Yep, a ‘Real Housewives’ Live Tour.

This is the state of television in the year 2011: aging women of privilege who are not professional or even skilled actresses are filmed arguing with other aging women of privilege in scenarios staged by producers. This model of low-budget amateur soap opera is so successful that it spawns seven iterations that take place in various geographic locations.

So really, should we be surprised that Bravo is charging between $49.50 and $170 per ticket for a live tour featuring “Real Housewives” stars?

“Bravo viewers like to truly engage in the shows they are passionate about,” said Ellen Stone, Bravo’s senior vice president of marketing in a press release. “With ‘The Real Housewives Live Tour,’ we are able to give our fans a unique, hands-on experience with their favorite cast members across franchises that they can’t experience anywhere else.”

Anyone wanting to shell out from $49.50 to $170 to engage the likes of Nene Leakes, Gretchen Rossi and LuAnn de Lesseps on topics along the lines of “Your hairdo — what’s up with that?” should get their wallets ready. Tickets go on sale August 19. [The Wrap]

As much as I want this to fail — and I do: I want the person responsible for this idea to be fired and eaten alive by fire ants — I can’t help but blame all the women and gay men who watched “Real Housewives” and made this abortion possible in the first place. It’s stories like this that make me feel okay about telling domestic abuse jokes.