New On TV: Real Housewives of Atlanta

By Bridget Bland, BlackVoices.com

As soon as Bravo announced that its third installment of 'The Real Housewives' reality television series would be heading south to Atlanta, people began to speculate on what southern belles would be chosen to highlight what really goes down behind the closed doors of one of the most celebrated cities below the Mason Dixon line.

Previous seasons of the hit reality show have showcased the day-to-day happenings of 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' and 'The Real Housewives of New York.' And, although both docu-dramas visited two of the most exclusive communities in the country, they included a variety of characters presented.

'The Real Housewives of Orange Country' included Jeana, a former beauty queen turned multimillionaire real estate mogul, and Quinn, an Internet marketing manager who also edits an 'Orange County' entertainment website. On the other hand, the New York cast took things up another notch by featuring a truly elite and powerful set of Manhattan socialites, to include a fêted chef, a real-life Countess, and two entrepreneurs.

Make no mistake about it 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta ' is a totally different crop of women.

The Real Housewives

There's Sheree, the ex-wife of Atlanta Falcon Bob Whitfield, who although having previously owned her own popular clothing store, decidedly confirms in the show's pilot that she expects her alimony to allow her to maintain or exceed the lifestyle she had when married. DeShawn, wife of Cleveland Cavalier baller, Eric Snow recently moved to a palatial mansion with her three sons and hires a governess and wait staff upon arrival.

Then, there is Kim, an aspiring country singer who loves designer duds. As the sole white woman featured on the show, she is a divorcee, whose mysterious –and very private – 'Big Poppa' buys her whatever she and her two girls want.

NeNe (pictured right in grey dress) is hood-fab and fortunate enough to focus on partying – thanks to her real estate mogul husband. She is relegated to being the show's outspoken and outrageous firecracker.

And, finally there's Lisa, (pictured right in green dress) who can be lauded as the most believable working woman among the other 'Housewives.' In addition to having her own real estate firm, she has a jewelry line and baby clothing line. Plus, the newlywed and new mother still finds time to work out daily with her husband NFL player Ed Hartwell.

'I think our cast is more wealthier than previous housewives,' Nene, who is working opening a boutique hotel, told BlackVoices.com.

Never the character on the show to stray from speaking her mind, she proclaims to be 'the realest housewife in every sense of the word.'

'I don't know if you will see that with all of them,' she added, "I didn't pretend to have all of the stuff going on everyday (like the other housewives) everything that you see I chose to keep it very real.'

Lisa, the entrepreneur of the bunch, knows that there aren't a lot of people who have the same work ethic,' that she does, on the show or otherwise, but she does believe, 'there is a character for everyone...a shopaholic, a diva. She fulfills the role of someone who 'just has several businesses.'

Nene and Lisa are currently working on a book together called 'Battered not Broken' about battered wife's syndrome.

Audiences can make up their minds for themselves whether these housewives are the real deal or not, when the show debuts tonight at 9pm on Bravo.