685 replies to this topic

[chainey]

I've always felt Bravo wanted to recreate Sex in the City somehow and since they explored Carrie Bradshaw with Miss Advised I guess we now visit a batch of Charlottes.

Episode 1: All Tomorrow's Parties

Premiere: Aug 13, 2012

Enter NYC's elite art world and meet the seven young ladies that are running the show.
New York City is a place where people come to live their dreams and the seven "Gallery Girls" are no exception. These young women all share a passion for art -- but are divided by their Manhattan and Brooklyn lifestyles. Kerri Lisa lands an internship with art advisor Sharon Hurowitz, as Chantal Chadwick and Claudia Martinez Reardon prepare to open their own art gallery, End of Century. This puts the pressure on their friend Angela Pham who is anxious to spark a career in photography. Meanwhile, Maggie Schaffer meets with her former boss and art gallery owner Eli Klein and bumps into Liz Margulies, who is currently interning at his space. Amy Poliakoff, who is also working for Sharon, goes to an after-party hosted by Eli and has too much to drink, making some of the ladies uncomfortable. Are these young women prepared for the demands of a career in the cutthroat art world?

Season 1
Gallery Girls Season 1: About

Bravo's Gallery Girls is a docu-series that follows the lives of seven dynamic and ambitious young women in New York City who tackle the cutthroat environment of the art world while vying for their dream jobs. From gallery openings and art shows to the hottest events in the city, the women share a passion for art -- but are divided between their Manhattan and Brooklyn lifestyles with vastly different views and tastes towards fashion, art, and men. Attempting to juggle a chic and fabulous standard of living, the ladies tackle financial struggles, family issues, and the pressures of jump starting their lives in the city that never sleeps.

[diorella78]

I actually can't wait for this for some reason, lol. It reminds me of CW's High Society+ MTV's Downtown girls but in the art world. lol.

[FoxyCoxy]

If you have Comcast, the premiere episode is already available to watch. I've seen it and I can say without a doubt that these girls put any of the Real Housewives to shame: They are more shallow, lazy and oblivious by a long shot. BUT they are also only 23 or 24, so in a way I think Bravo is taking advantage of them. There's a reason why the cast is so young. I'm sure the 29/30-year-olds knew to stay far, far away from it.

[diorella78]

Thanks FoxyCoxy, I just watched it. All I can say is I am not fond of anyone, but I can tell I hate Chantal and her uber-hipster Xanax-induced 'chill' crap. I'll keep watching though, it's easy and shallow viewing. I thought I'd hate the UES women but so far nothing too hideous, IMO.

[biakbiak]

Wow watched this show on demand and will probably tune in for the season, all of these people are so full of themselves and self-absorbed, I can't look away.

One thing I thought was interesting is that googling about the End of the Century women

Spoiler

I found several articles about them but not a single one mention Claudia in reference to owning it, it's all Chantal and Lara. The only mentions that come up with Claudia are in reference to this show. So I wonder how much of their storyline is real.

[diorella78]

biakbiak

Spoiler

I wonder if Claudia bails, because she is associated with them as of 2011. (googled her name and the shop). In viewing the upcoming eps previews it seems that perhaps she ditches the 2 wenches (I hate Chantal, lol).

[biakbiak]

It was just weird because some the articles I read

Spoiler

were about them opening the shop and didn't mention her. Which if she and her family were the main money people that is extremely odd.Interesting, they opened in Oct. 2010, no mention of Claudia. Then they "reopened" in October 2011 which is the party they showed on the show. So I stand by my thinking that it's mostly for show.

Edited by biakbiak, Aug 8, 2012 @ 9:05 PM.

[pomme de divan]

Heavily scripted & nauseatingly insipid.
Saw the first ep, will tune in for the second, but I'm on the fence.

[PhillipKyler]

I'm interested in this show only because the previews remind me of NYC Prep and Kell on Earth which I thought offered a great look into life in New York (more so than the Housewives). I'll be tuning in Monday. :)

Edited by PhillipKyler, Aug 9, 2012 @ 10:38 AM.

[Karmalicious]

I did not find any of these women likable. Chantal seemed to be most offensive because she was the rudest and the most drugged out/medicated. Unfortunately none of the women who own the gallery seem to realize that the girls they don't like are the ones that have the money to spend on overpriced items.

[fashionista79]

Must. Not. Be. Tempted. By. The. Black. Bars.

Sunday evening, I went to the Bravo site and watched all of their available clips, and now that I know I can see the first episode On Demand, I may go home and watch it this evening after work.

I watched the episode last night, and I have to say that within the first ten minutes I couldn't understand why people were reacting the way they did to Chantal. She seemed relatively harmless...then the whole bit about the money for the studio/retail space and her general bitchy response to it all, and I got it! Yeah, she's...I don't like her.

That said, I don't know if I like Liz, either. I don't mind that she dislikes Chantal and was over the other chick's drunk blathering, but she made me laugh with her description of hipster guys being the type to wear skinny jeans and sneakers. Because later on as she and her boyfriend are walking down the street, there he is in a fitted henley, skinny jeans, and sneakers!

If I have to say that I don't mind one of these girls, it would be Maggie. She didn't bug me too much.

Edited by fashionista79, Aug 9, 2012 @ 3:32 PM.

[nique]

Manhattan vs. Brooklyn? Oh yeah. I like this already.

[Joymarie]

I saw the preview on demand, and I expected to like some and not others, but--like most of the rest of you--dislike pretty much all of them. It must be a bit of a nightmare living and working in New York with all of these ridiculous people who think they're so cool taking up space.

I kind of think I find Amy the least objectionable. She's an embarrassing drunk suck-up but she seems to really care about her job and appreciate the opportunities she has. Unlike, say, Liz who doesn't think she should have to do anything but sit around.

Chantal seemed to be most offensive because she was the rudest and the most drugged out/medicated.

I was liking her, but about half-way in I found her the most off-putting of them all. How is it she claims to have been self-supporting since she was 16 but she has family bankrolling her business? Poseur.

Am I the only one who thinks Maggie and Eli slept together and that's why there's so much weirdness between them?

I'm finding it interesting that they all seem very conscious of their images and yet they all have boyfriends that seem like poorly-dressed schlubs or meathead gym rats.

All of these girls' parents must be mortified. Especially Angela's.

Edited by Joymarie, Aug 10, 2012 @ 5:09 PM.

[diorella78]

Am I the only one who thinks Maggie and Eli slept together and that's why there's so much weirdness between them?

I'm finding it interesting that they all seem very conscious of their images and yet they all have boyfriends that seem like poorly-dressed schlubs or meathead gym rats.

Yeah, I thought so too. I think in the season preview the new blonde intern (forget her name already) alluded to it, or someone did. Something they both will have to 'deal with' or something.

I noticed the meathead boyfriends too and was kind of surprised. I guess I expected more Scott Disick types for the UES gallery women. I guess Chantal's BF (Spencer?) "looked the part" of a hipster boyfriend.

One other thing that bugged me about Chantal (who I also kinda liked in the first 5-10 minutes) was how elitist and rude SHE was. What a damn closed minded snob, and she obviously thinks she is the epitome of 'cool' and stylish.

[FranciePants]

So they can say "pussy" on Bravo?

Chantal's hipster babyvoice uptalk drove me up a wall. Also annoying: watching Maggie stroking her hair. Eli is gross, he kind of reminded me of Jon Lovitz. Kerri seemed nice enough, but how the hell is she affording a nice-looking apartment in the West Village?

[Justine2003]

I like this a lot so far-kind of reminds me of MTV's "The City." Agree that most of the girls are not that likable-Kerri and Maggie are probably the most likable so far. I love Chantal's look, I think she has a fascinating face, but she is really obnoxious. I thought Liz was going to be the most annoying one when I first started watching, but I think Chantal and Angela are the most annoying. At least Liz attempted to be friendly--the other two act like they're too good for everyone. They give Brooklynites a bad name. (I live there and we're not all pretentious hipster fashionistas!)

Wonder why Claudia and Chantal's other business partner, Lara, isn't one of the the featured stars. I'm thinking that maybe Bravo didn't want her because she's kind of unfortunate-looking and they already have one funny-looking girl (Amy).

Claudia reminds me a little of Rose Byrne. She seems like she might be nicer and more personable than the other End of Century girls, but it's hard to tell. She's kind of wild-eyed.

I'm curious what other events will occur to bring the Manhattan and Brooklyn girls together. The preview they show at the very beginning of the episode indicates that there are other times when they're all in the same room together. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Chantal's hipster babyvoice uptalk drove me up a wall. Also annoying: watching Maggie stroking her hair.

Agree about both. Sometimes at home I play with my hair-a bad habit for sure--but she was doing it constantly and in public--very nervous-seeming!

As for Chantal's voice, I thought it was odd that she talked so slowly and didn't even think about her being medicated until others pointed it out. Guess I'm naive. :)

Edited by Justine2003, Aug 12, 2012 @ 7:37 PM.

[Joymarie]

I'm curious what other events will occur to bring the Manhattan and Brooklyn girls together. The preview they show at the very beginning of the episode indicates that there are other times when they're all in the same room together. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

From the previews, it looked like they did some filming at Art Basel Miami. I'll be curious to see if they all go there. Or maybe I just assumed it was Art Basel. I seem to remember someone squealing about Miami.

[biakbiak]

I was liking her, but about half-way in I found her the most off-putting of them all. How is it she claims to have been self-supporting since she was 16 but she has family bankrolling her business? Poseur.

Chantal's family isn't the one giving the bulk of the money, that was Claudia and when they were talking about it Chantal mentioned that her aunt gave them $2,500. Not necessarily chump change but not enough to keep them open for more than a couple of weeks.

[LauraHolt]

Just watched the premiere on demand, and from the previews I thought I'd hate the bitchy Upper East Side girls, but, loathsome as they are, the Brooklyn girls are way more affected and pretentious. And um, Angela? Being the wannabe-artist-living-in-Williamsburg cliche is far more tragic than being the model-dating-photographer cliche.

[Joymarie]

Chantal's family isn't the one giving the bulk of the money, that was Claudia and when they were talking about it Chantal mentioned that her aunt gave them $2,500. Not necessarily chump change but not enough to keep them open for more than a couple of weeks.

Yes, I'm aware that she "only" got $2,500, but if she's getting $2,500, then she's not self-supporting. And if she looks down on other people whose parents are helping them out, then those of us who don't have relatives to give us a couple of thousand dollars should feel free to look down on her and call her out for her hypocrisy.

I completely forgot about Kerri until another poster mentioned her. I hope she doesn't get lost in the shuffle. She seems relatively drama free and the only one that's at all relatable.

[Nittany84]

I'm obsessed with this show. I don't exactly want any of these girls in my life, but watching them is somehow very entertaining. They're pretty terrible most of the time, but then again, there are little moments of hilarity. Like Chantal musing about whether the "invisible thong" showing was terrible branding or genius. Oh, slope-shouldered Chantal. I bet she preens every time she tells the sad, sad story of how she was "clearly so different" from the rest of the people in her town.

Maggie needs to stop playing with her hair. I do it, too, and now I realize how irritating it must be for those around me. I was pretty amused by her description of the "slap shot" party. They must have filmed a pilot six months before the first episode, right? Since they had clips of the slap shot party (in which Chantal, for one, had different hair) and the clips of Eli yelling for Maggie?

Kerri was really paying for that apartment by being an independent life consultant or whatever she said? I bet that is a pricey pad.

We see a lot of women on Bravo shows talking about how they "own" being a bitch. But they don't do it as well as Liz does.

Finally, I admire Bravo letting it all hang out. They aren't even trying to make the introductions, run-ins, and new jobs look organic to these girls' lives. But poor Claudia ... that felt real. Why in the world did a) these girls think that they could run a business and b) their family members--Claudia's parents and Chantal's aunt--think that they could do it?

[harperlee]

I thought it was weird that Claudia and Chantel have known each other less than a year. Opening a business is a huge, risky investment, especially when you're using someone else's money. To do that with someone you barely know is a big leap of faith and trust. That's just crazy to me.

[hunterhunted]

But poor Claudia ... that felt real. Why in the world did a) these girls think that they could run a business and b) their family members--Claudia's parents and Chantal's aunt--think that they could do it?

I know. Who thinks I'll give thousands to some twenty somethings to run an art gallery, that's a good investment. Also I can't stand Chantal; she might be the one thing keeping from watching this show.

[Joymarie]

I thought it was weird that Claudia and Chantel have known each other less than a year. Opening a business is a huge, risky investment, especially when you're using someone else's money. To do that with someone you barely know is a big leap of faith and trust. That's just crazy to me.

Agreed. And even crazier yet is that people gave these inexperienced kids lots and lots of money. And that they were able to get a lease. And that designers and artists entrusted them with their work.

Others have posted that based on the website, Claudia is no longer involved in the store. I wonder if she (or the parents that gave her the 10K) at least had the intelligence to get a contract so that they're obligated to pay back the money. If not, I think it's save to bet that Claudia's parents are out 10K. It looks from the previews that Chantal can't even bother to show up for the opening on time. What an entitled brat she is.

[SunBun]

Who thinks I'll give thousands to some twenty somethings to run an art gallery, that's a good investment.

Seriously! And for an ART GALLERY, no less, which is a risky investment period, even for a seasoned gallery owner/art professional. Unfortunately, those girls are not one iota professional. The way they treated Liz and Maggie when they *dared* to come to the gallery opening was just appalling. I wanted to yell, "You IDIOTS! Those girls have real money and actually came out to your crappy-assed gallery and probably would've bought some items from you if you'd actually been nice and welcoming to them!!"
It seems like they were so stupidly focused on that BIG OPENING NIGHT((which looked more like a sad hipster kegger to me)) that they forgot somewhere along the line that they're running a supposed business. Real business-like to get wasted((Chantal)) and cram enough poor artist types into your tiny space to get busted. And if you want a good business, you have to welcome customers of all types, even those who will ruin your 'image'(ugh!).

I was so embarrassed for those Brooklyn girls, whom I'd actually hoped I would be rooting for---unfortunately, they just came off as the typically pretentious hipster types who ruin the supposedly open-minded ideal they represent. And actually laughing at a girl who works at another gallery
because she's blonde and from Orange County? God, grow the fuck up already and get out of high school!

At least Liz knows how to do party small-talk without standing there awkwardly because someone not in their usual sad social circles dared talk to them. And then to turn their noses up at a post-dinner party invite because it
would ruin their 'image'? Ugh, you suck! Go back to college and learn some basic social skills. And Chantal, quit talking like a stoner Valley Girl---you sound/act like a moron.

Seriously though, I see 'businesses' like theirs come and go in the hipster area of my city. Just pampered little girls trying desperately to be edgy being fronted on daddy's dime, nothing more.

The Asian chick just seemed so sadly lost to me. Oh good for you, you like to show your naked bits to the world. Obviously your parents are very proud of you.

Speaking of morons, what the Hell was that whole Maggie "meeting" about?
She just left after two weeks off because Eli dared boss her around?? Oh boo-hoo, honey. Go work fast food and then see how the real world is. Then she has the nerve to crawl back, and acts like a complete mush-mouthed imbecile at that "meeting" with Eli---does she not know how to engage in a professional conversation? I was cringing that entire time, especially when she whispered all dramatically, "I've been here since college!" What a sad little hair-stroking little twit. She seemed half retarded during that entire exchange.

I expected to hate Liz, and on one level I do, but at least she owns and explains her behavior well. And at least she appears to have some working brain cells. Also, she's at least friendly and socially-engaging, which is much more than I can say for those immature Brooklyn brats.

Amy just strikes me as a harmless little rich girl with big dreams living the life. I found her oddly endearing by the end of this. She wasn't even bitchy or territorial with the new girl((God, I forget her name but she seemed harmless, drama-free but boring)) and seems to have big goals for her art career.

Still a very entertaining show, despite the overwhelmingly annoying characters. But then again, the ones on these shows usually are pampered, vapid twits with no professionalism and actual social/conversational skills beyond eye-rolling and awkwardly staring at each other a'la "The Hills" and "The City."
I'll keep watching merely because I adore the art scene and Manhattan.

Edited by SunBun, Aug 14, 2012 @ 6:29 AM.

[diorella78]

I expected to hate Liz, and on one level I do, but at least she owns and explains her behavior well. And at least she appears to have some working brain cells. Also, she's at least friendly and socially-engaging, which is much more than I can say for those immature Brooklyn brats.

I agree; I thought I'd hate Liz but she's ok (so far). Nothing terribly offensive at all so far, she owns her behavior and seems to be pretty stable. I read she had a past problem with drug addiction so maybe she really is "over it" now. I've already stated my loathing of Chantal, but Angela is coming across as a closed minded pretentious bitch, moreso than I assumed Liz would.

[elirut]

The problem with Chantal is she is too self conscious about her persona. Real cool isn't so self aware.
Every one of those Brooklyn girls came across like angry 16 year olds trying to stick it to their suburban classmates with "alternative" clothes, makeup etc., Not original and not authentic to any of them, except possibly poor Claudia.
I fled the gallery world several years ago; this show turned my stomach.
And yes, I'd bet dollars for donuts that Eli and Maggie slept together.
I did like Kerri (?) -- very natural, a bit naive and the only appealing character aside from Maggie.

[beden]

Agreed. And even crazier yet is that people gave these inexperienced kids lots and lots of money. And that they were able to get a lease. And that designers and artists entrusted them with their work.

The parents probably had to co-sign the lease (certainly someone did if the landlord has eves in their head!) and I know enough struggling artists, young or otherwise, to know that a gallery show is close to being the holy grail and they likely know what idiots they're dealing with. It doesn't really matter--the girls have a space, they got butts into the space and so the art was seen. Maybe someone even bought something. If the gallery fails (as it likely will) then the artists get their stuff back. Of course that's assuming that they're paying attention and watching for the inevitable closing so their work doesn't disappear or get locked in--which can also happen. If the artists have any experience, they have an inventory of their stuff and probably pictures as well. They can always sue if need be to get their things back.

[MrKat1]

Claudia is from Flossmoor, IL, which is an affluent suburb of Chicago. I am from a similar place in Detroit, and I am familiar with these people who describe themselves as from "a small town in Michigan" when they are really in the middle of a metro area with 5 million people. Hate her.

Chantal is a user, and Claudia is going to get burned. I realized in my early 20's that people like Chantal who want to keep everything easy-breezy and informal in any sort of business transaction are the ones who will rip you off. She wasn't interesting to me at all other than as an example of someone who entirely lacks self-awareness. Hate her.

Angela is annoying as hell, but I haven't seen her do anything shitty yet.

Liz got an unfair villian edit in the promos. In context her bitchy remarks were much more understandable. If someone invited me to an event, blew me off, AND had lipstick on her teeth, I might be peeved enough to point it out.

Amy reminds me of every dumb rich girl in Florida, but she seemed to take her job seriously, which is more than I can say for most of these people.

[Jamie38]

Kerri was really paying for that apartment by being an independent life consultant or whatever she said? I bet that is a pricey pad.

Whatever bullshit title that was I thought it sounded like code for expensive escort. She seems ok so far, but maybe it not a good idea to tell people you don't know anything about art when you are trying to work in the art world.

I HATE Chantal, but that goes without saying.

Angela is sooooo annoying. "I don't want us to be like that model-photographer stereotype"! Please. You are both wannabes.

Edited by Jamie38, Aug 14, 2012 @ 9:03 AM.