The Real Housewives franchise is the heartbeat of reality television. It has grown from a handful of wasps on the West coast to eight different locations across the U.S. And the more drama, the merrier – Bravo should be pushing for more Real Housewives shows, even though Andy Cohen might say otherwise.
During recent episodes of Watch What Happens Live, host Andy Cohen has been asked by fans about the possibility of new Real Housewives shows outside the normal lineup. Cohen, the master of hedging his bets, gave a vague answer, but it doesn't seem promising:
I don’t know. I mean, it seems like we’re good right now. I know there was a movment when Tinsley [Mortimer] moved to Chicago to cast around her, but I think we’re good.
Andy Cohen, who executive produces the Real Housewives shows, does make a fair point – the current lineup is doing well. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is finishing off its successful freshman run, and Real Housewives of Potomac completed its fifth season last year. But Cohen should consider these two most recent additions to the franchise as proof-positive evidence for more new shows.
Many fans have criticized the franchise over the years, especially the earlier ones, for their lack of diversity. Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, after more than 10 years on the air, just added its first Black cast member in Garcelle Beauvais this past season. But both Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and Real Housewives of Potomac have proven that the franchise can do with some new blood.
Since its premiere in 2008, Real Housewives of Atlanta was the long-standing show of the franchise to have a majorly Black cast. That was until Potomac stepped onto the scene. Fans came to love the Potomac women's effortless shade-throwing and hilarious references to their husbands as “the Black Bill Gates.” More importantly, though, it opened an important avenue to have some difficult conversations about race and was able to give more women of color a platform. In 2016, Variety reported:
The Potomac premiere is the top-rated of the eight editions of the Real Housewives to have launched over the past 10 years.
The latest addition of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is also good evidence for why there should be more shows on the network. The show features two women of color, but it also transports fans to a location that is not your typical major big city (much like Potomac). Andy Cohen said ahead of its release at BravoCon:
We've always tried to choose cities that have completely unique personalities, and we also try to throw a little curveball now and then, pick somewhere you maybe weren't expecting.
The Mormon-founded Salt Lake City, as we now know, has more than just religion. We see peek behind the curtain of the people who run the Sundance Film Festival. There's rumors of swingers and polygamists and odd marriage arrangements galore.
The current Real Housewives shows are doing the thing, still to this day, almost 15 years later. The drama never stops – from lawsuits to coronavirus controversy to unfaithful partners. But the streets are talking, and they want more Real Housewives.
