Jen Shah’s Bravo Comeback? Andy Cohen Gives Final Verdict Before Her Prison Release
In January 2023, a federal judge sentenced Jen Shah to 78 months in prison. She also received the requirement to pay millions in restitution to those affected by her nationwide telemarketing scheme targeting vulnerable, often elderly, people. However, the former Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star has seen her release date be reduced multiple times. She’ll now be released from prison on December 10, 2025.
In lieu of this news, Andy Cohen shared where he stood with Shah and whether she stands a chance of rejoining the RHOSLC cast.
Andy Cohen says Jen Shah is ‘not coming back’ to ‘RHOSLC’ ahead of her release
Cohen took to his SiriusXM show, Radio Andy, to set the record straight. While chatting with his co-host John Hill, the producer brought up Shah. “Let me just say, because I think she’s getting released next week. . . . She’s not coming back to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. She’s not.” Cohen’s tone hinted that he might be a little frustrated with those asking this question as he’s answered it before.
He continued, “I wish her all the best in her next life. I would assume she’ll wind up on a reality show of some kind. But it won’t be anything that I’m working on.” Cohen added that he doesn’t think he could see Bravo working with her in any capacity.
“So, there you go,” the TV host stated flatly. “Can we put a period on the end of that sentence? And kudos to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, who have not only survived but thrived in the years following her incarceration.”
Has ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ been more successful since Jen Shah’s exit?
A combination of factors, including audience demographics, viewership ratings, and ad revenue, affects a TV show’s success. Other key metrics include viewer engagement, social media buzz, critical reviews, and the show’s ability to generate spin-offs or merchandise. For streaming services, success can also be measured by minutes viewed and the number of seasons commissioned.
In an effort to keep it simple, we’ll look at live/same-day viewers and demo ratings. In season 1 (2020–21), when Jen Shah was a main cast member, RHOSLC averaged about 610,000 live/same-day viewers per episode and a 0.22 rating in the 18-49 demo, according to TV Deets. Shah’s legal troubles began and were featured on the show in season 2 (2021–22). During this time, the series saw a boost: average viewership rose to “700,000+” and the demo to around 0.25.
Specific episodes tied to Shah’s arrest and controversy drew notable spikes. One episode following her legal drama reportedly pulled in 823,000 viewers and a 0.29 demo rating — a season high. For season 3 (2022–23), which largely covers the aftermath of her exit, the show’s average dipped to about 618,000 live-plus same-day viewers and a 0.22 demo rating.
In later seasons sans Shah, RHOSLC’s season-average live viewers dropped to around 430,000 per episode, and the demo rating dipped to roughly 0.14. Season 4 saw an average of 530,000 viewers and a 0.14 demo rating. Season 5 averaged 430,000 viewers and a 0.14 demo rating. And season 6 isn’t looking any more promising.
Surprisingly, viewership seems to have fallen sharply compared to the Shah era, reflecting a significant decline in audience retention. However, one thing to consider is that later finales or certain episodes still achieved strong “total-platform” numbers, though live ratings were weaker.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City might not see the same numbers as it did in its early seasons, but fans are done with Shah. One Bravo viewer commented on Reddit about Shah, writing, “I literally cannot watch her last season. It’s disgusting seeing this woman blatantly lie as well as the other women coddling her.” Another stated, “Jen Shaw is an awful person who preyed on and exploited vulnerable people and I’m glad Andy has taken a hard stance on not platforming her. Personally I wouldn’t watch any show that she’s on.”
Ultimately, Shah’s impending release may reignite public fascination, but it won’t rewrite her future with Bravo. Cohen and most fans seem to be done with the “Queen bee and MVP.”
