The COVID-19 pandemic changed The Real Housewives last year, and we're here to talk about how it sparked the franchise's recent dinner party trend. Actually, the entire Bravo universe scrambled to adjust its programming and reinvented the wheel with socially distanced backyard barbecues. There were also rented restaurants and storefronts where cast members had isolated dinner parties. Since March 2020, many Real Housewives seasons have aired, with some filmed prior to the pandemic and some filmed right in the middle of it. Given the need for mood-lifting content, crew members got busy imagining safe but elaborate sets for casts to get cozy in.
The crown jewel of these dinner party sets was undoubtedly Overserved With Lisa Vanderpump. The entire framework of the show is Lisa hosting a variety of themed dinner parties for increasingly intoxicated guests at her home, the glorious Villa Rosa. Vanderpump Rules has been on hiatus since numerous scandals surrounding possibly racist actions by former cast members, so Lisa jumped ship from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after Puppygate two seasons ago.
Overserved With Lisa Vanderpump was a resounding success for audiences who were craving a touch of her dry wit, not to mention her lavish dining tables. Lisa has made a name for herself across the globe when it comes to dining and design, with restaurants in Los Angeles and the Vanderpump Lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada. With guests ranging from Terri Dubrow to Margaret Cho and Steve-O dining under candlelit sconces, floral garlands, string lights, and colorful draperies, Lisa cemented her ability to throw dinner parties. Her Overserved events featured fabulous food, great aesthetics, and most importantly, famous people. As Iggy Azalea said, "you have things rich people do that I wasn't even aware of."
Lisa Vanderpump has been quick to differentiate herself from the Real Housewives franchise and has had loads of fun making jabs at her former castmates from the comfort of her mansion. However, Overserved With Lisa Vanderpump isn't the only Viacom-headed franchise to embrace extravagant dinner parties as an alternative to traditional sets and outings for reality cast members. From Dallas to New York, backyard dinner parties and rented spaces became the norm for casts accustomed to traveling the globe together. Though some of the set didn't really compare to the opulent Villa Rosa parties, it was hard not to see Lisa's influence as parties were put together across the meme-worthy Real Housewives franchises.
When The Real Housewives of New York took a trip to Salem, Massachusetts, they engaged in a séance and rented out a tattoo shop for a witchy dinner among friends. Meanwhile, Sonia Morgan gave Eboni Williams feedback that she came off preachy when educating the women about the Black Lives Matter movement, and her own experiences with related issues. However, this was a clear necessity from Bravo and Eboni's point of view.
While audiences may not be enthralled with Eboni's effort to pull the rest of the ladies into the twenty-first century when it comes to issues of social justice, the showrunners have made sure to create space for Eboni to share her perspectives. She is embracing the platform to make a difference. These difficult conversations are held against the backdrop of beautiful spaces, perhaps in an effort to cultivate a safe space and reinforce that the discussions about activism and equality are meant for elite spaces as much as non-elite ones.
Streams of dark pink flowers surrounded the women, There was glowing glassware and many candles in the background. The room was full of dark wood and old-world vibes, with statues and vintage couches. The dim lighting and florals showing at the edges of the frame screamed Vanderpump dining elegance.
Another franchise that embraced the themed dinner parties was The Real Housewives of Dallas. Kary Brittingham threw Tiffany Moon a gorgeous Morrocan-themed birthday party, complete with pandemic-friendly "champagne pop-out windows" to protect servers and guests alike. The night got heated as Mama D. came down hard on her daughter for changing her last name to her stepfather's surname. However, D'Andra didn't let the shade ruin the party's energy.
Kary designed mesmerizing balloon trees that added visual impact to every background shot and hired traditional dancers and snake charmers. Kameron Westcott chimed in, “I have to be honest, I have one Python bag.” When Mama Dee asked where Carrie got all her dancers, she swiftly answered, "the Internet." Tiffany almost got squeezed to death while Dallas society woman D'Andra draped herself in a yellow python like the best of Britney impersonators.
The season was off to a bit of a rough start for Tiffany in terms of her efforts to get to know the cast, but the drunken evening sure helped break the ice between the ladies. It's also essential to note that the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation can get a little blurry at many of these "culturally" themed events, even for LVP.
Tiffany, in turn, decided to host a Hawaiian-themed party with colorful flowers overflowing on the tented table and hula dancers that taught the women some new tricks. While it was all gorgeous, it's easy to imagine Lisa commenting on Tiffany's plastic palm leaves, and the settings didn't quite live up to her endless chandeliers. However, Lisa does embrace her own fair share of fake plant life.
Meanwhile, back in Beverly Hills, Lisa Rinna's former castmates have also hosted lots of backyard parties. The most notorious was Lisa Rinna's backyard party catered by chef Harry Hamlin, who served his classic Bolognese. Sutton Stracke's now-famous clap-back was a highlight of the afternoon. It happened when she reacted to Crystal Kung Minkoff called her jealous by asking, "What would I be jealous of... your ugly leather pants?"
The Beverly Hills dining seems to emphasize fashion over florals and luxe tableware. Crystal's leather pants, whether we like them or not, will long be remembered, but Lisa's tableware will not be. The emphasis on the women's looks over decor is perhaps their effort to differentiate themselves from Overserved and distance themselves from Lisa. Kyle Richard's backyard party had a gorgeous modern fireplace in the background, and Rinna Beauty owner Lisa R. had an open bar and benched seating overlooking the Hills. Still, both parties put more emphasis on the women than any elaborate backdrop.
Ultimately, the intimate dinner party setting is likely here to stay across Real Housewives franchises, along with Overserved, as there isn't an indication that production will be back in full public swing anytime soon. Here's hoping the casts and crews across the country have noted the influence of LVP, as reality television redefines what a compelling set looks like for Real Housewives cast members and audiences.
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