The Ultimate Real Housewives Comeback: Unveiling the Irresistible Allure of the Bravo Franchise

Real Housewives of New York City alums Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan were in for a surprise when they arrived in Benton, Illinois, to film their spinoff series, Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake. This time, the luxurious private jets and yachts were replaced with a simple, unairconditioned sedan, and instead of staying in glamorous Hamptons hideaways, they found themselves at the modest Benton Motel. Could these two city dwellers adapt to a completely different lifestyle outside the Upper East Side?

To everyone's astonishment, the answer was a resounding yes. Over the course of just a few days, De Lesseps and Morgan seamlessly embraced their new surroundings, indulging in activities that were unthinkable in Manhattan. They eagerly took part in mud off-roading adventures in mini monster trucks, fearlessly tried bull-testicle eating, and even dabbled in the thrilling pursuit of noodling, which involves hunting catfish using only bare hands or possibly gloves.

Crappie Lake, a surprisingly heartwarming show, has garnered a strong following among fans and critics, even those who usually do not pay much attention to Bravo's content. In July, New York magazine praised it as "the best show on Bravo," while TIME described it as a captivating comedic masterpiece that marks a refreshing departure from the conflict-ridden nature of recent Bravo shows.

This shift in tone has been welcomed across the Housewives franchise, providing a much-needed break from the relentlessly dark atmosphere that had dominated in recent years. The challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic complicated filming, and some of the franchise's most prominent stars faced serious legal allegations. Erika Jayne from Beverly Hills was accused of embezzling money from the families of plane crash victims (although she is currently not implicated), and Salt Lake City's Jen Shah was arrested for wire fraud and is currently serving a six-year sentence.

Luann de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan. Nick Fochtman/E! Entertainment

Housewives has always depicted these women's problems, such as messy divorces and Teresa Giudice's prison time in 2012. However, these recent developments have left many fans feeling a sense of difference. It is one thing to evade taxes, but quite another to allegedly defraud retirees and victims of plane crashes.

Sevin Cavusoglu, senior vice president of unscripted content at NBCUniversal, acknowledges the darker turn that some of our shows have taken in recent seasons. He states that these dynamics have been present for multiple seasons, spanning over 15, 16, or 17 seasons. As a countermeasure, it is important to incorporate some light-hearted silliness, like that of Crappie Lake.

Across the Housewives franchise, the dynamics have shifted to become less intense. In the first season of RHONY with a completely new cast, the major conflicts centered around a prank war gone awry and the debate over whether it is strange to serve a cheese plate at a house party. In the second season of Salt Lake City, which included an actual FBI raid, the ladies are now engaged in a dispute about whether Meredith Marks should have invited Angie Katsanevas to her Palm Springs getaway, and whether Angie was justified in crashing the trip uninvited.

Cavusoglu highlights the RHONY women's argument about a censored restaurant (later revealed to be the popular Catch in Manhattan) as a prime example of what characterizes the current era of the Housewives. "In a sense, it harkens back to the original RHONY, because those were the types of discussions Luann used to have—matters of etiquette, places to be discreetly seen, locations you need to visit, and places you desire to go," Cavusoglu explains. "There's a refreshing yet familiar quality to it."

The RHONY revival is Bravo's biggest gamble in years. Following a lackluster season 13 that was so poorly received it didn't even warrant a reunion - a first for Housewives - the network made the unprecedented decision to start fresh and reinvent the franchise. Some fans were outraged to see beloved cast members Morgan and de Lesseps eliminated after a roaring '20s party. Meanwhile, others speculated that the cast shakeup was an attempt to avoid firing controversial OG cast member Ramona Singer, whose clashes with RHONY's first Black Housewife, Eboni K. Williams, went beyond being thought-provoking and veered into offensive territory. (In October 2021, Bravo launched an investigation after Williams and a crew member accused Singer of making racially insensitive remarks. "The crew member's claim was backed up by evidence," a source revealed. "However, Eboni's claim lacked corroboration.")

Bravo eventually confirmed the participation of Morgan, de Lesseps, Singer, and three other "legacy" Housewives in an upcoming season of Peacock's Ultimate Girls Trip. However, fans were initially doubtful of the new cast, which was announced by Andy Cohen at BravoCon in October 2022. This skepticism was further fueled by the departure of one of the new stars, Lizzy Savetsky, during filming. Cavusoglu acknowledges that the beginning was intimidating, as even within Bravo, there were many skeptics due to the strong loyalty towards the original Housewives.

The public opinion quickly shifted within a few weeks after the show premiered in July. Bravo stan accounts fully supported the show, and legacy media outlets couldn't help but praise Jenna Lyons, a renowned fashion icon and former fashion director of J.Crew who brought new life to the brand in the early 2010s. Additionally, fans were moved by Brynn Whitfield and Sai De Silva, who opened up about their challenging childhoods in emotionally gripping moments.

Ryan Flynn, senior vice president of current production at NBCUniversal, expresses his excitement about the show's reception, acknowledging the passionate and vocal RHONY audience. He admits that the initial skepticism was expected due to the intense love-hate relationship viewers have with the show.

By autumn, all doubts had disappeared and were replaced by intense discussions about one's favorite Housewives and the moral implications of gifting your sponsored products to friends. "To be completely honest, I feel incredibly delighted and justified in the sense that we were able to demonstrate to everyone, 'Give us a chance,'" says Cavusoglu. "We adore and respect this show just as much as all of you do. We have no intention of leading you astray, and we are committed to upholding the esteemed reputation of RHONY."

Orange County, the long-standing and original installment of the Housewives franchise, experienced a similar pattern. Despite initial doubt from fans, Tamra Judge's unexpected comeback in the summer of 2022 injected a refreshing dose of captivating drama. Typically, the return of a previous cast member signals a lack of originality, but Judge's reentry, along with the introduction of newcomer Jennifer Pedranti and former Beverly Hills star Taylor Armstrong, showcased that there was ample excitement left in the seventeenth season.

RHOC star Gina Kirschenheiter reflects on the previous season, describing it as lacking excitement and direction. However, she expresses her satisfaction with the current season, noting that the cast members have great chemistry and that their interactions feel authentic, whether positive or negative.

Flynn, who has been involved with RHOC since season 6, shares a similar sentiment. In season 17, the show underwent significant changes in various aspects such as graphics, the opening sequence, the theme song, and even the showrunner. This decision was made in response to the previous season's lackluster performance, as the producers wanted to make a noticeable impact. Following Dorinda Medley's advice of taking a pause and deviating from their usual schedule, they embarked on this revamp.

Nicole Martin, Guerdy Abraira, Lisa Hochstein, Julia Lemigova, Alexia Nepola, Larsa Pippen. Gizelle Hernandez/Stephanie Diani/Bravo

Flynn believes that taking a break from filming is essential for refreshing a franchise. In the case of The Real Housewives of Miami, this break lasted a decade, but the decision to bring the show back seems to be successful. Season 6 will be broadcast on linear TV from November 1 after two seasons were exclusively streamed on Peacock. Fans are buzzing about Miami being the strongest installment among all the Housewives cities at the moment. This is partly due to the abundance of dramatic moments, such as arguments over Brazilian butt lifts at a dog's birthday party, but also because of the relatable experiences these women go through. In season 5, viewers witnessed the shocking breakdown of Lisa Hochstein's marriage, while in season 6, they will follow Guerdy Abraira's battle against breast cancer. Critics often dismiss the Housewives as trivial entertainment, but there are very few shows on television that prioritize the genuine challenges faced by women in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.

"Within the show, you witness people navigating the difficulties of their marriages and testing the limits of their friendships," explains Kathleen French, NBCUniversal's Senior Vice President of Current Production. "The women may have beautiful appearances and luxurious lifestyles, but they also experience real-life problems."

French, a member of the "Miami Fan Club," played a crucial role in bringing back RHOM in 2021. The show stands out for its diverse cast, including members from Cuba, Brazil, Haiti, Russia, and Canada. French believes that the show beautifully reflects the international nature of Miami and captures the essence of the city.

It may seem like a PR tactic, but French and her colleagues genuinely prioritize diversity when casting these shows. When revamping RHONY, Cavusoglu was determined to showcase the real people who form the fabric of New York City. She aimed to diversify in terms of neighborhoods and professions. Being an immigrant woman herself, Cavusoglu appreciates the multicultural aspects of New York, from hearing various accents to encountering different languages on the streets. The goal was to capture the essence of that vibrant New York ambiance.

Fans of RHONY, RHOSLC, RHOC, RHOM, and other Bravo reality shows are currently satisfied with the content being produced. While real life may not always be glamorous, these shows keep the dream alive. To learn more about the Reality Stars of the Year, grab the latest issue of We magazine, available now.