Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has shut down production on the upcoming eleventh season, which is set to deliver some big changes from how the hit Bravo series left off in Season 10. Production has had to be suspended due to a positive test for COVID-19, adding Real Housewives of Beverly Hills to the list of shows that had to take a break due to the pandemic.
Production on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has been temporarily halted after a positive COVID test, according to ET, but not from one of the returning or new stars of Season 11. The person to test positive was reportedly a crew member. With production suspended, the cast and crew are following the necessary protocols for the pandemic. As of November 25, production was slated to begin again after the holiday, but there are no details about when exactly it will pick up following Thanksgiving.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is certainly not the only notable show to have to temporarily suspend production due to positive COVID tests. Chicago Med had to halt shortly after production on the current Season 6 began, and Chicago Fire faced the same situation a little over a month later. CBS' Young Sheldon and ABC's For Life both faced production breaks before they debuted in the fall 2020 season, and even a soap opera had to deal with shutdown due to positive tests.
Conversely, ABC's The Rookie and The Good Doctor did not stop production despite positive COVID tests. As a reality show, it's possible that Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will go the Keeping Up with the Kardashians route and cover the pandemic and its impact on the stars, even if the show has to take some time off from filming due to the crew member's positive test. Khloé Kardashian actually tested positive for COVID herself at one point.
Bravo has not yet released any RHOBH footage for Season 11, which is seemingly still set to return to the airwaves early next year. It will do so without two of the Season 10 cast members: Denise Richards and Teddi Mellencamp. Richards' departure likely didn't come as much of a surprise after the messiness of the end of Season 10 involving her, and Mellencamp shared back in September that her contract was not renewed.
Returning to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for Season 11 are Dorit Kemsley, Erika Jayne, Lisa Rinna, Garcelle Beauvais, Sutton Stracke and Kyle Richards. Newcomer Crystal Kung Minkoff will be the first Asian American to join the franchise. Kathy Hilton (mother of Paris Hilton and half-sister of Kyle Richards) is joining Season 11 as well. You can see the new group dynamic when the show returns in early 2021, assuming this production shutdown doesn't force the show to be pushed back in the new year.
If you're now in the mood to revisit some Real Housewives of Beverly Hills days gone by, you can find the first nine seasons streaming via Hulu and Peacock Premium. For some additional viewing options now and in the coming weeks, be sure to check out our 2020 fall TV premiere guide and our 2021 winter and spring premiere schedule.
