BRAVO'S "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF D.C." PROMISES POWER, POLITICS, AND PROTOCOL, BEGINNING THURSDAY, AUGUST 5 AT 9 PM (ET/PT)
NEW YORK - June 15, 2010 - The most talked about installment of Bravo's "The Real Housewives" franchise is set to take on the Hill, premiering on Thursday, August 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Bravo's "The Real Housewives" franchise presents a slice of life amongst affluent, educated women, some raising kids, some driving careers, all interacting with friends and family as determined by the unwritten social rules of the Beltway. With the franchise's expansion to our nation's capital, "The Real Housewives of D.C." introduces five intriguing women whose relationships with each other, and with the city in which they live, are a compelling combination to explore the nexus of politics, society, and even race, as well as how the proximity to political power dictates where one fits within Beltway society.
These connected D.C. power players all have their pulse on the most important cultural events, political galas, gallery openings, and fundraisers in Washington society. They are: Mary Schmidt Amons, the true Washingtonian and granddaughter of radio and TV personality Arthur Godfrey; the mother hen and owner of D.C.'s top modeling agency, Lynda Erkiletian; feisty Brit Catherine Ommanney, married to a White House photographer; model and founder of D.C.'s America's Polo Cup, Michaele Salahi who became the focus of media attention following the White House state dinner last November; and Harvard grad, active political fund raiser, and philanthropist Stacie Scott Turner. For more information, visit http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-dc/season-1. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.
"The Real Housewives of D.C." went into production shortly after the historic election and inauguration, reflecting D.C. almost as its own character in the series. "We wanted to dive into the Beltway subculture as it underwent an historic shift, one that previously has not been readily accessible or portrayed, and look at the political hierarchy and definitive social circles that make up D.C.'s unique society," said Andy Cohen, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Bravo. "We knew this was going to expose a different social narrative from any of our other 'Housewives' series - provocative and engaging in a whole new way."
Bringing viewers inside the lives and homes of movers and shakers in the community, the D.C. housewives move comfortably from fundraisers and prominent events to discussing everything from issues about race to money and politics to relationships and high fashion.
Following are bios on the cast of "The Real Housewives of D.C.:"
Mary Schmidt Amons - As a second generation Washingtonian, Mary spent summers at the Kennedy residences as a child, and is the granddaughter of legendary radio and TV personality Arthur Godfrey. Married to husband Rich for over 20 years, Mary is matriarch of the Amons clan of five children - Lolly, Ryan, Alexandra, Meghan and Matt - it's never a dull day and she calls her life "controlled chaos." When she's not busy running her household, Mary pairs her love of fashion with philanthropy as founder of "Labels for Love" and co-founder of "The District Sample Sale," two D.C.-based charities.
Lynda Erkiletian - this southern gal moved to D.C and never looked back. She's created an empire as the owner and founder of T.H.E Artist Agency, one of the top modeling agencies in D.C. The divorced mother of four consults her astrological chart daily, and couldn't be bothered to get married again, but has found love with her much younger boyfriend, Ebong. When she's not working or running with her brood - Aaron, Jessica, Mihran, and Sam - she's a staple on the Washington social scene, and is very involved in numerous charitable organizations. This "mother hen" of the group knows how to keep it real, and when the pressures of D.C. life take its toll, she retreats to her country home where she channels her southern roots by shooting clay pigeons, riding ATV's and cooking a mean fried chicken.
Catherine Ommanney - this feisty Brit certainly knows how to shake things up in D.C. Cat lived the fast-paced, glamorous life in London, but after reuniting with and marrying her high school sweetheart, she decided to move to U.S. soil with her two daughters, Jade and Ruby. She quickly began socializing with Washington's elite crowd, and counts many high-profile political figures among her friends. Her no-nonsense attitude and tell-it-like-it-is demeanor have helped her achieve success as a mother, interior designer, and a writer - she penned a book about her "racy" escapades as a charismatic, single woman living in London called "Inbox Full" that will come out later this year.
Michaele Salahi - this northern Virginia native and model is a big part of the inner workings of the D.C. life. She and husband Tareq together founded America's Polo Cup, for which he is the U.S. team captain. Through her involvement in the Polo Cup, which has become one of the largest and most high profile polo events in the U.S., Michaele has met numerous political leaders across the globe. Additionally, the two are involved in running the Salahi family vineyard, Oasis Winery. Always on the move and juggling multiple projects at once, Michaele is heavily involved in charity work, including being an advocate and fundraising for MS and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A family girl at heart, Michaele loves spending time at the family vineyard with her stable of horses and beloved dog Rio.
Stacie Scott Turner - this Alexandria, VA native has it all - a Harvard MBA, successful real estate practice, and vigorous civic and philanthropic agenda. Stacie and her husband Jason easily move amongst Washington's unique brew of local, federal, and international players. She juggles work, her family life as a mom of two young kids, Jacob and Catherine, and a busy social life. But Stacie's passion lies in the charity she founded and holds dear to her heart - Extra-Ordinary Life - which provides life-changing experiences to teenage girls living in DC foster care.
Continuing to grow in popularity, the second season of New Jersey and the third season of New York City are pacing to have their highest seasons ever. Other installments include "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and "The Real Housewives of Orange County," as well as "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" currently in production.
"The Real Housewives of D.C." is produced by Half Yard Productions for Bravo. Abby Greensfelder and Sean Gallagher serve as Executive Producers.
Half Yard Productions (www.halfyardproductions.com) is an award-winning entertainment development and production company based in Washington, D.C. Principals Abby Greensfelder and Sean Gallagher serve as executive producers on Real Housewives of D.C. From character-driven reality series and documentary narratives to historical specials and educational programming, Half Yard Productions delivers high-quality programs on a diverse array of subjects.
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBC cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.