Thread by @thirdking0208

Ghost Producing in the Real Housewives franchise: A Thread
#RHOC #RHONY #RHOA #RHONJ #RHOBH #RHOM #RHOP #RHOSLC #RHUGT

What is ghost producing?

Well, it is when a Housewife takes it upon themselves to orchastrate or guide a scene, with the hopes that it will result in said scene becoming memorable and/or explosive.
#RHOC #RHONY #RHOA #RHONJ #RHOBH #RHOM #RHOP #RHOSLC #RHUGT

Now, one thing to note is that while the term "ghost producing" is relatively new, the action of ghost producing is not. Also, note that the actual role of a "Ghost Producer" is fairly new — we will discuss this a little later in the thread.

Around 2008, the Real Housewives franchise was transitioning from a docuseries format to a show centered around the drama of its cast. Naturally, it would take sometime before many of the Housewives understood their assignments.

So, it was not uncommon for Housewives who did understand the assignment "facilitate" things. If you really paid attention, you can notice certain Housewives doing little things to ignite a spark amongst their castmates. NeNe Leakes was a master at this. #RHOA

Of course, all early examples of ghost producing didn't look like that. Sometimes, it could be as simple as one of the Housewives noticing an argument occuring and then instructing the other women to go observe the commotion.

As the franchise continued, the Housewives began to understand what was required of them. This meant the need for a Housewife to intentionally try and spark a scene significantly decreased. The entire franchise entered a period where all of the Housewives shows were flourishing.

One thing to understand is, if everyone pulls their weight, there is no need for ghost producing. The cast will need no help in creating drama or addressing certain topics. #RHOP is a great example of this, as you'll notice every cast member is upfront in addressing their issues.

Perhaps in an attempt to make sure their respective show continues to deliver, or maybe because their show started to slip in quality, it seems that some Housewives have taken to ghost producing on a constant basis. Of course the biggest example would be #RHOBH's Kyle Richards.

Kyle has become synonymous with ghost producing, over the years. She does it so often, that I'd credit her with evolving ghost producing from something a Housewife does, to something a Housewife can become. Imo, Kyle established the "Ghost Producer" archetype. #RHOBH

As the years have gone by on #RHOBH, the cast has taken to refraining from dealing with their issues head-on. Of course, this can make viewing a tedious experience. This is where Kyle comes in. She uses tactics to ensure that the women address things.

The recent Dinner Party from Hell 2 greatly showed this side of Kyle. Sutton was a bit reluctant to share her feelings about Erika without any backup from the other women, but Kyle constantly pushed Sutton to speak. The result was arguably the best moment of the season. #RHOBH

This is a style that I would call "ghost producing from the side". It's when Housewives push their castmates to engage in drama, without actually getting directly involved. Kyle is a master at this style, but I've noticed another variant: "active ghost producing". #RHOBH

In active ghost producing, a Housewife will not only orchastrate the scene and facilitate drama, but they will place themselves in the center of said drama. Lisa Barlow from #RHOSLC has begun to show profeciency in this style.

Think back to the "catering incident". Lisa not only engaged in a sit-down with Angie, she got up and began involving other cast members. This caused such a commotion that it attracted the attention of Whitney, who Lisa ended arguing with as well. #RHOSLC

By placing herself at the center, Lisa was able to really orchastrate the drama her way and ensure that a memorable moment was created. #RHOSLC

Lisa isn't the only Housewife to use this style, Melissa Gorga from #RHONJ has been known to orchastrate some scenes as well.

Ghost producing and Ghost Producers can help make a scene better than what it might've originally been. However, there is a sense of authenticity that leaves the show when ghost producing occurs. Sometimes, you wonder if a good scene is worth Housewives losing some authenticity.

Thanks for reading, everyone. Please RT the thread, if you don't mind.

What are your thoughts on ghost producing?
Do you prefer "ghost producing from the side", or "active ghost producing"?
Do you find it necessary, or would you rather have authenticity no matter what?