The dust has settled on the reboot of The Real Housewives of New York City , with the first season ending on October 29, and the verdict is as follows: Hmm.
The original RHONY it was based on, Airing for 13 seasons between 2008 and 2021, it is a gem among Housewives series for its unforgettable and unforgettable moments. Think back to "Island of Terror," Aviva's leg-throwing, boat rides from hell, and the annual "Berserker" trip to Bluestone Manor.
The show stars original cast members including Ramona Singer, Luann DeLesseps, Sonja Morgan and Bethenny Frankel , who recently criticized "Bravo" for what they called a "reality reckoning."
But in Season 13 in 2021, everything has changed for the show. The show hit record-low ratings, and after the introduction of RHONY's first black housewife, Eboni K. Williams, the cast faced accusations of racial discrimination, leading to the cancellation of that year's reunion.
It was subsequently announced that "The Real Housewives of New York City" would be split into two parts: a RHONY reboot with a new cast; and another starring RHONY. and the "Legacy" series starring the original stars, which was later reportedly canceled after salary negotiations broke down.
While many fans were initially excited about the new generation of RHONY — Jenna Lyons, Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jessel Taank, and Brynn Whitfield — that excitement faltered once episodes began airing.
Over 16 episodes, major sources of drama can be traced back to restaurant reservations, cheese platters, the temperature of Erin Hampton's vacation home, and the identity of Uba's unseen lover—which barely compares to the dramatic orgy of the OG cast. There's nothing spectacular about it, it includes marriages, cheating scandals, divorces, epic consequences and more.
A lackluster storyline may have contributed to lackluster ratings, and the contrast between the two shows was on full display at BravoCon 2023.
The chaotic trailer for the " Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy" spinoff far outweighed anything the new cast did during the annual event; Brynn's incident with her heel getting stuck on an escalator seemed to cause more trouble than any show update garnered more viral attention, while show updates were in short supply.
That being said, all is not lost with a reboot. Jessel, Erin, Sai, and Brynn all show potential, and with a few changes, Bravo can make The Real Housewives of New York City great again.
1. Get rid of heavy burdens
When a housewife comes on board, producers and viewers alike have a non-negotiable expectation: She must pull back the curtain on her personal life.
But Uba and Jenna (considered the stars of the show) have been actively hiding their love lives from the cameras all season, which begs the question: What are they doing here?
Actors who break this basic rule of reality television should, at the very least , be relegated to the secondary role of "friend" and replaced by someone willing to participate in the housewives' craziness.
2. Hire real friends
The secret weapon of the original RHONY was the real history between most of the women. Ramona, Luann, Sonya, Dorinda Medley and Jill Zarin's friendships and feuds go back many years, and their on-screen chemistry gives the show real stakes.
The same cannot be said for the new cast members, who were effectively strangers during the first few weeks of filming.
Do all women have to know each other before they become housewives ? Won't. But as the show progresses, Bravo may consider bringing in real friends of the stars to add some much-needed depth.
3. Please include OG in it
While the reboot is intended to be a fresh start, it's time to admit defeat and accept that we need (some) OG ladies back in New York.
Luann and Sonja's 2023 Bravo spinoff Welcome to Crappie Lake and Dorinda's unhinged appearance on Peacock's The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip 2022 was a stark reminder of how much fun our original New York ladies were, and some of them fit right in with the current group.
Luann, Erin, Sonya and Jessel sipping martinis at Dorinda's Bluestone Manor? I'd love to see it - combining original creators with newbies could help get this once great show back on track.
As far as I know, Bravo Powers has yet to address this possibility, but stranger things have happened in the Housewives universe.
