Reality television has taken hits recently for being, well, bad TV that can promote even worse behavior.

Consider: Jon and Kate Gosselin, whose "Plus 8" future on TLC is uncertain because they can't stop bickering off camera. Then, of course, there's the whole Heene family ("Wife Swap") balloon-boy debacle that blew up in a maze of Mylar when, it is speculated, the Heenes wanted a crack at another reality show.

In its quieter corner, Bravo has maintained a lineup of palatable guilty pleasures, including "Top Chef" and "Flipping Out."

This week, two of Bravo's most popular shows return: "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" (10 p.m. Tuesday) and "The Real Housewives of Orange County" (10 p.m. Thursday), a franchise that also has "wives" in New York, New Jersey and the just-wrapped Atlanta.

Tabatha Coffey enters Season 2 of "Tabatha's Salon Takeover." The show's premise is that Coffey, who owns her own business in New Jersey, goes to 10 salons (Chicago, L.A. and Miami) that are in desperate need of makeovers – business-wise, style-wise, or both.

Gretchen Rossi is in her second season of "Housewives." Last year saw her enter the "enhanced" world of Orange County to negative reviews from the other wives – and her own heartache.

The Bee chatted with the two stars about the TV world of back-stabbing beauty.

Tabatha Coffey

Are you seeing some of the effects of a tough economy on any of the salons you visited?

Yes, there are great concerns. In the opener, I visit Orbit Salon (in Chicago). The owner, Eddie, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on (hair) products that are just sitting in his basement. He has this incredible retail area that's not selling, just collecting dust. On top of that, the salon is filthy.

What about customer service/cleanliness? Those have always been hot-button issues with you.

You'll see that the level of service is extraordinarily bad. And it's never OK for a client to see a salon filled with gunk. At Orbit, everyone knew about the filth and turned the other way.

L.A. has so many salons. What about a sneak peek at one?

Everyone (at the salon) was younger than me and thought they were hip and cool and in a hip part of the city. They had skills, but being "cool" isn't enough.

In the second episode, which is in Miami, this particular salon was overrun by cockroaches and bad attitudes.

Has "Takeover" helped your own business in Ridgewood, N.J.?

We definitely had new clients calling or just walking in off the street. And I met people at hair shows. I think the show opened a lot of salon owners' eyes that they'd better take care of their business, take more classes, stay educated and don't use dirty hairbrushes!

Gretchen Rossi

You had a really tough time getting the wives to warm up to you. Have things improved in Orange County?

I'm pretty naive in believing the best in people, and that they've got my best interests. But, if you remember Tamra's dinner party, things were being plotted, including the alcohol. I had been at the hospital all day (with fiancé Jeff) and I just wanted to relax.

What have you learned about yourself, and are you in a new relationship since Jeff's death on last season's show?

I'm dating Slade, who dated two previous cast members. There's some controversy among the ladies. I've been tagged as a gold digger, but I think viewers saw the dynamic between Jeff and me. I have a good heart!

Are you still a girly-girl?

Definitely! I would wear a dress before putting on jeans. I love jewelry and makeup and accessories and shopping at Fashion Island (in Newport Beach).

After taking care of Jeff for so much of the season, are you involved in any business ventures?

I purchased a music catalog and I'm working on a makeup line. I also started the Gretchenproject.com, which provides information on alternatives to plastic surgery.

Call The Bee's Leigh Grogan, (916) 321-1129.