Real Housewives of New York is “on pause” indefinitely. The second Real Housewives franchise ever, RHONY has been one of the signature Bravo reality TV series since its premiere. But a lot has changed since then. Including a controversial full cast reboot. Last season was almost universally panned by viewers. The ratings weren’t so hot either. Now, Bravo allegedly chose to pull RHONY instead of filming another season as usual.
This isn’t the first time RHONY got put “on pause.” Would Bravo try a full blown reboot for the second time? Would an extended hiatus draw skeptical viewers back? Or is RHONY beyond saving? Here’s everything we know so far about Bravo pulling RHONY off the air.
Real Housewives of New York is allegedly going off the air
News came one day after Bravo announced several new and returning shows. This included a new Real Housewives franchise, Real Housewives of Rhode Island. Notably, there was no announcement about RHONY or Real Housewives of New Jersey. Some Bravo fans already wondered if that was a sign both shows are doomed.
Now we know that RHONY is going off the air. And, at this time, there are no plans to bring it back any time soon.
However, hope isn’t entirely lost for loyal RHONY fans. An insider said that “nothing is official.” The anonymous tipster emphasized, “The show hasn’t been cancelled.” But it’s not looking good.
Bravo reportedly wants to revive RHONY after a pause; just not anytime soon
If RHONY isn’t officially canceled, there could be another revival. After all, it’s the second longest-running Real Housewives series. And it launched multiple cast members into celebrities.
A source close to production emphasized, “We’re trying to figure that show out.” They continued, “We want to figure it out. We think there’s still life in it.” That same source brought up Real Housewives of Miami as a precedent for bringing shows back. However, that took quite some time. The original RHOM iteration was off the air for years before the 2021 revival.
Bravo recently announced that Ladies of London and Shahs of Sunset are returning. But those series also had long hiatuses.
Another insider emphasized that if RHONY does eventually return, it likely won’t be with the same cast. However, casting is one reason RHONY is on indefinite hiatus. Turns out, casting new Real Housewives of New York proves to be a challenge.
As one insider explained, potential cast members are hesitant to sign on because of what happened to past Real Housewives. Too many people are scared off because they watched “marriages ruined, their kids lives ruined, their businesses ruined.” The anonymous source admitted of RHONY, “It’s just not a very desirable thing to sign up for.”
Why the RHONY pause news isn’t too shocking
Pulling the plug on RHONY, even temporarily, is a major move. But it’s not the most shocking news in the world. And not just because Bravo already did this before.
A source emphasized that one of the things making production more difficult was the on-set feuds. Of course, Real Housewives series are known for feuds between the ladies. But in this case, things were so bad the cast members refused to film with each other.
While they didn’t name specific names, it seems likely that one of the people involved is Brynn Whitfield. Brynn was initially the fan favorite and breakout star of the RHONY reboot cast. But last season, her feud with Ubah Hassan ended with intense backlash.
While Real Housewives fans love fun drama, Season 15’s finale mostly made people feel queasy and unsettled. The rift between Brynn and her castmates got even worse after the reunion.
Other Bravo shows have persisted despite cast drama and even viewer backlash. However, there’s another reason this RHONY news isn’t shocking. The ratings last season fluctuated, but were mostly lower than usual.
By comparison, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is currently facing rumors of a cast overhaul after a disappointing season. But RHOBH ratings are so strong, there’s no question production will still go forward.
Where did the RHONY reboot go wrong?
Some longtime RHONY fans were so loyal to the original cast, they were never going to warm to the reboot. Initially, Bravo announced a second series, RHONY: Legacy, that would continue following longtime favorites. However, RHONY: Legacy ended up as a single season of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
The reboot’s cast already had big shoes to fill, but that’s not the only reason they were controversial. Erin Lichy earned backlash for political donations. In the second reboot season, “friend of” Rebecca Minkoff was instantly controversial because of her Scientology connection.
Multiple cast members, including Ubah and Jenna Lyons, were criticized for hiding their personal lives. That’s why rumors of Lindsay Hubbard joining RHONY were so intriguing. She never holds back, even while keeping her significant other off camera.
The major complaint was that the reboot cast felt less like a friend group and more like a group of strangers thrown together. This reached an apex with the pregnancy prank storyline. However, Bethenny Frankel revealed that, contrary to popular belief, the original RHONY cast weren’t friends either.
The reboot cast was more diverse. And when Racquel Chevremont joined, RHONY was the first Real Housewives series to have two lesbian Housewives. Those were great strides. Unfortunately, the organic chemistry and storylines just weren’t there.
Real Housewives of New York is available to stream on Peacock. The show streams on Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT RHONY IS ON PAUSE AGAIN? DO YOU HOPE RHONY COMES BACK SOON? WHAT CHANGES SHOULD BRAVO MAKE TO BRING THE SHOW BACK?