Bravo Adds a New ‘Real Housewives’ Series as ‘RHONJ’ and ‘RHONY’ Seemingly Put On Pause
Bravo is bringing its signature brand of drama to the Ocean State. The network is expanding the Real Housewives franchise with a new series, The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, it announced Wednesday.
‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ one of several new shows coming to Bravo
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island will focus on the tight-knit world of a group of Rhode Islanders with deep community roots and families going back generations.
“With aspirational lives, thriving businesses, and tangled family dynamics, these decade-long friendships prove that in a state this small, there’s no escaping your past … or each other,” reads Bravo’s description of the series.
Bravo hasn’t revealed the cast for RHORI, nor has it set a premiere date. The show will air sometime later this year. It is the 12th installment of Real Housewives for Bravo.
In addition to a whole new group of Housewives, Bravo has several more new shows in the works this year. A reboot of Ladies of London will follow a new wave of British blue bloods and American expats. The Valley: Persian Style (WT) stars a trio of friends from Shahs of Sunset – Reza Farahan, Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi, and Mercedes “MJ” Javid – as they take on the next stage of life in the Valley.
Finally, there’s Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition. This a mash-up of two popular reality concepts will see Bravo’s Housewives swap places with real-life housewives. The result? “Laugh-out-loud moments, personal epiphanies, and an opportunity to see if the grass is truly greener,” according to Bravo.
Future of ‘The Real Housewives of New York’ and ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’ up in the air
Bravo also confirmed that it had renewed a number of other Real Housewives shows. Fans can look forward to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 15, The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 19, The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 10, and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 6. Two other shows – The Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Real Housewives of Miami – are either currently airing or will premiere soon.
But what of two long-standing and fan-favorite Housewives shows? Both The Real Housewives of New York and The Real Housewives of New Jersey were missing from the renewals list. That seems to confirm rumors that both shows have been put on pause.
RHONJ’s last season, which wrapped up in the summer of 2024, was divisive and controversial. A feud between Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga put the entire cast at odds, and the season ended without a traditional reunion. That led many to assume Bravo would take a beat to consider the show’s future.
“We are taking our time. We are in no rush,” Andy Cohen told Deadline in November 2024 when asked about RHONJ’s future.
RHONY has also been troubled. The show got a hard reboot with an all-new cast for its 14th season, which premiered in 2023. But fan response was lackluster, with many slamming the cast as boring. Season 15 ended on a sour note following an ugly fight between Brynn Whitfield and Ubah Hassan.
Cohen sounded more optimistic about the possibilities for RHONY, saying that there were “a lot of interesting personal stories with the women.” But he acknowledged that “the group dynamic is a little bit of a challenge.”
“I really believe in this group of women,” he added. “I think they’re very aspirational.”
In addition to new seasons of various Housewives shows, Bravo has also ordered Below Deck Med Season 10, Below Deck Down Under Season 4, Married to Medicine Season 12, Southern Charm Season 11, Southern Hospitality Season 4. The network previously confirmed that Vanderpump Rules will be back for season 12 with an all-new cast. Plus, The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys will move from Peacock to Bravo for its second season.
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