Senseless Drama Runs Wild on Vh1’s Basketball Wives

The VH1 reality show, “Basketball Wives,” currently in its 3rd season, originally premiered on the network on April 11, 2010. The show created by Shaunie O’Neal, who rose to fame after marrying ex-husband NBA player Shaquille O’Neal, depicts the lives of the overly dramatic wives, soon to be ex-wives and former flames of both current and former NBA players.

In addition to O’Neal, the show features Evelyn Lozada, once engaged to former NBA star Antoine Walker; Jennifer Williams, soon to be ex-wife of former player Eric Williams, the former girlfriend of retired NBA player Michael Olowakandi, Suzie Ketcham, Tami Roman, once married to former player Kenny Anderson, former Miami Heat and Orlando Magic dancer Royce Reed, once involved with Dwight Howard and the newest addition to the cast, Meeka Claxton the wife of Speedy Claxton.

While the show’s premise attempts to hold the women in a positive esteem, living a luxurious, affluent life, the cast often appears childish and silly as they squabble over trite “he said/she said” drama. The formula of the conflicts seem to be a statement is said among a few of the women in confidence, repeated by one of the woman present, often misinterpreted and ends with someone being offended. After arguments over who said what, the women come together to air their grievances in a meeting which usually turns into a confrontation. It’s similar to a showdown that involves dirty looks, side glances, evil glares, drinks, dresses, and stilettos.

“Basketball Wives” features its fair share of cliques, making it seem like a thirty-something version of a high school hierarchy of mean girls.

Among the women, creator O’Neal is depicted as the head honcho, featured on several of the episodes attempting to mediate conflicts between the feuding women. After O’Neal, Williams and Lozada are next on the totem pole; the duo has remained tightly bonded with each other and with O’Neal and often seem to be the center of the drama. The rest of the cast tend to spend a great deal of time bending over backwards to make nice with Williams and Lozada, while O’Neal often appears the most level-headed.

This season, Lozada is on shaky terms with Roman, stemming from an altercation that occurred last season in which Roman learned that she had relations with her now ex-husband several years ago, unaware that Anderson was married. Lozada rubbed salt in Roman’s wounds by telling her that she was a “non-mother f’n factor.”

The premiere of this season revealed Lozada’s plans of profiting from the phrase through the production of t-shirts; though her pursuit was challenged by Roman, who threatened to take legal action. The two made peace on a later episode, agreeing on the terms of the t-shirt distribution, but it’s probably only a matter of time until it all falls apart and hits the fan.

Another source of conflict is Reed, who is pretty much the odd woman out, no longer fully accepted in the precious circle. Tensions are high between Lozada, Williams and Reed stemming from the previous season and negative comments expressed on the social networking site, Twitter. Williams is particularly upset over the fact that Reed was communicating with her estranged husband over Twitter.

On episode three, under the encouragement of Ketcham, the three sat down to air their differences, but the disdain the women share for each other escalated. Lozada and Reed, in true “Jerry Springer” fashion, resulted to calling each other vulgar names and throwing glasses. Security quickly swooped in and intervened before the women were able to get their hands on each other, avoiding any potential bloodshed.

Classy isn’t it?

It’s disappointing to see grown women handle themselves in such a poor manner; then again good behavior would probably do little to attract attention and ratings.

Aside from the absurd drama that seems to encompass the women’s lives, many of the women are accomplished in their own right as business owners and entrepreneurs, though seldom shown on the show. Some of the women are also involved in charities and fundraisers to benefit those in need.

It is unfortunate that positivity is placed on the back-burner in favor of one of America’s new favorite pastimes, watching women at each others throats. This type of programming seems to be a growing trend in reality television as seen in other programs like Bravo’s “Real Housewives” series.

Overall, the show is a good source of mindless entertainment that one might be willing to kill some time and a few brain cells watching if there is nothing better to do.