Step aside Real Housewives of Houston: Lucinda & Javier Loya land roles in a classy reality show

While more than a dozen Houston "housewives" have been strutting their stuff for slots in various rumored reality series, Lucinda and Javier Loya have risen as the creme-de-la-creme of the chic set, garnering leading roles in an hour-long special tentatively titled True America.

But unlike the catty, bickering, truly bad behavior of characters in Real Housewives, Bachelor Pad and the like, the Loyas get to play themselves — a highly-successful, philanthropically-minded couple, both of whom come from humble beginnings. No play-acting, no scripted situations, no sleaze.

The project is being produced by Current TV's Vanguard division, winner of Peabody and Emmy Awards and, according to producer John Henion of San Francisco, the production follows a veritas, observational approach to filmmaking. True America examines two Houston area families — the self-made Loyas and a hardworking family from New Caney tragically caught in the economic downturn.

 No play-acting, no scripted situations, no sleaze. 

Henion says his goal is not to make a statement but rather to present the thought-provoking question: Is America's middle class becoming the working poor?

Vanguard cameras follow the Loyas through their glamorous life that includes homes in Houston and New York, amazing parties at their lavish hacienda and dinners out while never overlooking the facts that Javier's parents were Mexican American immigrants and that Lucinda comes from a very poor family. Today, he is president and CEO of Choice Energy. She runs her own successful interior design business. 

"We agreed to do this," Lucinda explains "because we wanted to promote education and send a message to the world of how hard it is to make it and how much hard work is required. Education has played such a big part in Javier's life . . . Because of our backgrounds, we work harder."

Hard work, however, has not rewarded the second couple, who live in the New Caney area. He was a construction site manager until business dried up. She ran the modest bed and breakfast connected to their house. They were struggling to achieve the American dream and now they are struggling to get by.

The program is expected to air in December.