Bravo executive Frances Berwick can’t imagine that the “Real Housewives” franchise is popping 20. That’s right. The series that began as a single-camera production following a bunch of affluent women in Orange County, California, has grown legs and brought on a lifetime of its own, spawning hit series in cities across the country, including Atlanta, Latest York, Salt Lake City, and yes, Rhode Island. Heck, the franchise even expanded beyond the U.S., previously following glamorous women in Dubai. Ahead of the franchise’s Twentieth-anniversary special, “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring Twentieth,” Berwick is reflecting on this system’s legacy and opening up in regards to the moment the network knew it had a success on its hands.
Speaking with Deadline on the season 20 premiere of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” Berwick expressed gratitude that the series continues to be running 20 years later. (The primary episode aired March 21, 2006.)
“Just feels incredibly gratifying and fun and joyous,” she said. “The undeniable fact that it’s still making people really comfortable to look at the show, that they love being a part of this Real Housewives community, it just makes you are feeling good.”
When Did The Network Realize They Had A Hit On Their Hands?
Regarding the primary season of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” or “RHOC” for brief, Berwick recalled the moment the network realized the series could be greater than they imagined.
“The viewership had gone up with every episode,” she said. “We were like, ‘Oh my God… we’re going to do a Season 2.’ We had not thought that we could be franchising it, and it was only really as we began to see other casts like ‘Manhattan Mothers’ that we thought this could possibly be a ‘Real Housewives’ show too. They don’t must be housewives. That is form of like a contemporary interpretation of what a Real Housewife is.”
The season 1 solid of “RHOC” included Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough, Lauri Peterson, Jo De La Rosa, and Kimberly Bryant. (Gunvalson continues to be a part of the solid today.)
Berwick Remembers Being Nervous To Turn ‘The Real Housewives’ Into A Franchise
For many who don’t know, “Manhattan Mothers” was the working title of what’s since develop into “The Real Housewives of Latest York City.” And while the latter has given Bravo viewers 15 seasons of fantastic TV, because of stars like Bethenny Frankel, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, and Sonja Morgan, Berwick and the remaining of the crew were hesitant about turning it right into a “Real Housewives” series.
“We were quite thoughtful about it, but then it felt like this could possibly be a very good thing,” she said. “And since ‘Orange County’ had resonated, perhaps this was a very good technique to form of attract a unique audience moderately than the identical audience and expand it.”
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” had an identical starting to “RHONY,” in keeping with Berwick. “Ultimately, it was all in regards to the solid. There have been so many ladies who had amazing stories to inform who had these incredible bonds and friendships and were going through all kinds of life challenges and coping with various things of their life. It just felt like a natural extension,” she said.
“RHOA” included breakout star NeNe Leakes, Shereé Whitfield, and Kim Zolciak.
Bravo Is Honoring 20 Years Of The Franchise With An Epic Special!
Based on a previous report from The Blast, Bravo is planning to honor the Twentieth anniversary of “The Real Housewives” series with a special edition of “Ultimate Girls Trip.”
The show will feature “a bunch of beloved Housewives from across the years embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, making their way through a number of the most memorable locations within the franchise’s history.”
Throughout the episodes, greater than 80 housewives from the past and present will appear, including Porsha Williams, Kyle Richards, Lisa Barlow, Teresa Giudice, and Gizelle Bryant.
Leakes Will Be Part Of The Series
Leakes may also make a special appearance when the fundamental solid stops in Atlanta. It’s going to mark her grand return to Bravo after she left “RHOA” in 2020 and sued the network in 2022.
“This has been a extremely long, long journey, and gosh, I’m comfortable, overjoyed to say that I will probably be returning to Bravo,” Leakes said in an emotional Instagram video. “I almost can’t imagine the words which are coming out of my mouth. I’m so comfortable. I’m excited to see all of you girls. It’s going to be a time. Yes! B-tches, I’m back. Now pick your faces off the ground. OK!? See you on Bravo. Love you.”