May 19, 2009 7:00 am US/Eastern
The Real Housewives Of New Jersey
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. (CBS 3) ―
It's "Sex In The City" meets "The Sopranos". It's the latest, hippest, hottest reality TV show. We're talking about The Real Housewives Of New Jersey.
We went to their hometown in Franklin Lakes and found real fans and real controversy. Our own Jersey girl Cydney Long has the scoop.
They are the stars of The Real Housewives Of New Jersey. Ladies living a luxurious and lavish life.
And it's somewhat of a family affair.
There are the sisters Caroline and Dina Manzo, married to brothers.
There's their sister-in-law Jacqueline Laurita, and friends Teresa Guidice and Danielle Staub, the show's divorcee.
Fans of New Jersey's Fab 5 aren't so sure if Danielle is a B-F-F or an enemy. But it doesn't matter either way to some viewers.
"I'm hooked, I've been hooked since day one," says Jana Schwartz. "I love it."
So does Chateau Salon owner Victor Castro.
As the stylist to the real housewives, he told TV scouts he had the perfect girls for the Bravo series as it was in the early stages.
"I got to thinking and I know a bunch of fabulous women in the area that they might want to meet and long story short that was it," said Victor.
And the rest is TV reality.
"I have a bit of a train wreck fascination," said Carina Hiyek, a Starbucks customer.
"There's always going to be something going on," said Jana. "And controversial but that's what makes it juicy."
The Real Housewives of New Jersey has got it all.
Big hair, big drama, big money, but some of the other Jersey women are not real big fans of the real housewives here in Franklin Lakes.
"That's not what we're about in this area, they're not real housewives," says June Linz, the co-president of the Franklin Lakes Women's Club.
June is downright mad about what she sees as a non-flattering portrayal of the typical New Jersey housewife.
"It may be the lifestyle of a very small select group but it's fiction," says June. "If that's what they want to air on a TV station, that's fine."
"I think it's a pretty good indication of some of the wives in this area," said Fil Silva.
Silva is the manager at the Market Basket, the town's fanciest grocery store where the stars shop.
"They're sweet, they're nice women, sometimes I think things are blown up a little bit," says Victor back at the salon.
Marylou Trianna is Dina's real neighbor.
"Dina is all about her daughter and taking care of family," says Marylou Trianna who lives across the street from Dina.
When June was asked what she might say if she ever bumped her grocery basket into the housewives, her answer seemed to be a challenge.
"I just might say to them, would you like to come and see what we and the women's club do," said June.
Stay tuned.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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