'Million Dollar Listing' returns

My guiltiest TV pleasure, Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing" returns for its third season at 11 tonight with the economic collapse and real estate meltdown in full effect.

Clients of the show's three real estate agent have unrealistic expectations for what their properties will bring in a down market. Interestinly, in the first two episodes we don't see these agents benefitting from helping buyers get good deals in Los Angeles but the show has always focused more on sales, presumably because there's more potential for drama in sales transactions.

The agents remain: Bizarre, ambitious, hair-touching Chad Rogers, sexually confused Madison Hildebrand and venal, weaslly Josh Flagg. Chad and Josh continue to hate one another, which is what happens with a goody-goody (Chad) and an amoral jerk (Josh) come into conflict.

Chad says he "Chaderizes" homes before an open house; Josh fails to put down the toilet seats and leaves cat food exposed, much to the disgust of Madison. But the real drama this season is imposed by the economic slowdown.

"People are having a difficult time coming to grips with the new reality," Madison says in next week's episode.

The show remains an orgy of real estate excess, which is probably the appeal to some viewers. I'm more likely to watch for the amusement derived from watching the over-sized egos of the show's stars expand and contract.