This is one of those moments where people can decide to be really smarmy and pretend that they are better than their TV.  They can pretend that they go to the galleries they read about, sip expensive wines, understand international monetary policy, solve the week’s NYT crosswords instead of the lowly Sudoku, and even make dinner every night with organic vegetables.  Let’s all be honest with ourselves and the nearly 2 million others who tuned into their TVs last week.  In fact, I can almost hear Jack Nicholson saying it now: ‘YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH.’  

When the smart dust settles and we are left eating a slice of Round Table Pizza in convenient glee, we realize that our DVR knows more about us than we think.  We need and want Real Housewives, this time, of New Jersey.

We proudly created the opening sequence and show package for the show, starting with an investigation of how to appropriately represent North Jersey Housewives because it can’t ALL BE produce and large gaudy handbags, RIGHT?  Of course not.  Probably.  But it is a hard challenge, hence the large scale design process identifying the appropriate mark, imagery, and tone: Check it out here

Ultimately the package takes lead from fashion brands and icons with an appropriate color treatment and focus on the lead Housewives and their families.  No matter how the audience receives the characters, these women do lead opulent lives and have an amazing amount of confidence in themselves and their families.  We worked with the production company on directing the live action shoot, design, compositing and animation.  Note, that the mix is not final.

What I am trying to get at here is that next time we think we are too good for shows like this, we are.  In public.  Private is another story.  Don’t worry, though, the kids will grow up just fine.

In other news, smart man Noah Brier was acknowledged as the 59th most creative people in business, just a few behind Kyle Cooper at 52 and narrowing out Josh Schwartz TV Producer and ‘former USC frat boy.’ Number 1? Jonathan Ive, SVP of Industrial Design at Apple.  Apple.  Hmmm.  Never heard of it.

Rei Inamoto and Justin Meredith went great.  Justin is awesome and Rei is super smart.  They both showed recent work and talked about how they got into their work and where their work is going.  Hence the awards they have won.  They don’t give those things away for free, right?