The Real Housewives
The Real Housewives is an American reality television franchise that began on March 21, 2006, with The Real Housewives of Orange County. Each installment of the franchise documents the personal and professional lives of a group of affluent women residing in a certain city or geopolitical region. Ten different series have been produced in the United States, with an announced eleventh. There are 21 international adaptations in addition. The American series is broadcast on Bravo; previously, the Miami installment aired for a time on Peacock.
The first international adaptation, The Real Housewives of Athens, premiered on March 4, 2011. The longest-running international edition is The Real Housewives of Cheshire, which is currently airing its eighteenth season.
The American franchise has led to 27 spin-off series in all; the most successful one being Vanderpump Rules, which has itself had a number of spin-offs.
History
The show was inspired by scripted soap operas including Desperate Housewives and Peyton Place, and would document the lives of five to eight upper-class women who "lead glamorous lives in a picturesque Southern California gated community where the average home has a $1.6 million price tag and residents include CEOs and retired professional athletes."On May 1, 2005, The Real Housewives was first announced as one of six reality television shows ordered by the American television network Bravo.
In January 2006, the show was announced as The Real Housewives of Orange County. However, filming began in 2005 under the title Behind the Gates. The first season aired on Bravo from March 21 to May 9, 2006. The original cast consisted of Kimberly Bryant, Jo De La Rosa, Vicki Gunvalson, Jeana Keough and Lauri Waring. The show has had four spin-offs: Date My Ex: Jo & Slade, ''Tamra’s OC Wedding, Glitter Town, and Simply Gina.
In September 2007, the network started production for the show Manhattan Moms. In January 2008, the show was re-titled to The Real Housewives of New York City, becoming the second installment in the franchise. The first season aired on Bravo from March 4 to May 27, 2008. The original cast consisted of Bethenny Frankel, Luann de Lesseps, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer and Jill Zarin. In 2022, the show was completely rebooted with a brand-new cast for the fourteenth season. The show has had three spin-offs: Bethenny Ever After, Bethenny & Fredrik and Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake.
In June 2008, the third installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, was announced. The first season aired on Bravo from October 7 to November 25, 2008. The original cast consisted of NeNe Leakes, DeShawn Snow, Shereé Whitfield, Lisa Wu and Kim Zolciak. The show has had ten spin-offs: Don't Be Tardy, The Kandi Factory, I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding, Kandi's Wedding, Kandi's Ski Trip, Xscape: Still Kickin' It, Kandi Koated Nights, Porsha's Having a Baby, Porsha's Family Matters and Kandi & The Gang.
In May 2008, the fourth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, was announced before the announcement of the Atlanta installment. The first season aired on Bravo from May 12 to July 8, 2009. The original cast consisted of Dina Manzo, Teresa Giudice, Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo, and Danielle Staub. The show has had three spin-offs: Boys to Manzo, Manzo'd with Children and Teresa Checks In.
In October 2009, the fifth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of D.C., was announced. The season aired on Bravo from August 5 to October 21, 2010. The cast consisted of Mary Amons, Lynda Erkiletian, Cat Ommanney, Michaele Salahi and Stacie Scott Turner. The show ended after one season, becoming the first franchise to be canceled; its cancellation came after one of the cast members, Salahi, and her husband Tareq caused controversy by successfully entering the White House uninvited for a state dinner while being filmed for the show.
In March 2010, the sixth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, was announced. The first season aired on Bravo from October 14, 2010, to February 15, 2011. The original cast consisted of Taylor Armstrong, Camille Grammer, Adrienne Maloof, Kim Richards, Kyle Richards and Lisa Vanderpump. The show has had three spin-offs: Vanderpump Rules, Vanderpump Dogs, and Vanderpump Villa. Vanderpump Rules has itself had three additional spin-offs: Vanderpump Rules After Show, and Vanderpump Rules: Jax & Brittany Take Kentucky, and The Valley, a show which premiered on March 19, 2024.
In March 2010, the network ordered a show titled Miami Social Club, which would serve as a reconstruction of Miami Social. The show was later re-titled to The Real Housewives of Miami, becoming the seventh installment in the franchise. The first season aired on Bravo from February 22 to April 5, 2011. The original cast consisted of Lea Black, Adriana de Moura, Alexia Echevarria, Marysol Patton, Larsa Pippen and Cristy Rice. The cast added Lisa Hochstein, Joanna Krupa, Ana Quincoces and Karent Sierra as housewives in season 2. After an eight-year hiatus following season 3, the fourth season aired on Peacock from December 16, 2021, to March 10, 2022. The rebooted cast consisted of Guerdy Abraira, Lisa Hochstein, Julia Lemigova, Nicole Martin, Alexia Nepola née Echevarria and Larsa Pippen. The show has had one spin-off: Havana Elsa.
In November 2015, the eighth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Potomac, was announced. The series had the working title Potomac Ensemble prior to the announcement. The first season aired on Bravo from January 17 to April 17, 2016. The original cast consisted of Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, Karen Huger, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan and Katie Rost. The show has had one spin-off: Karen's Grande Dame Reunion.
Prior to being announced, the ninth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Dallas, was initially titled Ladies of Dallas during its early production, a potential spin-off to Ladies of London. It was announced in November 2015. The first season aired on Bravo from April 11 to June 19, 2016. The original cast consisted of Cary Deuber, Tiffany Hendra, Stephanie Hollman, LeeAnne Locken and Brandi Redmond. On August 17, 2021, the network announced that they had no plans to immediately renew the show for a sixth season, placing it on an indefinite hiatus.
In November 2019, the tenth installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, was announced. The first season aired on Bravo from November 11, 2020, to February 24, 2021. The original cast consisted of Lisa Barlow, Mary Cosby, Heather Gay, Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose and Jen Shah.
In November 2021, The Real Housewives of Dubai, was announced as the network's first original international installment of the franchise. The first season aired on Bravo from June 1, 2022, to September 7, 2022. The original cast consisted of Sara Al Madani, Nina Ali, Chanel Ayan, Caroline Brooks, Lesa Milan and Caroline Stanbury. In November 2024, Bravo placed the series on hiatus.
In May 2025, the eleventh installment in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Rhode Island, was announced.
In June 2025, Real Housewives'' franchise executive Lauren Miller died shortly after childbirth.
List of editions
Bravo has aired 12 series in the United States, of which 11 have been filmed in the country and one has been filmed internationally. The network has also licensed the brand to networks outside the United States, giving rise to several international installments, with varying levels of success.The success of the American franchise has resulted in 28 spin-offs centered on specific housewives, with the longest-running being Vanderpump Rules, which focuses on the staff at the restaurants and bars owned by Lisa Vanderpump from ''The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.''
Bravo editions
''Ultimate'' editions
| Series | Location | Network | Premiere | Finale | Total seasons | Total Specials | ||
| The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: South Africa | RHUGTSA | Jamaica | Showmax | 1 | ||||
| The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa | RHUGTA | Brazil | Showmax | 1 | ||||
| The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Down Under | RHUGT | Binge | 1 |
International editions
Spin-offs
Cast history
| Housewife | No. of seasons | Series | Seasons | season | season |
| 16 | Orange County | 3–14, 17–present | 2, 5 | ||
| 15 | Beverly Hills | 1–present | 1, 5 | ||
| 14 | Atlanta | 2–15 | |||
| 14 | New Jersey | 1–present | 1, 5 | ||
| 14 | Orange County | 1–13, 20–present | 2, 5 | ||
| 13 | New York City | 1–13 | 1, 4 | ||
| 12 | New York City | 1–5, 7–13 | 1, 4–5 | 1 | |
| 12 | New Jersey | 3–present | 1, 5 | ||
| 12 | Orange County | 9–present | 1 | ||
| 11 | Atlanta | 3–13 | 1, 5 | ||
| 11 | New York City | 3–13 | 4 | 2 | |
| 10 | Atlanta | 1–7, 10–12 | 5 | ||
| 10 | Atlanta | 5–10, 12–15 | 1 | ||
| 10 | Potomac | 1–present | 3, 5 | 1 | |
| 10 | Potomac | 1–present | 5 | 1 | |
| 10 | Beverly Hills | 6–present | |||
| 10 | Atlanta | 5–6, 8–13, 16–present | 3, 5 | 2 | |
| 10 | Orange Country | 7-11, 16–present | 5 |
| Housewife | No. of seasons | Series | Seasons | season |
| 16 | Cheshire | 1–8, 11–present | ||
| 16 | Cheshire | 3– | ||
| 14 | Cheshire | 1–14 | ||
| 12 | Cheshire | 1–12 | ||
| 12 | Cheshire | 6–present | ||
| 8 | Cheshire | 8–16 | ||
| 7 | Cheshire | 5–12 | ||
| 6 | Cheshire | 11–17 | ||
| 6 | Cheshire | 1–6 | ||
| 6 | Cheshire | 12–present | ||
| 6 | Durban | 1–5 | 1 | |
| 5 | Cheshire | 1–5 | ||
| 5 | Cheshire | 14–present | ||
| 5 | Melbourne | 1–present | ||
| 5 | Melbourne | 1–present | ||
| 5 | Durban | 1–present |