lesson. Like who Ol’ Dirty Bastard was, or who the Wu-Tang Clan are, or, say, the importance of loofahs.
Besides Roxy’s life lessons, not much has changed for the 26-year-old interior decorator since the series began. “All that’s really changed is the number of Instagram followers I have. I swear the only thing that has changed is Instagram! Everything else is still totally normal,” she told Grazia in an exclusive chat.
According to Roxy, rich kids are just like us. “I think people just assume that we have no problems in our lives. We make so much money that nothing matters; we live in these perfect scenarios, and we have nothing to complain about. But just because our financial situation might be a little bit different compared to other people – or a lot different – doesn’t mean we don’t experience heartache and friendship problems and career issues. We have all the same problems! Just with a different backdrop – it’s a bit prettier maybe. Or we fight about things like who bought the same bag or same shoes… But just because they’re a little bit more expensive, it doesn’t mean we’re any different from any other girls.”
Signing up to become a part of the E! reality family was a no-brainer for Roxy, who could count on the expert advice of a certain Kardashian. “I grew up with Robert Kardashian from 3rd grade until we went to college together. He’s like a brother to me. Of course I asked him for advice! How could I not? He’s the one person who could tell me what it would really be like. His advice was just to do what I’m comfortable with and stay true to myself. That’s basically it.”
Even though she truly loves Twitter (if you hadn’t guessed, hashtag etiquette is a big part of this show), don’t expect Roxy to start following you back anytime soon. Unless, of course, she knows who you are, “I only follow people I’m friends with. I don’t follow people that I don’t know. I’m so ADD, so I can’t follow people I don’t know – I have no patience for it. I just like Tweeting with my friends,” Roxy explains.
#RichKids Of Beverly Hills airs on Wednesdays at 6.30pm on E!
Confession time!
Here’s what has Grazia HQ #obsessed
Denise Khoele, junior designer
I hate to admit it, and never thought I would, but I love Generations. The storylines are crap, the acting is crap, the entire thing is crap. But if I miss one episode, I have to watch the omnibus on Saturday. I can’t get enough of the horrible pronunciation, the terrible “action” scenes and the bad spelling in the subtitles. SABC1, Monday to Friday, 8pm
Araffa Mpungwe, beauty assistant
Besides the Kardashians and Giuliana And Bill, I absolutely love #RichKids Of Beverly Hills. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the extremely cheesy – but catchy – hashtags; maybe it’s because I too would like a green Givenchy bag for my one-year anniversary bought by my billion-dollar boyfriend who has a jet at his disposal. Keep checking E! for re-runs
Cheska Stark, digital editor & Michelle Cory, senior designer
Cheska: For me, it’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Although I know it never works out, I think I enjoy it so much because I hope their love will last, and it is so entertaining!
Michelle: Mine is for sure The Bachelor. I find it really interesting to see who the Bachelor ends up choosing, and how emotional the girls always get. The crazy ones usually never get roses, but sometimes some crazies creep through. I usually watch it with my mom, and we end up laughing till we cry. The Bachelor season 18 airs Fridays, 8.30pm, Vuzu
Robyn Bloch, subeditor
I like Say Yes To The Dress because these women are absolutely horrible. Their families are usually total disasters, with mothers and aunts and sisters from hell. I wonder who this man is and why on Earth he has agreed to marry this vapid woman and her terrible family? I like when the women cry because they get “overwhelmed” and then try to wipe their tears, but their nails are too long, so they have to kind of slide the sides of their fingers under their eyes while looking at the ceiling and talking. Keep checking TLC for the re-runs
Nadia Goetham, managing editor
At the top end of the spectrum is Project Runway US – the production value has improved over the years but the politics stay the same… the gay diva, the conceited bitch, the foreigner who wants to make it big in the US. And then I love some Jerseylicious and Chicagolicious… so much attitude, so much fun, and let’s not forget the actual catfights. Project Runway season 10 starts July 7, 11.30pm on M-Net Series Reality
Ann Baker, subeditor
It has to be Doomsday Preppers, because it’s hysterical, and I love seeing what those crazy redneck Americans get up to… and are sometimes dumb enough to believe. Like the guys who made a Trojan Horse gas tank because: “When Russia invades, gas will be a big commodity so it’d be a great way to infiltrate enemy lines.” Yip. Yee-ha. Keep checking National Geographic Channel for re-runs of Doomsday Preppers
Wilmarie van der Merwe, digital and marketing assistant
Toddlers And Tiaras. It’s so cruel, and I think I get whiplash from shaking my head so vigorously at those controlling moms and spoilt kids. Alas, I can’t help but keep my eyes glued to the screen! And Keeping Up With The Kardashians, because, yes, I’m one of those.
Hollywood isn’t immune either…
• Taye Diggs “I watch some pretty awful reality shows… I cried over an episode of Vanderpump Rules.”
• Jennifer Lawrence “After it’s 11pm, I’m like, ‘Don’t these kids ever get tired?’ When I’m out, I think about my couch. Like, ‘It would be awesome to be on it right now. I bet there’s an episode of Dance Moms on. Am I missing a new episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians?’ I’m just stressed by the idea of missing them.”
• Amy Poehler “The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills. They’ve got my life down perfectly.”