Over the years, reality TV fans have met “Real Housewives” from all over the world. But on Thursday, Bravo brought the reality show to the Ocean State.
“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” premiered April 2, introducing a cast of Providence- and Cranston-based wealthy women. For anyone familiar with the series, it should come as no surprise that the latest installment of the “Real Housewives” series — steeped in drama, sex, Ozempic and so, so much alcohol — is nauseatingly captivating.
The first two episodes — released April 2 and April 5 — offer a promising start to the series. Focused primarily on introducing viewers to the mishmash of middle-aged housewives at the show’s heart, the episodes enthrall the audience with their bewitching contingent of stars.
The show centers seven women, many of whom were born and raised in Rhode Island. Though the women may reside in America’s smallest state, they each bring big drama and over-the-top emotions to the screen.
Viewers immediately meet Alicia Carmody who (fittingly, having once run a woman over) hates driving on the highway. She lives in Providence with her daughter and restaurateur boyfriend Bill Kitsilis, who also owns Antonio’s Pizza by the Slice and other restaurants across the state. Together, the two operate Pizza Mamma, a Cranston eatery.
With her impeccable white home and obsession with turning her daughter into a beauty-product-obsessed mini-me, Alicia seems almost impossibly out-of-touch. But the housewife feels almost tame after viewers meet Elizabeth McGraw.
Alongside her husband, Liz owns the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center — Rhode Island’s first dispensary. Somehow always acting a little bit high, she is by far the most entertaining member of the cast. Notably, she is also related to her husband, something she does not hesitate to bring up.
Jo-Ellen Tiberi, the friend group’s queen bee, does not hesitate to cast the first stone against her fellow housewives, even when she herself is not free from sin. As the show’s biggest hypocrite, Jo-Ellen feels perfectly made for reality television. Fortunately, in the clips where she’s with her children, her petty narcissism dims enough to make her almost tolerable.
Married her older sister’s ex boyfriend, Jo-Ellen has denied any rumors that she is a swinger — but made sure to note that Rhode Island has a large swinger community.
Viewers don’t meet fourth housewife Rulla Nehme until the second episode. When Rulla enters the scene, all viewers have learned about her is that her husband, a foot doctor, was photographed having an affair with his mistress. Unlike some of her fellow castmembers, Rulla presents herself intelligently. But her cruel jabs leave a sour taste in the mouth and viewers can’t help but root against her.
The last three cast members are Rosie DiMare, Ashley Iaconetti and Kelsey Swanson. Ashley met her husband on “Bachelor in Paradise,” and is painted as the outsider within a very insular community. Rosie, whose main trait is her ability to cry on queue, is a former news anchor that no sane person would want as a friend. Still, her antics make it impossible to turn away from the screen.
But former Miss Rhode Island Kelsey’s storyline for this season is the most promising and only time will tell how her murkily polyamorous relationship will play out.
At times, the show feels like a dystopian plastic-surgery advertisement. But it also is an illuminating view into a completely foreign Rhode Island universe — one full of adultery and “swans on Ozempic” — that most Brown students will never occupy.
Talia LeVine is a section editor covering arts and culture. They study Political Science and Visual Art with a focus on photography. In their free time, they can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee.
