Politico.com:
Bravo announced this week that it will bring its “Real Housewives” program to Washington and is hard at work “scouting the D.C. area to identify the city's alluring and discriminating residents ... women who have their pulse on the most important cultural events, political galas, gallery openings and fundraisers in Washington society."
We’re here to help – or at least handicap the search.
Despite the show’s title, “Real Housewives” doesn’t actually require women to be housewives — many of the “housewives” featured on other versions of the show are accomplished women with impressive jobs — or not even married. Still, being single is the exception to the rule and, for the sake of consistency of our list, we’re including married women only.
Sorry, MoDo.
And, yes, we’re being realistic here, so don’t look for, say, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton or Vicki Kennedy on our list. And many of Washington’s best-known socialites — the Catherine Reynoldses, Buffy Cafritzs, Beth Dozoretzes and Catherine Meyers of the world — aren’t likely to “stoop” to the tawdry world of reality TV.
So who might be a good fit – and a reasonable “get”? Here are some of our best guesses:
Michelle Fenty
Why they'd pick her: As the wife of Washington's mayor, she's a natural pick for any local show. Her family is cute (a 6-month-old girl and 8-year-old twin boys) and photogenic (the "Housewives" crew would love catching a sweaty mayor busting through the front door after his morning run). And, if the mayor’s mini-political controversies continue, a peak inside their household would make for must-see TV.
Why they wouldn't: The wives and husbands of politicians have learned to take a backseat to their hobnobbing spouses, and it's doubtful that an already private mayor would encourage his wife to pull back the curtains on their lives.
Sally Quinn
Why they'd pick her: As one of Georgetown's longtime hostesses, she brings an institutional knowledge of the city that some of the up-and-comers lack. She and husband Ben Bradlee (former executive editor of the Washington Post) can whip off stories about the days of Camelot and put the younger wives' Obama-mania in perspective.
Why they wouldn't: Since Quinn is one of the more obvious choices, she'd also be one of the more uninspired and most predictable. And on a show that encourages personality and characters, Quinn can frequently come off as detached and aloof. Perhaps a better choice would be yoga instructor Pary Williamson, who was recently engaged to Sally and Ben’s son, Quinn.
Tammy Haddad
Why they'd pick her: More and more, Haddad has become a symbol for social Washington and the nexus between power and parties. She and her husband, Ted Greenberg of the World Bank, would make for great television, since Greenberg frequently jokes with guests that he's just background music at some of their parties and adorably concedes that Haddad truly runs the house.
Why they wouldn't: If "Real Housewives" had any designs on someone besides Haddad dominating the show's narrative, they’d better not pick her, since Haddad's big personality won't be easy to hide.
Ana Marie Cox
Why they'd pick her: The Air America pundit, along with husband Chris Lehmann (of CQ), would present a nerdy, eyebrow-raised contrast to Georgetown's stiff upper lip. She'd be the one staring into the camera, asking America, "Can you believe these chicks?"
Why they wouldn't: Cox picks her friends carefully and might have a hard time pretending to be buddies with some women that she'd otherwise rather ridicule.
