The Real Housewives franchise has been Bravo‘s golden child for almost two decades.
But, is the empire crumbling?
For some, the answer is yes. Longtime viewers, including myself, have grown bored with the repetitive and, as of late, inauthentic drama that once enthralled the fanbase.
Don’t get me wrong — as a reality TV junkie, I still love the franchise, but half the time, I’m watching it out of duty and not desire. I’m a TV writer, after all, it’s my job, literally.
What Went Wrong with The Real Housewives Franchise?
I’ll tell you…
The series has strayed too far from its original concept of a tight-knit group of affluent wives, giving us a glimpse into their fabulous lives.
Tight-knit? That’s a stretch. These days, they’ll throw a newbie into the mix with no real connection to anyone in the group.
Wives? That’s no longer a prerequisite for being on the show, either.
As for wealth and affluence, no shade, but we haven’t seen real wealth on these shows in quite some time.
The biggest issue, however, is the played-out and sometimes fake storylines.
Has the Bravo Series Fallen from Its Former Glory?
If viewer feedback is any indication, the series is on a downward spiral. Hey, nothing good lasts forever, right?
Luckily, over the past few years, the network has steadily expanded its lineup with reality shows such as Summer House, Southern Charm, Top Chef, Married to Medicine, and, most recently, The Valley.
However, Below Deck is the show giving the Real Housewives franchise a run for its money.
The show stands out among the throng of current reality TV series with its unique concept of chronicling crew members’ lives aboard a superyacht.
The Bravo series has spawned multiple spinoffs, the most popular being Below Deck Mediterranean, Below Deck Sailing Yacht, and Below Deck Down Under.
Meanwhile, Bravo viewers are losing interest in The Real Housewives.
Due to dismal ratings, The Real Housewives of Dallas was canceled in 2021, and The Real Housewives of Dubai recently met the same fate.
Deadline reported that after two seasons, the show has been put on pause.
Another troubled series, The Real Housewives of New York, was rebooted to inject some life into the crumbling franchise.
However, the second season ended with harsh criticism over a hyped-up pregnancy storyline that turned out to be a prank and an obvious sign these newbies know nothing about making good TV.
Then there’s The Real Housewives of New Jersey, once ranked as one of the greatest shows.
Sadly, Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga’s years-long family drama has led to the downfall of RHONJ.
Cast Shakeups and Exits Have Resulted in a Decline
The show is at a standstill amid ongoing rumors of an RHONY-style reboot with an entirely new cast.
Additionally, The Real Housewives of Atlanta hasn’t been the same since NeNe Leakes’ exit.
Notable Housewives such as Phaedra Parks, Kandi Burruss, and Sheree Whitfield also left a noticeable dent with their departures.
Producers brought in some fresh faces for Season 16 and the return of fan-favorite Porsha Williams and Cynthia Bailey.
However, early into the season, the show’s anchor, Kenya Moore, was abruptly fired for showing explicit photos of new cast member Brit Eady during their feud.
RHOA fans slammed the network for firing Kenya, not Brit, who mentioned having a pistol during their argument.
Kenya has been erased from the franchise with no opportunity to tell her side of the story. Can the season survive without her?
Meanwhile, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is still going strong despite the absence of breakout star Jen Shah.
So, there’s still hope for RHOA.
All Hope Is Not Lost for The Real Housewives
Another franchise that is still strong is The Real Housewives of Miami.
The series was canceled but rebooted several years later, and now it’s one of the best in the franchise.
RHOM Season 7 will premiere on June 11.
However, neither RHONJ nor RHONY was mentioned in Bravo’s summer 2025 TV lineup.
But, there’s still hope for the franchise; the network recently added one more to the lineup, The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.
Additionally, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and other franchises such as Potomac, Orange County, and Salt Lake City have also been renewed for new seasons, too.
What do you think, Bravo Fanatics? Is The Real Housewives franchise crumbling? Take the floor in the comments below!
You made it to the end — and that means a lot.
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