Dallas Divas & Daughters' delivers the drama

Someday, human beings may stop uttering this well-worn sentence. But not yet. It's repeated in the first few seconds of the Style Network reality show Dallas Divas & Daughters, which premieres Sunday night and celebrates the area's rich and fabulous.

As the Real Housewives franchise continues to generate buzz on Bravo, it's not surprising that other reality shows are turning the lens on wealthy women.

The Dallas Divas & Daughters cast consists of mother-daughter duos that are given helpful nicknames by producers: Pamela Martin-Duarte and Hannah Gelbart-Martin, the aristocrats; Kenya and Chanel Flowers, the princesses; Cindy Legeza and Courtney Michalek, the heartbreakers; Brenda and Laura Johnson, the debutantes; and Patricia Alcorta and Jacky Fierro, sadly labeled the wannabes.

In the first episode, viewers soon learn that moms Pamela and Patty share a deep dislike for each other. Drama ensues at a polo match, where one pair is alarmingly late. They're then chided for their alleged lack of Southern grace.

"When we were selecting who we wanted to include on the show, you deliberately choose the ones who aren't going to hold back," says Sarah Weidman, executive producer of the series. "Everyone watches these shows. I think they knew what they were getting into," she says.

Despite the inevitable comparison to Real Housewives, which features women in Orange County, Calif., New York City and Atlanta, Weidman says the Style Network show focuses on a completely different element.

"The meat of the show is the relationship between mothers and daughters," she says. "They all definitely have different points of view on how to raise a child and what their values and priorities are. And the peer pressure isn't just with the kids; it's with the moms, too."

North Texas has become central casting for the reality-TV world, with dozens of local folks winning or playing strong roles in recent years.

Apparently, it helps that we're more outspoken in these parts.

"You do look for diverse personalities, people with a strong point of view, clear opinions about something," she says. "And when you think of the South, Texas is the Republic of Texas – a very distinct place with a lot of pride in where you come from. And it has a very distinct social culture."

That's all highlighted by the Dallas Divas women, who "had pre-existing relationships and opinions of each other before we came in," Weidman says. "You hope they aren't going to get shy once the cameras start rolling. But what's always surprising to me is how candid people are willing to be."

Yes, the show celebrates escapism and the fantasy lifestyle, she says. "But more important for us is the story: telling a strong, relatable story, and making sure there's that soul to the story."

Darla Atlas is a Fort Worth freelance writer. E-mail darlajatlas@yahoo .com.

Dallas Divas & Daughters

7 p.m. Sundays, Style Network.

30 mins.