If you've noticed an uptick in your friends donning fedoras, imitating raspy voices and suddenly giving you unsolicited advice in class, etiquette and what it means to be a good Housewife (whether they're married or not is really beside the point) fret not - you’re not witness to a sudden personality change, but rather The Countess is back in town...
Gettin jiggy with it in Belfast ☘️
— Luann de Lesseps (@CountessLuann) February 19, 2025
🎟️ https://t.co/UdM5SyH3uq pic.twitter.com/ryyiv6NFcq
Now if you’re asking who The Countess is, and what's all this Housewife craic about, we’ve got you covered. Luann de Lesseps is one of the breakout stars of reality TV sensation The Real Housewives Of New York, where she showcased her journey from aristocrat (adjacent) to public arrest to erstwhile cabaret star – which is what has brought her back to Dublin for her second headline show in the space of 12 months. Fans have packed out Vicar St and now the National Concert Hall in Dublin to catch a glimpse of The Countess and her signature smoky tone, while she sings her tunes and spills the tea on the Housewives universe.
Housewives fever has been sweeping the nation for sometime now, but with 11 different US Housewives series, over 20 international adaptations and countless spin-offs it can all seem a bit daunting when it comes to where to start... So here’s a quick guide to getting up to speed with the most fabulous women on television, for that next conversation with your Housewives-obsessed friends…
If you want to talk to your friends who love The Countess, try Real Housewives Of New York
RHONY is what most fans consider to be the peak of the Housewives universe. Part Gossip Girl, part Sex And The City, the show veered from comedy to tragedy and back as it followed the lives of Manhattan's wealthiest and the drama surrounding them. Whether its launching your own line of "skinny" margaritas, the proper way for your chauffeur to address you or the dissolution of your marriage, RHONY really had it all. The Countess laid it all bare for 13 seasons, as the show swung between absurdity (Ramona's toaster oven) and genuine heart (Carol's grief). Rebooted with a new cast 2 years ago, the new RHONY hasn’t yet reached the heights of its predecessor, so let’s all thank Luann for bringing her tour to Dublin so we can all relive the glory days...
If you want to watch the one everyone has already seen, try Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills
The classic entry point, RHOBH is essentially an old-school soap opera. Driven by family divides played out in stunning mansions, Kyle and Kim Richards' sisterly dynamic is the focal point of the show's early days, while their older half-sister Kathy Hilton (yes, Paris’s mammy) looms like an off-screen spectre before finally making an appearance in recent seasons. RHOBH is what you think of when you think Housewives – big houses, big dresses and even bigger drama – even if you haven’t seen the show, you’ve seen the Amsterdam fight. Over 14 seasons (and counting), the ladies of Beverly Hills have done it all, and managed to make the most ridiculously Hollywood behaviour seem weirdly relatable. There’s a reason everyone starts here...
If you want to seem like you really know your stuff – try Real Housewives of Potomac
Until very recently, RHOP was the unsung hero of the Housewives universe. Set against the backdrop of the Washington DC suburb, Potomac has finally started to get the respect it deserves from the fanbase. Early episodes do tend to lean a little heavily into delivering etiquette lessons that no one really needs, but sticking with it rewards you with a show that somehow manages to deal with issues such as class, race, single parenthood and more, while being the funniest Housewives show of them all. Don’t overlook this hidden gem...
If you want the best show, try Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
I know I shouldn't play favourites, but the most recent edition of Housewives is the program at it’s best (and with only 5 seasons to date, one of the easiest to catch up on). Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Utah snow, this one has everything you want out of Housewives, and more. RHOSLC is Housewives firing on all cylinders, whether the women are dealing with being modern day Mormons, stealing each others' bathbomb recipes or a full-blown government sting to arrest one of their number, it simply doesn’t miss a beat... all while serving up some of the best fashion to date.
Of course that's not to mention any of the other cities (New Jersey, Dallas, Orange County) or equally entertaining spin-offs (a Vanderpump Rules/Scandoval explainer is a whole other article unto itself) but this should be enough to get you involved in the group chat debriefs...
The Countess Cabaret with Luann De Lesseps is at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on February 20th 2025 - find out more here.
