Sunday, September 10, 2023

Why Bravo Should Expand Real Housewives to New Cities

(Photo by: Chris Haston/Bravo via Getty Images)

When Bravo filmed a little show about a group of women behind the gates in Orange County, they couldn’t have imagined what would happen. In 2016, the Real Housewives of Orange County premiered. That series is now deep into Season 17. Not only did Real Housewives become part of popular culture, but it spawned several franchises. The series introduced us to 10 new cities.

Andy Cohen has confirmed that there isn’t a Las Vegas franchise in Bravo’s future. Or any other city. The Watch What Happens Live host discussed the rumors on his radio show, Andy Cohen Live. “I mean, I think we’re good. We’re not developing any,” he stated.

I think that could be a problem for Bravo down the road. There seems to be a favorable response to the Real Housewives of New York City reboot. Meanwhile, several of the older franchises, like Real Housewives of Atlanta and RHOC, have struggled to retain viewers.

Let’s chat about some reasons why Bravo should expand Real Housewives to new cities.

To Replace Canceled Franchises

(Photo by: Peter Larsen/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Only two of the Real Housewives series have been shelved. The Real Housewives of D.C. only lasted one season, allegedly due to the scandal caused by Michaele Salahi and Tareq Salahi. ABC News reported that the couple crashed President Obama‘s first state dinner.

Meanwhile, Real Housewives of Dallas lasted for five seasons. According to TV Line, this franchise also saw plenty of backlash because of the allegedly racist behavior of some cast members. But low ratings for the season seemed to signal the end of the series.

While there are still plenty of cities to watch obsessively, losing a couple should call for adding some new cities.

Fans Love a New Location

(Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City debuted in 2020. The snowy locale, icy friendships, and lingering hospital smell made the franchise an instant success. While some may have wondered why RHOSLC deserved a franchise, the answer was plenty of juicy drama. And an upcoming arrest courtesy of Jen Shah.

Viewers love to see housewives displaying their ridiculous wealth in gorgeous locations. And Salt Lake City had all of that. It was the snowy opposite of most of the other settings. So, Bravo could strike gold again by adding another city.

Meeting a New Cast

(Photo by: Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty Images)

Most Bravo viewers admit that they have great affection for their favorite housewives, past and present. So, trying to put together an amazing cast for a new city is no easy feat.

When Real Housewives of New York City hired an all-new cast for Season 14, it was a bold move. Many fans were disappointed, so Bravo came up with the RHONY: Legacy idea.

When negotiations hit the wall, that idea was transformed into Season 5 of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. So RHONY legends, including Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, and Luann de Lesseps, will reunite for a luxe trip to St. Barts.  

Still, viewers seem to be enjoying the new cast of RHONY. It felt fresh and invigorating. We got to know the cast members and their relationships from the jump. A new city would provide that to viewers again.

New City, New Drama

(Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

With a new friend group comes plenty of brand-new opportunities for drama. Franchises that have been on for a long time often fall into a rut, repeating the same storylines over and over. For example, Teresa Giudice’s feud with Melissa Gorga on Real Housewives of New Jersey. It was essentially the same family fight, escalating with every season.

But getting in on the ground floor as feuds spring up feels like a nice change of pace. Give us some petty drama, like when Jessel Taank of the RHONY reboot shaded Tribeca as “up and coming,” and Erin Lichy almost lost her mind.

Expanding Real Housewives to a new city lets fans experience a whole new kind of drama.

Everyone Adores an International Location

(Photo by: Chris Haston/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Andy announced that the Real Housewives of Dubai would be the first international franchise. There was intense blowback because Bravo selected a location that had a strict series of laws for members of the LGBTGQ+ community, as well as women.

While the show didn’t pull out amazing ratings in the beginning, it was renewed for a second season. The cast members lived opulent lifestyles that were like nothing previously seen on Real Housewives. Bravo could certainly add another international city to its roster.

With a new cast and a new city, the possibilities are endless.

TELL US – DO YOU THINK BRAVO SHOULD EXPAND REAL HOUSEWIVES TO MORE CITIES? IF SO, WHICH LOCATIONS?

The post Why Bravo Should Expand Real Housewives to New Cities appeared first on Reality Tea.



from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/10/why-bravo-should-expand-real-housewives-to-new-cities/

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Lackluster Real Housewives Seasons Fans Should Skip

(Photo by: Chris Haston/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Throughout the impressive run of the Real Housewives franchise, there have been a few blah seasons that viewers shouldn’t waste their time on. Most of the series is jam-packed with betrayal, gossip, lawsuits, and sometimes even bonding moments. However, there have been a few awkward seasons that should stay in the vault.

It has become painfully obvious that not every season of every franchise is worth grabbing the popcorn for. When this sort of season occurs, there are only two things to do—scroll on your phone or have it on as background noise while you clean your house. 

Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Season 1

Peacock/YouTube

If you are looking at optimizing the most action from a Real Housewives season, you can steer clear of the first season of the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. The cast had some heavy hitters like Teresa Giudice, Kenya Moore, and Ramona Singer, yet it was boring.

The combination alone of controversial housewives and different temperaments should have been enough to carry the show. Still, it was so dull we are surprised, yet glad, that Bravo continued with the spin-off. 

The Real Housewives of Dubai Season 1

Bravo/YouTube

This might be an unpopular opinion, but Season 1 of the Real Housewives of Dubai wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Yes, Caroline Stanbury was her usual catty self (in a good way); the show tried to be a Ladies of London take two, just in the UAE.

The series lacked any real Emirati women and failed to give off a sense of Dubai culture. Unfortunately, the show also didn’t get the highest ratings after fans boycotted due to human rights issues. The series was painfully and mind-numbingly boring. Even the one exciting housewife, Chanel Ayan, failed to bring it back from the edge of failure.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 14

Bravo/YouTube

While everyone loves peaches, the Real Housewives of Atlanta women failed to entertain when it came to Season 14. Viewers met a new housewife, Sanya Richards-Ross, and were thrilled to see Sheree Whitfield return. However, the ratings didn’t reflect it.

Once again, Kandi Burruss tried to juggle her work/life balance, which has been an ongoing theme for years. The season began to revolve around Ralph Pittman‘s ability to gaslight Drew Sidora, and frankly, it was hard to watch. Fans can easily watch Season 15 without feeling like they missed much of the year before. 

The Real Housewives of New York City Season 13

Bravo/YouTube

Season 13 of the Real Housewives of New York City was unforgivably terrible, even with some OGs at the helm. The season didn’t stand a chance between low ratings and viewer backlash.

The cast, which included Sonja Morgan, Leah McSweeney, Ramona Singer, Eboni K. Williams, and Luann de Lesseps, did not work well together. Between the age difference and racial undertones, the women didn’t even get a reunion to end it all. Eboni came across as preachy, with viewers just wanting the good old days and for Bravo to go back to the old, timeless formula. 

The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 16

Bravo/YouTube

With the departure of Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge, Season 16 of the Real Housewives of Orange County didn’t hold a candle to earlier seasons. Newcomer Noella Bergener brought an array of emotions as she navigated her outstanding life all the way to the shocking separation from her husband.

Sour 16, as fans like to refer to it, hated the season finale song and felt Emily Simpson and Gina Kirschenheiter were dead weight. You won’t miss anything if you choose to skip this season. 

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 8

Bravo/YouTube

Season 8 of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills had the makings of everything great. Bravo decided to bring back Camille Grammer, who was received with open arms by fans, and the network introduced Teddi Mellencamp, the accountability coach.

However, even with all the exciting additions, the ladies’ storylines were insufficient to keep viewers’ attention. Even though the ladies left the country twice to see Germany and Tokyo, the girl’s trips weren’t enough to hook ratings. The main takeaway was that Teddi and Dorit Kemlsey didn’t like one another, which explains what happened in Season 9 with Lucy Lucy Apple Juice. 

TELL US – DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR REAL HOUSEWIVES SEASON YOU SKIPPED?

The post Lackluster Real Housewives Seasons Fans Should Skip appeared first on Reality Tea.



from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/09/lackluster-real-housewives-seasons-fans-should-skip/

Times When Lisa Vanderpump Enabled Bad Behavior

Tom Sandoval, Lisa Vanderpump and Tom Schwartz
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DailyMail.com)

On Vanderpump Rules, the show’s namesake star, Lisa Vanderpump, acts as a mentor who doesn’t have time for nonsense. The reality is less flattering than that. Truth be told, Lisa is maybe the worst offender when it comes to the frustrating double standards VPR women face. We’re looking back at some of LVP’s worst offenses of enabling, excusing, and even encouraging bad behavior.

TomTom

Tom Sandoval, Lisa Vanderpump and Tom Schwartz
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DailyMail.com)

We get that TomTom is a fun name for a restaurant. But why in the world would Lisa reward the Toms with their own place? At least Tom Sandoval worked steadily for her as a bartender. But Tom Schwartz couldn’t even handle one shift!

The Toms consistently proved to be the worst kind of people to go into business with. They remained the most immature members of the cast, didn’t have the first clue how to handle real responsibilities, and repeatedly made the worst financial decisions. We’re sure Ariana Madix would agree, in hindsight, that Sandoval borrowing against their mortgage was a colossal mistake.

Things only got worse throughout the saga of Schwartz & Sandy’s. Greg, a manager who worked with Lisa for years, had nothing but the harshest words to say about the Toms.

And, on top of everything, the Toms were repeatedly rude and ungrateful to Lisa and her husband Ken Todd. Maybe she finally wised up, and that’s why PUMP came back as part of TomTom.

Standing Up For Stassi

(Photo by: Nicole Wilder/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Though Lisa was often overly harsh on Stassi Schroeder when she didn’t have to be, she still defended her former employee over allegations of racism. She lamented that Stassi was fired for calling the police on Faith Stowers. It really wasn’t her place to judge whether or not Stassi was a racist, and vehemently insisting the answer was no was a very bad look. Especially amidst the 2020 BLM protests after the murder of George Floyd.

Giving Jax Chance After Chance

(Photo by: Noam Galai/Bravo)

Speaking of VPR stars who were let go for alleged racial misconduct. Jax Taylor was the OG male cast member who repeatedly got away with everything. Jax and Lisa even joked about all the times he stole from her restaurants over the years.

Lisa likes to act like the ultimate ally for LGBTQ+ community, but continued defending Jax and his then-fiancé Brittany Cartwright during the mess with the homophobic pastor. She even stood in for Jax’s mom at his wedding.

James Kennedy

James Kennedy Lisa Vanderpump
Astrid Stawiarz/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Lisa rightfully scoffed when James Kennedy‘s mom called her “his mother figure.” But that’s the part she’s played for ages. Lisa stood by the DJ like he was her own son…even when he was a bad friend to her actual son, Max Todd.

James was briefly sidelined at SUR after Katie Maloney confronted Lisa about his body-shaming. But soon enough, he was back DJing at PUMP. This really upset Kristen Doute, who has since made damning allegations against James. But as Pump Rules viewers can attest, Lisa is harsher on Kristen than anyone else.

Sticking By Sandoval At the Season 10 Reunion

(Photo by: Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty Images)

How could anyone defend Sandoval after Scandoval? Leave it to Lisa to find a way. She seemed the most upset at Lala Kent calling Sandoval “dangerous” and comparing him to Randall Emmett.

It was refreshing to see Lala and Ariana actually push back on Lisa’s enabling. Even after she learned that Tom dressed as Rachel Leviss for Halloween, and even after the t-shirt comment, Lisa threw Sandoval one last lifeline. She told him to apologize to Ariana—and he recited her suggestion word for word, complete with his signature fake crying.

And, for good measure, Lisa also went out of her way to defend another man accused of bad behavior.

Excuses Over Oliver Saunders

(Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

We understand that viewers likely forgot about Oliver Saunders, since Scandoval overshadowed this other cheating scandal. So, as a refresher—Oliver made out with Rachel in Las Vegas. He claimed to be separated from his wife. But then his wife blasted him across social media, saying that they were very much still together.

At the reunion, Lala slammed Oliver, claiming to suddenly be best friends with his estranged wife. Lisa could’ve acknowledged he made a mistake while still defending his character. Instead, she made excuses, bringing up her friendship with his mother, Garcelle Beauvais. She also seemed to insist that, because Oliver is a good employee at Vanderpump Paris, she didn’t believe he could be a bad husband.

TELL US – WHAT ARE THE WORST TIMES LISA VANDERPUMP ENABLED BAD BEHAVIOR? DO YOU THINK SHE’LL CHANGE HER TUNE AMIDST THE GROWING BACKLASH?

The post Times When Lisa Vanderpump Enabled Bad Behavior appeared first on Reality Tea.



from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/09/times-when-lisa-vanderpump-enabled-bad-behavior/

Friday, September 8, 2023

Teresa Giudice and Ashley Darby Celebrate Friendship on Night Out

Ashley Darby
(Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)

After her eldest daughter, Gia Giudice, revealed a new Bravo-inspired friendship with Vanderpump Rules star Scheana Shay, Teresa Giudice took to her social media to celebrate an established one.

Since Bravo started airing Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, different cast members across the franchise started to interact more. But of course, there were some girls who knew each other outside of producer intervention.

Teresa praised an “infinite connection” with Ashley

Ashley Darby and Real Housewives of New Jersey OG Teresa are one such pairing. They’ve been friends for years and have worked on events together as well. It’s clear that these gals just enjoy each other’s company in a very organic way.

Both parties met for dinner at the ABC Kitchen by Jean-Georges while on their own respective trips to New York.

Teresa took to her Instagram Stories to commemorate the evening with the newly-divorced Real Housewives of Potomac favorite.

“A beautiful night with my beautiful friend. Love you girl and thank you for always making me smile. Since I met you there was that infinite connection with you, keep on that journey of pure happiness. It looks great on you,” Teresa captioned the post.

Serving fashion

Of course, one has to mention the looks. Ashley opted for a pastel pink minidress with white knee-high boots. Teresa wore a darker shade of pink with a crop top and white latex pants.

“I had THE BEST time with you,” Ashley wrote in the comments.

Teresa responded with a kiss emoji and the words, “same here.”

Several other Real Housewives added their enthusiasm for the friendship. Real Housewives of Dubai star Chanel Ayan posted, “love you girls.” While the Real Housewives of Atlanta favorite Shereé Whitfield added, “baddies of NJ & Potomac.”

This is a genuine friendship made in reality TV heaven. Teresa even invited Ashley to her 2022 wedding to Luis Ruelas.

Both the Real Housewives of New Jersey and the Real Housewives of Potomac are in between seasons. Potomac is rumored to return to Bravo before the year is out.

TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO ASHLEY AND TERESA’S FRIENDSHIP? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THEIR LOOKS? DO YOU THINK THEY WILL COLLABORATE ON ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE?

The post Teresa Giudice and Ashley Darby Celebrate Friendship on Night Out appeared first on Reality Tea.



from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/08/teresa-giudice-ashley-darby-celebrate-friendship/

Bethenny Frankel Attacks Joe Jonas Amid Divorce From Sophie Turner

Joe Jonas
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)

Wait, what? Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner are getting a divorce?! Where have I been that I didn’t hear about this? I’m heartbroken for them. Not so heartbroken: Bethenny Frankel. She’s too busy bashing Joe for “spinning” the collapse of his and Sophie’s marriage. Why does this woman have so many opinions about so many people? Why does anybody care what she thinks?

Apparently, Bethenny imagines that Joe’s team “decided to kill or be killed.” On September 6, the Real Housewives of New York City alum claimed in a TikTok, “His PR team definitely said, ‘We’ve got to spin this thing. We’ve got to go and try to control the ocean.’”

Comparing the media whirlwind to the ocean, the Skinny Girl founder added, “It will just take you over like a big wave. You can’t try to mess around with the ocean.”

Attempts to “spin” the news are “backfiring”

(Instagram.com/Joe Jonas)

Bethenny believes that Joe’s attempts to place blame on Sophie by referencing her alleged partying and some supposedly incriminating ring camera footage are “backfiring” on him. Just days before the breakup, TMZ printed photos of the actress at a bar downing shots.

The NYT bestselling author warned, “Do not underestimate the intelligence and instincts of women. It sounds like a camp started camping too soon.”

Rumors surfaced over Labor Day weekend that the Game of Thrones actress and the Jonas Brothers frontman were breaking up. Two days later, the middle Jonas brother filed for divorce in Miami, calling his four-year marriage “irretrievably broken.” An unidentified source claimed the pair had “many disagreements” and that the divorce was a “last resort.” He and Sophie have two children together.

Kids on tour

The estranged couple’s two young daughters have been with their dad as he and his brothers travel for their Five Albums, One Night tour. Spotted in a restaurant on September 6, Joe enjoyed a meal out with his girls – without his wedding ring. Sophie is supposedly filming in the UK.

Fans are coming to Sophie’s defense, with one tweeting, “It’s wrong to shame a woman and try to paint her as a bad mother for simply having a career.”

Another added, “Seems like bare minimum that he should be watching the kids while she’s working.”

Joe and Sophie married in Las Vegas in May 2019. Their daughters are aged three and one.

TELL US – ARE YOU SHOCKED BY JOE AND SOPHIE’S BREAKUP? DO YOU THINK JOE’S TRYING TO SPIN THE MEDIA IN HIS FAVOR?

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from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/08/bethenny-frankel-attacks-joe-jonas-amid-divorce-from-sophie-turner/

House of Villains Trailer Reveals Danielle Staub, Abby Lee Miller Arrivals

Danielle Staub
(Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Clear your calendars for October 12th. E! is about to bless us with some appointment TV, and the reality TV world may never be the same. The trailer just dropped for the new series, House of Villains, and it looks like being bad is finally about to pay off for a few of these reality stars.

Jax Taylor from Vanderpump Rules initially spilled the tea about this show in February 2023 when he confirmed they were filming. Rumors about the cast have been floating around ever since. Now that we’re seeing a sneak peek of the show, we’re getting more drama, more chaos, and more villains than we ever imagined — like Danielle Staub and Abby Lee Miller.

Here come the villains

The show’s premise revolves around reality TV’s worst villains trying to “outsmart, out-manipulate, and out-scheme” each other to take home a $200,000 prize. Some of the villains in the cast include Jax, Tiffany “New York” Pollard, and Jonny Fairplay. And, of course, since there’s a competition reality show with prize money on the line, Johnny Bananas from The Challenge is there, too.

The trailer teases a social competition with twists, turns, and some of the most random celebrity mashups you could ever imagine. For example, in one scene, New York eviscerates Omarosa Manigault using just a handful of four-letter words. It’s a meme in the making.

What is Abby Lee Miller doing here?

The House of Villains trailer teased a few “sinister surprises” in the form of other villains entering the house. In the clip, there’s a quick glimpse of Danielle from Real Housewives of New Jersey entering the house unexpectedly. The money laundering choreographer, Abby Lee Miller, also makes a random cameo. In the trailer, Bobby Lytes joked with Abby about how they both share a felony criminal record. Never in a million years would you expect to see these two sharing screen time together, but here we are.

Find out who’s the best of the worst when House of Villains premieres Thursday, October 12th at 10/9c on E!

TELL US – WILL YOU BE WATCHING HOUSE OF VILLAINS? WHO ARE YOU MOST SURPRISED TO SEE JOIN THIS CAST? DO YOU HAVE ANY PREDICTIONS ON WHO WILL WIN THE PRIZE?

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from Reality Tea https://www.realitytea.com/2023/09/08/house-of-villains-trailer-reveals-danielle-staub-abby-lee-miller/