I've endured all the New Jersey jokes since I moved out to Montclair a few years ago. But I always tell people about the great things the Garden State has to offer, and how's it's not the cheesy punchline everyone makes it out to be.

That job just got a lot harder thanks to the debut of Bravo's "Real Housewives of New Jersey." These five women singlehandedly undid all of my positive promotion for the Garden State the first 10 minutes they were on the air.

Theresa informs us, "I want to get breast implants, but my husband, he's more of an ass guy."

Of course he is.

While we're on the subject of breasts, there's also Dina, who expresses her concern by saying, "I just think my boobs are too big for tennis."

Of course they are.

And then there's Danielle, who has been engaged 20 times and was stood up on a date in the premiere by a guy named "Gucci Model" she had lots of phone sex with after meeting on the Internet.

So, yes, this is a classy bunch of ladies. And that's not even mentioning Caroline, whose youngest son is planning to open a strip club and car wash, or Jacqueline.

Of course, all of this makes them somewhat fascinating subjects to watch, especially when it becomes clear that Dina and Danielle do not get along.

Perhaps most interesting of all is seeing these ladies acknowledge the current financial crisis and then go right on bragging about their own unnecessary opulence.

Truthfully, these "Real Housewives" could not be any tackier. So by all means, enjoy their tackiness. But please believe me when I say that not everyone in New Jersey is like that. Although making you believe that just got a lot more difficult.