{"id":361328,"date":"2026-07-05T11:55:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T06:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=361328"},"modified":"2026-07-05T11:55:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T06:25:50","slug":"bravo-exec-recalls-knowing-real-housewives-was-a-hit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/05\/bravo-exec-recalls-knowing-real-housewives-was-a-hit\/","title":{"rendered":"Bravo Exec Recalls Knowing ‘Real Housewives’ Was A Hit"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Bravo executive Frances Berwick can\u2019t imagine that the \u201cReal Housewives<\/strong>\u201d franchise is popping 20. That\u2019s 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\u2019s Twentieth-anniversary special, \u201cThe Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring Twentieth,\u201d Berwick is reflecting on this system\u2019s legacy and opening up in regards to the moment the network knew it had a success on its hands.<\/p>\n

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Speaking with Deadline<\/a> on the season 20 premiere of \u201cThe Real Housewives of Orange County,\u201d Berwick expressed gratitude that the series continues to be running 20 years later. (The primary episode aired March 21, 2006.) <\/p>\n

\u201cJust feels incredibly gratifying and fun and joyous,\u201d she said. \u201cThe undeniable fact that it\u2019s 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.\u201d <\/p>\n

When Did The Network Realize They Had A Hit On Their Hands?<\/h2>\n
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Regarding the primary season of \u201cThe Real Housewives of Orange County,\u201d or \u201cRHOC\u201d for brief, Berwick recalled the moment the network realized the series could be greater than they imagined. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe viewership had gone up with every episode,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were like, \u2018Oh my God\u2026 we\u2019re going to do a Season 2.\u2019 We had not thought that we could be franchising it, and it was only really as we began to see other casts like \u2018Manhattan Mothers\u2019 that we thought this could possibly be a \u2018Real Housewives\u2019 show too. They don\u2019t must be housewives. That is form of like a contemporary interpretation of what a Real Housewife is.\u201d <\/p>\n

The season 1 solid of \u201cRHOC\u201d included Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough, Lauri Peterson, Jo De La Rosa, and Kimberly Bryant. (Gunvalson continues to be a part of the solid today.)<\/p>\n

Berwick Remembers Being Nervous To Turn \u2018The Real Housewives\u2019 Into A Franchise<\/h2>\n
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For many who don\u2019t know, \u201cManhattan Mothers\u201d was the working title of what\u2019s since develop into \u201cThe Real Housewives of Latest York City.\u201d 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 \u201cReal Housewives\u201d series. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe were quite thoughtful about it, but then it felt like this could possibly be a very good thing,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd since \u2018Orange County\u2019 had resonated, perhaps this was a very good technique to form of attract a unique audience moderately than the identical audience and expand it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Real Housewives of Atlanta\u201d had an identical starting to \u201cRHONY,\u201d in keeping with Berwick. \u201cUltimately, 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRHOA\u201d included breakout star NeNe Leakes, Shere\u00e9 Whitfield, and Kim Zolciak. <\/p>\n

Bravo Is Honoring 20 Years Of The Franchise With An Epic Special!<\/h2>\n
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